Veesaar suffered the injury during a workout on Sept. 15, and an MRI confirmed the diagnosis. The No. 52 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Veesaar was expected to spend a lot of time with Atlanta's G League affiliate this season. What his absence changes
Wiggins and most of Atlanta's regulars won't play in the penultimate preseason game. He finished with 13 points (4-9 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, an assist and two steals across 20 minutes off the bench in Saturday's 119-117 preseason win over the Pacers.
McCollum and most of Atlanta's regulars won't play in the penultimate preseason game. He recorded 12 points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 7-7 FT) and five rebounds across 19 minutes in Saturday's 119-117 preseason win over the Pacers.
Daniels and most of Atlanta's regulars will rest during the Hawks' penultimate preseason contest. He tallied 13 points (6-16 FG, 1-3 3Pt), 11 rebounds, an assist and a steal across 21 minutes in Thursday's 123-116 preseason win over the Spurs but struggled with his shot against the Pacers on Saturday.
Johnson and most of Atlanta's regulars won't suit up for the penultimate preseason contest. He tallied 20 points (8-12 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 2-3 FT), seven rebounds and three assists over 25 minutes in Saturday's 119-117 preseason win over the Pacers.
Gueye will be re-evaluated by medical staff in 3-to-4 months, which means he'll miss all of training camp and preseason and likely the start of the 2026-27 regular season. It's a brutal blow for the fourth-year big man, given that the Hawks used the No. 23 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft to select St. John's product Zuby Ejiofor. Gueye's absence means Ejiofor will have more opportunities in the preseason, and the rookie could establish a key role off the bench behind Onyeka Okongwu and projected backup center Jock Landale (ankle).
Carter played 25 minutes during Boston's preseason opener against Cleveland on Thursday, but the third-year pro is under the weather and not be available for Saturday's contest. His next chance to play is Wednesday against Charlotte.
Garza took an inadvertent elbow to the nose from teammate Chris Cenac, and the former was taken to the locker room shortly thereafter. Assuming Garza doesn't return, he'll end his night with eight points (4-9 FG), seven rebounds and one assist over 11 minutes.
Harper is working through right shoulder illness, which has prevented him from playing in each of the Celtics' first two preseason games. His next opportunity to play is Wednesday against the Hornets.
Jefferson will be sidelined for his third straight exhibition. The rookie forward will have one more chance to return in the preseason Oct. 14 against the Heat.
Brown has yet to suit up during the preseason as he continues to work his way back from a left ankle issue. His final chance to get in an exhibition is Wednesday against the Heat.
Anderson will miss a second straight game due to a left ankle sprain. His next chance to suit up will come in Wednesday's exhibition against the Celtics.
White missed time with a left calf strain last season and is now in jeopardy of starting the regular season on the inactive list. If the 26-year-old guard is forced to miss time beyond the preseason, Christian Anderson and Dennis Schroder would likely see increased playing time.
Williams will be re-evaluated the first week of the regular season, putting his status for Opening Night in the air. Williams will have a difficult path to minutes this season as he competes with the likes of Naz Reid, Royce O'Neale and Tidjane Salaun.
Allen performed well in the Hornets' opening preseason game, posting 13 points in 14 minutes, but he will miss Sunday's contest with a knee injury. Sion James and Royce O'Neale could see extra action with Allen out of the lineup.
Knueppel's status for Opening Night remains uncertain as he continues to work his way back from his left hamstring injury. Peterson's comments suggest the Hornets aren't ready to rule out the second-year wing, though his availability will likely become clearer as training camp progresses. He has already been ruled out for the entire preseason, to be clear.
It doesn't sound like the two-way guard will be available for the preseason, but he's hopeful to not miss any time during the G League season. Boswell is not expected to be a significant part of the Hornets' rotation this season.
It's unclear why Okoro didn't practice, though he can be considered questionable for Wednesday's exhibition against Milwaukee. If the 25-year-old wing is unable to suit up, Leonard Miller, Jordan Hawkins and Buddy Hield could see a bump in playing time.
