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NBA Injury Impact Report Week of Nov. 2: Who to Back and Fade ATS

by Jeremy Block - 11/4/2026

NBA injury impact report week of Nov 2 Tyrese Haliburton Indiana Pacers

Nothing wrecks a betting slip faster than a star who suddenly isn’t suiting up. Just over a week into the season, 79 players were listed out on a single night, roughly 15 percent of the league. Some teams have barely missed a beat without their stars, while others are falling apart, and the spreads haven’t always kept up with either.

Below are five of the biggest injuries around the league, how each one changes a rotation, impacts a team’s odds, and which teams to back or fade against the spread because of it. I’ve got the angle on every one of them, so let’s jump into the thick of it.

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Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers (Hamstring Strain) 

After a full season lost to a torn Achilles, Tyrese Haliburton lasted just four games before a mild left hamstring strain put him back on the shelf. Indiana will re-evaluate him in two weeks. And the depth behind him was already thin. T.J. McConnell has been nursing a hamstring of his own, and Ben Sheppard is out with a torn meniscus.

Without their primary playmaker and his 9.5 assists per game pushing the pace, the Pacers lose the thing that makes their offense go. Indiana can be a sneaky pick to back at home. However, without their main motor, I’m fading them against the spread until he’s back.

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (Knee Surgery) 

Runner’s knee bothered Anthony Edwards all of last season, and Minnesota finally decided to clean it up with an arthroscopic procedure that could keep him out up to two months. Going that long without a top-five scorer averaging 33 points per game is a massive blow for the Timberwolves.

LaMelo Ball now has the keys to the offense, and all that extra usage makes him a strong target on points props. We’ve also seen what happens when he runs the show, though, and his years in Charlotte didn’t produce many wins. Ball’s points and fading the Timberwolves against the spread should both be on every NBA bettor’s slip until Edwards returns.

Ja Morant, Portland Trail Blazers (Hamstring)

Instant offense off the bench has been Ja Morant’s job in Portland, and he’s been the ace up their sleeve, averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 assists per game. A Grade 2 left hamstring strain will now keep him out about four weeks.

The spark Morant brought to the floor will be tough to replace, but it shouldn’t slow the Trail Blazers down or scare bettors away. Deni Avdija and Damian Lillard can carry the scoring load on their own, and Portland’s offense already ranks sixth in the league at 38.3 made field goals per game. This team is by far a dependable option against the spread while Morant heals.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Utah Jazz (Torn MCL)

Blockbuster trades are supposed to pay off, but the one that brought Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah has produced just seven games so far. A torn MCL will now keep him out another six to eight weeks.

Life was already tough for Utah on the hardwood, and it gets tougher without Jackson protecting the rim and spreading the floor. The former Defensive Player of the Year was averaging 16.3 points, five rebounds and two assists on 50% shooting from the floor. Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George can pick up some of the scoring slack, but the Jazz have still stumbled to a 1-6 start. With Jusuf Nurkic also working back from a toe injury, the frontcourt is paper-thin.

Opposing big men should clean up on the glass against a team this short on size, making their rebound props a strong play. Laying the points against Utah looks just as good until Jackson is back in uniform or the Jazz start showing some signs of life.

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