NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (December 18): Paul George, Pascal Siakam Out

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

6:30 p.m. ET Update: Paul George will miss his fifth straight game, as he was downgraded to out against the Thunder.

Raptors big Pascal Siakam entered health and safety protocols shortly before tip against the Warriors.

4 p.m. ET Update: Paul George isn't expected to play when the Clippers take on the Thunder. Marcus Morris also entered COVID protocols earlier Saturday. On the bright side, Nic Batum is expected back in the starting lineup.

Khris Middelton (knee) is sidelined for Milwaukee's home game against Cleveland. It'll be the Bucks' third game in four days.

Elsewhere in the East, the Magic won't have Cole Anthony or Wendell Carter against the Nets in a matchup of depleted rosters.

The injury-riddled Clippers hope to get two starters back into the fold Saturday.

Paul George, who's averaging 25 points per game and filling in well for a banged-up Kawhi Leonard this season, has missed four straight with an elbow injury.

However, he and fellow forward Nic Batum (ankle) could be back in action against the Thunder, as they're both questionable.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are giving rest days to four players, including Steph Curry and Draymond Green, as they continue their East-Coast road trip.

The Nets are down a handful of bodies at home against the Magic – no James Harden, Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving.

The Knicks are also down a plethora of players, and could be without veteran guard Derrick Rose vs. the Celtics.

Projected Starting Lineups

Houston Rockets vs. Detroit Pistons (12 p.m. ET)

Rockets Projected Lineup

PG – Armoni Brooks
SG – Eric Gordon
SF – Garrison Matthews
PF – Jae'Sean Tate
C – Christian Wood

Injury news: Armoni Brooks (Ankle) and Christian Wood (Knee) are questionable. Kevin Porter Jr. (Thigh) is out.

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Killian Hayes
SG – Cade Cunningham
SF – Hamidou Diallo
PF – Saddiq Bey
C – Isaiah Stewart

Injury news: Jerami Grant (Thumb) and Kelly Olynyk (Knee) are out.

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics (7 p.m. ET)

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – Derrick Rose
SG – Alec Burks
SF – Evan Fournier
PF – Julius Randle
C – Nerlens Noel

Injury news: R.J. Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Kevin Knox, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley (Health and Safety Protocols) are out. Derrick Rose (Ankle) is questionable)

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Jaylen Brown
SF – Aaron Nesmith
PF – Jayson Tatum
C – Robert Williams III

Injury news: Dennis Schroder (Illness) and Romeo Langford (Neck) are out.

Golden State Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)

Warriors Projected Lineup

PG – Gary Payton II
SG – Moses Moody
SF – Damion Lee
PF – Juan Toscano-Anderson
C – Kevon Looney

Injury news: Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala (Rest) are out. Jordan Poole (Illness) and Andrew Wiggins (Knee) are out.

Raptors Projected Lineup

PG – Fred VanVleet
SG – Gary Trent Jr.
SF – Scottie Barnes
PF – Chris Boucher
C – OG Anunoby

Injury news: Pascal Siakam (Health and Safety Protocols) and Khem Birch (Knee) are out.

Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)

Magic Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Cole Anthony (Ankle) and Wendell Carter (Leg) are out. Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton, Ignas Brazdeikis, Mo Wagner and Terrence Ross (Health and Safety Protocols) are all out.

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – David Duke
SG – Patty Mills
SF – Kessler Edwards
PF – Blake Griffin
C – Day'Ron Sharpe

Injury news: Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre' Bembry, Bruce Brown, Jevon Carter, James Harden, James Johnson and Paul Millsap (Health and Safety Protocols) are out; so too are Joe Harris (Ankle), Kyrie Irving (Personal) and Nic Claxton (Wrist).

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET)

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Luke Kennard
SF – Terance Mann
PF – Nic Batum
C – Ivica Zubac

Injury news: Paul George (Elbow), Serge Ibaka (Personal) and Marcus Morris (Health and Safety Protocols) are out.

Thunder Projected Lineup

PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG – Lu Dort
SF – Josh Giddey
PF – Darius Bazley
C – Derrick Favors

Injury news: Lu Dort (Ankle) is questionable.

Washington Wizards vs. Utah Jazz (9 p.m. ET)

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Spencer Dinwiddie
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
PF – Kyle Kuzma
C – Daniel Gafford

Injury news: Nothing new

Jazz Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Mike Conley (Rest) is out.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks (9 p.m. ET)

Cavaliers Projected Lineup

PG – Ricky Rubio
SG – Darius Garland
SF – Lauri Markkanen
PF – Dean Wade
C – Jarrett Allen

Injury news: Evan Mobley (Ankle) is questionable. Isaac Okoro (Health and Safety Protocols) is out.

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Pat Connaughton
PF – Jordan Nwora
C – DeMarcus Cousins

Injury news: Khris Middleton (Knee), Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis (Health and Safety Protocols) are out.

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