Ausar Thompson Cleared To Return
Pistons swingman Ausar Thompson has received medical clearance from the NBA’s Fitness-To-Play Panel, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Thompson has been sidelined since March when doctors discovered he had a blood clot. He will begin participating in full-contact practices and is expected to make his season debut soon, Charania adds.
Thompson’s return date will depend on his level of conditioning, a source tells Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
Thompson, the No. 5 pick in the 2023 draft, was a part-time starter during his rookie season, making 38 starts in 63 games and averaging 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 25.1 minutes per night. He was one of Detroit’s best defensive players, although he struggled with his outside shot, connecting at just 18.6% from three-point range.
Thompson has been working closely with new Pistons shooting coach Fred Vinson while he was sidelined, Sankofa adds (Twitter link). Sankofa suggests that Isaiah Stewart could spend more time spotting up for threes whenever he and Thompson are on the court together.
Thompson sat out the last 19 games of his rookie year and has missed 11 so far this season, Sankofa adds in a full story. He was permitted to participate in conditioning and non-contact drills while the Fitness-To-Play Panel reviewed his case.
“Ever since what happened, happened, I’ve been working out and have slowly progressed the workouts to be harder and harder,” Thompson said at media day. “Right now I feel great, I feel perfectly fine.”
Detroit recently picked up the 2025/26 options for Thompson and three other members of last season’s rookie class. He will become eligible for a rookie scale extension in the summer of 2026.
Chet Holmgren Expected To Miss At Least 8-10 Weeks
Thunder big man Chet Holmgren has been diagnosed with a right iliac wing fracture after taking a hard fall during the first quarter of the team’s loss to Golden State on Sunday (video link), Oklahoma City announced in a press release (Twitter link via Rylan Stiles of SI.com). An iliac wing fracture is a form of pelvic fracture.
While the Thunder say Holmgren is expected to return to action later in the 2024/25 season, he’ll be out for an extended period. The plan is to reevaluate him in eight-to-10 weeks, per the club.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Holmgren missed his entire rookie season due to a foot injury, then appeared in all 82 regular season games in 2023/24.
“Can’t tell if I feel better or worse about this, having been through something similar before,” Holmgren wrote on Twitter. “On one hand I know how to approach it, I know what to do, what not to do and how beautiful the other side is. But on the other hand I’ve felt the frustration of this process, and the wear it puts on your mind.
“Most of all I’m hurt I can’t help my teammates and play for our fans and supporters for a while. Everyone who sticks with me and our team, along with my need for hoops, is a big part of my passion to return. Don’t pity me or feel bad, there’s lots of people out there right now with real problems that don’t heal.”
Holmgren’s injury is a tough blow to a Thunder team that entered the season as the favorite to be the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed and had lived up to expectations this fall, winning eight of its first nine games before falling to the Warriors on Sunday.
Holmgren, last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up, had been a key part of that early success, averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game across nine outings, with a .519/.400/.776 shooting line.
The Thunder signed center Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency over the summer to bolster their frontcourt and help out Holmgren in the middle, but Hartenstein has been sidelined in recent weeks with an injury of his own, having fractured his left hand during the preseason.
Oklahoma City announced nearly four weeks ago that Hartenstein would be reevaluated in five-to-six weeks, so that exam will happen soon. While there’s no indication yet that his return is imminent, it sounds like he should be back on the court well before Holmgren is.
The Thunder have also been waiting on big man Jaylin Williams, who went down with a hamstring strain nearly two weeks ago. He’s expected to remain sidelined for a few more weeks.
Until the Thunder gets Hartenstein and Williams back, the team will have to rely on smaller lineups, as it did on Sunday after Holmgren’s exit. Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe opened the second half alongside usual starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and Jalen Williams. Ousmane Dieng, a 6’10” forward, is also a candidate for an increased role.
“This is a resilient, tough, competitive, adaptive team,” head coach Mark Daigneault said after the game, per The Athletic. “And that’s what we’re gonna be regardless of the circumstance.”
