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An NBA injury report is a time-stamped participation update, not a medical forecast. A player listed as Questionable has that official status, but the NBA’s public policy does not assign it a specific probability of playing. Reports can change throughout the day, so the useful questions are when the report was updated, what status it shows and what reason the team listed.
How NBA injury reports work
For the 2025–26 season, NBA teams must report information about injuries, illnesses, other medical conditions and rest for every game. When a player’s participation may be affected, the team must provide a participation status and a specific reason. The league’s 2025–26 injury-report policy sets submission deadlines, while the April 6, 2026 report example shows the fields used in a published report.
When reports are due
| Report or situation | Deadline or window |
|---|---|
| Initial report for most games | By 5 p.m. local time on the day before the game. |
| Second game of a back-to-back | By 1 p.m. local time on game day. |
| Game-day report for most games | Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time. |
| Game-day report for games tipping at 5 p.m. or earlier | Between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time. |
The NBA lists the second game of a back-to-back as an exception to the regular game-day reporting window. All these times are local to the game, not a single league-wide time zone. The policy also says reports are updated continually throughout the day, so an earlier listing is only a snapshot—not a guarantee of who will play.
What the status labels mean
The official report’s “Current Status” field uses labels including Available, Out, Probable, Questionable and Doubtful. The policy requires a participation status but does not define these labels as numerical odds. In particular, it does not establish that a Questionable player has a specific chance of appearing.
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To assess a listing, treat the status as the team’s reported designation at that moment. Compare it with the reason given, the report’s timestamp and how much time remains before tip-off. A later update may change the status.
What “game-time decision” means
“Game-time decision” is familiar sports language, but it is not a separate field on the NBA report format examined. The report provides a current status and a reason; it does not give a dedicated game-time-decision designation. If a reporter or team uses that phrase, attribute it to that source rather than presenting it as an official NBA tag.
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How to check a player’s listing
- Confirm the game. Check the report’s game date, matchup and timestamp so you are looking at the right listing and update.
- Read status and reason separately. The status describes reported participation availability; the reason gives context. Reasons can include injuries or illnesses, but also non-injury matters such as a G League assignment.
- Check again closer to tip-off. The league says reports are updated continually, so a status can change after an earlier report.
- Account for the deadline exception. Interpret the timestamp using the game’s local time, tip-off time and whether it is the team’s second game of a back-to-back.
A report reason is not necessarily a full diagnosis or a complete account of a player’s condition. The published report is a participation-status document, not a medical evaluation.
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