NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (April 16): Paul George Cleared to Play, Damian Lillard Out 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 updates to these lineups, check out our Action Labs NBA lineups page.

NBA Injury News

7 p.m. ET Update: Damian Lillard has been ruled out Friday due to right hamstring tendinopathy.

6:30 p.m. ET Update: Dwight Howard, Seth Curry and Tobias Harris have been ruled out. Paul George has been cleared to suit up for the Clippers.

Tomas Satoransky won't play Friday due to back spasms. Jaylen Nowell will sit out for the Timberwolves with a right tibia contusion.

5:30 p.m. ET Update: Kawhi Leonard will sit Friday night with a sore foot. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said Paul George is under the weather and didn't participate in shootaround. He's listed as questionable ahead of tonight's game.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers said Tobias Harris is doubtful to play Friday due to a sore right knee.

Gary Trent Jr. has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. Fred VanVleet will return to the Raptors' lineup after missing the past seven games due to a hip injury and suspension.

2 p.m. ET Update: Myles Turner and Doug McDermott have been ruled out for the Indiana Pacers Friday.

Jordan Clarkson will be available to play Friday after missing the past four games for the Utah Jazz. Derrick Favors has been ruled out.

Lonzo Ball told reporters he'll be "ready to go" Friday after shootaround — he has missed 11 of the last 14 games due to a hip injury.

Alec Burks will miss the New York Knicks' matchup with the Dallas Mavericks Friday due to health and safety protocols. Michael Carter Williams will sit out tonight with a sprained left ankle.

The Los Angeles Clippers are keeping a close eye on their two star players — mostly Kawhi Leonard — ahead of their Friday night game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Per our NBA Insiders tool:

Leonard is considered questionable in advance of Friday's game as he continues to deal with a sore foot. He's missed the past three games with the injury and has been traveling with the team, considered day-to-day. Paul George and Marcus Morris aren't on the injury report after sitting out of Wednesday's win for rest purposes. Luke Kennard has started on the wing alongside George during Leonard's absence.

On the other side of that matchup, Tobias Harris is listed as questionable with a sore knee. This doesn't come as a surprise as he said after Wednesday's win that he was "50-50" to play and was seen limping towards the end of the game. Harris managed to play 33.8 minutes despite playing through the injury.

The New Orleans Pelicans hope to get their starting point guard, Lonzo Ball, back in the lineup Friday. Ball's is listed as probable after missing the the past four games due to a sore hip flexor.

Myles Turner is questionable Friday ahead of an early matchup against the Utah Jazz after being sidelined for the past five games with a sprained ankle.

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

Projected Starting Lineups

Indian Pacers vs. Utah Jazz (3 p.m. ET)

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Edmond Sumner
SF – Caris LeVert
PF – Justin Holiday
C – Domantas Sabonis

Injury news: Myles Turner (Ankle) and Doug McDermott (Ankle) are out

Jazz Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Jordan Clarkson (Ankle) is active; Derrick Favors (Knee) is out

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET)

Thunder Projected Lineup

PG – Theo Maledon
SG – Lu Dort
SF – Darius Bazley
PF – Isaiah Roby
C – Moses Brown

Injury news: Mike Muscala (Ankle) and Aleksej Pokusevski (Arm) are out

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Saben Lee
SG – Josh Jackson
SF – Saddiq Bey
PF – Sekou Doumbouya
C – Isaiah Stewart

Injury news: Wayne Ellington (Rest), Cory Joseph (Ankle), Mason Plumlee (Rest), Jerami Grant (Rest), Rodney McGruder (Elbow) and Dennis Smith Jr. (Knee) are out

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Washington Wizards (7 p.m. ET)

Pelicans Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Lonzo Ball (Hip) is active

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Deni Avdija
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Alex Len

Injury news: Davis Bertans (personal) is out

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET)

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Luke Kennard
SF – Paul George
PF – Marcus Morris
C – Ivica Zubac

Injury news: Kawhi Leonard (Foot) is out; Paul George (illness) is active

76ers Projected Lineup

PG – Ben Simmons
SG – Furkan Korkmaz
SF – Danny Green
PF – Matisse Thybulle
C – Joel Embiid

Injury news: Tobias Harris (Knee) and Dwight Howard (Knee) are out

Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)

Magic Projected Lineup

PG – Cole Anthony
SG – Gary Harris
SF – James Ennis
PF – Chuma Okeke
C – Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury news: Michael Carter-Williams (Ankle) and Otto Porter (Foot) are out; Mo Bamba (Hip) is questionable

Raptors Projected Lineup

PG – Malachi Flynn
SG – Fred VanVleet
SF – DeAndre Bembry
PF – Chris Boucher
C – Khem Birch

Injury news: DeAndre Bembry (Hamstring) and Fred VanVleet (hip) are active; Gary Trent Jr. (Ankle), Jalen Harris (Hip), Kyle Lowry (Rest), Pascal Siakam (Rest) and OG Anunoby (Rest) are out

Charlotte Hornets vs. Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)

Hornets Projected Lineup

PG – Terry Rozier
SG – Caleb Martin
SF – Jalen McDaniels
PF – Miles Bridges
C – Bismack Biyombo

Injury news: Brad Wanamaker (Ankle) is active; PJ Washington (Ankle) and Devonte' Graham (Quad) are out

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – Kyrie Irving
SG – Joe Harris
SF – Kevin Durant
PF – Jeff Green
C – DeAndre Jordan

Injury news: Nothing new

Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets (8 p.m. ET)

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Monte Morris
SG – Will Barton
SF – Aaron Gordon
PF – Michael Porter Jr.
C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: Nothing new

Rockets Projected Lineup

PG – John Wall
SG – Kevin Porter Jr.
SF – Jae'Sean Tate
PF – Kelly Olynyk
C – Christian Wood

Injury news: Nothing new

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET)

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Brandon Clarke (Hip) is questionable; Justise Winslow (Thigh) and De'Anthony Melton (Leg) are out

Bulls Projected Lineup

PG – Coby White
SG – Patrick Williams
SF – Thaddeus Young
PF – Lauri Markkanen
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: Tomas Satoransky (Back) and Zach LaVine (COVID Protocols) are out

Miami Heat vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET)

Heat Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Gabe Vincent (Knee) is probable; Victor Oladipo (Knee) and Andre Iguodala (Hip) are out

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – Ricky Rubio
SG – Anthony Edwards
SF – Josh Okogie
PF – Jaden McDaniels
C – Karl-Anthony Towns

Injury news: Jaylen Nowell (Leg) is questionable

Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs (8:30 p.m. ET)

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

PG – Damian Lillard
SG – CJ McCollum
SF – Norman Powell
PF – Robert Covington
C – Jusuf Nurkic

Injury news: Damian Lillard (hamstring) is out

Spurs Projected Lineup

PG – Dejounte Murray
SG – Derrick White
SF – DeMar DeRozan
PF – Keldon Johnson
C – Jakob Poeltl

Injury news: Gorgui Dieng (Shoulder) is questionable

New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks (9:30 p.m. ET)

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – Elfrid Payton
SG – RJ Barrett
SF – Reggie Bullock
PF – Julius Randle
C – Nerlens Noel

Injury news: Nerlens Noel (Ankle) is questionable; Alec Burks (health protocols) is out

Mavericks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Tyrell Terry (Personal) is out

Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 6:30 p.m. ET, Justin Phan is seeing betting value in two games, including Grizzlies vs. Bulls. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.