It’s worth noting that rookie forward Malevy Leons is currently occupying the Thunder’s 15th roster spot on a non-guaranteed deal. If the team wants to bring in a veteran center on a temporary basis, he’d be the most likely release candidate. As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype points out (via Twitter), 13-year vet Bismack Biyombo – who spent part of last season in OKC, is among the top options available in free agency.
Pacers Starters Nesmith, Nembhard Out Multiple Weeks
The Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith, sidelined by an left ankle sprain, won’t return until at least next month, coach Rick Carlisle said on Sunday, per Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
Nesmith opened the season as the team’s starting small forward but hasn’t played since Nov. 1. One of the team’s top defenders, Nesmith is averaging 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game this season while shooting 52.5% from the floor and 54.5% from three-point range. He averaged 12.2 PPG and 4.0 APG last season while starting 47 of 72 games.
Andrew Nembhard, who is dealing with left knee soreness, will miss at least two weeks, according to Carlisle. Nembhard has started seven games in the backcourt this season, averaging 7.3 PPG and 4.7 APG. His last appearance came on Wednesday, when he played 31 minutes against Orlando. Nembhard started 47 of 68 games last season, averaging 9.2 PPG and 4.1 APG.
It’s been a rough go for the club in terms of injuries during the early stages of the season. Indiana has lost two backup centers, Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, to season-ending Achilles tendon tears.
Forward Obi Toppin is sitting out Sunday’s game against the Knicks with a left ankle sprain.
Ben Sheppard, Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, T.J. McConnell and Johnny Furphy could all see their minutes expand while Nesmith and Nembhard mend.
Pelicans’ Trey Murphy Targeting Monday Season Debut
NOVEMBER 10: Murphy told reporters today that he expects to play on Monday, while head coach Willie Green said the team wants to ensure Murphy makes it through shootaround without any setbacks before he’s officially cleared, tweets Andrew Lopez of ESPN.
Murphy will be officially listed as questionable for Monday’s contest, but the expectation is that he’ll be upgraded tomorrow if all goes to plan, Lopez adds.
NOVEMBER 9: Pelicans wing Trey Murphy is targeting Monday against the Nets for his season debut from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since early October, NBA insider Chris B. Haynes reports (Twitter link).
We noted on Thursday that Murphy was recently upgraded from out to doubtful on the injury report, signaling that he was nearing a return.
The 3-7 Pelicans were expected to be a playoff contender this season, but they’ve dealt with a plethora of injuries in their backcourt and wing position groups. Murphy, Jordan Hawkins, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones are among the players who have faced or are currently facing multi-week absences. Zion Williamson has also missed time.
Without some of their key contributors, they’ve had to rely on their depth in the early parts of the season. Two-way waiver claim Brandon Boston Jr. has started three games, impressing and averaging 12.7 points per game on a .508/.391/.875 shooting line in the early part of the season. Jose Alvarado, Javonte Green and Jaylen Nowell have also received significant playing time.
Murphy broke out over the past two seasons after being drafted with the No. 17 overall pick in 2021. Since his rookie season, he’s averaged 14.6 points while shooting 39.4% on 6.9 three-point attempts per game in 136 appearances. He agreed to a four-year, $112MM extension before the season.
Having Murphy back should help the Pelicans take a step toward regaining their footing in the Western Conference.
Kevin Durant To Miss At Least Two Weeks With Strained Calf
Suns star Kevin Durant will be reevaluated in two weeks after straining his left calf in Friday’s game, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
As Charania points out, Durant has been playing at an MVP level as Phoenix is tied for the top spot in the West with an 8-1 record. Through nine games, he’s averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 55.3% from the field and 43% from three-point range.
After several years of persistent injuries, Durant managed to play 75 games last season, which was his highest total since 2018/19. At age 36, he has seemed as healthy and productive as he’s been at any point during his 18-year NBA career.
Durant also suffered a calf strain while training for the Summer Olympics. He missed Team USA’s entire exhibition schedule, but was available once the games in France began.
Devin Booker and Bradley Beal will be counted on to carry more of the Suns’ scoring load while Durant is sidelined.
Booker is off to a rough start, shooting just 42.9% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range in nine games while averaging 23.1 PPG, his lowest figure in eight years. In seven games, Beal is scoring 15.4 PPG, his lowest mark in a decade, while shooting 46.1% from the field and 37.2% from beyond the arc.
