NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Dec. 29): Kawhi Leonard Questionable for Clippers’ Tuesday Matchup

NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Dec. 29): Kawhi Leonard Questionable for Clippers’ Tuesday Matchup article feature image
Credit:

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Paul George #13 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers.

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

Tuesday's NBA Injury News

1:30 p.m. ET: Al Horford will rest against the Orlando Magic on the second leg of a back-to-back. George Hill has been listed as questionable due to back spasms.


11:45 a.m. ET: The Cavs announced that Love will undergo a series of treatment and rehabilitation and will be re-assessed in approximately three-to-four weeks. He recently re-aggravated a strained right calf that he was dealing with during the preseason.


8:45 p.m. ET: The reigning Eastern conference champions may be without their star player, Jimmy Butler for tonight's playoff rematch against the Milwaukee Bucks. Butler has been dealing with an ankle injury since the season opener last week and has tried to play through it.

Per our NBA Insiders tool:

Coach Spoelstra said Butler is doubtful prior to Tuesday's contest — the first of a back-to-back set vs. the Bucks. Butler missed the second half of Friday's win due to a stiff ankle, and he was questionable entering the contest with the bothersome ankle. 

Andre Iguodala will likely replace Butler in the starting lineup.

The Clippers are closely monitoring their star forward Kawhi Leonard, who needed stitches in his mouth after a collision on Christmas day.

Leonard sat out the Clippers' 51-point loss to the Mavericks and the defense noticeably suffered without him. The Clippers play a back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday and haven't revealed if Leonard will suit up.

Be sure to check the NBA Insiders tool for real time updates.

Tuesday's Projected Starting Lineups

Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers (7 p.m. ET)

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Jaylen Brown
SF – Jayson Tatum
PF – Daniel Theis
C – Tristan Thompson

Injury news: None

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Victor Oladipo
SF – TJ Warren
PF – Domantas Sabonis
C – Myles Turner

Injury news:  None


Golden State Warriors at Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET)

Warriors Projected Lineup

PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Kelly Oubre
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Juan Toscano-Anderson
C – James Wiseman

Injury news: None

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Killian Hayes
SG – Delon Wright
SF – Jerami Grant
PF – Blake Griffin
C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: None


Toronto Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET)

Raptors Projected Lineup

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

Injury news:  

76ers Projected Lineup

PG – Ben Simmons
SG – Seth Curry
SF – Danny Green
PF – Tobias Harris
C – Joel Embiid

Injury news: Joel Embiid (back) is probable, Furkan Korkmaz (adductor strain) is out


Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards (7 p.m. ET)

Bulls Projected Lineup

PG – Coby White
SG – Zach LaVine
SF – Patrick Williams
PF – Lauri Markkanen
C – Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury news: Lauri Markkanen (leg) is questionable and Thaddeus Young (leg) is probable

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Isaac Bonga
PF – Deni Avdija
C – Thomas Bryant

Injury news: None


New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET)

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – Elfrid Payton
SG – RJ Barrett
SF – Reggie Bullock
PF – Julius Randle
C – Mitchell Robinson

Injury news:Alec Burks (ankle) is questionable, Kevin Knox (knee) is probable, and Dennis Smith Jr. (quad), Austin Rivers (groin), Obi Toppin (calf) and Immanuel Quickley (hip) are out

Cavaliers Projected Lineup

PG – Collin Sexton
SG – Darius Garland
SF – Cedi Osman
PF – Larry Nance
C – Andre Drummond

Injury news:  Kevin Love (calf), Isaac Okoro (foot), and Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), Kevin Porter (personal) are out


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

Bucks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Torrey Craig (nasal fracture) is out

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Tyer Herro
SG – Duncan Robinson
SF – Andre Iguodala
PF – Bam Adebayo
C – Meyers Leonard

Injury news: Jimmy Butler (ankle) is doubtful


Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City (8 p.m. ET)

Magic Projected Lineup

PG – Markelle Fultz
SG – Evan Fournier
SF – Dwayne Bacon
PF – Aaron Gordon
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: James Ennis (hamstring) is out

Thunder Projected Lineup

PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG – George Hill
SF – Lu Dort
PF – Darius Bazley
C – Mike Muscala

Injury news: Al Horford (rest) is out, George Hill is questionable


New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET)

Pelicans Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: None

Suns Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Dario Saric (quad) is probable, Abdel Nader (concussion), Jalen Smith (ankle) and Ty Jerome (ankle) are out


Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers (10 p.m. ET)

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – De'Angelo Russell
SG – Malik Beasley
SF – Jarrett Culver
PF – Jake Layman
C – Naz Reid

Injury news: Josh Okogie (hamstring) is doubtful, Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) is out

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Patrick Beverley
SG – Paul George
SF – Kawhi Leonard
PF – Nicolas Batum
C – Serge Ibaka

Injury news: Kawhi Leonard (mouth laceration) is questionable, Marcus Morris (knee) is out


Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings (10 p.m. ET)

Nuggets Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: None

Kings Projected Lineup

PG – De'Aaron Fox
SG – Buddy Hield
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Marvin Bagley
C – Richaun Holmes

Injury news: None


Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 9 a.m. ET, Justin Phan is seeing value on one Tuesday matchup: Magic vs. Thunder. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for our NBA Insiders Tool.

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