Sellers continues to deal with lower-back soreness that has limited his preseason availability. The two-way guard will look to return to action as Chicago completes its exhibition schedule, though his immediate fantasy outlook remains limited.
This is a huge blow for Claxton and it rules him out for the entire preseason. For now, fantasy managers can consider him questionable for Opening Night on Oct. 21 against the Raptors. Jalen Smith is the next man up on the depth chart for Chicago, followed by Zach Collins (toe).
Awaka banged his knee in Friday's preseason game against Memphis. The undrafted rookie can be deemed questionable for Wednesday's exhibition versus the Bucks.
Collins has yet to suit up in the preseason due to a toe injury but is making progress ahead of the regular season. The big man's final chance to suit up in the preseason will come Friday against Minnesota.
Diop is away from the team while tending to a knee injury. His next chance to rejoin Cleveland comes next Thursday for the season opener against the 76ers.
Merrill will be held out of Cleveland's preseason finale due to right elbow soreness. The 30-year-old sharpshooter's next opportunity to play will come in the Cavaliers' regular-season opener against Philadelphia on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Lively underwent right foot surgery in December after appearing in just seven regular-season games in 2025-26, and it's unclear when he'll be ready to play again. Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said Lively has progressed to shooting and is working toward running on the court, while head coach Dusty May said the center is moving well but has a unique return-to-play protocol given all of his missed time in recent years.
Sasser will miss a second straight exhibition game due to left adductor soreness. It's unclear when he'll be cleared to play again, but Sasser has three more chances to suit up during the preseason, with his next chance coming Wednesday against the Pelicans.
Johnson started at center during his Mavericks preseason debut, totaling four points (1-3 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 12 minutes during Friday's 135-117 loss to the Rockets. The rookie has been dealing with a minor lower-leg injury during training camp, so the Mavericks will likely proceed with caution, but it appears he's slated for a major role right away.
Aldama underwent knee surgery in March and has been limited during training camp practices. It's unclear when he'll be cleared to make his Mavericks debut. The 2021 No. 30 overall pick spent his entire career in Memphis before Dallas traded for him in July. In 278 regular-season games (82 starts), Aldama has averaged 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists over 23.4 minutes per contest.
It appears unlikely that Jones will be recovered from a hamstring injury in time to receive any preseason reps. Given where he's at in his rehab, Jones' status for the start of the regular season is in limbo as well.
Cunningham wasn't announced in the starting lineup for this contest, with Daniss Jenkins taking his place, but the star guard didn't even step on the hardwood. This was likely a precautionary move to manage Cunningham's workload before the start of the regular season, so fantasy managers shouldn't worry too much about his absence. His next chance to play in the preseason will come Wednesday against the Timberwolves.
Duren is still working himself into game shape after sitting out training camp while his contract negotiation played out, but he is hopeful to suit up at some point during the preseason. His next chance to get out there will come Wednesday in Minnesota.
Butler is still months away from retaking the floor, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic, so a season debut at some point December might be too optimistic. The star forward remains without a definitive timeline for a return after undergoing ACL surgery in early February, which typically carries at least a nine-month recovery period. Butler makes sense as an injury stash at the end of fantasy drafts, but managers should likely be bracing for him to miss at least the first two months of the regular season. What his absence changes
Moody suffered the injury March 23 and underwent season-ending surgery four days later. The 24-year-old had been targeting September to resume running and on-court work, so his latest progress appears to keep his rehabilitation on track, though he remains without a firm timetable for his return to game action. What his absence changes
The veteran big man will be held out of Tuesday's contest, with his last chance to suit up in the preseason coming Friday against Portland. Charles Bassey will get the starting nod in Green's absence.
Porzingis has yet to report to Warriors training camp while dealing with an undisclosed issue. He's running out of time to make a preseason appearance, and it sounds like the big man is in real jeopardy of missing the start of the regular season at this point.
