Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (knee) went through a conditioning workout before Monday's 109-91 win over the Chicago Bulls, and he hasn't faced any setbacks with his projected six-to-eight-week recovery timetable from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Cavaliers held Mobley out for four straight games due to injury management for the issue, but they later announced on Dec. 15 that he required a procedure to remove loose bodies from his knee. Mobley has been sidelined for about four weeks and remains out indefinitely, but he is progressing. The 22-year-old former No. 3 overall pick will need to be cleared for basketball activities before any return to game action, so it may not be reasonable to expect him back before January's end. Jarrett Allen has really gotten going in Mobley's absence, averaging 18.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.4 combined steals plus blocks over 13 games since Dec. 16.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (jaw), who has been out since Dec. 15 due to a fractured jaw, has received clearance to resume basketball activities. It's great news for patient fantasy managers and Garland, who was also a limited participant in pregame warmups before Monday's 109-91 win over the Chicago Bulls. Garland is expected to incrementally ramp up his activity over time, so he is likely to need about one week for a return to game action. The Cavaliers begin a four-game road trip on Saturday that ends on Jan. 26, and while it remains to be seen if the 23-year-old star playmaker will travel with them during that stretch, Garland should be able to rejoin the lineup by January's close. Caris LeVert should be held onto until then, averaging 18.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 treys, and 1.0 steals in 27.4 minutes in 12 appearances off Cleveland's bench since Dec. 16.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jae Crowder (core), who has been out for the last two months following core-muscle surgery, has been cleared to return to the team's lineup on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. While Crowder's availability is unlikely to impact fantasy hoops right off the bat, it's worth noting that he's among Milwaukee's leaders in minutes per game (26.7) as an active presence on the defensive end and effective spot-up shooter on offense (51.6% three-point shooting over nine games). The 33-year-old journeyman's return is likely bad news for the sharpshooting Malik Beasley's wing minutes as the Bucks' fifth starter. Across 29 starts since Nov. 13, Beasley is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 threes on 50.0% shooting from deep in 30.6 minutes per game.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) is not seen on the team's injury report for Tuesday's game against the Denver Nuggets. After returning to play for 31 minutes on Monday after a three-game absence due to swelling in his left knee, Embiid is ready to go for this interconference showdown against Denver. With Nikola Jokic (hip) and the rest of the Nuggets' stars all expected to be out there as well, Tuesday's marquee matchup between two championship contenders certainly carries plenty of anticipation. The 29-year-old reigning MVP is leading the NBA with 34.9 points per game and has registered a whopping 17 consecutive showings with at least 30 points, shooting 55.6% from the floor with 1.2 triples and 3.4 combined steals and blocks per game since Nov. 17. Embiid is safe to deploy in all season-long fantasy leagues.

Denver Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon (heel) is regarded as questionable for Tuesday's meeting with the 76ers. The 28-year-old has landed on the injury report with a right heel strain. Peyton Watson will likely pick up his third start of the campaign if Gordon is out on Tuesday. He filled in for him for a couple of games late last month, averaging 17.0 points and 3.5 rebounds with a pair of assists. Watson could get an even bigger opportunity to contribute on Tuesday, as all of the Nuggets starters have landed on the injury report with a questionable tag.