Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) is doubtful for Thursday's matchup against Sacramento as he manages a right ankle injury. With Dallas on a back-to-back, the expectation is that Gafford could return Friday against Memphis, but he is unlikely to suit up in this opener. Marvin Bagley III is positioned to start after producing 22 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes last game. Bagley becomes a short-term streaming option, while Naji Marshall and Max Christie could absorb added rebounding chances if Gafford sits.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (ankle/hip) is questionable for Thursday's matchup against New Orleans after picking up right ankle and hip issues during practice. Markkanen is one of Utah's go-to scorers and key floor spacers, so if he sits, the Jazz will have to spread those shots around and lean more on their other scoring options. John Konchar could slide into the starting group after logging 24 minutes with five points and three steals last game, but Brice Sensabaugh carries the higher ceiling after erupting for 26 points and four three-pointers in 32 minutes.

Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington (ankle) will sit out Thursday against Sacramento after spraining his left ankle late in Tuesday's win over Brooklyn. Washington usually soaks up around 28 minutes a night, so there are real minutes to fill, especially with Daniel Gafford (ankle) also banged up. Klay Thompson stepped into a larger scoring role last game with 17 points in 23 minutes, while Caleb Martin chipped in five rebounds across the same workload. Thompson carries scoring upside but remains streaky, and Martin is more of a deep-league filler. Naji Marshall should see the most stable bump in usage.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (glute) was ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday's game against Detroit after suffering a left glute contusion in the first half. He logged 14 minutes and finished with three points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal before being sidelined. The injury halts his recent surge, as he had delivered back-to-back 22-point outings with six three-pointers in each. Should he miss Friday, Jared McCain becomes a viable streaming target after posting 20 points and four three pointers in 30 minutes last game.

Oklahoma City Thunder center Branden Carlson (back) will not return Wednesday against Detroit after experiencing low back soreness in the opening quarter. The two-way big man logged four minutes and finished with four points, four rebounds, and two assists before exiting. Carlson averages just 11 minutes and typically sees run only when Chet Holmgren (back) or Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) rests, limiting his fantasy relevance. If Holmgren and Hartenstein remain sidelined on Friday, Jaylin Williams becomes the priority add after erupting for 30 points, 11 rebounds, and five three-pointers in 36 minutes last game.

Toronto Raptors forward/center Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) will not return Wednesday against San Antonio after aggravating a left thumb contusion in the second half. The rookie logged 15 minutes and produced four points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal before being shut down. Murray-Boyles has averaged 22 minutes this season, but any absence should push Jakob Poeltl into a heavier run after he posted 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in 28 minutes off the bench last game. Sandro Mamukelashvili is a deeper-league flier.

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (illness) exited Wednesday's game against Boston and will not return after logging just eight minutes. He finished with two points on 1-of-3 shooting and one assist before being shut down. Murray entered the night averaging 34.8 minutes and a 28.4 percent usage rate, so any absence would shift ballhandling toward Nikola Jokic and Christian Braun. Bruce Brown, who posted four points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 28 minutes last game, becomes a fringe streamer if Murray sits Friday.

Washington Wizards guard/forward Kyshawn George (knee) has been tagged as questionable for Thursday's contest against the Atlanta Hawks. The 22-year-old sophomore led the starters with 11 points in Tuesday's blowout loss to the Hawks, but he may skip the rematch due to a left knee contusion. While George turned a lot of heads early in the season, his form has faded over the course of the season. Across February, he has averaged only 10.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Justin Champagnie could replace George in the first unit on Thursday, and he'll be worthy of some fantasy attention after averaging 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals over his last six appearances.

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (foot) is questionable for Thursday's contest against the Washington Wizards. He has landed on the injury report with a sprained left foot. Jalen Johnson (hip) is also questionable for Thursday's action, and the Hawks' offense could have a completely different dynamic if both Alexander-Walker and Johnson miss the game. CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga would handle more of the offense, while Corey Kispert and Gabe Vincent could see their minutes increase. There might be a larger role for Zaccharie Risacher (hip) as well, but he's also questionable to play.

