NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (December 31): Jimmy Butler, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Questionable Friday

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 injury updates, check out our FantasyLabs NBA news page. 

NBA Injury News

Jimmy Butler is questionable for the Miami Heat Friday. Butler is nursing an ankle injury, one of the many ailments he's dealt with this season.

Reggie Jackson is questionable to return to the court after missing four games due to health and safety protocols. Jackson will likely see minutes if his conditioning is good enough.

Evan Fournier is questionable to play for the New York Knicks on Friday as he nurses an ankle injury. The Knicks will also be without their leading scorer Julius Randle who entered heath and safety protocols Thursday.

On the other side of that matchup, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is questionable for the Oklahoma City Thunder with a sore ankle. SGA sat out their last game with the injury.

Anthony Edwards is questionable to play Friday after clearing health and safety protocols. Edwards was able to practice on Thursday, so it's likely he ends up playing.

Trevor Ariza and Avery Bradley are questionable to suit up for the Los Angeles Lakers Friday. Ariza, who has played just two games this season, cleared health and safety protocols and can play if the teams deems his conditioning is up to par.

Projected Starting Lineups

Phoenix Suns vs. Boston Celtics (1 p.m. ET)

Suns Projected Lineup

PG – Chris Paul
SG – Devin Booker
SF – Mikal Bridges
PF – Cam Johnson
C – Jalen Smith

Injury news: JaVale McGee, Jae Crowder, Abdel Nader and Deandre Ayton are out due to health and safety protocols

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Romeo Langford
SF – Jaylen Brown
PF – Al Horford
C – Robert Williams

Injury news: Enes Freedom, Dennis Schroder, Jayson Tatum, Bruno Fernando and Aaron Nesmith are out due to health and safety protocols

Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers (3 p.m. ET)

Bulls Projected Lineup

PG – Coby White
SG – DeMar DeRozan
SF – Zach LaVine
PF – Javonte Green
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: Alex Caruso (Foot) is out; Ersan Ilyasova, Alfonzo McKinnie, Lonzo Ball, Tony Bradley and Marko Simonovic are out due to health and safety protocols

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Caris LeVert
SG – Justin Holiday
SF – Torrey Craig
PF – Domantas Sabonis
C – Myles Turner

Injury news: Jeremy Lamb, Malcolm Brogdon, Isaiah Jackson and Chris Duarte are out due to health and safety protocols

Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings (6 p.m. ET)

Mavericks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Willie Cauley-Stein (Personal) is out; Brandon Knight, Isaiah Thomas, Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke, Boban Marjanovic, Maxi Kleber, JaQuori McLaughlin and Luka Doncic are out due to health and safety protocols

Kings Projected Lineup

PG – De'Aaron Fox
SG – Tyrese Haliburton
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Chimezie Metu
C – Richaun Holmes

Injury news: Davion Mitchell (COVID Protocols) is probable

Miami Heat vs. Houston Rockets (7 p.m. ET)

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Tyler Herro
SG – Kyle Guy
SF – Jimmy Butler
PF – Caleb Martin
C – Omer Yurtseven

Injury news: Jimmy Butler (Ankle) is questionable; KZ Okpala (Wrist) and Dewayne Dedmon (Knee) are out; Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, Udonis Haslem, Marcus Garrett, Zylan Cheatham, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Duncan Robinson (COVID Protocols) are out due to health and safety protocols

Rockets Projected Lineup

PG – Kevin Porter Jr.
SG – Jalen Green
SF – Eric Gordon
PF – Kenyon Martin Jr.
C -Christian Wood

Injury news: DJ Augustin, Jae'Sean Tate, Garrison Mathews and Dejon Jarreau are out due to health and safety protocols

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Luke Kennard
SF – Terance Mann
PF – Marcus Morris
C – Serge Ibaka

Injury news: Reggie Jackson (Conditioning) is questionable; Nicolas Batum (Ankle) is out; Ivica Zubac, Moses Wright, BJ Boston and Jay Scrubb are out due to health and safety protocols