Sengun recorded 16 points (6-9 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 10 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal and three blocks in 22 minutes during Friday's 135-117 preseason win over Dallas but will take a seat Sunday. Sengun is coming off another impressive year, averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks in 33.3 minutes per game across 72 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. However, the star center shot just 69.1 percent from the charity stripe and 30.5 percent from downtown. He's been focused on improving in those areas this offseason, and an uptick in efficiency would be a significant step toward becoming a more well-rounded player.
VanVleet made his first appearance since suffering an ACL injury more than a year ago, finishing with 17 points (5-12 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 2-3 FT), seven assists, two rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes during Friday's 135-117 preseason win over Dallas. The veteran point guard will likely be limited throughout the 2026-27 season, but he's on track to be the starting point guard on Opening Night.
According to coach Ime Udoka, Durant was initially scheduled to play only the first half Friday but requested additional minutes to build chemistry with Fred VanVleet and his other new teammates. The veteran forward's absence Sunday appears to be a planned precaution rather than an injury-related setback, and Houston should have additional minutes available for its other wings and forwards
Adams totaled two points (1-1 FG), three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 14 minutes during Friday's 135-117 preseason win over the Mavericks, marking his first game action since undergoing ankle surgery in January. The veteran center is expected to be the primary backup to Alperen Sengun this season.
Furphy started in 21 of 35 regular-season appearances for the Pacers, posting averages of 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.7 three-pointers in 18.4 minutes per contest. While no timetable has been announced, Furphy's absence could extend through the beginning of the 2026-27 season. With this news, the Pacers will likely lean more on Ben Sheppard, Kam Jones and Quenton Jackson moving forward. What his absence changes
Nesmith has already seen a healthy amount of reps in the preseason. The Pacers will have one more exhibition left on the schedule following this contest.
It's unclear if Nembhard is dealing with an injury, though it's possible he's just receiving a rest day. His final chance to play before the regular season will come Friday against Milwaukee.
It's unclear why Walker will be held out of the Pacers' penultimate preseason game. His final chance to play before the regular season will come against the Bucks on Friday.
McConnell has yet to appear in a preseason contest and has also missed practice time, though Indiana hasn't disclosed the reason for his absence. The veteran guard will sit out alongside Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Jarace Walker, potentially opening additional opportunities for the Pacers' younger players. McConnell's final chance to suit up during the preseason will come Friday against Milwaukee.
The Clippers learned about the injury this summer, though it's unclear exactly how far along Ingram is in his recovery. The star forward's timeline for a return is unclear, clouding his fantasy outlook in the meantime. Darius Garland should take on all the usage he can handle in Ingram's stead, while Kris Dunn and Max Strus could have additional streaming appeal early in the year. What his absence changes
It's a tough break for Miller, who had an opportunity to battle for a reserve role during training camp in the fall. The timeline for a return is likely to keep him on the shelf until after the All-Star break. Miller's extended stay on the sidelines gives Kobe Sanders a chance to crack the Clippers' rotation. What his absence changes
Plantar fascia injuries can be tricky to recover from, with the only remedy typically being prolonged rest, so don't be surprised if Strus' absence extends well beyond this initial four-week window. With Strus now set to miss at least the first few weeks of the season, and Bradley Beal (knee) uncertain for opening night, Keaton Wagler could be thrust into the first unit sooner than expected. What his absence changes
Niederhauser is progressing from March surgery but won't be able to suit up to begin the year. The Clippers are likely to take a cautious approach with the 2025 first-rounder. Isaiah Jackson should occupy the backup center spot behind Brook Lopez early in the campaign. What his absence changes
With Beal already set to miss the start of training camp, it sounds like the veteran guard still hasn't progressed to full-contact work. His continued knee inflammation keeps his ramp-up timeline uncertain and suggests the Clippers will continue to manage his workload in camp.
