Last Updated on August 7, 2026 9:17 am by André Lemos | Published: December 26, 2025

Happy Holidays! Let us look forward to the upcoming week of NBA action.

Injuries to Watch

This is for December 27 to January 4.

Impending Evaluations

By Early Next Week (Late December):

I expect updates for Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) and Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) any day now.

Derrick Jones Jr. (right knee sprain)

Gabe Vincent (back)

Landry Shamet (right shoulder)

Zach LaVine (left ankle)

By Late Next Week (Early January):

Georges Niang with his left foot stress reaction, but he just gets an update saying he will be evaluated again in two weeks every time. I am beginning to doubt if we will see him this season.

Timelines Getting Close

Early Next Week (Late December):

Larry Nance Jr. (right calf)

Late Next Week (Early January):

At the end of next week, Ty Jerome (high-grade right calf strain) will be about five and a half to six weeks into the 6-9 week return-to-play timeline we got in his last update. If he is on the early end, he is close. If he is on the late end, he is still weeks away. You can likely begin considering stashes for him next week.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (right calf strain) will have missed four weeks by the end of next week.

Franz Wagner (left ankle sprain) will be around 3 and a half weeks into his 2-4 week timeline at the end of next week.

Other Injury Notes

Moritz (Moe) Wagner (left ACL tear) has been ramping up in the G League and should be cleared to play fairly soon.

Unknown timelines but could appear soon: Kristaps Porzingis, Haywood Highsmith, Grant Williams (right ACL tear), Ben Sheppard

Past initial timelines for evaluations or absences: Aaron Nesmith, Kelly Oubre Jr., Trendon Watford, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Matisse Thybulle, RJ Barrett, Miles McBride.
Any of thiese players could pop up at any time now.

Max Strus (left foot) will be three months into a 3-4 month timeline. I think it will be closer to four months though.

Schedule Breakdown

Weekly Info

Games played:

10 teams play THREE games – BOS, LAC, DET, MEM, LAL, PHI, DAL, HOU, TOR, UTA

20 teams play FOUR games – MIN, MIL, NOR, PHO, NYK, GSW, CHA, OKC, BKN, DEN, SAS, ORL, MIA, SAC, POR, WAS, CHI, CLE, ATL, IND

Weekly Lineup Leagues’ Start/Sit Decisions:

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Keston Paul

Keston majored in Biology and minored in Literatures in English at the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.), St. Augustine. Hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, Kes grew up loving cricket, then football (soccer, not NFL) & never missed a Barça game in the 2010s. Later on, he grew obsessed with basketball/fantasy basketball & unfortunately claims to be a Sixers fan for some reason.

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