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2023-24 NBA Injuries (Oct. 29): Who’s In and Out & The Impact On Teams (Update)

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The 2023-24 NBA season is not even a week old, and there have been several critical injuries. Here is the injury report of all six games on the NBA docket for October 29.  The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder open up action this afternoon. Meanwhile, there are five contests on the main slate.

2023-24 NBA Injuries (Oct. 29): Who’s In and Out & The Impact On Teams

Denver Nuggets (2-0) at Oklahoma is City Thunder (2-0), 3:30 p.m. (ET)

Denver lists two players on the injury report. Vlatko Cancar and Jay Huff have been listed as out. However, neither player was going to have an impact on today’s game. Cancar is out indefinitely following offseason surgery, and Huff, on a two-way contract, is an end-of-bench type player.

Oklahoma City also has listed two players out, Jaylin Williams (hamstring) and Kenrich Williams (back).  Both players were expected to have a role this season, but neither has played this year.

Atlanta Hawks (0-2) at Milwaukee Bucks (1-0), 7:00 p.m. (ET)

Similar to the Nuggets and Thunder, there is not much going on with the Atlanta Hawks injury report. Wesley Mathews (calf), the only player on the 15-man roster on the report, is out, and has yet to play this year.

Milwaukkee will be without starting forward Khris Middleton (knee). The Athletic’s Eric Nehm said that Adrian Griffin said that Middleton won’t play due to injury management as the Bucks are playing the first of a back-t0-back. Middleton, who had offseason surgery, is expected to play against the Miami Heat on Monday.

Pat Connaughton is expected to take Middleton’s place in the starting lineup. Connaughton started several games at small forward for the Bucks last year. He averaged nearly 10 points and six rebounds in his 33 starts in 2022-23.

Jae Crowder, who played 27 minutes in the season opener, and Marjon Beauchamp also project to see a bump in minutes.

Houston Rockets (0-2) at Golden State Warriors (1-1), 7:00 p.m. (ET)

Houston’s depth, as young as it is, was supposed to be a strength. The Rockets have already given minutes to 15 different players. The Rockets have three players listed as out against the Warriors. Tari Easton (leg) has yet to play and is expected to be out for at least another week or two. Victor Oladipo (knee) may or may not play this year, though he is slated to amp up his workouts this week.

Jock Landale, who is the Rockets backup center, will miss his second straight game with a concussion. So, Boban Marjanovic will likely see a few minutes behind Alperen Sengun, as he did against San Antonio on Friday. Meanwhile, Nate Hinton (ankle) is listed as probable. Hinton has seen three total minutes in his two appearances this year.

Golden State also has some injury concerns, though the Warriors got some good news a bit ago. Stephen Curry (foot) has been upgraded from questionable to probable, per UnderDog NBA.

Also, Draymond Green (ankle) is expected to make his season debut, as he is listed as probable. However, Jonathan Kuminga is questionable due to foot soreness.

If Green can play, he is projected to start at center. That means Kevon Looney will come off the bench.

If Kuminga can go, he and Dario Saric will likely see a decrease in playing time with Green returning. Kuminga has been playing well in 23 minutes of action. Saric has rebounded the ball well in 17 minutes per game.

Portland Trail Blazers (0-2) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-1), 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Portland has one significant injury listed, with Anfernee Simons remaining out. Simons (thumb) is out for the next four to six weeks. Shaedon Sharpe, who was fantastic in the Trail Blazers last game, will start at shooting guard again.

James Harden has yet to be deemed ready to play by the Philadelphia 76ers and will miss his third straight game. So, Tyrese Maxey and De’Anthony Melton remain starters in the 76ers’ backcourt. Maxey has been sensational in the first two games, averaging 32.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 4o minutes a game. However, Melton has struggled shooting the ball, though he is averaging 4.0 assists a game.

Joel Embiid also may not play as he is listed as questionable due to rest, according to Underdog NBA.

If the reigning NBA MVP sits out tonight, Paul Reed will likely get the start at center for the Sixers. However, Nick Nurse could keep Reed with the second unit and elevate Mo Bamba, who has yet to play this year. Either way, both players expect an upward tick in minutes if Embiid is out.

San Antonio Spurs (1-1) at Los Angeles Clippers (1-1), 9:00 p.m. (ET)

San Antonio has no players on their 15-man roster listed on the injury report. Conversely, Los Angeles only has Brandon Boston Jr. (left quadriceps) on their report, and he is out. Boston has yet to play this season.

Los Angeles Lakers (1-1) at Sacramento Kings (1-1), 9:00 p.m. (ET)

The Los Angeles Lakers lists three players on their 15-man roster on the injury report. Rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino (right patella contusion) and Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel soreness) are out for the third straight game. Vanderbilt’s continued unavailability likely means that Taurean Prince will once again start at power forward. After an excellent season debut, Prince struggled against the Suns. Meanwhile, Christian Wood and Rui Hachimura will continue to see between 12-20 minutes of time.

Cam Reddish (right foot soreness) is probable for the Lakers. Reddish is averaging 5.5 points on 44% shooting from the field, though he is just 1 of 5 from deep.

Trey Lyles (left calf) is the only player on the Kings’ report, and he is out. Lyles has yet to play this year.

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