Chicago Bulls forward Noa Essengue (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The No. 12 overall pick in the NBA Draft has only appeared in two games for the Bulls this season, playing only six minutes and going 0-for-3 in his very limited NBA action. In four games with the G-League Windy City Bulls, the 18-year-old averaged 23 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 30.8 minutes. Coach Billy Donovan said, "The recommendation was to get it fixed now instead of waiting, because it's something that could continue to be a problem for him." Essengue could still be a part of the future plans for the Bulls, but he won't have any value in re-draft leagues this season.

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is expected to miss approximately two to four weeks with a calf strain suffered on Wednesday night against the Pistons, according to reports from ESPN's Shams Charania. He only played three minutes before leaving the game, and his absence leaves lots of work for the rest of the roster while he is sidelined. This will be the second time Giannis has been out for an extended period this season. While Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. will do most of the heavy lifting on offense, there will also be more minutes and opportunities for Bobby Portis, Myles Turner, and Kyle Kuzma. The injury took place on the same day that news broke that he was planning to meet with the team to discuss his long-term future with the team. Those discussions could still happen, but his injury will be tough for the struggling Bucks to navigate. Even though they won the game that he left early, they are still 10-13, barely holding onto the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference.

Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (rib) is questionable for Thursday's game in Brooklyn, opening the door for extra frontcourt minutes if he sits. Second-year big Kyle Filipowski profiles as the primary beneficiary after delivering 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one block in 29 minutes in his last outing, giving him short-term deep-league appeal. Taylor Hendricks and Kyle Anderson could also re-enter the mix, though both carry low ceilings. Managers should view this frontcourt as a matchup-driven streaming spot unless Nurkic misses extended time.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (back) will stay sidelined Thursday against Toronto, marking his fourth straight absence and leaving the backcourt thin with Luka Doncic (personal) also out. Gabe Vincent, Jake LaRavia, and second-year wing Dalton Knecht should again handle the leftover minutes, though all remain fringe deep-league flyers rather than standard-league streamers. Knecht produced 13 points and four rebounds in his last outing, while Vincent and LaRavia continue to offer muted, low-volume lines.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (departure) is no longer with the team as the organization prepares to part ways with the veteran, ending his limited backup role and creating a modest opening in the rotation. Paul averaged 3.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across his last five outings in 13.4 minutes, so the fantasy ripple is minimal. Kris Dunn should continue seeing steady guard minutes and remains the only viable streamer, offering assists and steals. Bogdan Bogdanovic (hip) may absorb some second-unit usage once healthy, but he is best treated as a deep-league stash.

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Quentin Grimes (calf) is questionable for Thursday's matchup with Golden State after missing Tuesday's win over Washington. His absence opened meaningful minutes on the wing, with rookie VJ Edgecombe producing nine points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks in 24 minutes while starting. Justin Edwards and Jared McCain also handled expanded roles and remain viable short-term streamers if Grimes sits again. Grimes should still be held in most formats due to stable minutes, three-point volume, and steals, but managers should track Edgecombe's continued ramp-up.

Washington Wizards guard/forward Bilal Coulibaly (oblique) is expected to miss multiple weeks, removing a key perimeter defender from an already thin rotation and opening short-term streaming chances on the wing. Cam Whitmore logged 16 minutes Tuesday and posted four points, five rebounds and one block, placing him on the radar as a deeper-league fringe option rather than a priority add. Justin Champagnie and rookie Will Riley also scored 13 points and offer low-end appeal. All three profile as situational streamers while Coulibaly is out.

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (back) won't be in the lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Austrian giant has been managing a back problem all season, regularly skipping games when Toronto has a back-to-back scheduled. Fantasy managers can expect to see Poeltl return to the court on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets. Collin Murray-Boyles and Sandro Mamukelashvili have increased fantasy value with Poeltl out of the lineup, although Jamison Battle started in his place the last time he was rested. Even as a starter, Battle only logged 11:15 of action, so he isn't someone fantasy managers should consider.

