Woody Marks injury: What status means for Week 16 vs. Raiders

Woody Marks injury: What status means for Week 16 vs. Raiders

The Houston Texans host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday as whopping 14.5-point favorites. The Texans have won six in a row, but the Jaguars have won five in a row and hold the AFC South division lead by one game over Houston. This matchup looks like a cake walk, but the Texans still need to make sure they win this game to stay in the division title hunt.

Coming into this matchup both of the Texans running backs are questionable to play, Woody Marks and Nick Chubb. Chubb was overtaken by Marks as the lead back and missed last week, giving Jawhar Jordan a big workload while Marks dealt with his ankle injury. Jordan hit 101 yards rushing on 15 carries against the Cardinals and possibly moving him ahead of Chubb on the depth chart.

Woody Marks injury updates

Game day update: Adam Schefter is reporting that Woody Marks is NOT expected to play in Week 16 vs. the Raiders. He has been unable to get much practice in due to an ankle injury and it appears it will cost him at least one week. Houston plays at 4:25 p.m. ET, which means we will get their official inactive report no sooner than 2:55 p.m. If you have to make a decision on Marks for the 1 p.m. kickoffs, you can bench him for Week 16.


Marks was unable to practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but was able to get in a limited practice on Friday and get the questionable listing. Head coach DeMeco Ryans was hopeful early in the week, saying the injury wasn’t severe. There’s a decent chance the team just wanted to give him the most rest possible to get him ready to play.

Nick Chubb on the other hand got in two full practices this week, but was still listed as questionable with a ribs injury.

Fantasy football analysis

If Marks can’t play and Chubb can, I’d still likely lean toward Jawhar Jordan as the lead back. It would be nice to get some confirmation on that before starting him in your fantasy playoffs, but he is an option in that scenario.

This matchup with the Raiders is good enough to start Marks as long as he is active, which I expect him to be, but would try to pick up Jordan if he’s available still.

Luka Doncic leaves Lakers loss at half with left leg contusion

Luka Doncic leaves Lakers loss at half with left leg contusion

Luka Doncic left the Lakers’ loss to the Clippers Saturday at halftime and did not return with what the team is calling a left leg contusion.

Doncic left the building without talking to reporters, and coach J.J. Redick’s postgame comments didn’t shed much light on the situation (quote via Dave McMenamin of ESPN).

“I saw him hobbling towards the end of the first half. He came to me at halftime and said he couldn’t go… I don’t have any other information.”

The injury clearly bothered him for much of the game. Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer at 35.2 points per game, scored just 12 points on the night shooting 4-of-13 (1-of-6 from 3-point range).

Doncic wasn’t the only significant injury in this game. Clippers center Ivica Zubac went to the ground in the first quarter and instantly limped back to the locker room with what was described as an ankle injury. He did not return to the game and the Clippers said he would be re-evaluated on Sunday. Zubac has been one of the few consistent bright spots in the Clippers’ season, averaging 15.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

The Clippers picked up their first home win since Halloween with the 103-88 victory over the Lakers. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 32 points and 12 rebounds, while James Harden pitched in with 21 points and 10 assists.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 36 points, but every other Laker combined to shoot 31.7% on the night, including 3-of-30 from beyond the arc.

NBA outlines tighter rules for injury info, prop bets

NBA outlines tighter rules for injury info, prop bets

The NBA is considering potential policy changes to address tanking, increase the frequency of injury reporting and restrict what sportsbooks offer, according to a memo sent to all teams.

Edwards returns, helps Wolves hand OKC 3rd loss

Edwards returns, helps Wolves hand OKC 3rd loss

Anthony Edwards returned from a three-game injury absence with 26 points and 12 rebounds, hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 38.5 seconds left to lead the Timberwolves past the Thunder 112-107.

Kobe-MJ Logoman card fetches $3.17M at auction

Kobe-MJ Logoman card fetches $3.17M at auction

A 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection dual Logoman card of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan sold via Heritage Auctions for $3,172,000, the seventh-most expensive basketball card sale.

Fantasy Basketball Weekend Must-Starts: Stephon Castle spurring the offense in San Antonio

Fantasy Basketball Weekend Must-Starts: Stephon Castle spurring the offense in San Antonio

In head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.

