Injury Notes: Quickley, Edwards, Highsmith, Pels, Mavs
Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley was out for the eighth consecutive game on Sunday vs. Boston, but it sounds like he’s getting closer to returning from plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The 26-year-old went through on-court workouts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and hasn’t experienced any setbacks as he ramps up his activity, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link).
Quickley has made 67 appearances (32.4 minutes per game) for Toronto in 2025/26, averaging 16.9 points, 6.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals on .445/.374/.821 shooting. The Raptors have missed Quickley’s ability to stretch the floor over the past few weeks — they’ve gone 5-5 without him this season, compared to a 38-29 record when he’s active.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards continues to deal with patellofemoral pain syndrome in his right knee and was ruled out of Sunday’s contest vs. Charlotte after previously being listed as questionable (Twitter link via the Wolves). It’s a big game for Minnesota, which would secure a playoff berth if it wins and Phoenix loses to Chicago.
- The Suns are hopeful forward Haywood Highsmith will return to action before the regular season ends, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter video link), but time is running out for that to happen. Head coach Jordan Ott said Highsmith hasn’t experienced any setbacks since he aggravated a right knee injury on March 17. “He is trending in the right direction,” Ott said. “Just not as much on the floor right now. He’s getting there. Just no play yet.” The 29-year-old was out for the ninth consecutive game Sunday.
- Karlo Matkovic (low back spasms), Trey Murphy III (right ankle sprain) and Dejounte Murray will all be sidelined on Sunday when the Pelicans face Orlando, the team announced (via Twitter). It’s the third straight absence for Matkovic and second for Murray. New Orleans is mired in a seven-game losing streak.
- The Mavericks are expected to get a couple of frontcourt players back on Sunday against the Lakers, Grant Afseth writes in a pair of stories for Dallas Hoops Journal. P.J. Washington has been cleared to return after missing three games due to an illness, while Marvin Bagley III (left shoulder impingement) is probable to suit up. Bagley has also missed the team’s last three games.
Dillon Brooks To Return Tuesday For Suns
Suns forward Dillon Brooks will return to action on Tuesday in Orlando, tweets Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
The news doesn’t come as a surprise, as a report last week indicated that Brooks was expected to return early in Phoenix’s road trip, which began with a win in Memphis on Monday. Still, it’s certainly a welcome development for the Suns.
Brooks has been sidelined since February 21, when he broke his left hand in a game against the Magic. He’ll make his return for Phoenix’s second and final matchup with Orlando this season.
The 30-year-old wing has appeared in 50 games in his first season as a Sun, averaging a career-high 20.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal per night on .440/.343/.856 shooting splits. He was projected to miss between four and six weeks following surgery, and will be back in just over five.
Brooks and Mark Williams (left foot stress reaction) went through a 5-on-5 practice on Saturday for the first time since they sustained their respective injuries. They went through another 5-on-5 session on Monday, Rankin reports in a full story.
“We got out of it alright,” Suns head coach Jordan Ott said before Monday’s game. “Now you just got to see how it responds the day after. … They’ve both taken steps. They’re just ready to play. We’re ready to have them.”
Last week’s report from John Gambadoro indicated that Williams, who has been out since March 3, was likely to return later in the road trip. The Suns play at Charlotte on Thursday and in Chicago on Sunday.
Grayson Allen (left knee injury management) was also unavailable on Monday, though Ott suggested the team was just being cautious with the veteran shooting guard on the front end of a back-to-back. Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) and Amir Coffey (left ankle sprain) remained sidelined as well; it was Highsmith’s sixth consecutive absence and Coffey’s fifth.
Pacific Injury Notes: Suns, Kawhi, Reaves, Monk
The Suns had a tough last-second loss at San Antonio on Thursday and they’ll be shorthanded for Saturday’s game vs. Milwaukee, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (subscriber link).
