Top 5 NBA Injury Storylines to Watch This Week

Kawhi Leonard, Zach Lavine To Miss Games With Knee Management

The Clippers announced on Tuesday that star forward Kawhi Leonard will miss their home-and-home with the Thunder so he can address “stiffness” in his right knee. 

Leonard averaged 12.5 points off the bench in his first two games back from the torn ACL and reconstruction he suffered in June 2021 that kept him out all of last season. 

The soonest he would play next is against the Pelicans on Sunday although he would almost certainly remain on a minutes limit.

The Bulls’ newest franchise guard, Zach Lavine, missed the first two games of the season with “left knee injury management” coming off of his left knee surgery during the offseason.

Lavine is expected to miss one game from every back-to-back this season and his availability will reportedly be on a game-by-game basis in the short term.

The 27-year-old scored 23 points in 28 minutes and 19 points in 32 minutes in his first two games and Chicago faces Indiana on Wednesday.

Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram Out for Pelicans

Starting forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram suffered a hip contusion and concussion, respectively, in the Pelicans’ 122-121 loss to the Jazz.

Ingram is in the concussion protocol and – as we have seen in recent weeks in the NFL – his return time will be difficult to predict and will predicate on the severity and length of his symptoms.

Williamson, however, is more hurt than injured and his absence from Tuesday’s loss was likely precautionary for the franchise force, according to the Pro Basketball Docs.

The fourth-year starter should be available on Friday night against the Suns’ frontcourt that is missing quality depth. 

Prognosis for Lakers’ Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook 

Anthony Davis briefly left the Lakers’ loss the Clippers last weekend after he took a hard fall on his lower back, which has bothered him since the preseason. The 29-year-old is expected to continue to play through the issue and is averaging 24.7 points and eight rebounds per game for the 0-3 Lakers.

Russell Westbrook is doubtful to play in Wednesday’s game against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets with a preseason hamstring strain. The former MVP had a hamstring issue in the preseason that he said he suffered, in part, because he was forced to come off the bench after starting for his whole career.

Patrick Beverley would likely start at point guard, while Kendrick Nunn, who missed all of last season with a knee bone bruise, would be in line to see a bump from his 4.3 points in 14.7 minutes this season.

Darius Garland, Jalen Williams Miss First Week With Gruesome Eye Injuries

Cavaliers’ guard Darius Garland left the season-opener versus the Raptors after getting poked in the eye by Gary Trent Jr. and, while he hopes to return this Friday, reportedly could miss another three games.

Not to be outdone, Thunder rookie Jalen Williams took an elbow to the face and suffered an orbital fracture six minutes into his NBA debut that required surgery. 

He is improving well, according to head coach Mark Daigneault, and is expected to be re-evaluated later this week.

Warriors To Miss Donte DiVincenzo At Least 1 Week

Steve Kerr said that new Warriors' 3-and-D guard, Donte DiVincenzo, suffered a hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated early next week.

Moses Moody had 13 points, three rebounds, three blocks, and one steal in 27 minutes and Ty Jerome played 12 minutes in his Warriors' debut on Tuesday.