With Sanders having already missed the Clippers' preseason opener due to a left hip impingement, his continued limitations in practice suggest he still isn't back to full activity. The day-to-day designation keeps him in play to suit up at some point this preseason, but his availability for upcoming exhibition action remains uncertain until he resumes five-on-five work.
Thiero is among several Lakers players who have been ruled out, though the team hasn't specified the reason for his absence. Coach JJ Redick indicated that the young forward remains day-to-day, leaving open the possibility of a return for Friday's preseason finale against Denver.
Carr remains day-to-day but will miss a second straight game due to an undisclosed injury. His final chance to play again in the preseason will come Friday against Denver.
There is no injury to report and this is reported to be a planned night off for Doncic. He will have one more chance to get some exhibition reps in Friday against Denver.
Williams continues to deal with a foot contusion that has kept him out of recent preseason action. Coach JJ Redick indicated that the forward remains day-to-day, suggesting the injury isn't considered a long-term concern. Williams' next opportunity to suit up will come Friday against Denver in the Lakers' preseason finale.
Stewart, who was traded from Detroit to Memphis over the summer, sustained a left ankle sprain in the team's preseason opener and is now likely to miss Opening Night. His absence opens the door for Quinten Post to move into the backup center role behind Zach Edey in the interim. What his absence changes
Johnson doesn't sound to be a candidate for preseason reps, but it's encouraging to hear he's progressing in his hamstring recovery. A two-way player, Johnson will likely be shuttled to the G League's Sioux Falls Skyforce once healthy later this fall. What his absence changes
Wiggins will skip Saturday's exhibition for maintenance reasons, but he should return for Wednesday's preseason game against Brooklyn. Wiggins' absence should open up minutes for Myron Gardner and Simone Fontecchio.
Adebayo is one of several projected starters who won't be available for the Heat in this preseason contest due to rest. The star big man could return to face Brooklyn on Wednesday, as the Heat are taking a cautious approach to have him fully available for the regular-season opener against the Timberwolves on Oct. 21.
The Heat will be resting their entire starting lineup for Saturday's preseason game, so expect ample minutes for guys like Ryan Conwell and Bez Mbeng. Mitchell should return for Wednesday's exhibition against the Nets.
This is a tough blow for the point guard who was penciled in as the top backup behind Davion Mitchell. If he indeed misses a couple weeks, he could be back in time for their final preseason contest Oct. 16.
Antetokounmpo is one of several projected starters who won't be available for this preseason matchup. This is likely a rest-related move in order to have Antetokounmpo available for the regular-season opener on Oct. 21 against the Timberwolves, especially since he was limited to just 36 regular-season games with the Bucks in the 2025-26 regular season. His next chance to play will come against Brooklyn on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old vet will receive a maintenance day Saturday, but he should be back in action for Wednesday's preseason meeting with the Nets. Tim Hardaway should be more involved in the rotation Saturday with Thompson unavailable.
Kelley inked a deal with the Heat on Thursday, but he has yet to suit up for Miami during the preseason. His next chance to play will come Wednesday against the Nets.
Although he's trending in the right direction, Larsson hinted that he's going to take things slow as he's still dealing with some lingering headaches. Assuming he sits Wednesday, he will have the opportunity to play in one more exhibition Friday.
Burries played well in Milwaukee's preseason game Wednesday, logging 16 points, five rebounds, two steals and an assist in 21 minutes, but he will sit out of Sunday's matchup with the Hornets. His next opportunity to play comes Wednesday against the Bulls.
Jakucionis was a DNP-CD in Monday's 116-97 preseason loss to Minnesota. He logged 18 minutes in the two-point win over OKC on Wednesday. However, Jakucionis will take a seat once again Sunday, with his next opportunity to play coming Wednesday versus Chicago.
Ament will miss Sunday's preseason game due to a left ankle injury he sustained in Wednesday's game against the Thunder. His next chance to suit up comes Wednesday against the Bulls.
