NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (April 1): Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball Ruled Out Thursday
Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Thursday’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
2:30 p.m. ET Update: Lonzo Ball (hip) and Zion Williamson (thumb) have both been ruled out on Thursday. Brandon Ingram (toe) has been downgraded to doubtful.
The San Antonio Spurs will be without Lonnie Walker, Trey Lyles and Gorgui Dieng Thursday.
1 p.m. ET Update: James Harden has been ruled out of Thursday’s game due to a tight right hamstring. Blake Griffin will rest in the second leg of a back-to-back
James Harden is questionable to play Thursday night on the second game of a back-to-back set in Brooklyn after leaving last night’s game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Harden has been the most durable of the Brooklyn’s trio of stars, missing just two games for the Nets this season. When asked about the injury, head coach Steve Nash said “We’re gonna monitor it. I don’t have a lot to tell you. We feel confident it’s not a long-term thing.”
The New Orleans Pelicans could be playing without two of their starters against the Orlando Magic Thursday with Lonzo Ball and Zion Williamson both listed as questionable. Williamson suffered his thumb injury Monday against the Boston Celtics and Ball has now missed the Pelicans’ past five games with a lingering hip injury.
The Philadelphia 76ers should expect some reinforcements on the horizon soon. Center Joel Embiid remains sidelined on Thursday but is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Embiid has been sidelined for several weeks due to a left knee bone bruise, and there is no word on if he’ll have a minutes limit upon his return.
Be sure to check the Action Labs NBA page for real time updates.
Projected Starting Lineups
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET)
76ers Projected Lineup
PG – Ben Simmons
SG – Seth Curry
SF – Danny Green
PF – Tobias Harris
C – Dwight Howard
Injury news: Joel Embiid (knee) is out Thursday, but will return Saturday
Cavaliers Projected Lineup
PG – Darius Garland
SG – Collin Sexton
SF – Isaac Okoro
PF – Kevin Love
C – Isaiah Hartenstein
Injury news: Kevin Love (Calf) is questionable; Larry Nance Jr. (illness) and Jarrett Allen (concussion) are out
Washington Wizards vs. Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET)
Wizards Projected Lineup
PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Deni Avdija
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Alex Len
Injury news: Bradley Beal (Hip) and Raul Neto (rib) are questionable; Daniel Gafford (ankle) is out
Pistons Projected Lineup
PG – Saben Lee
SG – Josh Jackson
SF – Saddiq Bey
PF – Jerami Grant
C – Mason Plumlee
Injury news: Wayne Ellington (calf) and Dennis Smith Jr. (back) are both questionable; Rodney McGruder (elbow) and Hamidou Diallo (rest) are out
Charlotte Hornets vs. Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)
Hornets Projected Lineup
PG – Devonte’ Graham
SG – Terry Rozier
SF – Gordon Hayward
PF – PJ Washington
C – Bismack Biyombo
Injury news: Malik Monk (foot) is probable
Nets Projected Lineup
PG – Kyrie Irving
SG – Bruce Brown
SF – Joe Harris
PF – Jeff Green
C – DeAndre Jordan
Injury news: James Harden (hamstring) and Blake Griffin (rest) are out
Golden State Warriors vs. Miami Heat (8 p.m. ET)
Warriors Projected Lineup
PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Kelly Oubre
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – James Wiseman
Injury news: Erich Paschall (wrist) is out
Heat Projected Lineup
PG – Kendrick Nunn
SG – Jimmy Butler
SF – Duncan Robinson
PF – Trevor Ariza
C – Bam Adebayo
Injury news: Kendrick Nunn (Ankle) is questionable
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)
Magic Projected Lineup
PG – Michael Carter-Williams
SG – Dwayne Bacon
SF – James Ennis
PF – Chuma Okeke
C – Khem Birch
Injury news: Nothing new
Pelicans Projected Lineup
PG – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SG – Eric Bledsoe
SF – Josh Hart
PF – Wes Iwundu
C – Steven Adams
Injury news: Lonzo Ball (Hip) and Zion Williamson (Thumb) are out; Brandon Ingram (toe) is doubtful
Atlanta Hawks vs. San Antonio Spurs (8:30 p.m. ET)
Hawks Projected Lineup
PG – Trae Young
SG – Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF – Tony Snell
PF – Solomon Hill
C – Clint Capela
Injury news: De’Andre Hunter (knee) is questionable; John Collins (ankle) is out
Spurs Projected Lineup
PG – Dejounte Murray
SG – Derrick White
SF – DeMar DeRozan
PF – Keldon Johnson
C – Jakob Poeltl
Injury news: Nothing new
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers (10 p.m. ET)
Nuggets Projected Lineup
PG – Jamal Murray
SG – Will Barton
SF – Aaron Gordon
PF – Michael Porter Jr.
C – Nikola Jokic
Injury news: Nothing new
Clippers Projected Lineup
PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Luke Kennard
SF – Kawhi Leonard
PF – Marcus Morris
C – Ivica Zubac
Injury news: Marcus Morris (Calf) is questionable; Paul George (foot), Patrick Beverley (knee), Serge Ibaka (back), and Rajon Rondo (adductor) are out
Phan’s Bet to Watch
As of 2:30 p.m. ET, Justin Phan sees betting value in two Thursday games: Warriors vs. Heat, Magic vs. Pelicans. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.
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