Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (ankle) has been upgraded to available for Thursday's game against Phoenix after previously carrying a probable tag. Hayes is averaging 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17.3 minutes this season and should slot back into his usual reserve role behind Deandre Ayton. His availability likely trims frontcourt minutes for Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt, limiting their deep-league appeal. Hayes remains a fringe option outside of very deep formats, offering modest rebounding and field-goal percentage support without consistent volume.

Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (illness) is out, while centers Robert Williams III (foot) and Yang Hansen (back) are available for Thursday's game against Chicago. Clingan's absence opens frontcourt minutes, giving Williams per-minute upside appeal. Over his last five games, Williams has averaged 6.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 14.6 minutes, positioning him as a viable blocks streamer who can deliver efficient production even in a limited role. Hansen profiles as a deeper, riskier option. Jerami Grant and Toumani Camara should also see slight rebounding boosts with Clingan sidelined.

Chicago Bulls center Jalen Smith (calf) and forward Patrick Williams (quad) are expected to miss at least one week due to right leg strains. The timeline likely sidelines both for multiple games, thinning Chicago's frontcourt rotation. Guerschon Yabusele started the last contest and logged 27 minutes, producing 11 points, four rebounds, three three-pointers, one assist, and two steals, while Nick Richards added six points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. Yabusele profiles as a short-term streamer for threes and steals, and Richards offers deep-league rebounding value. Matas Buzelis should continue to see a steady run in the frontcourt.

Dallas Mavericks forward Khris Middleton (shoulder) will play Thursday against Sacramento after entering the night with a shoulder stinger. The veteran wing has averaged 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 three-pointers in 23.0 minutes across his last five games, but he remains a volatile fantasy option given fluctuating minutes and workload management risk. With Dallas shorthanded in the frontcourt, Middleton should see steady involvement, though his availability could trim opportunities for Klay Thompson and Caleb Martin on the wing. Middleton is more of a matchup-based play in standard leagues, while deeper formats can justify holding for scoring and triples.

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (shoulder) is available to play ahead of Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. Johnson was a late addition to the injury report, but he does shed the questionable tag. He figures to have his normal workload after only playing 14 minutes during Wednesday's contest. Johnson has been struggling lately; he has only scored over 10 points in two of his last seven games. The hope is that he is able to bounce out of this rough patch soon. Fantasy managers should continue to ride with him and should get him active ahead of tip-off on Thursday.

Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic (back) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. This marks the third straight game that Jovic has missed due to a lingering back issue. His next chance to play will come on Saturday versus the Houston Rockets. The absence of Jovic should mean increased playing time for Simone Fontechhio and Pelle Larsson. Neither player offers great fantasy value at the moment. Larsson has been consistent with 10 or more points in each of the last three games. He's worth a look as a low-end streaming option while Jovic is out.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) will sit out Thursday's game against Sacramento due to right ankle injury management. With P.J. Washington (ankle) also sidelined, Dallas is thin up front. Marvin Bagley III is the clear streaming target after posting 22 points, five rebounds, and one assist in 20 minutes off the bench in the last win. He should approach 24 to 28 minutes if inserted into the starting group. Naji Marshall and Khris Middleton could see added frontcourt usage, while Bagley profiles as a short-term points and rebounds boost.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee, shin) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Miami Heat. As expected, Embiid is ready to go after being listed as probable on the injury report. Before Tuesday's contest, Embiid missed five straight games due to knee and shin issues. On Tuesday, Embiid finished with 27 points, five assists, and six rebounds in 26 minutes of action. The expectation is that Embiid will have a similar workload until he's fully healthy again. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can feel safe getting Embiid into their lineups on Thursday.

Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (illness) is available to play ahead of Thursday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Mitchell will shed the questionable tag and suit up despite dealing with an illness. There is no indication that Mitchell is going to be limited after having a full workload on Tuesday. This season, Mitchell is averaging 9.0 points, 7.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds across 28.8 minutes per game. With Mitchell active, Kasparas Jakucionis will remain on the bench, which will limit his fantasy upside.

