NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (December 17): Russell Westbrook Available, LaMelo Ball Probable 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

6 p.m. ET Update: Davion Mitchell and De'Aaron Fox have been ruled out due to health and safety protocols.

Malik Monk remains out Friday. Dennis Schroder is out with a non-Covid illness. Sam Hauser is out due to health and safety protocols.

Cole Anthony is out with an ankle injury and Gary Harris is available for the Magic. Tyler Herro is doubtful with a quad injury. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu are available for the Hawks.

4 p.m. ET Update: Russell Westbrook has been cleared to play Friday after clearing the league's health and safety protocols. LaMelo Ball has been upgraded to probable.

Tonight's NBA slate is taking huge hits from COVID.

In the Golden State Warriors-Boston Celtics game, Jordan Poole, Al Horford and Grant Williams have all entered health and safety protocols Friday and are out of tonight's matchup.

In tonight's late national TV game, the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are both missing key rotation players. Russell Westbrook and Avery Bradley have been ruled out after entering the health and safety protocols Thursday. Anthony Edwards was ruled out Friday morning for the Wolves.

There are some non-Covid related injuries to monitor as well. Tyler Herro is questionable to suit up for the Miami Heat with a quad issue. On the other side of that matchup, Cole Anthony and Mo Bamba are questionable with right ankle sprains, while Gary Harris is questionable with a hamstring strain.

Clint Capela is listed as questionable with a non-Covid illness and Onyeka Okongwu is probable with a shoulder injury.

LaMelo Ball is questionable to play after sitting out due to health and safety protocols but would likely play if his conditioning is in good shape.

Tyrese Haliburton and Chimezie Metu are questionable for the Sacramento Kings with a back and knee injury respectively. De'Aaron Fox entered the league's health and safety protocols Thursday and has been ruled out.

Projected Starting Lineups

Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET)

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Gabe Vincent
SF – Duncan Robinson
PF – PJ Tucker
C – Dewayne Dedmon

Injury news: Omer Yurtseven (Back) is available; Tyler Herro (Quad) is doubtful; Markieff Morris (Neck), Jimmy Butler (Glute) and Caleb Martin (COVID Protocols) are out

Magic Projected Lineup

PG – Mychal Mulder
SG – Gary Harris
SF – Franz Wagner
PF – Chuma Okeke
C – Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury news: Gary Harris (Hamstring) is available; Cole Anthony (Ankle) and Jalen Suggs (Thumb) are out; Mo Bamba, Moe Wagner, Ignas Brazdeikis and RJ Hampton are out due to health and safety protocols

Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET)

Warriors Projected Lineup

PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Damion Lee
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – Kevon Looney

Injury news: Jordan Poole is out due to health and safety protocols

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Romeo Langford
SF – Jaylen Brown
PF – Jayson Tatum
C – Robert Williams

Injury news: Dennis Schroder (Illness) is out; Sam Hauser, Juan Hernangomez, Al Horford, Jabari Parker and Grant Williams are out due to health and safety protocols

Denver Nuggets vs. Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET)

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Monte Morris
SG – Will Barton
SF – Aaron Gordon
PF – Jeff Green
C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: Austin Rivers (Health and Safety Protocols) is probable; JaMychal Green (Ankle) and Markus Howard (Knee) are out; Bol Bol has entered health and safety protocols and is out

Hawks Projected Lineup

PG – Trae Young
SG – Kevin Huerter
SF – Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
PF – John Collins
C – Clint Capela

Injury news: Onyeka Okongwu (Shoulder) and Clint Capela (Illness) are available; Bogdan Bogdanovic (Ankle) and De'Andre Hunter (Wrist) are out

Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Pat Connaughton
PF – Khris Middleton
C – DeMarcus Cousins

Injury news: Khris Middleton (Knee) is probable; Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Leg) is doubtful; Bobby Portis, Wesley Matthews and Giannis Antetokounmpo are out due to health and safety protocols

Pelicans Projected Lineup

PG – Devonte' Graham
SG – Brandon Ingram
SF – Josh Hart
PF – Herbert Jones
C – Jonas Valanciunas

Injury news: Nothing new

San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz (9 p.m. ET)

Spurs Projected Lineup

PG – Dejounte Murray
SG – Derrick White
SF – Doug McDermott
PF – Keldon Johnson
C – Jakob Poeltl

Injury news: Lonnie Walker (Illness) is questionable

Jazz Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Jared Butler (Knee) is questionable; Udoka Azubuike (Ankle) is out

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (10 p.m. ET)

Lakers Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Wayne Ellington
SF – LeBron James
PF – Anthony Davis
C – DeAndre Jordan

Injury news: Russell Westbrook (Health and Safety), Anthony Davis (Knee) and LeBron James (Abdominal) are available; Trevor Ariza (Ankle) is questionable; Malik Monk, Austin Reaves, Kendrick Nunn, Avery Bradley Talen Horton-Tucker and Dwight Howard are out due to health and safety protocols

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – Patrick Beverley
SG – D'Angelo Russell
SF – Malik Beasley
PF – Jarred Vanderbilt
C – Karl-Anthony Towns

Injury news: Anthony Edwards (Health and Safety) and Taurean Prince (Health and Safety) are out

Charlotte Hornets vs. Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET)

Hornets Projected Lineup

PG – LaMelo Ball
SG – Terry Rozier
SF – Gordon Hayward
PF – Miles Bridges
C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: LaMelo Ball (Conditioning) is questionable

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Dennis Smith Jr. (Knee) and Nassir Little (Ankle) are questionable; CJ McCollum (Ribs), Cody Zeller (Quad) and Tony Snell (Personal) are out

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Sacramento Kings (10 p.m. ET)

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Tyus Jones
SG – Desmond Bane
SF – Dillon Brooks
PF – Jaren Jackson Jr.
C – Steven Adams

Injury news: Ja Morant (Heath and Safety Protocols), Brandon Clarke (Knee), Sam Merrill (Ankle) and Ziaire Williams (Ankle) are out

Kings Projected Lineup

PG – Tyrese Haliburton
SG – Buddy Hield
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Maurice Harkless
C – Tristan Thompson

Injury news: Tyrese Haliburton (Back) and Chimezie Metu (Knee) are questionable; Richaun Holmes (Eye) is doubtful; Alex Len is doubtful due to health and safety protocols; Davion Mitchell, De'Aaron Fox, Terence Davis and Marvin Bagley are out due to health and safety protocols

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