Twelve teams play twice this weekend, including the Hawks, Celtics, Bulls, Rockets, Heat, Timberwolves, Knicks, 76ers, Kings, Spurs, Raptors and Wizards. Prioritize those teams if you’re just looking to maximize your games played.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]

That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo!’s High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.

Absolute must-start: Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Castle is a must-roster player in every format, which I wasn’t optimistic about at the beginning of the season. With De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper in the mix, I wasn’t convinced Castle would see enough usage to be consistently productive. I was wrong. The Spurs have put the ball in his hands, and he’s been able to set his teammates up for good looks. Castle is also shooting the ball at a higher percentage at the rim and from the mid-range. He’s taken a genuine leap forward in year two, which has allowed him to thrive despite the competition in the guard rotation.

This weekend, San Antonio takes on Atlanta and Washington. The Spurs played the Wizards on Thursday night and blew them out, which allowed the key players to play fewer minutes. They should be well-rested against the Hawks on Friday despite both teams playing a back-to-back. Of course, playing the Wizards again on Sunday provides another favorable matchup. Over their last five games, Atlanta is first in pace, and the Spurs are third. Extra possessions mean extra production.

Guards:

Coby White, Chicago Bulls

There’s not much going right in Chicago right now, but White has been playing well lately. Now, they get matchups with the Cavaliers and Hawks. Both teams have been in the top 10 in pace over their last five games, and the Bulls are 11th over the same stretch. During the same stretch, nobody has allowed more 3-pointers than the Hawks, and the Cavs have allowed the sixth-most triples. This feels like a perfect recipe for White to have a strong night.

Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

Pritchard has cooled off lately, but matchups with the Heat and Raptors are opportunities to get back on track. Both teams have allowed plenty of 3-pointers recently, and even if they’ve played slower recently, nobody has played with more pace than Miami this season. Pritchard could certainly pop this weekend.

Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat

Miami plays the Celtics and Knicks this weekend, which doesn’t make this a favorable opportunity for Jaquez. However, he’s been a staple of this article all season because of how fast Miami plays. Even in tough matchups, Jaquez can be productive despite coming off the bench because of how the Heat have utilized him this season. Plus, with Tyler Herro still out with a toe injury, there have been extra minutes for Jaquez. Check out our player news section for updates on Herro’s status throughout the day, but even if he’s back, Jaquez should be productive.

Forwards:

Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards has missed Minnesota’s last three games due to “right foot injury maintenance,” and he’s questionable to play on Friday against the Thunder. Randle has taken more shots with Edwards out, and even if the matchup is tough, Randle should get plenty of chances. Like he usually is, Randle will be a better option in points leagues against OKC. However, Sunday’s matchup with the Bucks is a favorable one. Over their last five games, Milwaukee has allowed the fourth-most 3-pointers in the NBA and has the second-worst rebounding percentage.

Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets

Houston has a back-to-back in Denver and in Sacramento on Saturday and Sunday. The Nuggets aren’t a favorable matchup, but the Kings have been the worst rebounding team in the league this season, and they play with a ton of pace. Denver has also not defended the 3-point line as well as they have over the course of the season. Smith has recorded three straight double-doubles, and though he didn’t shoot well during Thursday’s loss to the Pelicans, he did get 18 shot attempts.

Bogdan Bogdanović, Los Angeles Clippers

Bogdanović stepped into the starting lineup on Thursday with James Harden sidelined with a calf contusion. If Harden remains out against the Lakers on Saturday, Bogdanović should remain a starter against the team that has allowed the second-most 3-pointers per game over their last five games. Even if he comes off the bench, this is a favorable matchup for the Clippers’ best deep-range threat.

Centers:

Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Gobert has been producing at a high level recently and now has an opportunity to keep that going this weekend. The Thunder aren’t a favorable matchup, but the Bucks are on Sunday. They’ve been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league without Giannis Antetokounmpo, so Gobert should be able to dominate the paint. Even if the OKC game is unlikely to be a productive one, Sunday’s outing is a golden opportunity.

Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans

Indiana has been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league this season, and Queen should feast down low. His production has been inconsistent, but he had 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks against the Rockets on Thursday. This is a good opportunity for him to add another double-double.

Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

Portland played Sacramento on Thursday, and the Trail Blazers have a rematch on Saturday. Clingan played 35 minutes in the overtime win and finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two 3-pointers. A rough night at the free-throw line (5-of-13) put a damper on his night, but he should have no issues controlling the paint against the Kings on Saturday.

Knicks Injury Tracker: Karl Anthony-Towns, Josh Hart probable vs. 76ers with Joel Embiid out

Knicks Injury Tracker: Karl Anthony-Towns, Josh Hart probable vs. 76ers with Joel Embiid out

Here are the latest news updates and possible return dates for Knicks players…


Dec. 19, 2:00 p.m.

On the heels of a back-to-back, the Knicks will get some of their core back in the lineup on Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Karl-Anthony Towns (knee soreness) and Josh Hart (rectus abdominis strain) are listed as probable, while Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby aren’t on the injury report and should be available. Towns, Hart, and Robinson all did not play in Thursday’s win over the Indiana Pacers

Miles McBride (ankle) and Landry Shamet (shoulder) will remain out for New York on Friday. Additionally, Pacôme Dadiet was assigned to the Westchester Knicks.

The Sixers will be without former MVP Joel Embiid (illness, right knee injury management), who was downgraded from questionable. Embiid has played in just 11 of Philly’s 25 games this season, averaging only 20.5 points and 6.6 rebounds when on the court (26.2 minutes per game). Philadelphia will also be without Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain).

Dec. 18, 5:15 p.m.

Fresh off the NBA Cup triumph, the Knicks are going to be without a host of players for Thursday night’s matchup with the lowly Indiana Pacers (6-20).

Karl-Anthony Towns (knee soreness), Josh Hart (rectus abdominis strain),  and Mitchell Robinson (ankle management) will all not feature due to slight injuries. New York will already be without Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, who are on the shelf with longer-term injuries.

OG Anunoby (knee contusion) was on the injury report, but will play.

Dec. 7, 3:22 p.m.

Knicks guard Miles McBride exited Sunday’s win over the Orlando Magic in the first half, and according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, the guard is still in the process of being evaluated for a left ankle injury.

The Knicks say they will know more on McBride’s status on Monday. 

As a starter or a bench player, McBride has been terrific this season. In 19 games (nine starts), McBride has averaged a career-best 15.8 points per games while shooting 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Dec. 4, 5:10 p.m.

The Knicks are seemingly close to getting OG Anunoby back. According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, Anunoby (hamstring) has been upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz at MSG.

Begley noted on Thursday’s episode of The Putback that this weekend’s games are a target for the Knicks to get Anunoby back on the court.

Anunoby has missed every game since suffering the injury on Nov. 14 against the Miami Heat.

Head coach Mike Brown said that Anunoby has progressed to taking contact in practice and it seems as though the forward is reacting to it in a positive manner. Of course, this doesn’t mean Anunoby will play on Friday, but it leaves open the possibility.

Dec. 3, 6:40 p.m.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown gave a short update on OG Anunoby (hamstring). The coach said that Anunoby has progressed to taking contact in practice.

“It’s still the same, he’s still progressing in the right direction,” Brown said of Anunoby before Wednesday’s game against the Hornets. “We’re not going to rush him.”

Brown also confirmed that Mitchell Robinson (injury management) will miss Wednesday’s game, as it’s the second of a back-to-back. 

Nov. 19, 9:05 p.m.

Jalen Brunson (ankle) will return to the court and start on Wednesday night in Dallas against the Mavericks, the team announced prior to tip-off.

Brunson suffered a Grade 1 right ankle sprain against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 12 and missed the team’s next two games against the Miami Heat. New York split the two contests, winning at home and losing on the road. The team is still searching for its first road win of the season, dropping all four games away from the Garden.

Over 11 games this year, Brunson is averaging 28.0 points on 46.7 percent shooting and 6.5 assists per game. 

Meanwhile, the Mavs will be without rookie Cooper Flagg (illness) on Wednesday night as he’ll miss the first game of his career.

Nov. 18, 6:50 p.m.

The Knicks upgraded Jalen Brunson (ankle) to questionable for their Wednesday tip against the Mavericks in Dallas. 

