Checking the injury report is basically the first thing any serious fan does before tip-off. Whether you’re setting a fantasy lineup or just trying to figure out why the point spread moved three points in an hour, knowing whos not playing tonight nba is the whole game. Tonight, Saturday, January 17, 2026, we’ve got a massive slate, but some of the league's biggest names are glued to the bench in street clothes.
Injuries have been brutal lately. It feels like every time you refresh the feed, another All-Star is heading to the locker room. Honestly, it’s getting hard to keep track.
The Big Names Sidelined for Saturday
The Dallas Mavericks are taking a massive hit tonight. If you were hoping to see a full-strength Mavs squad against the Utah Jazz, I've got bad news. Kyrie Irving is officially out with a knee issue. That’s a huge chunk of their late-game shot-making just gone.
It gets worse for Dallas fans. Anthony Davis—who is somehow on the Mavs in this 2026 season—is also out with a finger injury. When you lose your primary rim protector and your best secondary creator on the same night, things get dicey. Even the rookie sensation Cooper Flagg is a game-time decision with an ankle sprain.
Over in New York, the vibes at Madison Square Garden are a bit tense. The Knicks are hosting the Suns, but Jalen Brunson is currently listed as questionable with an ankle tweak. If he doesn't go, the offense loses its engine. The Suns aren't exactly healthy either; Devin Booker is dealing with his own ankle problems and is a coin-flip to play.
Whos Not Playing Tonight NBA: Team by Team Breakdown
If you're looking for the full list, here is the wreckage across the league as of the latest official reports.
Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks
The Jazz are far from healthy themselves. Lauri Markkanen is out with an illness, which really sucks for their floor spacing. They are also missing:
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- Walker Kessler: Out (Shoulder recovery)
- Georges Niang: Out (Foot)
- Elijah Harkless: G-League assignment
Dallas, as mentioned, is missing Kyrie and AD. They are also without Dereck Lively II (foot surgery) and Dante Exum (knee). Basically, the Mavs are playing with a skeleton crew tonight.
Phoenix Suns at New York Knicks
Phoenix is missing Jalen Green (Hamstring) and Jamaree Bouyea (Concussion). With Booker questionable, Kevin Durant might have to carry a prehistoric load tonight. The Knicks are mostly healthy outside of the Brunson scare, though they are still waiting on Mitchell Robinson to fully integrate back into heavy minutes.
Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs
The Wolves are dealing with a major blow. Anthony Edwards is listed as out with a foot injury. You can't just replace that kind of gravity. Terrence Shannon Jr. is also sidelined. San Antonio, meanwhile, is missing Devin Vassell (Adductor strain), but at least they still have Victor Wembanyama patrolling the paint.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat
The Thunder are relatively clean, but they’ve been managing Chet Holmgren's minutes carefully. Miami is Miami—they always have someone on the report. Keep an eye on the late scratches there, as the Heat love a late-afternoon "rest" designation.
Why These Absences Change Everything
When a guy like Jalen Brunson or Kyrie Irving sits, the entire geometry of the court shifts. It's not just about losing 25 points. It’s about the gravity.
Without Kyrie, the Jazz can collapse their defense on whoever is left, likely doubling the ball more aggressively. For the Knicks, if Brunson sits, the ball ends up in Karl-Anthony Towns' hands a lot more. That sounds fine on paper, but KAT is a finisher, not a floor general. The turnover risk goes through the roof.
Then there's the "load management" factor. We're in the middle of January. This is the "dog days" of the NBA season. Teams are hyper-cautious right now because they don't want a minor ankle tweak in January to become a playoff-ending tear in April.
Betting and Fantasy Impacts
If you're looking at the lines for whos not playing tonight nba, you've probably noticed some weird movement. The Dallas line has shifted significantly toward Utah because of the Kyrie and AD news.
In fantasy, this is the time to scavenge the waiver wire. With Markkanen and Kessler out for Utah, someone like Jusuf Nurkić or Keyonte George is going to see a massive spike in usage. George has been averaging about 24 points recently; expect him to hunt his shot even more tonight.
For the Mavs, look for Klay Thompson to suddenly look like 2016 Klay, at least in terms of shot volume. Someone has to take those 20 shots Kyrie left behind.
What to Watch For Before Tip-Off
Injury reports are fluid. The NBA requires teams to submit "final" reports 30 minutes before game time, but "Questionable" can turn into "Out" in the blink of an eye during warmups.
- Check the Warmup Feeds: Beat writers on social media usually post clips of guys shooting around. If Booker is moving gingerly in New York, he's likely a scratch.
- The Second Night of Back-to-Backs: Teams like the Lakers and Hawks often sit veterans on the tail end of these. Even if they aren't on the morning report, they could show up by 5:00 PM.
- G-League Recalls: If you see a team suddenly call up three guys from the G-League, it’s a massive red flag that a virus or a wave of "rest" is hitting the main roster.
The Jazz-Mavs game is the most volatile one on the board tonight. If Cooper Flagg also sits, Dallas is basically a G-League team with Klay Thompson. On the other side, Utah's lack of rim protection without Kessler makes them vulnerable to anyone who can drive the lane.
To stay ahead, make sure you're monitoring the official NBA CMS reports that drop throughout the afternoon. The 5:30 PM ET update is usually the most telling one for the East Coast games. For the late-night West Coast tips, you might be waiting until 9:00 PM for total clarity.
Stay sharp, keep an eye on those late-breaking scratches, and don't get caught with an "Out" player in your starting lineup.
Actionable Next Steps
- Bookmark the Official NBA Injury Report: Check the NBA's official page at exactly 5:30 PM ET for the final East Coast statuses.
- Monitor Beat Writers: Follow localized reporters for teams like the Knicks and Mavs; they often see who is participating in the morning shootaround before the official report is updated.
- Adjust Fantasy Lineups: If you have Kyrie or AD, move them to your IL+ slot immediately to free up a streaming spot for tonight's games.