NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (March 26): Luka Doncic Out, Jimmy Butler Cleared to Play Friday

NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (March 26): Luka Doncic Out, Jimmy Butler Cleared to Play Friday article feature image
Credit:

Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks.

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

NBA Injury News

6 p.m. ET Update: Jimmy Butler will suit up Friday after missing the Heat's loss on Thursday due to a stomach illness. Dennis Smith Jr. will sit out for the Pistons due to a sore back.

Draymond Green and Eric Paschall have been removed from the injury report on the second night of a back-to-back after both were dealing with illnesses on Thursday.

The Milwaukee Bucks will be without Bobby Portis, PJ Tucker, and Rodions Kurucs on Friday.


5 p.m. ET Update: James Harden has been cleared to return to the Nets' lineup Friday after missing the previous game due to a sore neck. There has been no word on a minute restriction.


2:30 p.m. ET Update: Luka Doncic has been added to the injury report for the Dallas Mavericks and is being listed as doubtful Friday due to a tight low back. Lonzo Ball has also been downgraded to doubtful with a hip injury on Friday after missing the past two games for the Pelicans.

Damian Lillard is sitting on the second night of a back-to-back for the Portland Trail Blazers due to a left knee contusion. Paul Watson and DeAndre Bembry have been ruled out for the Toronto Raptors Friday because of the health and safety protocols.


The Brooklyn Nets are monitoring the status of their only potentially available superstar, James Harden. Harden is questionable for Friday after missing the prior game due to a sore neck. Blake Griffin will return after resting on Wednesday in the second leg of a back-to-back, while Kyrie Irving and Landry Shamet remain out.

Jimmy Butler is questionable to play Friday due to a stomach illness. Butler sat out their game on Thursday night with the same issue. Goran Dragic has been ruled out with back spasms and will not travel with the team to Charlotte.

Draymond Green is questionable with an illness as well after sitting out of the Warriors' game on Thursday with the same ailment. Lonzo Ball is questionable in advance of Friday's contest as he continues to deal with a strained hip flexor. He's missed the past two games with the injury.

Be sure to check the Action Labs NBA page for real time updates.

Projected Starting Lineups

Brooklyn Nets vs. Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET)

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – James Harden
SG – Bruce Brown
SF – Joe Harris
PF – Jeff Green
C – DeAndre Jordan

Injury news: James Harden (Neck) is active

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Dennis Smith Jr.
SG – Frank Jackson
SF – Saddiq Bey
PF – Jerami Grant
C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: Dennis Smith Jr. (Back) is out; Rodney McGruder (elbow) and Hamidou Diallo (groin) are active


Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)

Suns Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Mikal Bridges (Heel) is active; Abdel Nader (knee) is out

Raptors Projected Lineup

PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Fred VanVleet
SF – OG Anunoby
PF – Pascal Siakam
C – Aron Baynes

Injury news: Paul Watson and DeAndre Bembry have been ruled out Friday because of the health and safety protocols


Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks (7:30 p.m. ET)

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Kemba Walker
SG – Marcus Smart
SF – Jaylen Brown
PF – Jayson Tatum
C – Robert Williams

Injury news: Tristan Thompson (health protocols), Semi Ojeleye (hip) and Romeo Langford (health protocols) are out

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Donte DiVincenzo
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
C – Brook Lopez

Injury news: PJ Tucker (calf) and Bobby Portis (health protocols) are out; Bryn Forbes (toe) active


Portland Trail Blazers vs. Orlando Magic (8 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: Damian Lillard (knee) is out

Magic Projected Lineup

PG – Michael Carter-Williams
SG – Dwayne Bacon
SF – James Ennis
PF – Chuma Okeke
C – Khem Birch

Injury news: Terrence Ross (knee) is out


Miami Heat vs. Charlotte Hornets (8 p.m. ET)

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Kendrick Nunn
SG – Jimmy Butler
SF – Duncan Robinson
PF – Trevor Ariza
C – Bam Adebayo

Injury news: Jimmy Butler (Illness) is active, KZ Okpala (health protocols), Goran Dragic (back), Udonis Haslem (health protocols), Nemanja Bjelica and Victor Oladipo are out

Hornets Projected Lineup

PG – Devonte' Graham
SG – Terry Rozier
SF – Gordon Hayward
PF – PJ Washington
C – Bismack Biyombo

Injury news: Nothing new


Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Jamal Murray
SG – Will Barton
SF – Michael Porter Jr.
PF – Paul Millsap
C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: Nothing new

Pelicans Projected Lineup

PG – Lonzo Ball
SG – Eric Bledsoe
SF – Brandon Ingram
PF – Zion Williamson
C – Steven Adams

Injury news: Lonzo Ball (Hip) is doubtful


Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET)

Rockets Projected Lineup

PG – John Wall
SG – Sterling Brown
SF – Danuel House
PF – Jae'Sean Tate
C – Christian Wood

Injury news: Kevin Porter Jr. (quad) is questionable

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – Ricky Rubio
SG – Anthony Edwards
SF – Jaden McDaniels
PF – Jarred Vanderbilt
C – Karl-Anthony Towns

Injury news: Jordan McLaughlin (conditioning) is questionable, Josh Okogie (health protocols) is out


Indiana Pacers vs. Dallas Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET)

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Caris LeVert
SF – Justin Holiday
PF – Domantas Sabonis
C – Myles Turner

Injury news: TJ Warren will miss the rest of the season after undergoing foot surgery back in January

Mavericks Projected Lineup

PG – Jalen Brunson
SG – Josh Richardson
SF – Dorian Finney-Smith
PF – Maxi Kleber
C – Kristaps Porzingis

Injury news: Luka Doncic (back) is doubtful, Willie Cauley-Stein (health protocols) is out


Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz (9 p.m. ET)

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Ja Morant
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Dillon Brooks
PF – Kyle Anderson
C – Jonas Valanciunas

Injury news: Nothing new

Jazz Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Nothing new


Atlanta Hawks vs. Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET)

Hawks Projected Lineup

PG – Trae Young
SG – Kevin Huerter
SF – Tony Snell
PF – John Collins
C – Clint Capela

Injury news: De'Andre Hunter (knee) is questionable

Warriors Projected Lineup

PG – Jordan Poole
SG – Kelly Oubre
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – James Wiseman

Injury news: Draymond Green (Illness) is active


Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET)

Cavaliers Projected Lineup

PG – Darius Garland
SG – Collin Sexton
SF – Isaac Okoro
PF – Larry Nance Jr.
C – Jarrett Allen

Injury news: Collin Sexton (Hamstring) is questionable

Lakers Projected Lineup

PG – Dennis Schroder
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF – Kyle Kuzma
PF – Markieff Morris
C – Marc Gasol

Injury news: Marc Gasol (COVID Protocols) is questionable


Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 2:30 p.m. ET, Justin Phan sees betting value in one Friday game: Trail Blazers vs. Magic. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.

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