NBA Player News

Bitadze is starting Sunday's game against Atlanta, Wendell Epps of Bally Sports Florida reports.

Bitadze has been an inconsistent part of Orlando's rotation recently, but he'll join the starting lineup Sunday since Paolo Banchero (illness) has been ruled out. Over 31 starts this year, Bitadze has averaged 7.8 points and 7.4 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game.

Kleber (nose) is available for Sunday's game against the Pacers.

As expected, Kleber, Luka Doncic (nose) and Dereck Lively (nose) have all been upgraded from probable to available. With Dallas' frontcourt at full strength, Kleber is expected to come off the bench, but he should still play a sizable role. On Friday, he posted seven points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 26 minutes during a win over Phoenix.

Lively (nose) will play Sunday versus Indiana, Grant Afseth of SI.com reports.

Lively, Luka Doncic (nose) and Maxi Kleber (nose) have all gained clearance to play in advance of Sunday's game against Indiana. Sunday will mark the second occasion that Dallas' frontcourt has been at full strength with the new additions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington.

Castleton is expected to miss multiple weeks after he recently suffered a fractured right wrist, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Castleton, one of the Lakers' two-way players, hasn't seen any game action at the G League or NBA level since Feb. 14, but it's unclear when exactly he suffered the injury. The fractured wrist comes at an inconvenient time for Castleton, who may have had an outside chance to push Jaxson Hayes for the top backup role at center with his other competitor for the job, Christian Wood (knee) already facing a multi-week absence of his own. The undrafted rookie out of Florida had made just seven appearances for Los Angeles this season but has been a standout performer for the G League's South Bay Lakers when available, averaging 16.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals in 28.8 minutes per game over 24 appearances.

Len (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Clippers

Len's absence will leave Trey Lyles and JaVale McGee as candidates to absorb the backup center minutes behind starter Domantas Sabonis. The 30-year-old's next opportunity to take the court will come Monday against the Heat.

Davis (Achilles/hip) is available for Sunday's game against the Suns, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports.

Davis and LeBron James (ankle) have both been upgraded to available, while Cam Reddish (ankle) has been ruled out. Davis has scored at least 20 points in seven straight games, averaging 27.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.7 blocks in 33.1 minutes during that stretch.

Head coach Darvin Ham said Davis (Achilles/hip) is a game-time decision for Sunday's game against Phoenix, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports.

Davis continues to deal with bilateral Achilles soreness as well as left hip spasms. Along with Davis, Ham labeled LeBron James (ankle) and Cam Reddish (ankle) as game-time calls for Sunday's contest, and clarity on the statuses of all three players is unlikely to arrive until shortly before the 3:30 p.m. ET tipoff.

The NBA announced Sunday that Bryant has been suspended for three games for his role in an on-court altercation that occurred in Friday's 106-95 win over New Orleans.

Bryant and Jose Alvarado each received three-game suspensions after both left their respective bench areas and began fighting with 11:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. Both players left the bench in response to the Pelicans taking exception to a Kevin Love foul on Zion Williamson (foot), which sparked an altercation between Jimmy Butler and Naji Marshall. Since Butler and Marshall were already on the court when the incident occurred, both were assessed one-game suspension, but Bryant and Alvarado will both face stiffer penalties. Bryant is eligible to return to action March 2 against the Jazz, but he hasn't been a regular part of the Miami rotation anyway.

Eubanks will come off the bench for Sunday's game against the Lakers.

Eubanks gives way to Jusuf Nurkic (ankle), who will return to action and reclaim his starting role Sunday following a one-game absence. Eubanks is averaging 4.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 12.8 minutes across his last five games off the bench.

Nurkic (ankle) will play Sunday against the Lakers, Gerald Bourguet of GoPHNX.com reports.

As expected, Nurkic has been upgraded from probable to available and will replace Drew Eubanks in the starting lineup. Over his final eight games before the All-Star break, Nurkic averaged 13.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in 26.4 minutes per game.