Skip to main content

NBA playoffs injury tracker: Which players are out?

By Max Molski

NBA playoffs injury tracker: Which players are out? originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

The NBA playoffs are more than halfway done, but not every team is at full strength.

Marquee players across the NBA dealt with injuries to end the regular season. Some have already been ruled out for their teams’ playoff runs, while others are in line to return on the big stage. In some cases, the player’s injury status remains up in the air.

Which players are dealing with injuries, and how long will they be out for?

Here’s a team-by-team guide to injuries for the teams that are still standing:

Boston Celtics

Sam Hauser: Out (shoulder)

Robert Williams III: Day-to-day (knee)

Marcus Smart: Day-to-day (right ankle sprain)

Jayson Tatum: Day-to-day (right cervical nerve impingement)

Williams missed Game 3 against Miami due to his ongoing knee issue. He played in Games 1 and 2 and is now questionable for Game 4.

Smart and Tatum both briefly exited Game 3 with injuries before returning to the game. Smart suffered a right ankle sprain, making him questionable for Game 4. Tatum suffered a shoulder injury and he is probable to play in Game 4.

Dallas Mavericks

Tim Hardaway Jr.: Out (foot)

Hardaway underwent surgery on Feb. 1 after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. In March, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said he didn’t expect to have Hardaway available during the playoffs.

Golden State Warriors

Gary Payton II: Out (elbow)

James Wiseman: Out (knee)

Andre Iguodala: Out (neck)

Andrew Wiggins: Questionable (ankle)

Wiggins is the latest addition to the injury report. He is questionable for Sunday’s Game 3 in Dallas with left ankle soreness. He has yet to miss a playoff game this postseason.

Payton left Game 2 of the second round early after Dillon Brooks’ Flagrant 2 foul on him left him with an injured elbow. The Warriors announced on Friday he will be re-evaluated again in one week.

Wiseman was shut down for the season on March 25. The No. 2 pick of the 2020 NBA Draft did not play for Golden State at all this year after tearing his meniscus last April.

Iguodala has not played since Game 4 of the Warriors’ first-round series against the Nuggets.

Miami Heat

Kyle Lowry: Day-to-day (hamstring)

P.J. Tucker: Day-to-day (knee)

Max Strus: Day-to-day (hamstring)

Gabe Vincent: Day-to-day (hamstring)

Tyler Herro: Day-to-day (groin)

Jimmy Butler: Day-to-day (knee)

Six Heat players are listed as questionable for Game 4 in Boston: Lowry, Tucker, Strus, Vincent, Herro and Butler.

Lowry did not play in Game 1 or 2 due to a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for most of the playoffs, but he returned to play in Game 3.

Tucker left Game 2 early with a left knee injury, but played in Game 3. Vincent and Strus have been listed as questionable for every game this series but have not missed any time.

Butler, citing knee inflammation, did not play in the second half of Miami’s Game 3 victory.

Wizards lose third straight as James Harden records 17 assists for 76ers

By Chase Hughes
Wizards lose third straight as Harden records 17 assists originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonWASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 118-111 on Halloween at Capital One Arena. Here are five takeaways from what went down...Three in a rowThe Wizards were 3-1 through their first four games this season, but a lot can change in a short period of time as it only took four days for them to lose three consecutive games, leaving them at 3-4. After losing to the Pacers at home and the Celtics on the road, they returned home for a lopsided defeat at the hands of the Sixers.Philly played without superstar Joel Embiid, who sat with a non-COVID illness. But James Harden (23 points, 17 assists) and Tyrese Maxey (28 points) were plenty enough for them to get the win. The Sixers created separation with a +13 margin in the third quarter and were able to hold the Wizards off after that.The Wizards fell to 3-4 on the season and it won't get any easier moving forward. They see the Sixers again on Wednesday, then the Nets and Grizzlies after that.No Embiid changed some thingsWithout Embiid, the Sixers went micro with P.J. Tucker starting at center. He's 6-foot-5, which means he had a 10-inch height disadvantage battling the 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis in the post. Porzingis was able to capitalize with a strong offensive game of 32 points (10-16 FG) to go along with nine rebounds, but Tucker held his own in other areas, as he usually does. He did a nice job of creating openings for Sixers' guards off screens and broke free for a few baskets of his own, scoring 13 points.Former Wizards fan favorite Montrezl Harrell also made a big difference in the second half, partly leading to Taj Gibson replacing Daniel Gafford in the second unit. Where the Wizards probably wish they took advantage more is in the paint. The Sixers outdid the Wizards in paint points, 56-50. Deni to the benchBefore the game, when asked the customary question of whether he would use the same starters, head coach Wes Unseld Jr. responded with a vague "maybe." It wasn't clear at the time if that actually meant a change was coming, as he could have just been practicing gamesmanship. But sure enough, there was a new lineup, as Deni Avdija moved to the bench after starting the first six games. He was replaced by Anthony Gill.Avdija only played 11 minutes in the Wizards' loss to the Celtics on Sunday night, as Unseld Jr. went away from him after a poor defensive start, albeit due to some very difficult assignments. Avdija played 17 minutes in this one and played better. He had a rough beginning, but rallied to get some stops against Harden and was able to show a little bit more of his passing ability with a handful of assists. That's the thing about Avdija coming off the bench. While he balances out the starting lineup well, he should have more of an opportunity to spread his wings offensively in the second unit.Slow start for BealAfter going scoreless in the first half of Sunday's loss for the first time since 2018, Bradley Beal managed only four points in the first half against Philadelphia. He was better in the third quarter, with eight points in the frame, and ended up with 20 points for the night on 7-for-18 shooting with four turnovers. With 12 points against Boston, that means he combined to score 32 points in two games. It wasn't long ago that was a single-game number for Beal.Beal, though, has had a heck of a time against two tough defenses on back-to-back nights. Against Philly, he saw a lot of contact, yet only got to the line four times. He's in a bit of a rut right now and the referees seem intent on not lending any help. It will be interesting to see if the Wizards do anything differently next game to try to shake his slump.Still waiting on KispertCorey Kispert sat out once again due to his sprained left ankle, despite last week practicing for the Wizards and being described by Unseld Jr. as "really close." According to the Wizards' coach, Kispert continues to make progress practicing with the Capital City Go-Go. He's just not quite ready yet.Wednesday will mark four weeks since Kispert's injury was first revealed and the original timeline was 4-6 weeks. So, given that, it probably shouldn't be a surprise he hasn't played yet, even though it seemed like his return was imminent late last week. The Wizards play their next game on Wednesday and that will technically be within the original window the team gave as a projection. Maybe he plays against Philly. If not, the Wizards' next game is Friday vs. the Nets.
Read Next Story

Related News

10 intriguing homecoming games to watch in 2022-23 NBA season

NBA 2022-23 season schedule: 10 must-see games this year

Report: Bucks-Celtics, Grizzlies-Warriors among NBA Christmas Day games