Player Notes NBA

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving is not on the injury report for Thursday's game versus the Milwaukee Bucks.

What It Means:

Irving missed the Celtics' last two games before the All-Star break due to a right knee strain, but he logged 25 minutes in Sunday's All-Star game and didn't appear to be hindered. Terry Rozier (illness) is also set to return from his one-game absence. Gordon Hayward will likely return to a role off the bench.

Kyrie averaged 43.4 FanDuel points through 47 games prior to the break. numberFire's models expect him to record 25.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.4 triples per contest over the remainder of the season.

Source: Boston Celtics

Brooklyn Nets power forward Rodions Kurucs is not on the injury report for Thursday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

What It Means:

Kurucs sat out the Nets' last game before the All-Star break due to a left elbow sprain. Caris LeVert appears set to remain in the starting lineup moving forward, so Kurucs will likely return to a role off the bench.

The second-round pick is averaging 15.7 FanDuel points through 41 NBA games (29 starts). numberFire's models expect him to record 9.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.7 triples per contest over the remainder of the year.

Source: Bryan Fonseca

Brooklyn Nets small forward Treveon Graham is not on the injury report for Thursday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

What It Means:

Graham missed the Nets' final game before the All-Star break due to personal reasons. Rodions Kurucs (elbow) and Jared Dudley (hamstring) are also expected back, so Graham will likely fall out of the starting lineup now that the team is healthy again.

Graham averaged 11.8 FanDuel points in 20 games (14 starts) before the break. numberFire's models expect him to record 7.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 3-pointers per contest over the remainder of the season.

Source: Bryan Fonseca

Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (right knee) will be available to play on Thursday versus the Philadelphia 76ers, head coach Erik Spoelstra said.

What It Means:

Spoelstra added that he thinks Dragic and Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) "both need a little more work," but both players will be available to return from their respective absences. Dragic hasn't played since December 10, so the Heat will likely ease him back into things. Justise Winslow's value figures to take the biggest hit with Dragic returning to action.

Dragic has averaged 23.4 FanDuel points in only 14 games this season, with 15.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.6 triples per contest.

Source: Miami Heat

Milwaukee Bucks forward Nikola Mirotic (right calf strain) plans to plan on Thursday versus the Boston Celtics.

What It Means:

Mirotic should be able to make his bucks debut after getting in a full practice on Wednesday. He added that there may be a minutes limit in what will be his first game since January 23, when Mirotic was still a member of the New Orleans Pelicans. The Bucks should provide an update on Mirotic's status after Thursday's shootaround.

Mirotic averaged 31.4 FanDuel points over 32 games (22 starts) for the Pelicans before being dealt. Moving forward, numberFire's models expect him to record 16.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 1.1 triples per contest.

Source: Matt Velazquez

Houston Rockets guard/forward Iman Shumpert (right knee soreness) will not play on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors or Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

What It Means:

Shumpert's next opportunity to play will be on Monday at home versus the Atlanta Hawks. He's averaged 23.1 minutes in three games for Houston since being acquired, which will likely mostly be split by Austin Rivers and Gerald Green.

Shump is averaging 18.8 FanDuel points in 45 games (40 starts) this season. numberFire's models expect him to record 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 triples per contest over the remainder of the year.

Source: Jonathan Feigen

Miami Heat small forward Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) was a full practice participant on Wednesday and could play on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

What It Means:

Jones was initially expected to miss six weeks when he injured his knee at the end of January, but he wound up cutting that timetable in half. Goran Dragic (knee) is also expected to return on Thursday, which will likely lead to reduced roles for Rodney McGruder, Dion Waiters, and Justise Winslow.

DJJ was playing 18.1 minutes and averaging 16.8 FanDuel points in 37 games (five starts) before the injury.

Source: Miami Heat

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is questionable with a sprained left ankle for Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets.

What It Means:

This is the first word of the injury. The Trail Blazers will likely provide an update after Thursday's shootaround. Seth Curry drew the start in Lillard's lone absence earlier this season. C.J. McCollum also saw a boost.

Dame averaged 43.3 FanDuel points in 56 games before the All-Star break. numberFire's models expect him to record 26.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.5 triples per contest over the remainder of the season.

Source: NBC Sports Northwest

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss the next week due to a sore left knee.

What It Means:

Embiid will be re-evaluated in a week, but an MRI revealed no structural damage. It puts Boban Marjanovic in line for a start and expanded minutes on Thursday versus the Miami Heat, as well as on Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers and next Monday in New Orleans versus the Pelicans. Jonah Bolden should also see a boost and there will be more opportunity on offense for Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons.

Embiid averaged 52.7 FanDuel points in 54 games before the All-Star break, with 27.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.9 blocks, and 1.2 triples per contest.

Source: Shams Charania

Boston Celtics guard/forward Gordon Hayward sprained his right ankle in a workout on Tuesday, head coach Brad Stevens said.

What It Means:

Stevens expects Hayward to be questionable for Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown would stand to benefit if Hayward misses time. It's unfortunate timing, as he's scored at least 18 points in four of the last five games, with averages of 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.8 triples on a 61.2 field goal percentage and 50.0 3-point percentage in that span.

Hayward posted 24.1 FanDuel points in 53 games (17 starts) before the break. numberFire's models expect him to record 11.7 points, 3.8 boards, 3.0 dimes, 1.0 steals, and 2.0 triples per contest over the remainder of the year.

Source: Chris Forsberg