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (knee) has been listed as questionable for Thursday's tilt against the Philadelphia 76ers. The veteran star played only 15 minutes in Tuesday's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, exiting the action with a sore left knee. Gary Payton II started the second half in Butler's place, notching 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Buddy Hield also had a larger workload without Butler, logging 28 minutes off the bench. He finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Both players would have more fantasy value if Butler sits out Thursday's action.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) is on the injury report with a questionable tag ahead of an encounter with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Since returning from a knee issue, Kuminga has played in two games. Now, he may have to miss time due to a sore right ankle. Golden State is battling the injury bug right now, and many players would have added fantasy value if the team goes into Thursday night's game with a depleted lineup. Stephen Curry (quadriceps) remains unavailable, while Jimmy Butler III (knee), Al Horford (sciatica), Quinten Post (ankle), and Trayce Jackson-Davis (knee) are all listed as questionable, alongside Kuminga.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Philadelphia begins a back-to-back on Thursday, and it appears certain that George will miss at least one of the games. Since his season debut, George has seen limited action and played only 18 minutes in Tuesday's win over the Washington Wizards. He is averaging 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in 22.2 minutes per game. Justin Edwards could return to the starting lineup if George doesn't play, giving him more fantasy appeal.

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown (illness) is considered doubtful for Thursday's matchup against the Washington Wizards. He will likely miss his first game of the season due to illness. A second absence might also be in store for Brown, as Boston has another game on Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown leads the Celtics in scoring with 29.0 points per game, and his absence would open up a lot of offensive touches for other players on the team. Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, Sam Hauser, and Payton Pritchardwill all have increased fantasy appeal if Brown sits on Thursday.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) has been listed as doubtful for Thursday's clash against the Golden State Warriors, indicating that he is likely to miss a second consecutive game. Due to knee issues, the former MVP has taken the court just seven times this season, averaging 19.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals. Embiid's absence means fantasy managers can continue to keep faith in Andre Drummond, who has posted seven double-doubles in his 10 starts this season. Golden State ranks 25th in rebounding rate, making it a favorable fantasy matchup for Drummond.

Bulls' G Josh Giddey recorded a triple-double, finishing with 28 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in a 103-113 loss to the Nets on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Nuggets' G Jamal Murray scored 52 points on 19-of-25 shooting in a 135-120 win over Indiana on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

According to Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com, Chicago Bulls guard/forwardKevin Huerter(hamstring) will miss at least one week due to a hamstring injury before he is re-evaluated. The 27-year-old could return to action on Dec 12, versus the Hornets. While Huerter is absent, Ayo Dosunmu will likely take on extra minutes and could make a significant impact in fantasy with an expanded role. Through 18 appearances this season, Dosunmu is averaging 15.8 points and 3.2 assists across 27.4 minutes per contest.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) didn't return to Wednesday's meeting with the Miami Heat. He's been battling a right ankle injury for months. Although the 27-year-old was listed on the injury report heading into this contest, he still managed to suit up. Unfortunately, he logged only 14 minutes before re-aggravating the issue, finishing the night with two points, five boards, and one steal. With a matchup against OKC on tap for Friday evening, fantasy managers should start making plans in the event Gafford can't get on the floor. Dereck Lively II (foot) is still without a firm return date, and P.J. Washington (ankle) also isn't healthy, meaning Anthony Davis may need to spend all of his time at the five spot. Moussa Cisse could also be more involved than usual, even though he has a way to go in order to earn a place in most fantasy lineups.

Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (thigh) exited Wednesday's loss to the New York Knicks. He did not return. With LaMelo Ball (wrist) available, Sexton came off the bench. Unfortunately, he ended up logging only nine minutes before suffering a thigh injury, finishing with four points. The 26-year-old has shuffled between the starting lineup and reserve roles throughout the 2025 campaign. However, no matter his role, he's still played well enough to be considered an every day fantasy option in all formats despite not doing much outside of his contributions on the scoring end. Charlotte won't play again until Friday in Toronto. If Sexton doesn't suit up, there are several directions head coach Charles Lee may go with the rotation, with Liam McNeeley and Tidjane Salaun the favorites to see more work. There's also a chance KJ Simpson gets the bump up from the G League.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) won't return to Wednesday's meeting with the Detroit Pistons. He was listed on the injury report but was able to suit up. However, on a day when it was reported that the multi-time MVP was contemplating his future with the franchise, he exited after only three minutes due to a right calf strain. The Bucks don't play again until Friday versus the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. Considering Antetokounmpo recently missed four games because of a groin strain, it's certainly possible he might be looking at more time off the floor. If that happens, Bobby Portis, averaging 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in two starts this season, could work his way back into the starting lineup, with Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. anticipated to do most of the heavy lifting offensively.

According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun, Miami Heat guard/forwardPelle Larsson(ankle) is available to play against the Dallas Mavericks after carrying a questionable tag earlier on Monday. Larsson is nursing a toe sprain in his right foot. However, the injury won't keep him out of action during tonight's tilt. The 24-year-old has played in all 21 Heat games this season, posting averages of 9.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.7 rebounds across 22.5 minutes per contest. Miami may take a cautious approach and limit Larrson's minutes this evening as he deals with the new injury.