Brunson had missed the team’s last two games since suffering a right ankle sprain back on Nov. 12 against the Orlando Magic at MSG. Already without OG Anunoby (hamstring), the Knicks could use their captain to try and get their first road win of the season. 

Oct. 28, 7:18 p.m.

Before the Knicks’ tip-off against the Bucks, the Knicks announced that Towns (right quad strain) will play, but Yabusele (left knee sprain) will be out, joining McBride (personal) and Robinson (ankle sprain management) as players who are unavailable for Tuesday’s game.

Oct. 28, 3:35 p.m.

Miles McBride has been downgraded from questionable to out for the Knicks’ game on Tuesday at the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced. This is the second-straight game the guard missed due to personal reasons. He was out for Sunday’s loss against the Miami Heat.

Oct. 27, 6:45 p.m.

Mitchell Robinson still isn’t ready to make his season debut, as the Knicks have officially ruled him out again for Tuesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Robinson has been sidelined for the first three games due to left ankle injury management, and it’s still unknown when he’ll make his return to the court. 

New York has also listed Karl-Anthony Towns (right quad strain), Miles McBride (personal reasons), and Guerschon Yabusele (left knee sprain) as questionable for the contest. 

Yabusele is the only new addition to the injury report. Towns has been included heading into each of the first three games, but played in all three, and McBride missed Sunday’s game against the Heat for personal reasons. 

Yabusele left Sunday’s game at one point and had his knee checked, but he was able to return and saw regular time off the bench down the stretch.

Oct. 23, 6:10 p.m.

The latest NBA injury report has been released and the Knicks have designated center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) as out for Friday’s home game against the Celtics.

Robinson missed Wednesday’s season opener and the Knicks are being cautious with their big man this season as they want to have him at close to full strength for an anticipated long playoff run.

The Knicks have also designated both Josh Hart (lower back) and Karl-Anthony Towns (right quad strain) as questionable. 

Hart also missed the season opener but has not seen action since the first preseason game where he tweaked his back. Towns almost missed Wednesday’s game but toughed out his quad strain and to help the Knicks’ win against the Cavaliers.

OG Anunoby, who played Wednesday despite being questionable with an ankle sprain, is probably for Friday’s game.

Oct. 22, 10:59 p.m.

Karl-Anthony Towns was questionable, then doubtful, then questionable again in the hours leading up to the Knicks’ win over the Cavaliers and now we know exactly why.

The Knicks forward told reporters after Wednesday’s win that he is playing through a Grade 2 quad strain. 

“I’ve been banged up and haven’t really got a chance to practice or play in the last two preseason games,” Towns said. “I didn’t want to disappoint the fans, dealing with a Grade 2 quad strain. It’s not something that’s easy to do. We made it happen tonight. Glad the fans respect the effort I put in to play tonight, and my teammates, too. Shoutout to them for supporting me, knowing the situation that I was in.”

Towns played through the pain to give the Knicks 19 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes.

NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: While Anthony Davis gets headlines, Mavericks to ‘explore’ Klay Thompson trade

NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: While Anthony Davis gets headlines, Mavericks to ‘explore’ Klay Thompson trade

Front office personnel from around the league gather in Orlando starting today (Dec. 19) for the G-League showcase. And while the GMs are keeping one eye on the prospects on the court, there is a lot more action off it as this is when trade deal-making really starts to get done.

Where do things stand? Here are the latest rumors on some of the biggest names (if you want the latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo, click here).

Anthony Davis

Davis is the biggest name and best player known to be available at the trade deadline — Antetokounmpo doesn’t count until he actually asks for a trade and the Bucks start talking to teams — but the Dallas Mavericks are not looking just to dump Davis’ contract. This was the main guy they got in return for Luka Doncic, and while Nico Harrison is gone, the Mavericks still want a lot in return for AD, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.

“Sources say Dallas, furthermore, is not at all interested in just shedding Davis’ contract, which is essentially the same deal as Antetokounmpo’s in Milwaukee. The Mavericks have maintained to date that they would only be willing to part with the centerpiece of their infamous [Luka] Doncić deal last February if the trade brings back a return of real consequence.”

Dallas’ problem? A market that brings “a return of real consequence” does not seem to exist right now. Davis, being 32 and having played in just a dozen games this season due to nagging injuries, and wanting a contract extension this offseason, has limited his market. That said, for optics reasons, Dallas has to get a big haul in any Davis trade.

