NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (April 22): Ja Morant Cleared to Play in Game 3 vs. Lakers

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

9 p.m. ET Update: Ja Morant has been cleared to play in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers and will start for the Grizzlies.

6 p.m. ET Update: Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out of Saturday's Game 3 matchup against the Miami Heat with a lower back contusion.

News broke Friday that Joel Embiid's availability was in jeopardy in the first-round series between the 76ers and Nets. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Embiid will miss at least Game 4 of this series after an MRI revealed a right knee sprain. The injury occurred in the third quarter of Game 3 and there is no word yet on if Embiid would be available if the Nets push the series to a Game 5.

Another star player who won't be suiting up for a crucial Game 4 is Kawhi Leonard, who missed Game 3 of the Suns vs Clippers series with a knee injury of his own. The team initially stated that Leonard would be day-to-day when he missed Thursday's game and we can expect Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell to once again step into bigger roles with Leonard sidelined.

The other two key injuries to watch for Saturday's four-game slate are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant. Antetokounmpo did not practice with the team but was able to do individual work Friday. His status may not be clear until close to tipoff. Morant practiced with the Grizzlies Friday in a non-contact session and is considered a game-time decision for Saturday's Game 3 matchup in Los Angeles.

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Projected Starting Lineups

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets (1 p.m. ET)

76ers Projected Lineup

PG – James Harden
SG – Tyrese Maxey
SF – Tobias Harris
PF – P.J. Tucker
C – Paul Reed

Injury news: Danuel House (illness) and Joel Embiid (knee) are Out

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – Spencer Dinwiddie
SG – Mikal Bridges
SF – Cameron Johnson
PF – Dorian Finney-Smith
C – Nic Claxton

Injury news: Ben Simmons (back) is Out

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers (3:30 p.m. ET)

Suns Projected Lineup

PG – Chris Paul
SG – Devin Booker
SF – Torrey Craig
PF – Kevin Durant
C – Deandre Ayton

Injury news: Cameron Payne (back) is Out

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Eric Gordon
SF – Kawhi Leonard
PF – Nicolas Batum
C – Ivica Zubac

Injury news: Paul George (knee) and Kawhi Leonard (knee) are Out

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET)

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Bobby Portis
C – Brook Lopez

Injury news: Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) and Wesley Matthews (calf) are Out

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Gabe Vincent
SG – Duncan Robinson
SF – Max Strus
PF – Jimmy Butler
C – Bam Adebayo

Injury news: Kyle Lowry (knee) is Available; Nikola Jovic (back) and Tyler Herro (hand) are Out

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET)

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Ja Morant
SG – Desmond Bane
SF – Dillon Brooks
PF – Jaren Jackson Jr.
C – Xavier Tillman

Injury news: Ja Morant (hand) is Active; Steven Adams (knee), Brandon Clarke (Achilles) and Jake LaRavia (calf) are Out

Lakers Projected Lineup

PG – D'Angelo Russell
SG – Austin Reaves
SF – LeBron James
PF – Jarred Vanderbilt
C – Anthony Davis

Injury news: Dennis Schroder (Achilles), Anthony Davis (foot) and LeBron James (foot) are Probable