DiVincenzo is approaching six months since tearing his right Achilles during the first round of the playoffs and has been rehabbing with the expectation that he'll play at some point this season. The veteran guard has sought advice from Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard during his recovery, though Minnesota has yet to establish a timetable for his return. What his absence changes
Freeman exited Saturday's exhibition with a shoulder injury and will now miss Monday's preseason game. His next chance to get out there will come Wednesday against the Pistons.
"[Kuminga] is dealing with a little bit of bumps and bruises that we're just being overly cautious with," said head coach Chris Finch when asked why Kuminga would miss Monday's exhibition. It sounds like there's a decent chance Kuminga will be able to get back out there for Wednesday's preseason meeting with the Pistons.
Zikarsky will be inactive for Monday's road tilt, presumably for rest purposes. The young center's next chance to suit up will come Wednesday against the Pistons.
Shannon will be unavailable at Madison Square Garden after starting Saturday against the Heat. Across three preseason games, the wing is averaging 11.3 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per contest.
Murray is dealing with a right toe contusion, though head coach Jamahl Mosley said his absence Thursday is precautionary. The veteran point guard's next chance to play in the preseason will come Wednesday against Dallas.
It's the second night of a back-to-back set in the preseason, so the Knicks will sit out their entire starting unit. Expect more minutes for Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek.
Per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, Hart will sit out Tuesday's exhibition for rest, as it is the second night of a back-to-back set during the preseason. Hart's absence should open up minutes for Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson.
Towns was solid, if unspectacular, as New York fell to 0-3 in preseason play. The standout center has played in each of the first three contests but will take a seat for the second half of the back-to-back set Tuesday at Toronto. Towns' next chance to suit up will come Thursday at home against the Raptors.
According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, Mike Brown said that he will hold out his regular starters for Tuesday's game in Toronto for rest purposes. With Bridges and the rest of the first unit unavailable, Jordan Clarkson might see a large uptick in usage.
Anunoby put forth a solid scoring effort, fueled by perfection at the charity stripe, while also tallying a team-high three steals in the loss. The veteran wing has scored in double figures in each of his three preseason appearances, but he'll be inactive for the second half of the back-to-back set Tuesday at Toronto. Anunoby's next chance to suit up will come Thursday, also against the Raptors.
Holmgren has yet to play in the preseason due to a quad contusion and will remain on the inactive list in the second leg of this back-to-back set. The big man's final chance to suit up before the regular season will come Thursday versus Houston.
Williams is still dealing with a heel injury and won't play in the second half of this back-to-back set. The big man's final chance to see game action ahead of the regular season will come Thursday against Houston.
Oweh suffered a non-contact injury and immediately grabbed at his lower right leg. The 23-year-old required assistance getting back to the locker room and is not expected to return in the final minutes of the game, meaning he'll finish with eight points (3-5 FG, 2-2 FT) and three rebounds in 15 minutes.
With Nelson still in recovery mode from the left ankle surgery he underwent this summer, his path back to game action remains delayed for the early part of the season. The rookie big man is on a two-way contract with the Magic, so his short-term absence mainly affects his developmental timeline rather than Orlando's regular rotation. What his absence changes
Black has yet to play this preseason and will remain on the inactive list Tuesday with a sprained right ankle. His last chance to play ahead of the regular season will come Friday against Miami.
The oft-injured forward is back with the team after attending to a personal matter but remains sidelined with a knee injury. Friday's exhibition against the Heat marks Isaac's last chance for preseason reps.
Hukporti went down with an Achilles injury in Monday's preseason opener against the Knicks, and an MRI has since revealed a rupture. He signed a one-year deal with the 76ers over the summer, so Hukporti will be an unrestricted free agent come season's end. With Hukporti's year already finished, Adem Bona (foot) should assume the backup center role behind Joel Embiid once healthy. What his absence changes
Bona is already expected to miss Friday's preseason finale against Boston, but he's still aiming to be ready for the start of the regular season. Once healthy, Bona is in line to serve as the No. 2 center behind Joel Embiid.
Simons continues to deal with tightness in his hamstring, though he's trending in the right direction. For now, he's questionable at best for the next preseason game Oct. 16 against the Celtics.
