NBA Player News

Gobert (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against the Thunder, Brandon Rahbar of DailyThunder.com reports.

Gobert was a game-time decision for Thursday's game due to a left ankle sprain, but the veteran center has been given the green light to play against Oklahoma City. He has averaged 10.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.1 steals over 30.5 minutes per game since Jan. 3.

Valanciunas (calf) has been cleared to play Thursday against the Nets.

Valanciunas was trending in the right direction after being listed as probable, and the team has now officially cleared him to take the court Thursday. The big man is fresh off a double-double Tuesday against the Pistons, recording 16 points and 16 rebounds in 31 minutes.

Murray (hamstring/hip) is available for Thursday's game versus the Nets.

Murray will continue to play through the hamstring and hip issues, and he'll get as many minutes as he can handle. Murray has scored 20-plus points in three straight contests and has logged at least 36 minutes in each of those games.

Krejci is starting Thursday's game against the Rockets, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.

Krejci will join the starting lineup with Zaccharie Risacher (knee), Jalen Johnson (calf) and Onyeka Okongwu (mouth) all ruled out for Atlanta. Krjeci started five consecutive games for the Hawks earlier in January and averaged 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 21.8 minutes.

Okogie is in the starting lineup for Thursday's matchup with the Hawks, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.

Okogie will return to the starting unit with Tari Eason (rest) unavailable, and he'll be joined in the first unit by Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun. In 27 starts this season, Okogie has posted averages of 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 triples and 1.5 steals per game.

Smith is in the Bulls' starting lineup against the Heat on Thursday.

Smith will make his 10th start of the season Thursday (and sixth in seven games) while Josh Giddey (hamstring) sits out of the second leg of the Bulls' back-to-back set. Smith has averaged 12.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.1 threes, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals in 27.8 minutes per game over his last 10 outings (six starts).

Koloko is in the Hawks' starting lineup against the Rockets on Thursday, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.

With Onyeka Okongwu (mouth) sidelined, Thursday will mark Koloko's first start and fifth appearance with the Hawks since signing a two-way deal with the team Jan. 16. Over his four prior outings with Atlanta, Koloko has averaged 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over 13.0 minutes per game.

Sengun (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against the Hawks, Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports.

Sengun was initially listed as questionable after spraining his right ankle against the Spurs on Wednesday, but the fifth-year center has been officially cleared to play in Thursday's contest. He has averaged 20.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks over 34.4 minutes per game over his last five outings.

Nuggets head coach David Adelman told reporters Thursday that the hope is that Johnson (knee) is cleared to return before the All-Star break in mid-February, Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reports.

Johnson has been sidelined by a bone bruise in his right knee since Dec. 23, but the recent update indicates that the seventh-year pro could be cleared to return by early February. He started in each of his 28 outings prior to the injury, and his return would likely result in Jalen Pickett or Spencer Jones reverting to a bench role. Johnson is averaging 11.7 points per game in his first season with the Nuggets, which is his lowest scoring output since the 2020-21 season as a member of the Suns (9.6 points per game across 60 regular-season games).

The Nuggets are hopeful Braun (ankle) can return before the All-Star break, Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reports.

The team hasn't disclosed much of a timetable for Braun's return, so this latest update at least provides some perspective on a potential target date. The Kansas product hasn't take the floor since Jan. 9 after suffering a left ankle sprain and has already been downgraded to out for Thursday's matchup against the Nets.