Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (quadriceps) is expected to miss roughly a week after suffering a contusion Wednesday, creating extra backcourt opportunities in the rotation. Veteran guard Jimmy Butler III has averaged 22.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists across his last five games, including a 21-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance Wednesday, and he should hold firm rest-of-season value. Third-year guard Brandin Podziemski also stands to see a usage bump, bringing 13.0 points on 40.0 percent shooting over his last five contests. Podziemski lines up as the short-term streamer while Curry recovers.

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (back) has been ruled out for Friday's matchup with the 76ers, ending his appearance streak dating back to Nov. 3. His absence shifts more offensive weight onto Noah Clowney, who erupted for 31 points and has scored at least 22 points in two of his last three games. Tyrese Martin, Ziaire Williams, and Jalen Wilson also gain streaming appeal, though Clowney remains the clearest beneficiary with added usage and shot volume. Porter's next chance to return comes Saturday against Milwaukee.

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (ankle) is questionable for Friday's matchup against the Nets after participating in Thursday's practice. A potential absence would again open rotation room for Dominick Barlow and Justin Edwards. Barlow has averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across his last eight appearances, while Edwards has produced 9.0 points on 47.5 percent shooting over his last nine games. Both profile as deep-league streamers, with Edwards offering the cleaner scoring path if George remains out.

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (calf) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Nets, extending his multi-game absence. His downtime keeps Quentin Grimes in a meaningful role, and the shooting guard has averaged 15.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across his last five games while shooting 40.0 percent from the field. Grimes remains a solid streaming option for points and threes, while Jared McCain, who posted 15 points in his last outing, offers deep-league appeal as he ramps up.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Nets, marking his ninth straight absence. His continued downtime keeps veteran center Andre Drummond locked into starter minutes, and he has averaged 8.8 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across his last five outings while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. Drummond remains a strong short-term fantasy play for rebounds and defensive stats, especially with Adem Bona (ankle) still limited and Trendon Watford (adductor) remaining sidelined.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (groin) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Pistons, marking his eighth straight absence. His continued downtime keeps second-year forward Tristan da Silva in a stable role, and he has averaged 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over his last five games while shooting 45.1 percent from the field. Da Silva should remain a viable short-term streamer, while Anthony Black and Goga Bitadze also see modest bumps. Banchero should stay rostered in all formats until he returns.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (wrist) will make his season debut Friday against Phoenix, returning to a featured spot after averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season. His comeback reshapes the perimeter rotation, where second-year guard Ajay Mitchell logged 23 minutes Wednesday and produced 13 points with three assists. Williams should reclaim a heavy workload immediately, pushing Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe into smaller roles. Fantasy managers should view Williams as a clear must-start, while Mitchell and Joe shift toward deep-league streaming.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (knee) is hoping to return for Saturday's game against New Orleans. The 23-year-old, who recently scrimmaged on Wednesday afternoon, is working his way back from a knee injury, keeping him off the floor for the Dubs' last seven contests. Before going on the shelf, he was having a down year, averaging 13.8 points, a decrease from the 2025 campaign. However, with Stephen Curry (quadriceps) at risk of missing time after suffering a quad contusion in Wednesday's NBA Cup loss to the Houston Rockets, Kuminga may see a bump in scoring opportunities, which could certainly make his presence on fantasy rosters more tolerable for frustrated managers. With that said, fantasy managers should consider Kuminga questionable heading into Saturday's meeting, with a more definitive update on his status likely coming on Friday night, when the official injury report is released.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (quadriceps) will undergo an MRI after suffering a quad contusion in Wednesday's NBA Cup loss to the Houston Rockets. The multi-time All-Star had a rough time getting his shots to fall on Wednesday night, and he would go on to finish with 14 points while shooting 2-for-9 from behind the three-point line. The Warriors don't play again until Saturday versus the New Orleans Pelicans, so there's a chance he might suit up. Of course, the team will play it safe, considering Curry has sustained numerous injuries throughout his lengthy career. Fortunately for the Dubs, Jonathan Kuminga (knee) could be back on Saturday, which would certainly help lessen the blow caused by Curry's potential absence. Jimmy Butler III should also take on more of the scoring load, with Brandin Podziemski, who had 14 points against Houston from off the bench, potentially working his way into the starting lineup.

Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Trendon Watford (adductor) will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. The 25-year-old was diagnosed with a left adductor strain after he made an early exit against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. Watford has done a solid job for the 76ers this season, averaging 8.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 20.4 minutes. Jabari Walker, Justin Edwards, and Dominick Barlow could get a boost in playing time while Watford recovers from his injury. The latter two started on Tuesday night, but they may find themselves back in the second unit when VJ Edgecombe (calf) and Paul George (knee) return. Both players practiced on Wednesday.

Toronto Raptors guard/forward RJ Barrett (knee) has no structural damage in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in one week. The Canadian star hurt his knee in Sunday's win over the Brooklyn Nets. He has missed two contests due to the injury. Since Barrett's exit from the lineup, Ja'Kobe Walter's workload has significantly increased, and he started on Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Toronto went with Collin Murray-Boyles in the starting unit in Wednesday's win over the Indiana Pacers, but Walter still logged 32 minutes of action. He was more effective coming off the bench, scoring 13 points while picking up four rebounds and two steals.

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Gradey Dick (head) made an early exit against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday after taking a hard fall. Late in the first quarter, Dick hit the back of his head on the floor while attempting to go for an offensive rebound. Dick has had a tough season, averaging only 6.8 points in 16.1 minutes per game. Toronto has also just lost RJ Barrett (knee) from the rotation, giving Ja'Kobe Walter's fantasy stock a major boost. Players like Jamison Battle and Ochai Agbaji may also log additional playing time if Dick misses time.

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (ankle) was limited to five minutes of action on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets. The veteran sprained his left ankle during the first half. Golden State also lost Stephen Curry (quadriceps) on Wednesday night, meaning the rotation could look very different in Saturday's contest against the New Orleans Pelicans. Payton II has averaged 11.1 minutes per game across the season, posting 3.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. If Payton II misses time, Pat Spencer and Gui Santos may receive more playing time off the bench, although they are not significant contributors in fantasy basketball.

Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (calf) will likely make his return to action during the team's upcoming back-to-back set against the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. "You know what game I want to play, but we'll see," Davis said following Wednesday's practice. "Obviously, I would like to (play against the Lakers). But at the end of the day the main thing is to just be on the floor whether it's Friday or Saturday." Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd told reporters that Davis did a "really good job" in practice. Dallas is expected to list Davis as questionable for Friday's matchup against the Lakers. Due to a calf injury, Davis has not played this month and may have a minutes restriction upon his return, limiting his fantasy potential.

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has been diagnosed with a quadriceps contusion and is set to undergo an MRI. Curry was hurt while attempting to draw a charge on Amen Thompson in Wednesday's 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets, causing him to miss the end of the game. While Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was relieved after the game that Curry didn't suffer an ankle or a knee injury, he might still have to miss time. The Warriors get back to work on Saturday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. Curry's exit from the lineup would boost Jimmy Butler III's usage rate, while players like Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody may also benefit.

Houston's G Reed Sheppard scored 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting in a 104-100 win over Golden State on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Sheppard is owned in only 69.9% leagues.

Thunder's G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points on 12-of-19 shooting in a 113-105 win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Detroit Pistons' G Cade Cunningham scored 42 points on 12-of-26 shooting in a 114-117 loss to Boston on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (illness) is cleared to suit up for Wednesday's meeting with Minnesota. He was listed as questionable because of an illness. However, after going through pre-game warmups, he feels well enough to play. It's unknown how sick he is, so there's a chance he may sit more than usual. Still, SGA should be featured in all fantasy lineups.

Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (illness) will play on Wednesday versus the New Orleans Pelicans. He logged only six minutes in Monday's loss to the Denver Nuggets because of a migraine headache and was listed as questionable heading into this one. Luckily, the 23-year-old will be on the floor. Edey is still working his way back after sitting out to begin the 2025 campaign, averaging 10.2 points, 7.6 points, 1.6 blocks, and 1.0 steals. However, he's still worth a start in nearly all formats.