Raptors Projected Lineup

PG – Fred VanVleet
SG – Gary Trent Jr.
SF – OG Anunoby
PF – Scottie Barnes
C – Pascal Siakam

Injury news: Khem Birch (Conditioning), Precious Achiuwa (Conditioning), Dalano Banton (Knee), Scottie Barnes (Conditioning), Fred VanVleet (Conditioning), OG Anunoby (Conditioning) are probable; David Johnson (Calf) is out; Justin Champagnie is out due to health and safety protocols

Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET)

Hawks Projected Lineup

PG – Trae Young
SG – Skylar Mays
SF – Cam Reddish
PF – Chaundee Brown
C – Clint Capela

Injury news: Cam Reddish (Ankle) is probable; Delon Wright, Danilo Gallinari, Gorgui Dieng, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter, Onyeka Okongwu, Sharife Cooper, Jalen Johnson, Malcolm Hill and Malik Ellison are out due to health and safety protocols

Cavaliers Projected Lineup

PG – Kevin Pangos
SG – Isaac Okoro
SF – Lauri Markkanen
PF – Evan Mobley
C – Kevin Love

Injury news: Jarrett Allen (Conditioning) is out; Cedi Osman and Darius Garland are out due to health and safety protocols

San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET)

Spurs Projected Lineup

PG – Derrick White
SG – Doug McDermott
SF – Keita Bates-Diop
PF – Keldon Johnson
C – Jakob Poeltl

Injury news: Lonnie Walker (Knee) is questionable; Dejounte Murray is out due to health and safety protocols

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Ja Morant
SG – Desmond Bane
SF – Kyle Anderson
PF – Jaren Jackson Jr.
C – Steven Adams

Injury news: Santi Aldama (Ankle) is questionable; Sam Merrill (Ankle) is out; Dillon Brooks, Yves Pons, John Konchar, Xavier Tillman, Jarrett Culver, De'Anthony Melton and Ziaire Williams are out due to health and safety protocols

New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET)

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – Kemba Walker
SG – RJ Barrett
SF – Evan Fournier
PF – Obi Toppin
C – Mitchell Robinson

Injury news: Evan Fournier (Ankle) is questionable; Danuel House (Finger) is out; Nerlens Noel, Julius Randle and Wayne Selden are out due to health and safety protocols

Thunder Projected Lineup

PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG – Aaron Wiggins
SF – Lu Dort
PF – Derrick Favors
C – Isaiah Roby

Injury news: Derrick Favors (Conditioning) is probable; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Ankle) is questionable; Kenrich Williams (Ankle) is questionable; Darius Bazley, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Tre Mann, Aleksej Pokusevski and Josh Giddey are out due to health and safety protocols

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz (9 p.m. ET)

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – Patrick Beverley
SG – Malik Beasley
SF – Anthony Edwards
PF – Jarred Vanderbilt
C – Naz Reid

Injury news: Taurean Prince (Conditioning), Jarred Vanderbilt and Anthony Edwards (Conditioning) are questionable

Jazz Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Joe Ingles (Back) is questionable; Mike Conley (Rest), Eric Paschall (Personal) and Udoka Azubuike (Ankle) are out

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET)

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

PG – Damian Lillard
SG – Norman Powell
SF – Tony Snell
PF – Nassir Little
C – Larry Nance Jr.

Injury news: Ben McLemore (Conditioning), Dennis Smith Jr. (Conditioning) and Nassir Little (Ankle) are probable; CJ McCollum (Ribs) is out; Cody Zeller, Robert Covington, Jusuf Nurkic, Keljin Blevins, Anfernee Simons, Brandon Williams and Trendon Watford are out due to health and safety protocols

Lakers Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: LeBron James (Abdominal) is probable; Trevor Ariza (Conditioning) and Avery Bradley (Head) are questionable; Austin Reaves (Conditioning) and Kent Bazemore (Conditioning) are day-to-day; Anthony Davis (Knee) is out; Kendrick Nunn is out due to health and safety protocols

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