Atlanta and Toronto are the teams most mentioned as teams interested in Davis — teams in the East who see themselves as close and one player away. Detroit gets brought up as a possibility, too, although its level of interest is up for debate.

Much like Antetokounmpo, a Davis trade is more likely to happen in the offseason than at the deadline. That said, the Mavericks are entertaining offers.

Klay Thompson

Another player Dallas will explore the trade market for is Klay Thompson, reports ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon.

The bigger question: How much of a market is there for Thompson right now? How much of a return could Dallas get?

Thompson, 35, is averaging 10.8 points a game, largely coming off the bench in Dallas. He can still hit big shots, but he’s shooting 35.7% from 3-point range this season — although that has jumped to above 40% in his last 10 games — and he is not near the defender he used to be. He is making $16.7 million this season and is owed $17.5 million next season, complicating matters for teams that might have interest in him.

Lauri Markkanen

Despite interest from teams such as Detroit, Memphis, and maybe San Antonio (where he would be an upgrade in the Harrison Barnes spot), the Utah Jazz are signaling to teams so far that they plan to hold on to Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, reports Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.

At this point, however, Utah has signaled a desire to build with Markkanen despite constant trade interest in his services, HoopsHype has learned.

Utah owes its first-round pick to the Thunder, but it is top-eight-protected. Utah currently has the eighth-worst record in the league, which means that if the NBA Draft Lottery were held today, the Jazz would have a 60.7% chance of keeping their picks. Are those odds good enough for Utah, or will they look to trade Markkanen to improve them (Kessler is off the table)?

Ivica Zubac

With the Clippers struggling and looking more and more like a team in need of a pivot, a lot of other front offices are watching, waiting and checking in to see if LA becomes a seller at the trade deadline. Even if they are open to it, don’t expect deals for high-priced veterans with baggage — such as James Harden or Kawhi Leonard — to come in February.

Ivica Zubac is another story. Teams are interested in the underrated big man, but the Clippers are not interested, The Ringer’s Zach Lowe said on the Bill Simmons podcast.

“The Clippers have shoved away people calling, because the vultures are circling with Zubac. And the Clippers are shoving people away.”
While the Clippers have set themselves up for a pivot with the books cleared in 2027, there is just one rotation player with a contract that extends beyond that — Zubac. The Clippers see him as part of whatever comes next at the Intuit Dome. It would take a lot to pry him out of LA.

The Clippers’ struggles on the perimeter have defenses collapsing on him and focusing more on Zubac, yet he is still averaging 16.2 points, 11.5 rebounds (third most in the league), and is shooting 61.3% this season.

Nick Richards

If Zubac isn’t available, one of the big men eyed by a lot of teams is Phoenix big man Nick Richards, but the Suns are being patient, reports the tied in John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 in Phoenix.

The Suns and Raptors reportedly discussed a trade that would have sent Richards to Toronto in exchange for Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick, but those talks are on hold.

• One team looking to trade for a big man is Indiana, which misses what Myles Turner brought to the table. They have called Utah about Walker Kessler and been shot down, and have engaged Dallas in talks about Daniel Gafford, who is available but the price will be steep.

Sacramento sellers

The Kings are open for business and there is some interest in Domantas Sabonis, but less so in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.

However, it’s not those big names that are drawing the most talk in league circles, it’s Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray — and the Kings will not talk Murray trade. Here is how Marc Stein put it at The Stein Line.

The Kings have largely been open to fielding trade calls on pretty much anyone on the roster outside of Keegan Murray and rookie Nique Clifford but have also been telling potential trade partners that they do not intend to attach draft capital to veteran contracts to try to move them … or use Keon Ellis’ contract to try to sweeten deals. Ellis has been attracting trade feelers for some time given the leaguewide dearth of 3-and-D players currently available.

Expect Sabonis trade chatter to pick up, but if a team wants Ellis it’s going to cost them.

Rivers: Struggling Bucks don’t need big changes

Rivers: Struggling Bucks don’t need big changes

Bucks coach Doc Rivers isn’t planning to make any major changes in the wake of a 45-point loss to Brooklyn that dropped Milwaukee to 11-16 on the season.