NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Jan. 3): Luka Doncic Doubtful, LaMarcus Aldridge Out, LeBron James Active Sunday

NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Jan. 3): Luka Doncic Doubtful, LaMarcus Aldridge Out, LeBron James Active Sunday article feature image
Credit:

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks.

Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Sunday'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.

Sunday's NBA Injury News

5:30 p.m. ET Update: LaMarcus Aldridge will sit for the third consecutive contest with a sore knee. LeBron James will be active for Sunday's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies.


5 p.m. ET Update: Luka Doncic was downgraded from questionable to doubtful Sunday due to a left quad contusion.


1:30 p.m. ET Update: Pistons forward Blake Griffin will play Sunday after missing the past two games with a concussion. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been ruled out of Sunday's game vs. the Grizzlies with a sprained ankle. There's still no word on LeBron James' status, but he has played through his ankle injury since sustaining it on Christmas.


11 a.m. ET: Sunday's injury report is filling up quickly.

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to list LeBron James on the injury list with a sore ankle and he is joined by fellow start Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ahead of their game in Memphis. Caldwell-Pope turned his ankle during Friday's win and didn't return, but X-rays were negative.

Luka Doncic has been listed as questionable for the Dallas Mavericks in their matchup with the Chicago Bulls. Per our NBA Insiders tool:

Doncic has been added to the injury report with a left quad contusion and is officially listed questionable for Sunday's game … He has easily led the team in usage rate, and a potential absence would add significant opportunity to Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Richardson, and Trey Burke.

Elsewhere, we're awaiting more news on LaMarcus Aldridge who has missed the past two game with a sore left knee and is questionable for the San Antonio Spurs' game against the Utah Jazz.

Blake Griffin is also questionable today for the early matchup between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. Griffin suffered a concussion Tuesday and has been held out of the Pistons' games since.

Be sure to check the NBA Insiders tool for real time updates.

Sunday's Projected Starting Lineups

Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (3 p.m. ET)

Celtics Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Javonte Green (health protocols)

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Killian Hayes
SG – Josh Jackson
SF – Jerami Grant
PF – Blake Griffin
C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: Blake Griffin (concussion) is active


Los Angeles Lakers at Memphis Grizzlies (6 p.m. ET)

LakersProjected Lineup

PG – Dennis Schroder
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF – LeBron James
PF – Anthony Davis
C – Marc Gasol

Injury news: LeBron James (ankle) is active and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is out

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Tyus Jones
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Dillon Brooks
PF – Kyle Anderson
C – Jonas Valanciunas

Injury news: Grayson Allen (ankle) is active, D'Anthony Melton has cleared health and safety protocols and is eligible to suit up


Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (6 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

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – Kyrie Irving
SG – Joe Harris
SF – Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
PF – Kevin Durant
C – Deandre Jordan

Injury news: Nothing new


Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves (7 p.m. ET)

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Jamal Murray
SG – Gary Harris
SF – Will Barton
PF – Paul Millsap
C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: Michael Porter Jr. (health protocols) is out, JaMychal Green (calf) is available to make his season debut

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – Ricky Rubio
SG – D'Angelo Russell
SF – Malik Beasley
PF – Jarrett Culver
C – Naz Reid

Injury news: Josh Okogie (hamstring) and Karl-Anthony Town (wrist) are out


Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs (7 p.m. ET)

Jazz Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Derrick Favors (knee) is questionable, Royce O'Neale (knee) is probable

Spurs Projected Lineup

PG – Dejounte Murray
SG – Lonnie Walker
SF – DeMar DeRozan
PF – Keldon Johnson
C – LaMarcus Aldridge

Injury news: LaMarcus Aldridge (knee) is out, Derrick White (toe) is out


LA Clippers at Phoenix Suns (8 p.m. ET)

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Patrick Beverley
SG – Paul George
SF – Kawhi Leonard
PF – Nicolas Batum
C – Serge Ibaka

Injury news: Marcus Morris is out

Suns Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Nothing new


Dallas Mavericks at Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET)

Mavericks Projected Lineup

PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Josh Richardson
SF – Tim Hardaway
PF – Dorian Finney-Smith
C – Dwight Powell

Injury news: Luka Doncic (quad) is doubtful, Maxi Kleber (ankle) is probable

Bulls Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Chandler Hutchison, Lauri Markkanen, Tomas Satoransky, and Ryan Arcidiacono are out due to health and safety protocols


Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (8:30 p.m. ET)

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

PG – Damian Lillard
SG – CJ McCollum
SF – Derrick Jones Jr.
PF – Robert Covington
C – Jusuf Nurkic

Injury news: Rodney Hood (quad) is out, Gary Trent Jr. (calf) is off the injury report, Nassir Little (health protocols) is questionable

Warriors Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: James Wiseman (ankle) is probable, Alen Smailagic (meniscus) is out


Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 11 a.m. ET, Justin Phan isn't seeing value on any of Saturday's matchups. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for our NBA Insiders Tool.

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