Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, DeMar DeRozan headline NBA injury report for Friday, March 24

We’ve got 10 games on Friday’s NBA slate, anchored by NBATV’s doubleheader. Here’s a look at the day’s injury report, along with the relevant fantasy and betting implications.

NBA Injury Report: March 24

Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics

Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) - available

Update - Haliburton will play for the Pacers Friday, and will take minutes away from Nembhard and McConnell.

The Pacers are starting to fade in the play-in race, which means Haliburton should probably be shut down for the year. Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin are the best DFS plays for Indiana.

Malcolm Brogdon (back) - OUT

Brogdon is a late scratch with a back injury, so Derrick White and Marcus Smart will headline the backcourt for Boston in this one.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Washington Wizards

Keldon Johnson (neck) - available
Devin Vassell (injury management) - OUT
Jeremy Sochan (injury management) - OUT

Update - Johnson is in, while Vassell is out. Peripheral players like Doug McDermott, Devonte’ Graham and Tre Jones could all be solid plays in fantasy lineups tonight.

Johnson should be a solid filler play with Sochan out, and he’ll gain more value if Vassell is also ruled out.

Kyle Kuzma (ankle) - OUT
Bradley Beal (knee) - OUT

Kristaps Porzingis is the focal point offensively with both Kuzma and Beal out. Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija should get starts in this one, along with Daniel Gafford.

Detroit Pistons vs. Toronto Raptors

Scottie Barnes (wrist) - OUT
Gary Trent Jr. (elbow) - OUT

Update - Both Barnes and Trent Jr. have been ruled out. Barton is getting the start, and Anunoby becomes a bigger scoring threat now.

OG Anunoby stands to benefit the most if both players are ruled out, with Pascal Siakam potentially seeing more usage as well. If Trent Jr. is ruled out, Will Barton is a nice replacement play in fantasy formats.

Houston Rockets vs. Memphis Grizzlies

No notable day-to-day injuries for either team at this time.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks

Terry Rozier (foot) - OUT
Kelly Oubre (shoulder) - OUT
Dennis Smith Jr. (illness) - available
Mark Williams (thumb) - available

Update - Williams and Smith Jr. are in, while Oubre and Rozier are out for Charlotte.

The Hornets are tanking but Oubre continues to see minutes and is a nice DFS play if he’s healthy. Williams is back in the mix and is a filler option as a big man, especially against a soft interior for Dallas.

Kyrie Irving (foot) - available
Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) - OUT

Update - Irving is available, which will take away some of Doncic’s usage although both are strong fantasy plays. Hardaway Jr. is out, which elevates Bullock in the offense.

If Irving sits, Luka Doncic will gain more value as the focal point for Dallas offensively. If Hardaway Jr. sits, Reggie Bullock and Josh Green will see more touches.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Utah Jazz

Jae Crowder (calf) - OUT
Khris Middleton (injury management) - OUT

Joe Ingles should see more usage as a creator with Crowder and Middleton out. Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton will also absorb some of those minutes, although Ingles has the most upside of those three in DFS lineups.

Lauri Markkanen (hand) - OUT
Jordan Clarkson (finger) - OUT

Ochai Agbaji remains a strong value play with Clarkson out. Walker Kessler should see most of the minutes in the frontcourt with Markkanen out. Kelly Olynyk is also an option for Utah.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Golden State Warriors

Joel Embiid (calf) - available
James Harden (Achilles) - OUT
Jaden McDaniels (hip) - OUT

Update - Embiid is in for Philly.

Update - Harden has been ruled out, while Embiid is still questionable. McDaniels has also been ruled out. Maxey, De’Anthony Melton and Georges Niang are all strong DFS plays for Friday night.

Embiid suffered this injury Wednesday and sat the second half due to the score. He’s expected to be able to go here. Harden also sat Wednesday and his situation is a bit more unclear. If he sits, Tyrese Maxey should once again be set to start.

Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers

DeMar DeRozan (quad) - OUT
Alex Caruso (foot) - available

Update - DeRozan has been ruled out for this contest.

DeRozan suffered this issue Wednesday and left the game for good. If he’s out, Zach LaVine becomes the primary perimeter scoring option with Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu also seeing more minutes.

Damian Lillard (calf) - OUT
Anfernee Simons (foot) - OUT
Jerami Grant (quad) - OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (knee) - OUT

Update - Lillard and Nurkic are both out, and the Blazers might be punting on their playoff hopes if they lose this game. Eubanks likely gets the start for Nurkic, while Sharpe will probably be the lead guard here. Ryan Arcidiacono probably gets the start with Lillard and Simons out.

Update - Lillard has been downgraded to questionable, so he’s trending in the wrong direction for this game. It might be time to start getting some bets in on the Bulls since the line will surely move more in their favor if Lillard is ultimately ruled out. Nurkic is doubtful.

The Blazers are breaking down at the wrong time and are seeing their play-in chances slip. Shaedon Sharpe is a great filler play with Simons out, and Drew Eubanks is likely to start if Nurkic sits.

Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings

Deandre Ayton (hip) - OUT, expected to miss two games

Ayton remains out. Jock Landale should be the primary center, with Bismack Biyombo also getting decent playing time.

Kevin Huerter (knee) - available

Update - Huerter said earlier in the day he planned on playing and he’s officially available for this game. Monk and Barnes still have some value but might see less minutes.

If Huerter is out, Malik Monk and Harrison Barnes gain value as perimeter threats in Sacramento’s high-powered offense.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (injury management) - available

Update - SGA is in for the Thunder and this will move the line a bit in Oklahoma City’s favor. Giddey remains a solid filler play but Mann loses most of his value with the lead Thunder guard back in the lineup. SGA is not going to have a minutes limit either so the Thunder are going for the win and the play-in spot.

Update - Gilgeous-Alexander is officially listed as questionable, but there’s a chance he does play with the Thunder having a chance the playoffs.

The Thunder said SGA wouldn’t play back-to-backs for the rest of the season and he played Thursday, so the expectation is he sits. However, Oklahoma City probably didn’t believe it would be in the running for a play-in spot. There’s a chance the star guard suits up here. If he doesn’t, Josh Giddey and Tre Mann are solid DFS replacement options.

Anthony Davis (foot) - available
D’Angelo Russell (hip) - OUT

Update - As expected, Davis is in.

Update - Russell has been ruled out, so Reaves and Schroder are good to put in lineups.

Update - Russell has been added to the report late as questionable. If he sits, Austin Reaves will take on an even bigger role than he has in the last few games and Dennis Schroder gets elevated as a DFS play.

Davis will be in for the Lakers.