Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (foot) will play against Portland on Sunday. As usual, the team has upgradEd Davis from probable to available. Following a brief slump, Davis was back firing against Atlanta last time out, scoring 38 points, and he will need to do a lot of the heavy lifting offensively again on Sunday because LeBron James (foot) will be out of the lineup for the first time this season. The Trail Blazers have previously done decent work against opposing centers, but they sit among the worst teams in the West and just got blown out 141-99 by fellow strugglers Utah.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) will miss his first game of the season on Sunday against Portland. He was initially considered probable for the contest but was downgraded to doubtful and has now been ruled out. Cam Reddish and Armel Traore will likely play a larger role in the rotation on Sunday, but they aren't reliable sources for fantasy value. A monster game offensively could be on the horizon for Anthony Davis (foot), as Austin Reaves(pelvis) also remains out on Sunday.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) has been downgraded from probable to doubtful ahead of Sunday's contest against Portland. This is not a great sign, and it now looks like the veteran superstar might have to miss his first game of the season. James' absence will likely give a larger role to Cam Reddish in the rotation, with the Lakers' starting group, led by Anthony Davis, needing to do extra offensively.

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (groin) will not play against Houston on Sunday. He's been ruled out for the game after Harden was initially handed a questionable tag. This will be the first absence of the season for Harden, who's been back in MVP form recently. Kevin Porter Jr. and Bones Hyland figure to receive an uptick in minutes without Harden, while top scorer Norman Powell should get even more usage on the offensive end.

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against Minnesota. The 29-year-old was limited to 19 minutes against the Timberwolves on Friday due to an ankle injury and isn't considered healthy enough to play in Sunday's rematch. Due to Wiggins' absence, Kyle Anderson, Lindy Waters III, and Gary Payton II could all receive additional playing time on Sunday. However, Golden State has been staggering minutes across the team this season, so there may not be a clear beneficiary in this situation.

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) will return to the lineup on Sunday versus Atlanta. He missed Saturday's battle against Washington and was downgraded from probable to questionable earlier in the day, but Gordon is in the starting lineup for Denver. The 29-year-old will make only his 11th appearance of the season. Gordon has averaged 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 30.3 minutes. He should have a good offensive outing against a Hawks team that allows the third-most points in the league (119.0).

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) will play in Sunday's contest against Cleveland. He's ready to go again after shining against Phoenix on Saturday. Butler led his side to victory with a very efficient 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one block. So far this season, Butler had played with zero rest days just once, and it was a very quiet showing against Charlotte on Nov. 27, with six points, four rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) was available for Sunday's meeting with the Bulls. His last appearance was back on November 20 in the loss to the Grizzlies. However, after weeks of uncertainty, the 30-year-old was back on the floor to post one of his best showings of the 2024-25 campaign, finishing the win by amassing 31 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Without question, fantasy managers were delighted to finally see Embiid back in uniform, even if he failed to make any of his five attempts from deep. While the team will likely be overly cautious with him for the remainder of the year, he should be good to go when the Sixers play again on Friday versus the Indiana Pacers.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) is probable for Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. The veteran guard made his season debut on Friday night against the Celtics, playing 23 minutes in his return. Middleton made an immediate impact, contributing 11 points, three rebounds, and five assists. As he continues to regain his rhythm, Middleton could see a similar workload on Sunday. The Bucks will need him to stay healthy and perform at a high level if they hope to contend this season.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets due to right patella tendinopathy. The former MVP is on the injury report once again, but all signs point to him being ready for Sunday's matchup. The Greek Freak has been playing at an elite level, posting at least 30 points and 11 rebounds in each of his last two games, showcasing his usual dominant performance on both ends of the floor.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bulls. The former MVP has been sidelined for the last seven games due to a left knee injury, but there's a possibility he will return for Sunday's contest. If Embiid is unable to go, Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele are expected to continue taking on expanded roles. Embiid has struggled to find a rhythm this season, and fantasy managers are hoping he can return to full health soon to help get the 76ers' season back on track.

Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) will return to the lineup for Saturday's contest against Memphis. He was kept out of action on Friday versus Milwaukee as Porzingis continues to manage a leg injury. The Latvian big man will be a natural replacement for Al Horford (toe), who will exit the lineup on Saturday. Porzingis only recently made his season debut and has averaged 21.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in 27.3 minutes across four games. He faces a tough matchup on Saturday, as Memphis has shown strong defensive numbers against opposing big men this season.

Toronto Raptors center Kelly Olynyk (back) is set to make his 2024-25 regular-season debut on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks. This is exciting news for the 33-year-old, who has been sidelined since October due to a back strain. Last season, Olynyk appeared in 28 games for Toronto, contributing 12.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while playing a key role in the rotation. His minutes will likely be limited in his return, but his presence provides valuable depth to the Raptors' frontcourt. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and make an impact moving forward.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) will be active against Phoenix on Saturday. He was listed as probable on the initial injury report. The Heat star recently missed one game with a sore knee but looked great last time out against the Lakers. He finished a blowout win on Wednesday with 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one block, and two steals in 29 minutes. Butler's presence in the lineup limits Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s fantasy appeal. He logged only 17 minutes off the bench on Wednesday.

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) will not be available for Saturday's clash against Washington. He was downgraded from probable to questionable earlier in the day, and Denver has now ruled Gordon out. The Nuggets begin a back-to-back with Saturday's outing, so it's possible Gordon can make a quick return on Sunday versus Atlanta. We should see Peyton Watson run with the starters against the Wizards with Gordon unavailable. The young forward has averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 11 previous starts this season.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will continue to come off the bench. The 34-year-old missed two games before returning for Friday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing with 10 points, nine boards, six assists, and two steals in 26 minutes in a reserve role. Head coach Steve Kerr indicated the move was made to keep Green healthy. At the same time, the team hopes to see more signs of life from Jonathan Kuminga, who has averaged 15.4 points in seven starts during the 2024-25 campaign. With that in mind, Green should continue to get minutes, so the move may actually work out in his favor, considering he has had issues staying healthy over the years.

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (ankle) will play on Friday against Minnesota. This is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Warriors, and Wiggins was initially listed as questionable for the game. However, he's good to go for the meeting with his former team. Wiggins is coming off one of his best offensive outings of the season, as he shot 9-for-15 from the field en route to 23 points in Thursday's 99-93 win over Houston.

Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (calf) will return to work on Friday versus Minnesota. The veteran has missed the first two games of the week with a calf issue. Green continues to do a little bit of everything for the Warriors, averaging 8.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists across his last five appearances. His return on Friday is bad news for Jonathan Kuminga's fantasy value. He's set to land back on the bench despite going off for a career-high 33 points in Thursday's 99-93 victory over Houston.

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (knee) will be in the lineup on Friday against Minnesota. The former MVP returns to action after sitting out Thursday's game against Houston because of a knee issue. Curry went close to a triple-double in his last outing against Denver, but he faces a difficult matchup on Friday. The Timberwolves have limited opposing point guards to 43.5 percent shooting from the field, allowing the fifth-fewest points per 48 minutes to the position.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Boston Celtics. Smart reportedly sprained his right ankle during the Grizzlies' game against the Kings, and his availability for Saturday's contest is now in doubt. If Smart is unable to play, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jake LaRavia could see an uptick in playing time off the bench. Smart has been averaging 21.5 minutes per game, with 9.8 points and 1.5 steals, but his most significant impact for Memphis comes on the defensive end. He's also been playing well recently, especially with his playmaking, registering five straight games with five or more assists. Fantasy managers should check back for updates on his status.