NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (December 13): Joel Embiid, Deandre Ayton & Paul George Out Monday

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

9 p.m. ET Update: Paul George (elbow) and Nicolas Batum (ankle) are out for the Clippers against the Suns. Deandre Ayton (illness) is out for the Suns.

8 p.m. ET Update: Joel Embiid (ribs) is out. Will Barton (illness) is also out.

7:30 p.m. ET Update: Seth Curry (shoulder) is out. Aaron Gordon (back) and Will Barton (illness) both miss shootaround but remain questionable.

7 p.m. ET Update: Jaren Jackson Jr.  (knee), Desmond Bane (foot) and Steven Adams (ankle) are all active for the Grizzlies.

6:30 p.m. ET Update: DeMarcus Cousins will play against the Celtics. Cam Reddish and Eric Gordon will both play and be without minutes restrictions.

The key player to watch on Monday's slate isn't actually listed on the official injury report. According Marc Stein, Golden State Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, weighed sitting out Stephen Curry on the front end of a back-to-back Monday in Indiana before playing at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. Peer Stein, Kerr said he expects "everybody" to play then followed up with "But we'll see."

The Los Angeles Clippers have listed Paul George as doubtful as he nurses an elbow injury ahead of their game against the Los Angeles Clippers. George has now missed two games with the same ailment.

Nicolas Batum is questionable to play with an ankle injury. He returned from a nine-game absence last Wednesday but played just 14 minutes then missed Saturday's matchup. On the other side, Deandre Ayton is questionable to play with a non-Covid illness that forced him to sit out on Friday night. According to beat writer Kellan Olson, Ayton was sent home from practice on Saturday due to lingering sickness, so his status is up in the air.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is questionable listed as questionable with left knee soreness entering Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Steven Adams, who is dealing with a left ankle sprain, is listed as doubtful.

Luka Doncic has been ruled out Monday's games and is expected to be out for multiple games with a lingering ankle. Jimmy Butler has been ruled out of Monday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He will miss his third straight game seventh in the past eight games.

Jaylen Brown is not listed on the injury report and expected to return to the lineup for the Boston Celtics.

Projected Starting Lineups

Golden State Warriors vs. Indiana Pacers (7 p.m. ET)

Warriors Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Nothing new

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Chris Duarte
SF – Caris LeVert
PF – Domantas Sabonis
C – Myles Turner

Injury news: Justin Holiday (Conditioning) is out, and Brad Wanamaker (Illness) will play

Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET)

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Gabe Vincent
SF – Duncan Robinson
PF – P.J. Tucker
C – Dewayne Dedmon

Injury news: Jimmy Butler (Glute) and Caleb Martin (COVID Protocols) are out

Cavaliers Projected Lineup

PG – Darius Garland
SG – Evan Mobley
SF – Isaac Okoro
PF – Lauri Markkanen
C – Jarrett Allen

Injury news: Nothing new

Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors (7 p.m. ET)

Kings Projected Lineup

PG – De'Aaron Fox
SG – Tyrese Haliburton
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Chimezie Metu
C – Alex Len

Injury news: Richaun Holmes (Eye) is out

Raptors Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: OG Anunoby (Hip), Precious Achiuwa (Health Protocols) and Khem Birch (Knee) and David Johnson (Calf) are out

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET)

Bucks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: DeMarcus Cousins (hip) will play; Semi Ojeleye (calf) remains out indefinitely

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Jaylen Brown
SF – Jayson Tatum
PF – Al Horford
C – Robert Williams

Injury news: Marcus Smart (Illness) is probable; Josh Richardson (Health Protocols) and Bruno Fernando (Back) are out

Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET)

Rockets Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Danuel House (Ankle), Kevin Porter Jr. (Thigh), Usman Garuba (Thigh) and Jalen Green (Hamstring) are out

Hawks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Ankle) and De'Andre Hunter (Wrist) are out

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET)

76ers Projected Lineup

PG – Tyrese Maxey
SG – Furkan Korkmaz
SF – Danny Green
PF – Tobias Harris
C – Andre Drummond

Injury news: Joel Embiid (ribs) and Seth Curry (shoulder) are out

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Tyus Jones
SG – Desmond Bane
SF -Dillon Brooks
PF – Kyle Anderson
C – Steven Adams

Injury news: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Knee), Steven Adams (Ankle) and Desmond Bane (foot) are all active; Ja Morant (COVID Protocols), Brandon Clarke (Knee), Sam Merrill (Ankle) and Ziaire Williams (Ankle) are out

Charlotte Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET)

Hornets Projected Lineup

PG – Terry Rozier
SG – Cody Martin
SF – Gordon Hayward
PF – Miles Bridges
C – Nick Richards

Injury news: PJ Washington (Illness) is questionable; Cody Martin (Illness) is probable; Ish Smith, Mason Plumlee, Jalen McDaniels and LaMelo Ball are in the league’s COVID Protocols

Mavericks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Maxi Kleber (Oblique) is probable; Willie Cauley-Stein (Personal), Sterling Brown (Foot) and Luka Doncic (Ankle) are out

Washington Wizards vs. Denver Nuggets (9 p.m. ET)

Wizards Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Kyle Kuzma (COVID Protocols) is out

Nuggets Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Will Barton (Illness) and Zeke Nnaji (Ankle) are questionable; Austin Rivers (COVID Protocols) and JaMychal Green (ankle) are out

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET)

Suns Projected Lineup

PG – Chris Paul
SG – Landry Shamet
SF – Mikal Bridges
PF – Jae Crowder
C – JaVale McGee

Injury news: Deandre Ayton (Illness) is out; Devin Booker (Hamstring) is out

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Eric Bledsoe
SF – Terance Mann
PF – Marcus Morris
C – Ivica Zubac

Injury news: Nicolas Batum (Ankle) and Paul George (Elbow) are out

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