In addition to Dillon Brooks (broken left hand) and Mark Williams (stress reaction in left foot), who continue to be sidelined, veteran wing Amir Coffey sprained his left ankle in the first half on Thursday and didn’t return. He’s out against the Bucks. Forward Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) has also been ruled out for the second straight game.
Grayson Allen, who has missed the past two contests because of a left knee injury, is questionable to suit up. Royce O’Neale (left knee soreness), who was sidelined for the first time this season on Thursday, is doubtful to play on Saturday, per the league’s latest injury report.
On a brighter note, Devin Booker isn’t on the injury report after he stepped on De’Aaron Fox‘s foot in the final second of Thursday’s loss, Rankin adds. The incident occurred when Booker was attempting a three from beyond half court.
Here are a few more injury updates from the Pacific Division:
- Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, who has been battling a left ankle sprain, is questionable for Saturday’s matchup in Dallas, tweets Law Murray of The Athletic. The 34-year-old forward is averaging 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals on .504/.383/.898 shooting through 54 games this season (32.3 MPG).
- Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been bothered by a right wrist issue recently, but he’s questionable for Saturday’s game at Orlando because of a sore left hip, per Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter link). The fifth-year guard is widely expected to decline his $14.9MM option for next season in order to become an unrestricted free agent.
- Kings guard Malik Monk was forced out of Thursday’s lopsided loss to Philadelphia due to a right shoulder injury, according to Sean Cunningham of NBC Sacramento (Twitter link). Monk appeared to suffer the injury when he drove into the paint and was fouled by Andre Drummond, Cunningham notes (Twitter video link). The Kings don’t play again until Sunday, so they have not yet released an updated injury report.
Injury Notes: Booker, Highsmith, Zion, Jovic, Warriors
The Suns, who went just 4-7 in February as they dealt with injuries affecting multiple starters and rotation players, will get some reinforcements on Tuesday in Sacramento.
As Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays (via Twitter), star guard Devin Booker is no longer listed on Phoenix’s injury report after missing the past four games due to a right hip strain. While the Suns split those four games without Booker available, they were clearly missing their leading scorer, having ranked 29th in the NBA in offensive rating during that stretch.
Recently signed swingman Haywood Highsmith also isn’t included on the Suns’ latest injury report, Rankin notes, which suggests he should be ready to make his season debut. Highsmith underwent surgery to address a torn meniscus in his right knee last August and experienced a setback in his rehab in October. He was traded from Miami to Brooklyn last offseason, was waived by the Nets last month, and signed with the Suns as he ramped up to return to action.
Two of Phoenix’s top wing defenders – Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture) and Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain) – remain out, so Highsmith should get a shot to earn rotation minutes now that he’s healthy.
We have more health-related updates from around the NBA:
- Pelicans forward Zion Williamson sat out on Sunday due to an ankle sprain, ending his career-high streak of 35 consecutive games played, but he’s listed as questionable to play on Tuesday vs. the Lakers and told Malika Andrews of ESPN (Twitter video link) he expects to suit up. Williamson will be motivated to appear in at least 16 of New Orleans’ final 20 games this season, since doing so would ensure he locks in at least 80% of his $42.2MM salary for 2026/27 (the remaining 20% could become guaranteed if he meets weight-related benchmarks).
- Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic will miss a fifth consecutive game on Tuesday due to a lower back injury, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Jovic says he doesn’t have any disk issues and doesn’t think the ailment is related to the stress reaction in his back that sidelined him for a significant portion of the 2022/23 season, but he admitted he’s struggling with the injury. “My back doesn’t feel good,” Jovic said. “The scan shows I got some inflammation, and one of my nerves doesn’t look great right now.”
- Warriors wing Moses Moody, who didn’t play in the fourth quarter of the team’s loss to the Clippers on Monday, jammed his wrist and injured his shoulder, according to head coach Steve Kerr, who said Moody will be evaluated further on Tuesday (Twitter link via Nick Friedell of ESPN).
