Our Injury Report NBA article is here to bring you all of the daily updates needed to maximize your bets for the day.
Make sure to check back regularly to this NBA injury report article as each pick could help inform your betting. We’ll update this article with three of our top injuries that will have a significant impact on certain matchups.
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Injury Report NBA – Key News For Wednesday, Mar. 2
After a Tuesday night with multiple unforgettable performances, we have another big slate Wednesday. The bloated injury reports are also back, with multiple big names already confirmed out or in danger of sitting.
Today’s article will examine the top seven confirmed or potential prominent absences on tonight’s NBA slate and how the player’s team may be impacted, including how others could benefit from that star potentially being off the floor.
We’ll also list some additional noteworthy short-term injuries at the end of today’s article:
Cade Cunningham, Pistons, DOUBTFUL (calf):
Cunningham appears likely to miss his 10th game of the season – and fifth straight – Wednesday against the Thunder due to his calf strain. Detroit has managed to squeak out a winning record without its star guard this season, posting a 5-4 mark in games Cunningham has missed while averaging a robust 114.3 points per contest.
Malik Beasley is the leader among Pistons regulars with a 24.5% usage rate whenever Cunningham is off the floor, complementing that figure with averages of 24.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per 36 minutes. The veteran guard’s scoring sees an especially pronounced jump in that circumstance, as he’s averaging 18.9 points per 36 minutes when sharing the cour with him.
In Beasley’s likely absence Wednesday, Dennis Schroder, who’s averaged 12.8 points, 8.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds over his last four games while starting in Cunningham’s stead, should man point guard on the first unit again versus OKC. Schroder does have back-to-back double-doubles, but he’s also shot just 31.8% over the entirety of the four-game span.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks, QUESTIONABLE (knee):
Towns could miss his ninth game of the season Wednesday against the Cavaliers due to the knee issue that cost him Tuesday’s contest versus the 76ers. Following its 105-91 win over Philadelphia, New York is now 4-4 without Towns this season and has averaged 108.8 points per game in that span.
The Knicks’ leader in usage among currently available players when Towns and Jalen Brunson are off the floor going into Tuesday’s win over the 76ers was OG Anunoby, who sported a 27.6% figure, with Mikal Bridges’ 26.4% usage rate a close second. Anunoby validated that number versus Philadelphia, as he posted 27 points, five rebounds and two steals over 33 minutes.
If Towns is out again Wednesday, Mitchell Robinson, who posted a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double with two blocks and one steal over just 21 minutes against the Sixers in a spot start Tuesday, should once again handle center duties on the first unit.
Jalen Brunson, Knicks, OUT (ankle):
Brunson is expected to miss his 15th game of the season Wednesday versus the Cavaliers due to his ankle injury. The star guard has already missed 12 consecutive contests and New York has gone 9-5 overall in his absences this season, prevailing in five of the last six overall.
If Towns does manage to play Wednesday, it’s worth noting he’s typically been the biggest beneficiary with Brunson off the floor via a 32.4% usage rate and per-36 averages of 29.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals. Anunoby’s and Bridges’ usage rates in that scenario take respective hits down to 23.1 and 22.6%.
If both Miles McBride (groin) and Cameron Payne (ankle) also remain out Wednesday, the Delon Wright-Tyler Kolek duo is projected to handle point-guard minutes again. Wright has started each of the last three games in Brunson’s stead and turned in 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals across 33 minutes versus Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Jamal Murray, Nuggets, QUESTIONABLE (hamstring):
Murray is likely to be listed as no better than questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Spurs after he sat out the first leg of a back-to-back set Tuesday versus the Timberwolves. Following their wild 140-139 double-overtime loss to Minnesota on Tuesday, Denver is now 8-3 without Murray this season while averaging 122.5 points per game in that span.
Nikola Jokic went into Tuesday night’s game with a team-high 34.7% usage rate when Murray is off the floor, and he proceeded to compile a jaw-dropping 61-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that saw him take 29 shots from the field and another 24 from the free-throw line over 52 minutes. While Jokic would undoubtedly be due for another heavy workload under any circumstance Wednesday, it’s fair to wonder what his energy level will be less than 24 hours removed from such a marathon game.
Russell Westbrook, who logged 38 minutes off the bench in his own right Tuesday, is second in usage with Murray off the court (25.8%), although he notably was passed over for a start against Minnesota in favor of Jalen Pickett (nine points, five assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes). Either player would be a candidate to get the call again Wednesday if Murray sat.