Barlow has missed the entire preseason so far and remains without a timetable to return. He can be considered questionable at best for Friday's preseason finale against Boston.
Brown will skip his first meeting against his former team in Boston, but he should be able to get back out there for Friday's rematch with the Celtics. Justin Edwards and Dean Wade will help pick up the slack Saturday with Brown unavailable.
Head coach Nick Nurse is resting most of the vets for Saturday's exhibition, so Jabari Walker could get all the run he can handle. Embiid should return for Friday's preseason rematch with Boston.
LeBron James (rest), Joel Embiid (rest) and Jaylen Brown (rest) will join Caldwell-Pope on the inactive list for Saturday's exhibition, which may result in major minutes for Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love. Caldwell-Pope's next chance to play will come Friday in a rematch with the Celtics.
The Sixers will be resting several players for this contest, and James is one of the many projected starters who will be taking a seat alongside Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown. The 76ers will manage James' workload carefully with an eye toward having him ready for the regular-season opener against the Knicks on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
This is a tough blow for Fall, as he's already facing an uphill battle to make the final roster. A return Oct. 16 isn't out of the question based on this timetable.
This is a tough blow for the center with training camp right around the corner. With his status for Opening Night in jeopardy, this will put a lot of eyes on Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, with the latter already drawing buzz during the Summer League. More clarity on Williams' timeline should be known in the coming weeks. What his absence changes
Booker won't be an option for Saturday's game due to rest, as the Suns are managing his workload carefully with the start of the regular season right around the corner. Booker's next chance to play will come in the rematch against San Antonio on Wednesday.
While Bridges won't play Saturday, he was able to practice Friday, so he's trending in the right direction. His next chance to suit up will come Wednesday in a preseason rematch with the Spurs.
It's a tough blow to the Trail Blazers' depth on the wing ahead of training camp. Sharpe, who is now likely to be sidelined until after the All-Star break, had been ticketed for a reserve role behind Toumani Camara following an injury-plagued 2025-26 campaign, which saw average a career-high 20.8 points, 1.4 steals and 2.1 three-pointers per game over 50 regular-season appearances. The door is now open for Vit Krejci and Jeremy Sochan to compete for bench minutes during camp. What his absence changes
Youngblood will miss his second exhibition game in as many days due to left calf soreness. His final chance to play again in the preseason will come Friday against Golden State.
Sacramento's frontcourt takes another blow after losing Maxime Raynaud (knee) for several weeks over the weekend. The Kings figure to depend heavily upon Domantas Sabonis at center to open the season, while Precious Achiuwa should play a featured role off the bench to help pick up the slack. What his absence changes
Raynaud was taken back to the locker room in a wheelchair during Saturday's preseason loss to the Warriors, though he's seemingly avoided a serious injury. The big man will still begin the regular season on the inactive list, leaving additional minutes available for the likes of Precious Achiuwa and Dylan Cardwell (rest). What his absence changes
The Kings will be extremely shorthanded Tuesday, as they're resting several regulars. Acuff's final chance to play in the preseason will come Friday against the Spurs.
Sabonis joins several Sacramento regulars on the sidelines Tuesday, though no reason for his absence was provided. With both Sabonis and Maxime Raynaud (knee) unavailable, the Kings will need to rely on other frontcourt options against the Trail Blazers. Sabonis' next opportunity to suit up will come Friday against San Antonio.
Monk is one of several Kings guards who will be unavailable Tuesday, joining Zach LaVine, Ben Simmons and Darius Acuff on the sidelines. His next chance to see preseason action will come Friday against San Antonio.
Achiuwa started at center and posted a double-double before leaving late with a right ankle injury and being ruled out. With Maxime Raynaud (knee) and Dylan Cardwell (calf) each expected to miss at least two weeks, the severity of the ankle injury matters a lot for Sacramento's frontcourt depth.
