NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (December 25): Giannis Antetokounmpo and Marcus Smart Cleared to Play, Kristaps Porzingis Questionable Saturday

Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Saturday's NBA slate, along with notable injury news for each squad. For real-time injury updates, check out our FantasyLabs NBA news page. 

NBA Injury News

2 p.m. ET Update: Marcus Smart will play despite a sore hip. Dennis Schroder has entered health and safety protocols and is out. Jabari Parker has cleared health and safety protocols. Al Horford has been ruled out due to conditioning after clearing health protocols.

Malik Monk has cleared health and safety protocols.

12 p.m. ET Update: Donte DiVincenzo will make his debut for the Milwaukee Bucks after clearing health and safety protocols. Danuel House has been downgraded to out with a dislocated finger.

Immanuel Quickley, Danuel House and Jericho Sims are out for the New York Knicks.

The big question for today's five games: Who is in and who is out of the NBA's health and safety protocols?

Clint Capela is expected to suit up for the Atlanta Hawks after clearing health and safety protocols this morning, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. He'll be needed for a Hawks team that has been ravaged by COVID absences this week.

The Milwaukee Bucks expect to have Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup for their Christmas Day home matchup against the Boston Celtics. Antetokounmpo cleared protocols on Friday and is aiming to play per Wojnarowski.

The Celtics have several players, including Al Horford who are in health and safety protocols but listed as questionable to play on the official injury report. Marcus Smart and Romeo Langford are also questionable with a sore hip and Achilles respectively.

The Golden State Warriors have listed Andre Iguodala as questionable with a sore right knee that has bothered him all season.

The Brooklyn Nets have also dealt with multiple COVID absences. They will be without Kevin Durant due to health and safety protocols but will have James Harden back in the lineup.

Kristaps Porzingis is again listed as questionable for the Dallas Mavericks after missing another game this week with a toe injury. The Mavs won't have much of their main starting lineup, including Luka Doncic due to health and safety protocols.

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Projected Starting Lineups

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks (12 p.m. ET)

Hawks Projected Lineup

PG – Delon Wright
SG – Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF – Cam Reddish
PF – John Collins
C – Clint Capela

Injury news: Clint Capela (health and safety), Cam Reddish (Ankle) and Delon Wright (Ankle) are available; Lou Williams, Danilo Gallinari, Trae Young, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Wes Iwundu, Kevin Huerter, Sharife Cooper are out due to health and safety protocols

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – Kemba Walker
SG – RJ Barrett
SF – Evan Fournier
PF – Julius Randle
C – Mitchell Robinson

Injury news: Danuel House (Finger) is available; RJ Barrett (Conditioning) is questionable; Immanuel Quickley (Conditioning) is doubtful; Derrick Rose (Ankle) is out; Kevin Knox has cleared health and safety protocols; Miles McBride and Nerlens Noel are out due to health and safety protocols

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks (2:30 p.m. ET)

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Romeo Langford
SF – Jaylen Brown
PF – Jayson Tatum
C – Robert Williams

Injury news: Marcus Smart (Hip), Romeo Langford (Achilles), Juancho Hernangomez (health and safety), Brodric Thomas (health and safety) and Jabari Parker (health and safety) are available; Al Horford (conditioning) is out; Bruno Fernando, Josh Richardson, Enes Freedom, Grant Williams, Aaron Nesmith, CJ Miles, Justin Jackson and Sam Hauser are out due to health and safety protocols

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
C – Bobby Portis

Injury news: Donte DiVincenzo (health and safety) is available

Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns (5 p.m. ET)

Warriors Projected Lineup

PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Gary Payton II
SF – Otto Porter Jr.
PF – Draymond Green
C – Kevon Looney

Injury news: Andre Iguodala (Knee) is questionable; Moses Moody, Andrew Wiggins, Damion Lee and Jordan Poole are out due to health and safety protocols

Suns Projected Lineup

PG – Chris Paul
SG – Devin Booker
SF – Mikal Bridges
PF – Jae Crowder
C – Deandre Ayton

Injury news: Abdel Nader (Knee) is out

Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8 p.m. ET)

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – Patty Mills
SG – James Harden
SF – DeAndre Bembry
PF – Blake Griffin
C – Nic Claxton

Injury news: LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant, James Johnson, Kyrie Irving, Bruce Brown, David Duke, Kessler Edwards, Day'Ron Sharpe and Cameron Thomas health and safety protocols

Lakers Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Wayne Ellington
SF – Talen Horton-Tucker
PF – LeBron James
C – Dwight Howard

Injury news: LeBron James (Abdominal) is probable; Kendrick Nunn (Knee) and Anthony Davis (Knee) are out; Avery Bradley and Malik Monk have cleared health and safety protocols; Kent Bazemore, Trevor Ariza and Austin Reaves are out due to health and safety protocols

Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz (10:30 p.m. ET)

Mavericks Projected Lineup

PG – Jalen Brunson
SG – Frank Ntilikina
SF – Sterling Brown
PF – Dorian Finney-Smith
C – Dwight Powell

Injury news: Kristaps Porzingis (Toe) is questionable; Willie Cauley-Stein (Personal) is out; Reggie Bullock, Tim Hardaway Jr, Trey Burke, Maxi Kleber, Jaquori McLaughlin, Luka Doncic and Josh Green are out due to health and safety protocols

Jazz Projected Lineup

PG – Mike Conley
SG – Donovan Mitchell
SF – Bojan Bogdanovic
PF – Royce O'Neale
C – Rudy Gobert

Injury news: Udoka Azubuike (Ankle) and Malik Fitts (Shoulder) are out

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