Phoenix has seven games over the next two weeks, including a four-game road trip that starts Tuesday. Based on the timeline reported by Charania, the earliest Durant could return is November 26 for an in-season tournament matchup with the Lakers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Blasts Bucks’ Effort In Friday’s Loss
Giannis Antetokounmpo issued a strong message about the need to compete following Friday’s 116-94 loss at New York, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. The Bucks are off to a 2-7 start that has them tied for 13th place in the East, and Antetokounmpo wants to see greater urgency from his teammates.
“Did we compete the previous game? Yes,” he said. “Did we compete the two previous games, Cavs and Cavs? Yes. Did we compete today? No. That’s something you can control. If you’re going to go out there and you’re not going to compete, you’re not going to win the game. Sometimes you compete your ass off and you don’t win the game, but at least you give yourself a chance.
“We played great last night. We came to New York, we lost by 30. You gotta compete. Are we OK with not competing? I don’t know. I’m not OK with that s—. So, we gotta do a better job competing. We got Boston in two days. If you don’t compete, you’re going to lose by 30. Simple as that.”
Milwaukee’s only wins this season came Thursday against the 1-7 Jazz and on opening night against a shorthanded Sixers team that’s also off to a 1-7 start. Five of their seven losses have been by double figures, and Friday’s performance was probably the worst so far.
The Knicks set the tone for the game by grabbing five offensive rebounds in the first nine minutes that resulted in 10 points. They wound up out-rebounding the Bucks 48-41 and scored 21 fast break points to Milwaukee’s eight.
Coach Doc Rivers has been making changes in response to the slow start. He replaced Gary Trent Jr. in the starting lineup with Andre Jackson Jr. earlier this week, and Friday he experimented with a new substitution pattern that resulted in Antetokounmpo playing the entire first quarter. Still, the Bucks failed to match the Knicks’ level of effort.
Antetokounmpo’s comments are particularly significant amid growing speculation that the Bucks may eventually have to consider trading him. There’s no indication that the front office is considering a move at this time, but a report Friday indicated that several teams have already called to register their interest.
Defense was formerly the Bucks’ foundation, but this year’s team looks old and slow and struggles to slow down anyone, per Chris Herring of ESPN. He points out that they had no answer Friday for Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 32 points while hitting 4-of-8 shots from beyond the arc and repeatedly drove past Brook Lopez for easy baskets.
The perimeter defensive issues that have plagued the team since trading Jrue Holiday last offseason are still persisting, as Herring notes that Milwaukee ranks 28th in the league in defending pick-and-roll ball handlers.
“We gotta compete,” Antetokounmpo said. “We gotta do a better job competing. At the end of the day coming to New York, playing the way we’re playing, teams will not just give us games. Teams will not feel bad about us and just don’t compete. We have to come out with the mentality that we have to compete for every possession. One possession at a time. Every ball, every loose ball. Whenever the ball is on the floor, we gotta get our body on the floor and try to get that ball. Put our body on the line. We gotta do a better job competing. We didn’t compete at all. That’s the bottom line.”
Ja Morant Week-To-Week With Hip Injury
Ja Morant has suffered a posterior hip subluxation (without dislocation) along with multiple associated Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter). His status is considered week-to-week.
The announcement states that Morant was injured in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Lakers. He was “destabilized” in midair, causing him to fall into “extreme right hip flexion.”
Morant had to leave that game in the third quarter after a hard landing on an attempted alley-oop, per Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal. He sat out Friday’s win over Washington and was seen using crutches, Cole adds.
Cole notes that this is Morant’s third injury issue since the start of training camp. He had a mild ankle sprain during the preseason and missed an earlier regular season game with soreness in his right thigh.
Morant is off to a strong start after a 25-game suspension and a shoulder injury wiped out virtually his entire 2023/24 season. He’s averaging 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 9.1 assists in eight games, and Memphis is 5-3 with him in the lineup.
Scotty Pippen Jr. made his first start of the season Friday night and figures to remain in that role while Morant is sidelined. He posted a triple-double with 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Zion Williamson Out Indefinitely With Hamstring Strain
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain, the team announced today (via Twitter). Williamson underwent imaging on Saturday that confirmed the diagnosis.