- Kristaps Porzingis missed a fifth straight game with an illness on Monday and it’s unclear when the Warriors big man will return to action, Friedell writes for The Athletic. “It’s a little mysterious,” Kerr said of Porzingis’ illness. “We’re obviously working with him, and he can get some clarity, and he can kind of break through, and he can get to a point where he’s consistently healthy, but that’s something that the medical staff is working hard on with him. I’m not going to posit any medical theories anymore.”
Devin Booker Suffers Right Hip Strain, Out At Least One Week
Suns star Devin Booker has been diagnosed with a right hip strain and will be out at least one week, which is when he’ll be reevaluated, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link via Law Murray of The Athletic).
Booker suffered the injury in Thursday’s loss to San Antonio. The 29-year-old shooting guard went to the locker room midway through the first quarter and attempted to return late in the second quarter before being ruled out for the second half.
Injuries have been an issue as of late for Booker, who missed eight of 10 games prior to the All-Star break due to a right ankle sprain. He’s likely to miss at least four more games as a result of the hip strain, which would increase his season-long total to 16. That’s noteworthy, because Booker needs to play at least 65 contests to qualify for major postseason awards.
Booker has averaged 24.7 points, 6.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds on .454/.308/.861 shooting in 44 games this season (33.3 minutes per contest). Phoenix is 27-17 when Booker plays this season but has gone just 5-7 without the team’s best player.
The Suns also provided an injury update on Haywood Highsmith, who recently signed a two-year deal with Phoenix. While the 6’5″ forward is progressing from offseason knee surgery, he will continue to rehabilitate and will be checked out again in two-to-three weeks. That echoes recent reporting from John Gambadoro, who said Highsmith was at least a few weeks away from making his Suns (and season) debut.
Contract Details: Gardner, Highsmith, Houstan, Jones, Two-Ways
Heat swingman Myron Gardner will receive a minimum salary ($395,029) for the rest of the 2025/26 season after being promoted from his two-way contract. However, Miami had to use a portion of its non-taxpayer mid-level exception in order to complete his deal, since it includes two additional years beyond this season.
Gardner’s second year features a partial guarantee of $500K, and he’ll receive his full minimum salary of $2,150,917 for 2026/27 if he remains under contract through January 7 next year, Hoops Rumors has learned. The third year of the deal is fully non-guaranteed, but the Miami wing would receive his full $2,525,901 salary if he isn’t waived on or before July 15, 2027.
Here are a few more details on the contracts recently completed around the NBA:
- Haywood Highsmith‘s two-year, minimum-salary contract with the Suns includes a $1MM partial guarantee for 2026/27, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). It also features language protecting the team in the event that the veteran wing re-injures his surgically repaired right knee, Hoops Rumors has learned.
- As expected, both Caleb Houstan of the Hawks and Spencer Jones of the Nuggets were unilaterally converted from their two-way contracts to rest-of-season, minimum-salary contracts rather than negotiating new deals. Houstan will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, while Jones will be eligible for restricted free agency.
- The two-way contracts recently signed by Tyrese Martin (Sixers), Trevor Keels (Heat), and Jeenathan Williams (Warriors) are each for one year, while Riley Minix‘s new two-way deal with the Cavaliers will cover two seasons, Hoops Rumors has learned.
Suns Notes: Highsmith, Green, Booker, Brooks, Anthony
Although Haywood Highsmith‘s agent said earlier this month that his client was fully recovered from an offseason knee surgery and appeared on the verge of making his season debut, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) hears that the Suns‘ newest swingman is still a few weeks away from playing in an NBA game.
Phoenix isn’t necessarily expecting a lot from Highsmith this season, according to Gambadoro, who suggests the team is taking a longer-term view on the 29-year-old after he signed a two-year contract that isn’t fully guaranteed in 2026/27.
