The NBA is nearing its all-star break. Still, there are four quality game days left and plenty of injuries. Here is a look at who may or may not play tonight.
Tyrese Halliburton Healthy? Isaiah Hartenstein Upgrade and Rockets Injury Status
Will Tyrese Haliburton Play Tonight?
The Indiana Pacers (34-20) will be shorthanded when they take on the Charlotte Hornets (11-41). The Pacers won’t have reserve forward Jalen Smith for a second straight game due to back spasms.
Pacers are back at it tonight in Charlotte, their first of two games before the All-Star break.
Jalen Smith (back spasms) has already been ruled out for the second game in a row.
Haliburton and James Johnson (illness) are questionable.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) February 12, 2024
However, Tyrese Haliburton is expected to play despite being listed as questionable due to his lingering hamstring issue. Even though Haliburton hasn’t missed a game since January 28, he has been limited to 30 minutes of court time over the last seven outings.
Indiana enters the contest winning three of four and sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers are a half-game in front of the Orlando Magic and two games behind fifth-place Philadelphia.
Charlotte (11-41) snapped a 10-game losing streak on Saturday with a victory over Memphis. While the Hornets got some reinforcements at the trade deadline with Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Grant Williams, Davis Bertans, and Seth Curry, they will still be without a few players. As LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams are out.
But on the plus side, Cody Martin (knee) is likely to play, as he has been upgraded to probable after being listed as questionable.
Isaiah Hartenstein Upgraded To Questionable
The New York Knicks continue to be shorthanded up front. Still, they have recently gotten good news with Isaiah Hartenstein being upgraded to questionable for tonight’s clash against the Houston Rockets after the 7-footer sat out against Indiana on Saturday due to an Achilles injury. Hartenstein was limited to 15 minutes due to the injury that he picked up against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 8.
New York (33-20) has lost three of four. The Knicks remain without OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson. Reserve big man Jericho Sims has missed the past three games with an illness, though he is expected to return to action tonight.
Houston (23-29) has lost four straight and is falling out of contention for a play-in spot. The Rockets are 12th in the West, three games behind 10th-place Golden State Warriors.
Fred VanVleet remains sidelined with a thigh injury. VanVleet has been out since Feb. 5, though he could return against the Memphis Grizzlies on Valentine’s Day.
With VanVleet out, rookie Amen Thompson is expected to remain in the starting lineup. Thompson averages 12.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while compiling a shooting slash line of .568/.000/.600 in four starts.
Cam Whitmore (ankle) and Tari Eason (leg) also remain out. Meanwhile, Alperen Sengun is questionable after missing Saturday’s game with a lower back injury.
Other News
- Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson dislocated his shoulder in Sunday’s game and will be re-evaluated in a few weeks, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson has suffered a dislocated right shoulder and is expected to be re-evaluated in a few weeks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Richardson has averaged 10 points in return season in Miami, including 40% from 3-point range over last two months. pic.twitter.com/FUsG1p2UlZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 12, 2024
Richardson was injured as he pursued the ball early in the second quarter against Boston. He fell to the court in pain and grabbed his shoulder, then had to be helped back to the locker room. An MRI conducted this morning revealed the extent of the damage.
- Meanwhile, fellow Heat guard Terry Rozier is slated to be week-to-week as his MRI revealed a right knee sprain.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has avoided any major injury as MRI today showed a sprained right knee and he will be evaluated week-to-week, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Rozier suffered the injury Sunday vs. Boston.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 12, 2024
Rozier sustained the injury midway through the third quarter of Sunday’s game. Rozier landed awkwardly on his right leg on an attempted layup, and trainers had to help him get to the locker room.
- New Orleans Pelicans reserve guard Dyson Daniels sustained a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be out indefinitely, per Charania.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels has suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee and is sidelined indefinitely, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Daniels has been a key rotation player for Pelicans, averaging 21.9 minutes, 5.5 points and 1.4 steals a game (top 10 in NBA). pic.twitter.com/Hz2JZuqeu0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 12, 2024
Daniels is receiving additional evaluations “to determine appropriate treatment options,” with another update to come in the future.
The Pelicans also could be without Zion Williamson tonight against Memphis. Williamson sat out Saturday’s game due to a left foot bruise. Williamson is listed as questionable for tonight.
As a result of Daniels’ injury and Williamson’s unknown status, the Pelicans have recalled E.J. Liddell from the G-League.