NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (May 1): LaMelo Ball Expected To Play, Darius Garland, Nikola Vucevic Out For Saturday
Alex Goodlett/Getty Images. Pictured: LaMelo Ball.
Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Saturday’s 10-game NBA slate, along with notable injury news for each squad. For real-time updates to these lineups, check out our Action Labs NBA lineups page.
NBA Injury News
7:30 p.m. ET Update: Nikola Vucevic has officially been scratched from Saturday’s lineup. He was previously ruled in despite dealing with a strained adductor. Daniel Theis is a likely candidate to enter the starting lineup for Chicago.
7:00 p.m. ET Update: As expected, Allen has been downgraded to out on Saturday in the second leg of a back-to-back. He’ll miss his second consecutive game due to a left-hand injury. Desmond Bane will remain in the starting lineup.
2:00 p.m. ET Update: The Cavs will be without Garland on the second night of a back-to-back on Saturday after he suffered a sprained left ankle in the loss on Friday. Cedi Osman or Dean Wade project to move into the starting lineup with both getting a boost in minutes as the Cavs are depleted at every position
Rookie of the Year frontrunner LaMelo Ball is expected to return on Saturday according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Ball has been sidelined due to a fractured right wrist. Malik Monk (ankle) has also been upgraded to questionable.
Both Charlotte guards were absent for all of April, and they could be on a minutes limit. In 21 starts this season, Ball has averaged 19.5 points and 6.2 assists in 32.0 minutes per game.
Kawhi Leonard has been upgraded to questionable in advance of Saturday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Leonard has been out for over two weeks due to a sore foot, and there is no word on if he’ll have a minutes limit should he return.
Be sure to check the Action Labs NBA page for real time updates.
Projected Starting Lineups
Detroit Pistons vs. Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m. ET)
Pistons Projected Lineup
PG – Killian Hayes
SG – Josh Jackson
SF – Saddiq Bey
PF – Sekou Doumbouya
C – Isaiah Stewart
Injury news: Jahlil Okafor (personal reasons), Jerami Grant (knee), Mason Plumlee (rest), Jahlil Okafor (personal), Cory Joseph (ankle), Wayne EllingtonRodney McGruder (elbow), and Dennis Smith Jr. (knee) are out on Saturday.
Hornets Projected Lineup
PG – LaMelo Ball
SG – Terry Rozier
SF – Cody Martin
PF – Miles Bridges
C – PJ Washington
Injury news: Nothing new
Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m. ET)
Warriors Projected Lineup
PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Kent Bazemore
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – Kevon Looney
Injury news: Draymond Green (shoulder) and Kelly Oubre (wrist) are questionable, Eric Paschall (hip) is doubtful
Rockets Projected Lineup
PG – Kevin Porter Jr.
SG – Armoni Brooks
SF – Jae’Sean Tate
PF – Kelly Olynyk
C – Christian Wood
Injury news: Nothing new
Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8:00 p.m. ET)
Pacers Projected Lineup
PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Edmond Sumner
SF – Caris LeVert
PF – Oshae Brissett
C – Domantas Sabonis
Injury news: Domantas Sabonis (back), Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring), Goga Bitadze (ankle), and Jeremy Lamb (knee) are questionable
Thunder Projected Lineup
PG – Theo Maledon
SG – Svi Mykhailiuk
SF – Aleksej Pokusevski
PF – Darius Bazley
C – Moses Brown
Injury news: Lu Dort (hip) is out
Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (8 p.m. ET)
Heat Projected Lineup
PG – Kendrick Nunn
SG – Jimmy Butler
SF – Duncan Robinson
PF – Trevor Ariza
C – Bam Adebayo
Injury news: Nothing new
Cavaliers Projected Lineup
PG – Collin Sexton
SG – Isaac Okoro
SF – Cedi Osman
PF – Kevin Love
C – Jarrett Allen
Injury news: Nothing new
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Orlando Magic (8 p.m. ET)
Grizzlies Projected Lineup
PG -Ja Morant
SG – Desmond Bane
SF – Dillon Brooks
PF – Kyle Anderson
C – Jonas Valanciunas
Injury news: Grayson Allen is out
Magic Projected Lineup
PG – Cole Anthony
SG – Gary Harris
SF – James Ennis
PF – Moe Wagner
C – Wendell Carter Jr.
Injury news: Nothing new
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET)
Pelicans Projected Lineup
PG – Lonzo Ball
SG – Eric Bledsoe
SF – Brandon Ingram
PF – Zion Williamson
C – Willy Hernangomez
Injury news: Nothing new
Timberwolves Projected Lineup
PG – Ricky Rubio
SG – Anthony Edwards
SF – Josh Okogie
PF – Jaden McDaniels
C – Karl Anthony-Towns
Injury news: Nothing new
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks (8 p.m. ET)
Bulls Projected Lineup
PG – Coby White
SG -Garrett Temple
SF – Patrick Williams
PF – Thaddeus Young
C – Daniel Theis
Injury news: Nikola Vucevic (strained adductor) is out
Hawks Projected Lineup
PG – Trae Young
SG – Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF – Solomon Hill
PF – John Collins
C – Clint Capela
Injury news: Bogdan Bogdanovic is questionable
Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks (9 pm. ET)
Wizards Projected Lineup
PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Raul Neto
SF – Bradley Beal
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Alex Len
Injury news: Nothing new
Mavericks Projected Lineup
PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Josh Richardson
SF – Dorian Finney-Smith
PF – Kristaps Porzingis
C – Dwight Powell
Injury news: Kristaps Porzingis (knee) and Maxi Kleber (back) are questionable
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers (10 pm. ET)
Nuggets Projected Lineup
PG – Facundo Campazzo
SG – PJ Dozier
SF – Aaron Gordon
PF – Michael Porter Jr.
C – Nikola Jokic
Injury news: Nothing new
Clippers Projected Lineup
PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Paul George
SF – Kawhi Leonard
PF – Marcus Morris
C – Ivica Zubac
Injury news: Kawhi Leonard (foot) is questionable, Amir Coffey (heathy and safety protocols) is out
Toronto Raptors vs. Utah Jazz (10 pm. ET)
Raptors Projected Lineup
PG -Fred VanVleet
SG – Malachi Flynn
SF – OG Anunoby
PF – Pascal Siakam
C – Khem Birch
Injury news: Gary Trent Jr., Kyle Lowry (rest), Paul Watson (knee), and Chris Boucher (knee) are out
Jazz Projected Lineup
PG – Mike Conley
SG – Joe Ingles
SF – Bojan Bogdanovic
PF – Royce O’Neale
C – Rudy Gobert
Injury news: Mike Conley (hamstring) is questionable
Phan’s Bet to Watch
As of 11:30 a.m. ET, Justin Phan isn’t seeing betting value in any game. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.
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