As Gambadoro and his radio co-host Dave Burns said earlier this week (Twitter video link), the Suns may also consider Highsmith something of an insurance policy in the event that the team trades a wing like Royce O’Neale or Grayson Allen during the offseason. In that scenario, Phoenix would have an established veteran like Highsmith who could step into a larger role next season on a team-friendly deal.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Health issues, including a nagging hamstring injury, limited Jalen Green to seven games in his first season a Sun, but he’s not on the team’s injury report as the second half begins, notes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “He’s in a good spot right now,” general manager Brian Gregory said of Green. “You know, injuries, unfortunately, are part of this league, and he’s done an unbelievable job. His spirit on a daily basis in terms of attacking the rehab, attacking the recovery, attacking the workouts has been spot on from day one.”
- Due to Green’s inconsistent availability, the Suns haven’t been able to take an extended look at the backcourt duo of Green and Devin Booker this season, but Gregory says he’s confident that the pairing can work long-term, as Rankin relays (via Twitter). “(Green’s) explosiveness, his ability to get to the basket, his feel for the game, I think those two guys together are going to form one of the best backcourts – if not the best – in the NBA as we move forward,” Gregory said. “Especially down the road as they get to play more and get a better feel for each other. But (Green) brings a lot of stuff that at times that we’re lacking. So I think his fit is going to be really, really good.”
- Dillon Brooks will sit out the Suns’ game in San Antonio on Thursday after being hit with an automatic one-game suspension for accumulating 16 technical fouls this season. Brooks would continue to receive one-game suspensions for every two techs he receives the rest of the way, but Gregory is optimistic that won’t happen. “He knows his technical situation,” the Suns’ GM said, per Rankin. “We’ve had plenty of sit-downs and talks. He also knows how important he is for us to be on the court. So, I think with that, I think he understands exactly where he’s at.”
- Veteran guard Cole Anthony, a trade deadline acquisition in a financially motivated deal, is still on the Suns’ roster, but he’s listed as “not with team” and there’s still an expectation that he’ll be waived sooner or later, says Rankin.
Suns Sign Haywood Highsmith
FEBRUARY 18: The Highsmith signing is official, relays Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link).
FEBRUARY 14: The Suns are signing free agent forward Haywood Highsmith to a multiyear contract, agent Jerry Dianis tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Charania, “multiple playoff teams” were pursuing Highsmith before he decided to join Phoenix. The Lakers and Sixers were linked to Highsmith over the past week.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Highsmith has yet to play a game this season after he underwent surgery to address a torn meniscus in his right knee in August and experienced a setback in his rehab in October. However, Dianis recently told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype his client is healthy and had been targeting February 11 for his 2025/26 debut prior to being waived by the Nets.
A 6’5″ combo forward, Highsmith averaged 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 22.7 minutes per game across 140 appearances from 2023/24 and 2024/25. He spent four seasons with Miami, which traded him to Brooklyn in the offseason.
Highsmith is known as a strong, versatile defender and he has improved his outside shot over the years as well. The 29-year-old converted 38.8% of his three-point looks over the past two seasons.
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 confirms the news and says the second year of Highsmith’s contract isn’t fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
The Suns had an opening on their 15-man standard roster, which means no corresponding move will be necessary to sign Highsmith.
Suns Notes: Highsmith, Ishbia, Brooks, 2027 All-Star Game
The Suns have long been fans of Haywood Highsmith, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, who hears from sources that the team has been eyeing the veteran forward for two years. Highsmith plans to sign a multiyear deal with Phoenix.
Rankin writes that the Suns view Highsmith as a strong fit due his “competitiveness and toughness.” Although Phoenix has a standard roster opening the team can use to sign Highsmith, the Suns are also expected to waive guard Cole Anthony, Rankin confirms.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- The Suns have already exceeded external expectations this season — they were only projected to win 31.5 games, and they’re currently 32-23, the No. 7 seed in the West and just three games out of the No. 3 spot. As Sam Amick of The Athletic writes, Mat Ishbia was widely criticized around the league for leaning into his Michigan State ties in his first couple years as owner, but instead of going away from those connections, he doubled down and went all the way in last offseason. Ishbia promoted Brian Gregory, his former assistant coach with the Spartans, to be the Suns’ new general manager, and worked with Gregory and CEO Josh Bartelstein to establish the team’s hardworking culture. “When people wanted to blame me last time, I wasn’t actually doing it my way,” Ishbia told The Athletic. “Now, I am, and there’s no question about it.”