LaVine is among eight Kings players ruled out for Tuesday's contest. His next opportunity to play will come Friday against San Antonio in the preseason finale.
The Spurs are expected to exercise extreme caution with the big man, as Quaintance suffered a torn ACL and meniscus with Arizona State in February 2025 before appearing in only four games with Kentucky last season due to severe complications and persistent swelling. The 19-year-old underwent a cleanup procedure on his meniscus in mid-July, and the Spurs will likely want him at 100 percent before ramping him up to basketball activities. What his absence changes
Bryant exited Saturday's preseason loss to Phoenix after rolling his right ankle in the first half and did not return, so the Spurs are giving him a day to recover Monday. His next chance to play comes Wednesday against the Suns.
Fox was listed in the starting lineup for Thursday's game but was a late scratch and will miss a third straight exhibition Monday. The extent of his injury remains unclear, but the Spurs have made no indication that the veteran point guard is in danger of missing Opening Night. For what it's worth, the Spurs are resting most of their regulars, including their expected starting lineup for Monday's game.
The Spurs planned to rest several regulars for Monday's contest before the preseason began, so Castle's absence is not believed to be injury-related. Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell are also among the players sitting out. Castle's next opportunity to suit up will come Wednesday against the Suns.
"It's a calf strain, the seriousness is what it is," said Johnson. "We won't rush him at all. I guess the question will be is he ready for the season opener? Totally questionable and we will not push that at all. So, we'll take it slow. There is no concern of this level of seriousness, and at the same time, we will not rush him at all." It sounds like Harris, who has already been ruled out for the preseason, is in danger of missing opening night. His absence will open up minutes for Julian Champagnie, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes.
The Spurs planned to rest several regulars against Utah before the preseason began, so Wembanyama's absence appears to be a routine precaution rather than an injury-related concern. San Antonio will also sit Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell, among others. Wembanyama's next opportunity to play will come Wednesday against the Suns.
It's unclear exactly why Battle isn't playing Tuesday, though it's worth noting he previously dealt with a lower-back issue this preseason. His penultimate chance to play before the regular season will come Thursday against New York.
Bittle can presumably be ruled out for the remainder of the preseason as he works his way back to full health. The big man was spotted in a walking boot in early September and remains without a clear timetable for a return to game action.
Jemison will be held out of Tuesday's contest for undisclosed reasons. His second-to-last chance to play again this preseason will come in Thursday's rematch against New York.
Nurkic will begin the 2026-27 season on the sidelines, and given the tricky nature of foot injuries for big men, it wouldn't be shocking to see his absence extend beyond this initial four-week window. Jaren Jackson will likely spend more time at center while Nurkic is out, and there will be more minutes available for Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba. What his absence changes
Hinson is managing a left adductor injury that'll keep him sidelined Monday. The forward appeared in Utah's first two preseason games, and his next chance to suit up will come Friday against Phoenix.
Filipowski tweaked his back while lifting in the 2025-26 offseason, which caused painful sciatica down his leg throughout the campaign and limited his explosiveness. This offseason, he underwent surgery to fix the herniated disc in his back that was causing the pain, and he's still rehabbing. With Jusuf Nurkic (foot) slated to miss Opening Night, Filipowski's availability moving forward will be one to monitor closely.
Watkins, a two-way player for the Wizards, suffered the injury during the Summer League. Although Washington has yet to offer a timetable for a return, a typical recovery time for the procedure is approximately 9-to-12 months. That leaves Watkins in serious jeopardy of missing most, if not all, of the 2026-27 season, and it remains to be seen if the team will continue keeping him around on a two-way roster spot while he's injured. What his absence changes
Although the big man will remain a limited participant in training camp as he continues his rehab from a hip impingement, it sounds like his absence from game action will extend into the regular season. Deandre Ayton should have the backup center role all to himself until Vukcevic is cleared to retake the floor. What his absence changes
Middleton has yet to play in the preseason as he ramps up his conditioning. The veteran forward's next chance to suit up will come Friday against New Orleans.
