NBA Injury News & Startling Lineups (March 3): Jimmy Butler Among Heat Players Sitting vs. Nets in Kevin Durant’s Return

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 injury updates, check out our FantasyLabs NBA news page. 

NBA Injury News Updates

6 p.m. Update

Fred VanVleet and Thaddeus Young are out for the Raptors. Klay Thompson will play.

The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler and P.J. Tucker against the Nets.

4:30 p.m. ET Update

OG Anunoby will not play as he rests a broken finger. Jimmy Butler is questionable with toe irritation, while P.J. Tucker was added to the injury report as well. Richaun Holmes is questionable for the Kings.

After almost seven weeks since playing his last game, Kevin Durant is expected to return on Thursday when the Brooklyn Nets host the Miami Heat.

Durant last played on Jan. 15 against the Pelicans when he left with a sprained MCL that cost him 21 games. Without Durant, the Nets went 5-16 and now sit 32-31, which is eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Durant's return is a boost for the Nets, but other teams around the league are awaiting word on their stars.

The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown. LeBron James is listed as questionable with knee soreness. Klay Thompson and Trae Young are each questionable, as are a pair of Toronto Raptors starters.

Projected Starting Lineups

Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks (7 p.m. ET)

Chicago Bulls

PG – Ayo Dosunmu
SG – Zach LaVine
SF – Javonte Green
PF – DeMar DeRozan
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: No new updates.

Atlanta Hawks

PG – Trae Young
SG – Kevin Huerter
SF – De'Andre Hunter
PF – Danilo Gallinari
C – Clint Capela

Injury news: Lou Williams (hip) is probable. Trae Young (ankle) is questionable. John Collins (foot) is out.

Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET)

Memphis Grizzlies

PG – Ja Morant
SG – Desmond Bane
SF – Ziaire Williams
PF – Jaren Jackson
C – Steven Adams

Injury news: John Konchar (ankle) is out.

Boston Celtics

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Aaron Nesmith
SF – Jayson Tatum
PF – Al Horford
C – Robert Williams

Injury news: Jaylen Brown (ankle) is out.

Detroit Pistons at Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m.)

Detroit Pistons

PG – Cory Joseph
SG – Cade Cunningham
SF – Saddiq Bey
PF – Jerami Grant
C – Isaiah Stewart

Injury news: Hamidou Diallo (ankle) is probable. Frank Jackson (back) is questionable. Marvin Bagley III (ankle) is doubtful.

Toronto Raptors

PG – Malachi Flynn
SG – Gary Trent Jr.
SF – Scottie Barnes
PF – Pascal Siakim
C – Khem Birch

Injury news: Fred VanVleet (knee) is out. OG Anunoby (finger) is out.

Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)

Miami Heat

PG – Gabe Vincent
SG – Duncan Robinson
SF – Caleb Martin
PF – Max Strus
C – Bam Adebayo

Injury news: Kyle Lowry (personal) is out. Jimmy Butler (toe) and P.J. Tucker (knee) are out.

Brooklyn Nets

PG – Patty Mills
SG – Seth Curry
SF – Bruce Brown
PF – Kevin Durant
C – Andre Drummond

Injury news: Ben Simmons (conditioning) and Kyrie Irving (ineligible) are out. Andre Drummond (knee) is probable.

Sacramento Kings at San Antonio Spurs (8:30 p.m. ET)

Sacramento Kings

PG – De'Aaron Fox
SG – Justin Holiday
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Trey Lyles
C – Domantas Sabonis

Injury news: No new updates

San Antonio Spurs

PG – Dejounte Murray
SG – Devin Vassell
SF – Doug McDermott
PF – Keldon Johnson
C – Jakob Poeltl

Injury news: No new updates.

Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks (8:30 p.m.)

Golden State Warriors

PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Gary Payton II
SF – Klay Thompson
PF – Andrew Wiggins
C – Kevon Looney

Injury news: Klay Thompson (illness) is questionable. Damion Lee (quad) is questionable. Moses Moody (eye) is probable.

Dallas Mavericks

PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Jalen Brunson
SF – Reggie Bullock
PF – Dorian Finney-Smith
C – Dwight Powell

Injury news: Trey Burke (shoulder) and Frank Ntilikina (ankle) are questionable.

Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers (10:00 p.m. ET)

Los Angeles Lakers

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Malik Monk
SF – Austin Reaves
PF – Stanley Johnson
C – LeBron James

Injury news: Avery Bradley (knee) and LeBron James (knee) are questionable. Talen Horton-Tucker (ankle) is probable

Los Angeles Clippers

PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Terance Mann
SF – Marcus Morris
PF – Nicolas Batum
C – Ivica Zubac

Injury news: No new updates.

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