According to the Pelicans, Williamson will be out indefinitely, with further updates provided as appropriate. While the club didn’t provide any sort of recovery timeline for the former No. 1 overall pick, it sounds like it’ll be a week-to-week injury rather than a day-to-day issue. Shams Charania of ESPN says (via Twitter) that Williamson will be reevaluated “in the coming weeks.”
As we noted on Friday, Williamson has missed three of New Orleans’ past four games with three different injury designations. He was sidelined by right hamstring tightness on Sunday, right thigh soreness on Monday, and left hamstring tightness on Friday.
It sounds like the latest ailment is the most significant of the bunch. It’s the same hamstring that Williamson injured in last season’s play-in tournament game — that injury forced him to sit out the entire first round of the playoffs, which contributed to the Pelicans’ quick postseason exit.
Williamson’s absence is the latest blow in what has been a brutal stretch of injury luck for the Pelicans during the season’s opening weeks. Nearly every one of the team’s starters or top reserves has been affected by some sort of multi-week health problem.
Dejounte Murray (fractured left hand) has been out since opening night; CJ McCollum (right adductor strain) and Herbert Jones (right shoulder strain) have each missed six consecutive games and remain sidelined; Jordan Hawkins suffered a low back strain on Wednesday that’s expected to keep him on the shelf for a week or two; and Trey Murphy has missed all 10 games so far this fall due to a hamstring strain of his own, though he’s targeting Monday for his return.
With Williamson unavailable, frontcourt players like Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Yves Missi, Daniel Theis, and Trey Jemison are all candidates for additional playing time.
Assuming they expect Murray, McCollum, and Jones to remain out for a couple more weeks, the Pelicans should soon be eligible for a hardship exception, which would allow them to temporarily carry more than the maximum allowable 15 players on standard contracts.
Jordan Hawkins Out 1-2 Weeks With Low Back Strain
Jordan Hawkins has suffered a low back strain that will keep him out of action for one to two weeks, the Pelicans announced (via Twitter). The second-year shooting guard will undergo a program of treatment and rehabilitation.
Hawkins, the 14th selection in the 2023 draft, appeared in 67 games as a rookie, averaging 7.8 PPG in 17.3 minutes per night while shooting 38.2% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range. His role has been expanded this season, at least in part because of a wave of injuries on New Orleans’ roster, and he has responded by increasing his scoring to 16.3 PPG in 30.3 minutes per game with .408/.365/.931 shooting splits.
Hawkins missed Monday’s game with Portland due to low back tightness and was listed as questionable ahead of Wednesday’s contest against Cleveland. He played 19 minutes, but shot just 1-of-7 from the field and was limited to seven points.
The Pelicans are already without Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones, who are all sidelined with multi-week injuries. Zion Williamson sat out Monday with soreness in his right thigh, but was able to return and play 29 minutes against the Cavaliers.
New Orleans has four games on its schedule over the next week. Hawkins would miss seven games if he’s able to return for the November 22 contest against Golden State, which is part of the in-season tournament.
Miles Bridges To Be Reevaluated In Two Weeks With Bruised Knee
The Hornets announced on Thursday that forward Miles Bridges suffered a bone bruise in his right knee on Wednesday night against the Pistons.
According to the release, the injury occurred after he hyperextended his knee in the fourth quarter. Bridges will be out for the team’s game against the Pacers and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
The injury further depletes the Hornets’ rotation, as they’re already without starting center Mark Williams and backup Nick Richards.
According to Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer, Taj Gibson, rookie Tidjane Salaun, Grant Williams and two-way player Moussa Diabate are among the top candidates to earn more minutes in the wake of all of the team’s injuries.
In eight games (all starts), Bridges is averaging 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He has been struggling with his shot, connecting on just 39.2% of his field goal attempts and 26.7% of his threes. The Hornets re-signed Bridges to a three-year, $75MM extension with no options this offseason.
At 3-5, the Hornets enter Thursday as the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They’ll continue to try to weather the storm of injuries this season in hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2016.