NBA Player News

Pippen has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Jazz due to left great toe injury management.

Pippen will miss the front end of this back-to-back set but could return for Saturday's game against Miami. With the Grizzlies set to be extremely shorthanded in the backcourt, Cam Spencer, Jahmai Mashack and Javon Small should see an uptick in minutes.

Clayton (calf) is doubtful for Friday's game against the Jazz.

Clayton is headed for his third straight absence after picking up a right calf injury. Expect official word from Memphis closer to Friday's tipoff.

Coward (knee) won't play in Friday's game against the Jazz.

Coward will miss his second consecutive contest due to a hyperextended right knee, and his next opportunity to suit up will come Saturday against Miami. With the rookie first-rounder joining Ja Morant (elbow), Scotty Pippen (toe), Ty Jerome (calf) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (finger) on the sidelines, Cam Spencer, Jahmai Mashack and Javon Small are candidates for increased playing time, especially if Walter Clayton (calf) is downgraded from doubtful to out.

Jerome is out for Friday's game against Utah due to right calf injury management.

Jerome will take a seat in his team's first game out of the All-Star break. Scotty Pippen (toe) is also out, so it'll presumably be up to Cam Spencer, Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack to eat up minutes in the backcourt Friday night.

Watkins is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against Indiana.

It'll instead be Tristan Vukcevic manning the middle for the Wizards on Thursday. Watkins has averaged 9.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 blocks in 29.2 minutes per tilt in his last seven games (two starts).

Brown isn't starting Thursday's game against the Wizards, Tony East of Forbes.com reports.

Brown will retreat to a bench role after drawing a spot start Feb. 11 against the Nets. He hasn't been much of a factor off the bench of late, averaging 4.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.4 minutes over his last seven games as a reserve.

Jones won't start Thursday's game against the Wizards, Tony East of Forbes.com reports.

Andrew Nembhard (back) will return to action Thursday, pushing Jones back to the bench. As a reserve this month (three appearances), the rookie second-rounder has averaged 3.7 points in 19.7 minutes per tilt.

Aldama (knee) is out for Friday's game against Utah.

With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, the Grizzlies appear to be in no hurry to bring Aldama back. That said, his next chance to play comes Saturday in Miami. Kyle Anderson and Taylor Hendricks should take on the majority of the center minutes Friday.

Carlson (back) isn't listed on the injury report for Friday's game against the Nets.

Carlson missed Oklahoma City's final game before the All-Star break due to lower-back spasms but is set to return Friday. The two-way player has appeared in just one game this month and isn't guaranteed to see the floor Friday.

Hartenstein (calf) is off the injury report for Friday's game against the Nets.

Hartenstein is good to go after missing Oklahoma City's final outing prior to the All-Star break due to load management. Across his last six appearances, Hartenstein has averaged 8.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 21.2 minutes per game while shooting 58.1 percent from the field.