- According to Amick, while James Jones was technically still Phoenix’s head of basketball operations last February, it was actually Bartelstein who spearheaded communications with rival teams interested in trading for Kevin Durant. League sources tell Amick the Rockets made a late pitch for Durant prior to last year’s deadline, offering a package that included Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., but the Suns wanted Dillon Brooks in the deal and decided to wait until the summer to revisit trade talks. A Rockets source denies Smith was ever included in the offer, Amick adds.
- As impressive as Phoenix’s turnaround has been this season, the team still finds itself at an asset deficit after trading away so many draft picks and swaps to acquire Durant and Bradley Beal in the first place, Amick notes. The Suns will also carry Beal’s dead-money cap hit on their books for several more seasons, limiting their financial flexibility going forward.
- Speaking to the media on Saturday, All-Star guard Devin Booker says he has enjoyed playing with Brooks this season, as Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays (Twitter video link). “Dillon is a hardworking man. He’s someone to rally behind. He’s a fierce competitor. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’d rather too competitive than to be the other way. It’s been a pleasure playing with him,” Booker said.
- Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the 2027 All-Star game, which Phoenix will host, at his Saturday press conference, per Rankin (Twitter video link).
Sixers Hope To Be Active On Buyout Market
The Sixers are in position to add two players on the buyout market, with Chris Boucher, Lonzo Ball and Haywood Highsmith among the potential targets, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). Pompey cites Khris Middleton as another possibility if he agrees to a buyout with the Mavericks.
Philadelphia currently has two players holding 10-day contracts, with Charles Bassey on his second and Patrick Baldwin Jr. on his first. Both will expire during All-Star weekend, giving the team two open roster spots.
In addition, Paul George has already served five games of his 25-game suspension for taking a banned substance, so he can be moved to the suspended list, allowing the Sixers to add another player until he returns in late March.
However, finances will factor into the decisions. Philadelphia is currently $1.57MM below the tax line and $3.75MM away from the first apron. The team can add two rest-of-season minimum-salary contracts without moving into tax territory, according to Pompey.
Boucher and Ball were both traded to Utah on Thursday and waived by the end of the day. Boucher, a 33-year-old big man, appeared in just nine games with Boston before being dealt. He spent five seasons playing for Sixers head coach Nick Nurse in Toronto.
Ball, a 28-year-old guard, played 35 games for Cleveland this season, mostly in a reserve role. Pompey notes that he could provide backcourt depth after Jared McCain and Eric Gordon were both traded last week.
Highsmith, a 29-year-old forward, was waived by Brooklyn to open up a roster spot for a three-team deal. He hasn’t played yet this season after undergoing surgery on a torn meniscus in August, but he’s nearing a recovery and is attracting interest from several playoff teams. Pompey points out that Highsmith began his career as a two-way player with the Sixers in 2019.
Middleton, who was sent from Washington to Dallas in the Anthony Davis trade, is the biggest name on the list. There’s been speculation that the 34-year-old swingman may become available, but there have been no reported buyout talks and he plans to make his Mavericks debut Tuesday night.
The Sixers could fill one of their open spots by promoting forward Jabari Walker to a standard contract, Pompey adds. Walker reached his 50-game limit on a two-way contract last week and has been inactive for the team’s last two contests.
“He’s been a tremendous next man up type contributor,” president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said of Walker. “We hope to have his services going forward, but we do have to weigh optimal use of our sort of scarce two roster spots, and against the other opportunities as well. So that’ll be written over time, whether or not we do that conversion there.”