NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (December 4): Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic Ruled 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

7 p.m. ET Update: Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (Calf) has been ruled out against the Heat. It's his second straight game missed.

The spread's still Bucks -6.5 at the time of writing, though the total (211) is down 2.5 points from open (213.5)

5 p.m. ET Update: Mavericks star point guard Luka Doncic (Ankle) has been ruled out against the Grizzlies. Jalen Brunson will take his spot in the starting lineup.

Celtics shooting guard Romeo Langford (Ankle) also popped up on the injury report.

New York Knicks third-year guard R.J. Barrett missed his first game of the season Thursday against the Chicago Bulls with a non-COVID illness. Those effects may be partially lingering, as he's probable to suit up for Saturday's home matinee against the Denver Nuggets.

The Knicks fell to the Bulls without Barrett, 119-115. Last year's No. 4 seed in the East is just 11-11 overall out of the gates.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks are likely without Giannis Antetokounmpo when they host the Miami Heat in a battle of 14-9 clubs.

Antetokounmpo, who's fifth in points per game this season (28.1), is still dealing with a calf injury. He was sidelined for Thursday's tilt against Toronto, a game Milwaukee lost by four.

Projected Starting Lineups

Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks (1 p.m. ET)

Nuggets Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Will Barton (Back) is probable; Zeke Nnaji (Ankle) is questionable; Bol Bol (COVID Protocols), Austin Rivers (COVID Protocols) and Bones Hyland (COVID Protocols) are out

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – RJ Barrett
SG – Alec Burks
SF – Evan Fournier
PF – Julius Randle
C – Mitchell Robinson

Injury news: RJ Barrett (Illness) is probable. Nerlens Noel (Knee) is out. Jericho Sims (Illness) are questionable

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)

Bulls Projected Lineup

PG – Lonzo Ball
SG – DeMar DeRozan
SF – Troy Brown Jr.
PF – Zach LaVine
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: Alex Caruso (Hamstring) is questionable; Coby White (COVID Protocols) and Javonte Green (COVID Protocols) are out

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – Patty Mills
SG – James Harden
SF – Kevin Durant
PF – LaMarcus Aldridge
C – Bruce Brown

Injury news: Nothing new

Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks (8 p.m. ET)

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Duncan Robinson
SF – PJ Tucker
PF – KZ Okpala
C – Dewayne Dedmon

Injury news: Markieff Morris (Neck) and Jimmy Butler (Glute) are out

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Thanasis Antetokounmpo
C – Bobby Portis

Injury news: George Hill (Knee) and DeMarcus Cousins (Foot) are probable; Giannis Antetokounmpo (Calf) is out

San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors (8:30 p.m. ET)

Spurs Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Keita Bates-Diop (Ankle) and Devin Vassell (Quad) are out

Warriors Projected Lineup

PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Jordan Poole
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – Kevon Looney

Injury news: Andrew Wiggins (Back) is questionable; Andre Iguodala (Knee) an Otto Porter Jr. (Injury Management) are out

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET)

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Dillon Brooks (Hamstring) and Brandon Clarke (Knee) are questionable; Ziaire Williams (Knee) is doubtful; Kyle Anderson (Back) and Sam Merrill (Ankle) are out

Mavericks Projected Lineup

PG – Jalen Brunson
SG – Dorian Finney-Smith
SF – Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF – Maxi Kleber
C – Dwight Powell

Injury news: Maxi Kleber (Oblique) is probable; Luka Doncic (Ankle), Willie Cauley-Stein (Personal) and Kristaps Porzingis (Knee) are out

Boston Celtics vs. Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET)

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Romeo Langford
SF – Jayson Tatum
PF – Al Horford
C – Robert Williams

Injury news: Jaylen Brown (Hamstring) is out; Romeo Langford (Ankle) is questionable.

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

PG – Dennis Smith Jr.
SG – CJ McCollum
SF – Robert Covington
PF – Norman Powell
C – Jusuf Nurkic

Injury news: Norman Powell (Nose) is probable; Damian Lillard (Abdominal), Anfernee Simons (Ankle) and Nassir Little (Ankle) are out

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings (10 p.m. ET)

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Eric Bledsoe
SG – Reggie Jackson
SF – Paul George
PF – Marcus Morris
C – Ivica Zubac

Injury news: Nothing new

Kings Projected Lineup

PG – De'Aaron Fox
SG – Tyrese Haliburton
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Chimeze Metu
C – Richaun Holmes

Injury news: Harrison Barnes (Foot) is doubtful; Maurice Harkless (Knee) is out

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