According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Miami Heat guard/forward Norman Powell (groin) will suit up against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Powell was a late addition to his team's injury report on Thursday afternoon due to groin soreness, but he's since been cleared to play. The 32-year-old has made three appearances since the break and collected 26 points in Tuesday's loss to the Bucks. If Powell has any setbacks, backcourt minutes could be available for Kasparas Jakucionis, Pelle Larsson, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. alongside Tyler Herro, who is still playing limited minutes after his recent return.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) isn't listed on the injury report ahead of Friday's meeting with the Denver Nuggets. He has been sidelined since suffered an abdominal injury, keeping him off the floor for OKC's previous nine contests. While SGA may be limited for at least a few contests, he should be plugged right back into all fantasy lineups. Chet Holmgren (back) and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) are also off the injury report, meaning lower ceilings for Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams, and Aaron Wiggins.

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (foot) won't play in Thursday's rematch with Washington. The Hawks are also down Jalen Johnson (hip), meaning there will be plenty of shots up for grabs. There are several directions head coach Quin Snyder can go regarding the starting lineup. However, CJ McCollum, Onyeka Okongwu, and Jonathan Kuminga may be the most productive from a fantasy standpoint no matter who gets the start. Kuminga looked fantastic in his first game in Atlanta, amassing 27 points, seven boards, and two steals in 24 minutes.

Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports that Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (back) will suit up against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. Nembhard previously carried a questionable tag, but he is now good to go. In his last outing, he collected 23 points and three assists in 28 minutes during Tuesday's loss to the Sixers. The 26-year-old should continue to see minutes in the high-20s, and he remains a viable streaming option going into tonight's tilt.

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (hip) will play on Thursday versus Washington. He was listed on the injury report because of a hip contusion after amassing nine points and nine boards when these clubs met on Tuesday night. With Jalen Johnson (hip) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (foot) both ruled out, Risacher has an excellent opportunity to get more involved against one of the worst defensive squads in the National Basketball Association. Still, his volatility throughout the campaign makes him hard to trust.

Tyler Smith of IndySportsLegends.com reports that Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam (wrist) is unavailable for Thursday's matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. Siakam was considered doubtful previously, but he's since been ruled out due to a left wrist sprain and will miss his second game in a row. The Pacers will be provided with some relief as Obi Toppin (foot) is set to suit up. However, his minutes will likely be limited, giving Ben Sheppard and Micah Potter plenty of frontcourt scoring opportunities.

Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (foot) will suit up on Thursday versus Charlotte. He had played in only three games this season before suffering a stress fracture in his right foot. Prior to the injury, the 2020 No. 8 overall pick appeared to be well on his way to having the best year of his career, averaging 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. With that said, Toppin will be on a minutes restriction for the remainder of the season, likely making him irrelevant for fantasy purposes.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (back) will return from his three-game absence on Thursday versus Houston. Tristan da Silva had been starting while Suggs was on the shelf, most recently amassing 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals in Tuesday's 110-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Although it's realistic to assume Suggs might see less work than usual in his first game back, his presence should eliminate nearly all of da Silva's streaming appeal. The same can be said for Jett Howard and Jevon Carter, who have been sporadically productive while Suggs was out of commission.

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (illness) won't suit up against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday due to an illness. The 28-year-old is averaging 11.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per contest across 47 outings this season. With Hachimura on the shelf, a sizable amount of minutes could be available for players like Luke Kennard or Jack LaRavia. Luke Kennard has had most success recently draining at least one three-pointer in eight of his last nine appearances.

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (ankle) is dealing with ankle soreness and may not be available when his team finishes their back-to-back in Texas with a game against the Mavericks. Monk only had seven points in 19 minutes on Wednesday, but had double-digit points in five straight before that. Russell Westbrook (thigh) and Keegan Murray (ankle) are already out, so if Monk joins them on the sidelines, Devin Carter and Killian Hayes will get plenty of run in the backcourt, while Nique Clifford, Precious Achiuwa, and Maxime Raynaud will have to carry more of the scoring load in the offense.

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (quad) was downgraded from doubtful to out for Thursday's game against the Trail Blazers. Williams will join Jalen Smith (calf) on the sidelines, leaving lots of playing time and usage for Guerschon Yabusele, Nick Richards, and Leonard Miller. Yabusele and Richards each have double-double potential in the favorable matchup. Yabusele will likely start in place of Smith, giving him and especially high ceiling due to his multi-category upside against Portland, and without Williams, Miller may have to step more into the mix off the bench.