NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Jan. 6): Marcus Smart Active, Christian Wood Out Wednesday

NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Jan. 6): Marcus Smart Active, Christian Wood Out Wednesday article feature image
Credit:

Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics.

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

Wednesday's NBA Injury News

6:15 p.m. ET Update: Christian Wood is out of Wednesday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Marcus Smart is active for Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat after missing the Boston Celtics' with a thumb injury. Back-up point guard Jeff Teague has been ruled out tonight with an injury ankle.


6 p.m. ET Update:Evan Fournier will miss his third consecutive game for the Orlando Magic due to back spasms. The New York Knicks will be without Nerlens Noel will miss his second game in a row with an ankle injury. The Atlanta Hawks will have Bogdon Bogdanovic for their matchup with the Charlotte Hornets as he deals with ankle stiffness.


4:30 p.m. ET Update:Kawhi Leonard is expected to play tonight against the Golden State Warriors. He is not listed on the injury report for Wednesday's game in the second leg of a back-to-back. Paul George (ankle) and Marcus Morris (knee) are both questionable.

Christian Wood has been downgraded to questionable ahead of the Houston Rockets' Wednesday night road game against the Indiana Pacers due to a sore left knee.


Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is a mainstay on the injury report and is listed as doubtful for Wednesday's national TV matchup with the Golden State Warriors.

Joining him on the is Paul George who is questionable to play tonight. The Clippers and Warriors are playing the first of a two-game set with the second game scheduled for Friday night.

The Boston Celtics have had terrible luck when it comes to depth in their backcourt. Point guard Kemba Walker has been out since the beginning of the season and now Marcus Smart and backup point guard Jeff Teague are questionable for Wednesday.

Per our NBA Insiders tool:

The Celtics announced that Smart and Jeff Teague (ankle) are both questionable for Wednesday's game. Each player was unable to suit up on Monday and Tremont Waters entered the starting lineup. Waters logged 24 minutes and scored five points, while Payton Pritchard excelled off the bench in 32 minutes with 23 points and eight assists. Pritchard will once again make for a strong play if Smart or Teague remain sidelined.

The Detroit Pistons will be without their rookie point guard Killian Hayes for the foreseeable future. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Hayes was diagnosed with a labral tear in his hip.

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

Wednesday's Projected Starting Lineups

Houston Rockets at Indiana Pacers (7 p.m. ET)

Rockets Projected Lineup

PG – John Wall
SG – James Harden
SF – David Nwaba
PF – PJ Tucker
C – Christian Wood

Injury news: Christian Wood (knee) is questionable, Ben McLemore, Danuel House, and KJ Martin are out and will not travel with the team.

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Aaron Holiday
SF – Victor Oladipo
PF – Domantas Sabonis
C – Myles Turner

Injury news: Nothing new


Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET)

Cavaliers Projected Lineup

PG – Collin Sexton
SG – Damyean Dotson
SF – Isaac Okoro
PF – Larry Nance Jr.
C – Andre Drummond

Injury news: Isaac Okoro is active, Dante Exum (calf) and Darius Garland (shoulder) have been ruled out.

Magic Projected Lineup

PG – Markelle Fultz
SG – Dwayne Bacon
SF – Aaron Gordon
PF – Gary Clark
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: James Ennis is active, Evan Fournier (back) and Michael Carter-Williams (foot) are out.


Washington Wizards at Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET)

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Deni Avdija
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Thomas Bryant
Injury news: Nothing new

76ers Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Mike Scott (knee) is out.


Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks (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: Nothing new

Hawks Projected Lineup

PG – Trae Young
SG – Cam Reddish
SF – Deandre Hunter
PF – John Collins
C – Clint Capela

Injury news: Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) is probable, Rajon Rondo (knee) is out.


Utah Jazz at New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET)

Jazz Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Nothing new

Knicks Lineup

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

Injury news:  Nerlens Noel (ankle) is questionable, Kevin Knox (knee) and Dennis Smith Jr. (quad) are probable, Frank Ntilikina (knee) and Alec Burks (ankle) have been ruled out.


Boston Celtics at Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET)

Celtics Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Marcus Smart (thumb) and Jeff Teague (ankle) are questionable.

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Jimmy Butler
SG – Tyler Herro
SF – Duncan Robinson
PF – Kelly Olynyk
C – Bam Adebayo

Injury news: Maurice Harkless (forearm) is questionable.


Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks (8 p.m. ET)

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Delon Wright
SG – Josh Jackson
SF – Jerami Grant
PF – Blake Griffin
C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: Josh Jackson is questionable, Killian Hayes (hip) is out.

Bucks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Pat Connaughton (groin) is doubtful.


Oklahoma City Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)

Thunder Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Nothing new

Pelicans Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Nothing new


Toronto Raptors at Phoenix Suns (9 p.m. ET)

Raptors Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Nothing new

Suns Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Abdel Nader (concussion) is cleared to play, Jalen Smith (ankle) is out.


Chicago Bulls at Sacramento Kings (10 p.m. ET)

Bulls Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Tyrese Haliburton (wrist) is questionable.

Kings Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Nothing new


Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET)

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Patrick Beverley
SG – Luke Kennard
SF – Paul George
PF – Nicolas Batum
C – Serge Ibaka

Injury news: Kawhi Leonard is not listed on the injury report for tonight's games. Paul George (ankle) and Marcus Morris (knee) are questionable.

Warriors Projected Lineup

PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Kelly Oubre
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – James Wiseman

Injury news: Nothing new


Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 4:30 p.m. ET, Justin Phan sees value five Wednesday games: Rockets vs. Pacers, Hornets vs. Hawks, Thunder vs. Pelicans, Raptors vs. Suns and Clippers vs. Warriors. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.

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