NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (May 1): LaMelo Ball Expected To Play, Darius Garland, Nikola Vucevic Out For Saturday

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.