NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Jan. 1): Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler Expected to Return, Aldridge Out Again

Below are the projected starting lineups for each NBA team for Friday’s slate, along with notable injury news for each squad. For real-time updates to these lineups, check out the NBA Insiders lineups page.

Friday's NBA Injury News

It's been an ugly start to the season for the Golden State Warriors, but Steve Kerr's group is hoping for a lift with the debut of Draymond Green on Friday.

Green has missed all four games with a foot injury, but after working his way back into game condition, Kerr announced he expected the forward back on Friday.

Per our NBA Insiders Tool:

Coach Kerr revealed that Green is probable to make his season debut on Friday. Green has been sidelined with a sore right foot and then held out due to conditioning issues, but he was able to play a 12-minute scrimmage on Thursday. Eric Paschall started the season in the starting lineup but Juan Toscano-Anderson has drawn the start in each of the last two games. Coach Kerr hasn't stated an approximate minutes plan for Green in his first game.

Elsewhere across the league, Jimmy Butler is probable after missing two games with an ankle injury.

LeBron James remains on the injury report with a sprained ankle, although he started and played 35 minutes on Wednesday with the same injury designation. LaMarcus Aldridge will sit for the second consecutive game with a knee injury.

Friday's Projected Starting Lineups

Boston Celtics @ Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET)

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart

SG – Jaylen Brown

SF – Jayson Tatum

PF – Daniel Theis

C – Tristan Thompson

Injury news: Javonte Green (health protocols) is out.

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Killian Hayes

SG – Josh Jackson

SF – Saddiq Bey

PF – Jerami Grant

C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: Jahlil Okafor (ankle) is probable. Killian Hayes (ankle) is questionable. Blake Griffin (concussion) is out. 

Memphis Grizzlies at Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m. ET)

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Tyus Jones

SG – Desmond Bane

SF – Dillon Brooks

PF – Kyle Anderson

C – Jonas Valanciunas

Injury news: Ja Morant (ankle), Justice Winslow (hip) and De'Anthony Melton (health protocols) are out. Grayson Allen (ankle) is doubtful.

Hornets Projected Lineup

PG – Devonte’ Graham

SG – Terry Rozier

SF – Gordon Hayward

PF – PJ Washington

C – Bismack Biyombo

Injury news: Nothing new.

Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks (7 p.m. ET)

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Jimmy Butler

SG – Tyler Herro

SF – Duncan Robinson

PF – Moe Harkless

C – Bam Adebayo

Injury news: Jimmy Butler (ankle) and Kelly Olynyk (knee) are probable. 

Mavericks Projected Lineup

PG – Luka Doncic

SG – Josh Richardson

SF – Tim Hardaway Jr.

PF – Dorian Finney-Smith

C – Dwight Powell

Injury news: Maxi Kleber (ankle) is questionable. 

Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)

Hawks Projected Lineup

PG – Trae Young

SG – Cam Reddish

SF – De'Andre Hunter

PF – John Collins

C – Clint Capela

Injury news: Trae Young (calf) is probable. Rajon Rondo (knee) and Danilo Gallinari (ankle). De'Andre Hunter (knee) is questionable.

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – Kyrie Irving

SG – Joe Harris

SF – Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot

PF – Kevin Durant

C – DeAndre Jordan

Injury news: Nothing new.

Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (8 p.m. ET)

Lakers Projected Lineup

PG – Dennis Schroder

SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

SF – LeBron James

PF – Anthony Davis

C – Marc Gasol

Injury news: LeBron James (ankle) is questionable.

Spurs Projected Lineup

PG – Dejounte Murray

SG – Lonnie Walker

SF – DeMar DeRozan

PF – Keldon Johnson

C – Jakob Poeltl

Injury news: Derrick White (toe) will make his season debut. LaMarcus Aldridge (knee) is out.

Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks (8 p.m. ET)

Bulls Projected Lineup

PG – Coby White

SG – Zach LaVine

SF – Otto Porter

PF – Patrick Williams 

C – Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury news: Lauri Markkanen, Chandler Hutchison, Ryan Arcidiacono and Tomas Satoransky are all out due to health protocols.

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday

SG – Donte Divincenzo

SF – Khris Middleton

PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo

C – Brook Lopez

Injury news: Nothing new.

Washington Wizards at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET)

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Raul Neto

SG – Bradley Beal

SF – Deni Avdija

PF – Rui Hachimura

C – Thomas Bryant

Injury news: Russell Westbrook (rest) will not play.

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – Ricky Rubio

SG – D'Angelo Russell

SF – Malik Beasley

PF – Jarrett Culver

C – Naz Reid

Injury news: Karl-Anthony Towns remains out. Josh Okogie (hamstring) is out.

Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets (9 p.m. ET)

Suns Projected Lineup

PG – Chris Paul

SG – Devin Booker

SF – Mikal Bridges

PF – Jae Crowder

C – Deandre Ayton

Injury news: Dario Saric is sitting out the second game of a back to back.

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Jamal Murray

SG – Gary Harris

SF – Will Barton

PF – Paul Millsap

C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: Jamal Murray (elbow) is probable. JaMychal Green (calf) is questionable. Michael Porter Jr. (health protocols) is out.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Utah Jazz (9 p.m. ET)

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Patrick Beverley

SG – Paul George

SF – Kawhi Leonard

PF – Nicolas Batum

C – Serge Ibaka

Injury news: Marcus Morris (knee) remains out. Kawhi Leonard is not listed on the injury report.

Jazz Projected Lineup

PG – Mike Conley

SG – Donovan Mitchell

SF – Bojan Bogdanovic

PF – Royce O’Neale

C – Rudy Gobert

Injury news: Derrick Favors is expected to be active.

Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET)

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

PG – Damian Lillard

SG – CJ McCollum

SF – Derrick Jones Jr.

PF – Robert Covington

C – Jusuf Nurkic

Injury news: Gary Trent Jr. (calf) is questionable.

Warriors Projected Lineup 

PG – Steph Curry

SG – Kelly Oubre

SF – Andrew Wiggins

PF – Draymond Green

C – James Wiseman

Injury news: Draymond Green is expected to make his season debut. Eric Paschall is questionable.

Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 12 p.m. ET, Justin Phan sees multiple edges that he’s bet. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for our NBA Insiders Tool.