NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (March 4): Nikola Jokic Out Friday With Illness

Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Friday's NBA slate, along with notable injury news for each squad. For real-time injury updates, check out our FantasyLabs NBA news page. 

Update 8:45 p.m. ET

Nikola Jokic has now been ruled out for tonight's matchup vs. the Rockets with a non-covid illness. Austin Rivers has also been ruled out with the same illness.

Update 7:15 p.m. ET

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is now questionable with a non-COVID illness, the team announced. Teammate Austin Rivers is questionable with the same illness.

If Jokic misses the game, DeMarcus Cousins and JaMychal Green figure to see increased minutes.

Update 6:30 p.m. ET

Tobias Harris is available, as is John Collins for the Atlanta Hawks. Wendell Carter Jr. is out for the Magic.

Friday night features a nine-game slate in the NBA, including two featured matchups on ESPN. But the injury news around those games is relatively quiet.

We don't have to wait on a pair of Toronto Raptors starters like we have in previous days. Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby are already ruled out.

Anthony Edwards will miss another game for the Timberwolves due to a knee injury.

In Philadelphia, Tobias Harris is questionable and Orlando awaits word on big man Wendell Carter Jr., who is also questionable.

Projected Starting Lineups

Cleveland Cavailiers at Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET)

Cleveland Cavaliers

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

Injury news: Rajon Rondo (toe) is doubtful.

Philadelphia 76ers

PG – Tyrese Maxey
SG – James Harden
SF – Matisse Thybulle
PF – Tobias Harris
C – Joel Embiid

Injury news: Tobias Harris (illness) is available. DeAndre Jordan is not yet with the team after signing on Thursday.

Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards (7 p.m. ET)

Atlanta Hawks

PG – Trae Young
SG – Kevin Huerter
SF – De'Andre Hunter
PF – Danilo Gallinari
C – Clint Capela

Injury news: John Collins (foot) is available.

Washington Wizards

PG – Raul Neto
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF – Corey Kispert
PF – Kyle Kuzma
C – Daniel Gafford

Injury news: Kristaps Porzingis (knee) remains out.

Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons (7 p.m.)

Indiana Pacers

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Tyrese Haliburton
SF – Buddy Hield
PF – Oshae Brissett
C – Isaiah Jackson

Injury news: Goga Bitadze (foot) and Chris Duarte ( toe) are out.

Detroit Pistons

PG – Cory Joseph
SG – Cade Cunningham
SF – Saddiq Bey
PF – Jerami Grant
C – Isaiah Stewart

Injury news: Frank Jackson (back) is out.

Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls (7:30 p.m. ET)

Milwaukee Bucks

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

Injury news: No new updates.

Chicago Bulls

PG – Ayo Dosunmu
SG – Zach LaVine
SF – DeMar DeRozan
PF – Tristan Thompson
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: No new updates.

Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)

Orlando Magic

PG – Cole Anthony
SG – Jalen Suggs
SF – Franz Wagner
PF – Chuma Okeke
C – Mo Bamba

Injury news: Wendell Carter Jr. (illness) is out.

Toronto Raptors

PG – Malachi Flynn
SG – Gary Trent Jr.
SF – Scottie Barnes
PF – Pascal Siakim
C – Khem Birch

Injury news: Fred VanVleet (knee) is out. Thaddeus Young (illness) is available.

Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m.)

Utah Jazz

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

Injury news: Jared Butler (ankle) is questionable.

New Orleans Pelicans

PG – C.J. McCollum
SG – Brandon Ingram
SF – Herb Jones
PF – Jaxson Hayes
C – Jonas Valanciunas

Injury news: No new updates.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET)

Minnesota Timberwolves

PG – Patrick Beverley
SG – D'Angelo Russell
SF – Jaden McDaniels
PF – Jarred Vanderbilt
C – Karl-Anthony Towns

Injury news: Jarred Vanderbilt (quad) is available.

Oklahoma City Thunder

PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG – Tre Mann
SF – Aleksej Pokusevski
PF – Darius Bazley
C – Isaiah Roby

Injury news: Josh Giddey (hip) remains out.

Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets (9 p.m. ET)

Houston Rockets

PG – Kevin Porter Jr.
SG – Jalen Green
SF – Eric Gordon
PF – Jae'Sean Tate
C – Christian Wood

Injury news: Dennis Schroder (ankle) is questionable.

Denver Nuggets

PG – Monte Morris
SG – Will Barton
SF – Jeff Green
PF – Aaron Gordon
C – DeMarcus Cousins

Injury news: Nikola Jokic (illness) and Austin Rivers (illness) are out.

New York Knicks at Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET)

New York Knicks

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

Injury news: Obi Toppin (hamstring) is questionable.

Phoenix Suns

PG – Cameron Payne
SG – Landry Shamet
SF – Mikal Bridges
PF – Jae Crowder
C – Deandre Ayton

Injury news: Devin Booker (health protocols) is out.

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