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NBA Key Injuries to Know for First Round of Playoffs

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 14, 2023 · 5:37 PM PDT

LA Clippers F Paul George was injured March 21
Mar 21, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Paul George (13) reacts after suffering an injury against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
  • Both the Denver Nuggets (seven) and Memphis Grizzlies (nine) are entering the NBA playoffs with heavily-populated injury lists
  • Among the prominent players ailing as the postseason begins are Kevin Durant (Phoenix), Ja Morant (Memphis) Nikola Jokic (Denver), Paul George (LA Clippers) and Julius Randle (New York)
  • Check out all the latest status for injured players heading into the NBA playoffs in the story below

Each of the top five teams in the Western Conference NBA playoff bracket are dealing with key injuries as the first round of the playoffs are set to get underway.

Can the Phoenix Suns got far without Kevin Durant? How would the Denver Nuggets fare minus Nikola Jokic? Will the Memphis Grizzlies repeat last year’s surprising playoff run if Ja Morant isn’t operating at 100%?

There are far fewer concerns on the injury front in the Eastern Conference. Power forward Julius Randle of the New York Knicks is the only player of prominence currently sidelined. He’s out with an ankle injury.

NBA Playoffs Injury Report

Team Player Position Injury Game Status
Boston Celtics Danilo Gallnari PF knee out
Brooklyn Nets Ben Simmons PG back/knee out
Chicago Bulls Lonzo Ball PG knee out
Chicago Bulls Justin Lewis F Knee out
Cleveland Cavaliers Dylan Windler SG foot out
Cleveland Cavaliers Isaac Okoro SF knee out
Denver Nuggets Jamal Murray PG thumb probable
Denver Nuggets Michael Porter Jr SF heel probable
Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic C calf probable
Denver Nuggets Jeff Green PF face out
Denver Nuggets Aaron Gordon PF shoulder out
Denver Nuggets Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG illness out
Denver Nuggets Collin Gillespie G leg out
Golden State Warriors Andre Iguodala F wrist out
Golden State Warriors Ty Jerome SG illness day-to-day
Golden State Warriors Ryan Rollins G foot out
Los Angeles Clippers Paul George F knee out
Los Angeles Lakers Dennis Schroder PG ankle day-to-day
Memphis Grizzlies Ja Morant PG hand day-to-day
Memphis Grizzlies Tyus Jones PG foot day-to-day
Memphis Grizzlies Jaren Jackson Jr PF elbow day-to-day
Memphis Grizzlies Dillon Brooks SF groin day-to-day
Memphis Grizzlies Desmond Bane SG knee day-to-day
Memphis Grizzlies Jake LaRavia F calf out
Memphis Grizzlies Steven Adams C knee out
Memphis Grizzlies Brandon Clarke PF Achilles out
Memphis Grizzlies Santi Aldama G elbow day-to-day
Miami Heat Nikola Jovic F back out
Milwaukee Bucks Pat Connaughton SG ankle out
Milwaukee Bucks Grayson Allen SG ankle out
Milwaukee Bucks Khris Middleton SF knee day-to-day
Milwaukee Bucks AJ Green G foot day-to-day
Minnesota Timberwolves Rudy Gobert C back day-to-day
Minnesota Timberwolves Jaylen Nowell SG knee questionable
Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns C calf questionable
Minnesota Timberwolves Jaden McDaniels PF hand out
Minnesota Timberwolves Naz Reid C wrist out
New York Knicks Julius Randle PF ankle out
New York Knicks Isaiah Robey F ankle out
Oklahoma City Thunder Aleksej Pokusevski F knee out
Oklahoma City Thunder Kenrich Williams SF wrist out
Oklahoma City Thunder Chet Holmgren PF foot out
Philadelphia 76ers Georges Niang SF knee probable
Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant PF ankle day-to-day
Phoenix Suns Bismack Biyombo C knee day-to-day
Phoenix Suns Cameron Payne PG back out
Sacramento Kings Harrison Barnes SF knee day-to-day
Sacramento Kings Matthew Dellavedova PG finger out
Sacramento Kings Davion Mitchell PG knee out

The Milwaukee Bucks are listing small forward Khris Middleton (knee) as day-to-day. Regardless, the 2021 league title winners remain the +275 chalk in the NBA championship odds.

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Nuggets Regaining Health In Nick Of Time

The top seed in the Western Conference, Denver has won an NBA-high 34 home games during the 2022-23 campaign. The Nuggets have never won an NBA title, or played in the NBA Finals, but this was finally going to be their year. At least it was until karma figuratively said “hold my beer.”

Point guard Jamal Murray (thumb), small forward Michael Porter Jr (heel) and center and reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (calf), all were missing action for at least part of the latter portion of the NBA season. That likely explains Denver’s 9-11 regular-season finish.

Jokic sat out five of the last seven games, hampering his chances of a repeat in the NBA MVP odds. However, all three starters are showing as probable for Game 1 of their opening-round series.

The last Denver went into the postseason healthy was in 2019. The Nuggets rolled all the way to the Western Conference final.

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Star Power Missing From Suns-Clippers Series

Two of the biggest stars in the opening-round set between the Suns and Clippers could be starting the set in civvies. Phoenix power forward Durant (ankle) is day-to-day. Clippers forward Paul George (knee) is out.

It’s certain that 12-year veteran George, who scored 23.8 points per game during the regular season, won’t be suiting up for Game 1. He hasn’t played since March 21 and the team is indicating they’re in no hurry to rush him back into action.

Two-time NBA Finals MVP Durant has played in just eight games since January 8. He did practice this week, so there’s belief that he might play in Game 1.

 

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