Jaylen Brown, Celtics, QUESTIONABLE (knee):
Brown could miss his 17th game of the season Wednesday against the Heat due to his ongoing knee issues. Following their 117-103 win over the Grizzlies on Monday in Brown’s most recent absence, the Celtics are 13-3 in Brown’s absences this season while averaging 112.9 points per game and recording double-digit victories in eight of the last nine wins in that sample.
Unsurprisingly, it’s Jayson Tatum who’s the Celtics’ usage leader when Brown is off the floor, putting up a 36.8% rate in that scenario, compared to a 27.0% figure when sharing the court with him. Tatum’s shot attempts also take a big leap from 17.3 per 36 to 23.8 per 36 when Brown is on the bench. Kristaps Porzingis (27.2% usage), who’s questionable for Wednesday due to return-from-illness reconditioning, and Derrick White (25.0% usage) are the next two biggest beneficiaries.
If Brown can’t play again Wednesday, Sam Hauser or Al Horford could enter the starting five in his stead. Monday versus Memphis, Xavier Tillman drew a start but played just two minutes. In turn, Al Horford logged 37 minutes off the bench and scored a team-high 26 points while adding eight rebounds and two assists.
Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics, QUESTIONABLE (illness reconditioning):
Porzingis could miss his 37th game of the season Wednesday versus Miami for reconditioning purposes. The Celtics have been able to fashion an excellent 29-7 record without Porzingis this season while averaging 118.8 points per contest.
Whenever Porzingis is off the floor, Tatum (33.7% usage rate) and Brown (31.2% usage rate) are the biggest beneficiaries. However, as mentioned above, Brown is questionable for Wednesday’s game as well, and when both the big man and Brown are off the court, Tatum’s usage climbs to 38.2% and his shot attempts per 36 minutes stand at 24.1 in that split.
If Porzingis sits out Wednesday, Luke Kornet, who’s averaged 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals across 28.5 minutes per game in 12 starts this season, is likely to handle center duties on the first unit. Kornet has also scored in double-digits in three of the past four games while coming off the bench.
Andrew Wiggins, Heat, OUT (hamstring):
Wiggins will sit out his 12th game since joining the Heat on Feb. 6 on Wednesday versus the Celtics due to right hamstring tendinopathy. Following its 120-94 win over the Wizards on Monday in Wiggins’ most recent absence, Miami is now 4-7 without Wiggins thus far and has recorded consecutive double-digit victories without him, albeit against the 76ers and Washington.
When Wiggins is off the floor, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo hold the top two usage rates among Heat regulars with respective figures of 28.5% and 24.0%. The two validated those numbers in the win over Washington – Adebayo posted a team-high 28 points and 12 rebounds while adding five assists, one steal and one block, while Herro recorded 27 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
In Wiggins’ ongoing absence Wednesday, Pelle Larsson is likely to continue starting at small forward. The rookie second-round pick has averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks across 30.0 minutes in his first two starts in Wiggins’ stead.
Additional notable short-term injuries: Lauri Markkanen, Jazz, OUT (knee); John Collins, Jazz, OUT (ankle); Khris Middleton, Wizards, OUT (knee); Kyshawn George, Wizards, OUT (ankle); Collin Sexton, Jazz, QUESTIONABLE (pelvis); Michael Porter, Nuggets, GTD (personal); Myles Turner, Pacers, QUESTIONABLE (illness); Walker Kessler, Jazz, QUESTIONABLE (conditioning); Jrue Holiday, Celtics, QUESTIONABLE (shoulder)
NBA Injury Report Betting Guide
With a long 82-game season that’s played out on the unforgiving surface of the hardwood – not to mention the fact players are faster and more physical than ever – injuries are a nightly albatross for coaches, players, fans and bettors alike to contend with from their respective perspectives.
Pay Attention To Star Players
For those of us spectators that like to add a little monetary incentive to the games we consume, NBA injuries to frontline players are particularly impactful due to the compact number of players on a first unit and the inherent dependency the production of each typically has on their teammates.
Usage Rate Is Key
Perhaps the single most revelatory metric for gauging the impact of a player’s absence is usage rate, commonly defined as a measure of what percentage of a team’s plays a specific player is involved in by touching the ball in some form.
There is no shortage of tools available that pinpoint what players benefit the most from another’s absence in terms of a rise in usage rate, and those same tools also typically provide each player’s average in all major categories when another specified player is off the floor.
Line and Total Movement Impact
The bigger the name in terms of an injured player, the bigger the impact naturally is on betting strategy.
However, that in itself is a multi-layered scenario – there are many factors that go into determining how to go about wagering on a team missing a major star on any given night, including how much line and totals movement has occurred as a result of the news.
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