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (hip) is listed as questionable for Thursday night's action against the Washington Wizards. He is dealing with a right hip contusion and may depart the lineup after tallying nine points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 28 minutes against the Wizards on Tuesday. Jalen Johnson (hip) is also questionable for the game, meaning we could see a lot more of Jonathan Kuminga and Corey Kispert on Thursday night. Kuminga was very impressive in his Hawks debut on Tuesday, totalling 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 24 minutes.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (back) remains on the injury report ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Houston Rockets. He is listed as questionable with a back strain. Suggs has already missed three games because of the injury, allowing Tristan da Silva to reclaim a starting berth. After a midseason slump, da Silva has performed well recently. He has averaged 10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks over the past three games. On Thursday, da Silva may continue to contribute in Suggs' absence, but scoring could be challenging against the league's fourth-best defense.

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (back) has a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of Thursday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. Indiana will likely be without Pascal Siakam (wrist) on Thursday night, and Nembhard might join him on the sidelines due to a lower back injury. Despite the issue, Nembhard had 23 points and three assists in 28 minutes during Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia. He may be able to shake off the questionable tag again. If not, T.J. McConnell, Quenton Jackson, and Kam Jones will be expected to pick up the slack.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (back) won't play against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Due to a nagging lower back issue, Avdija is forced to sit out a second consecutive game. Avdija has joined Shaedon Sharpe (leg) on the shelf, leaving Portland without its two top offensive options. This elevates the offensive usage of Jerami Grant, Jrue Holiday, and Scott Henderson. The trio took 46 of Portland's 89 shot attempts in Tuesday's loss to Minnesota. Kris Murray stepped into the starting lineup in Avdija's absence, contributing 16 points, five rebounds, one assist, and two blocks in 29 minutes.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (ankle) is questionable to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night. The veteran star is dealing with soreness in his left ankle. However, despite being banged up, Leonard has made 14 consecutive appearances. After shaking off the questionable tag, Leonard logged 33 minutes in Sunday's loss to Orlando, finishing with 37 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. If Leonard sits on Thursday, Bennedict Mathurin would become the Clippers' top offensive option, while there could be additional playing time available for Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller.

Houston Rockets' C Alperen Sengun recorded a triple-double, finishing with 26 points, 11 assists and 13 rebounds in a 128-97 win over the Kings on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (ankle) won't return to Wednesday's game against Houston. The 25-year-old recently returned after missing over a month because of a sprained left ankle. Unfortunately, he re-injured the same ankle late in the first quarter on Wednesday night. Murray would go on to finish with three points in nine minutes of action. The Kings play again on Thursday in Dallas, although fantasy managers shouldn't expect to see him out there for that one. If that's the case, Nique Clifford, averaging 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 10 starts this season, would be considered the favorite to enter the starting lineup.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (Achilles) has been a "full go" in five-on-five scrimmages of late. The multi-time All-Star suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon during Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals versus the New York Knicks. As expected, he underwent surgery, with many assuming he would miss the entire 2025-26 campaign. Miraculously, only nine months removed from the injury, it appears Tatum could suit up at some point before the end of the regular season. There are some hurdles the former Duke Blue Devil will need to clear. He'll also be limited from a minutes standpoint until the end of the postseason. However, fantasy managers can keep Tatum stashed, considering he might be ready to go soon. If that happens, he'll still have value for fantasy participants even with a limited workload.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) is listed as probable for Thursday's game against the Heat. The 31-year-old recently returned from a five-game absence and logged 27 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 26 minutes against Indiana. When active, Embiid remains an elite fantasy anchor, averaging 33.8 minutes, 31.8 points, 2.0 three-pointers, 7.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks over his last five games. Tyrese Maxey shifts back into his usual co-star role, and Andre Drummond becomes difficult to trust if Embiid logs normal minutes.

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam (left wrist sprain) is listed as doubtful for Thursday's matchup against the Hornets, positioning him to miss a second straight game. The veteran remains day-to-day, but Indiana has leaned on its depth in his absence. Jarace Walker started Tuesday and logged eight points, ten rebounds, and six assists in 32 minutes, offering strong category coverage. Micah Potter erupted for a career-high 23 points with three three-pointers in 23 minutes off the bench and is a viable scoring streamer. Ben Sheppard should continue starting if Siakam sits.

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (hip) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Wizards after tweaking his hip in Tuesday's win. If the 24-year-old sits, Jonathan Kuminga would be positioned for a significant role, with a possible move into the starting lineup. In his Hawks debut, Kuminga erupted for 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three three-pointers in 25 minutes. The matchup aided the stat line, but the opportunity is real with Johnson limited. Zaccharie Risacher (hip) could also see added run if active, while Onyeka Okongwu may absorb more frontcourt usage.