NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Wednesday, Dec. 23): NBA Postpones Rockets-Thunder

Below are the projected starting lineups for each NBA team for Wednesday's slate, along with notable news for each squad. For real-time updates to these lineups, check out the NBA Insiders lineups page.

Wednesday NBA Injury News

The first postponed game of the season happened on the second day of the year.

The Rockets vs. Thunder will not be played on Wednesday for health and safety reasons when the Rockets had positive or inconclusive COVID tests.

The Rockets sent John Wall home and begun tested others for COVID-19 for contract tracing, which moved betting lines.

Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and James Harden all surfaced in news throughout the day, and the league determined Harden would not be available for violating protocols.

• Newly acquired Boston Celtics center Tristan Thompson is listed as active for Wednesday's season opener at TD Garden against the Milwaukee Bucks. Thompson was brought in via free agency to fill the Celtics' need for size in the frontcourt.

Per our NBA Insiders tool:

Thompson has been removed from the injury report heading into Wednesday's season opener. His status was previously in doubt due to a strained hamstring. Coach Stevens also revealed that Thompson will have a minutes restriction. Daniel Theis is an option to draw the start at center, while Tacko Fall remains out due to right eye irritation

• One other player to watch throughout the day is Atlanta's Clint Capela, who has been listed as doubtful against the Chicago Bulls. His status will impact center minutes for a team that is already thin across the board.

Be sure to check the NBA Insiders Tool for real time updates.

Miami Heat at Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET)

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Kendrick Nunn
SG – Duncan Robinson
SF – Jimmy Butler
PF – Moe Harkless
C – Bam Adebayo

Injury news: None

Magic Projected Lineup

PG – Markelle Fultz
SG – Evan Fournier
SF – Dwayne Bacon
PF – Aaron Gordon
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: James Ennis (hamstring) is out.

Charlotte Hornets at Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET)

Hornets Projected Lineup

PG – Devonte' Graham
SG – Terry Rozier
SF – Gordon Hayward
PF – PJ Washington
C – Cody Zeller

Injury news: Gordon Hayward (finger) will play with no mention of a minutes restriction.

Cleveland Projected Lineup

PG – Collin Sexton
SG – Darius Garland
SF – Cedi Osman
PF – Larry Nance
C – Andre Drummond

Injury news: Dante Exum (hip) Kevin Porter Jr. (personal), Kevin Love (calf), and Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) are all out.

Washington Wizards at Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET)

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Deni Avdija
PF – Davis Bertans
C – Thomas Bryant

Injury news: Rui Hachimura (EKC) is out.

Sixers Projected Lineup

PG – Ben Simmons
SG – Seth Curry
SF – Danny Green
PF – Tobias Harris
C – Joel Embiid

Injury news: None

New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers (7 p.m. ET)

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – Elfrid Payton
SG – Alec Burks
SF – RJ Barrett
PF – Julius Randle
C – Mitchell Robinson

Injury news: Mitchell Robinson is listed as probable with a sprained ankle. His starting status has not been announced, as he's competing with Nerlens Noel for the job. Austin Rivers (groin) and Omari Spellman (knee) are out. Dennis Smith Jr. (quad) is probable.

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Victor Oladipo
SF – TJ Warren
PF – Damontis Sabonis
C – Myles Turner

Injury news: Myles Turner (illness) will play. TJ Warren (foot) is questionable but expected to play. Goga Bitadze (ankle) is out.

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

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Donte Divincenzo
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
C – Brook Lopez

Injury news: DJ Augustin (calf) is officially out.

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Javonte Green
SF – Jaylen Brown
PF – Jayson Tatum
C – Daniel Theis

Injury news: Tristan Thompson (hamstring) will play on a minutes restriction. Tacko Fall (eye) is out.

New Orleans Pelicans at Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)

Pelicans Projected Lineup

PG – Lonzo Ball
SG – Eric Bledsoe
SF – Brandon Ingram
PF – Zion Williamson
C – Steven Adams

Injury news: None

Raptors Projected Lineup

PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Fred VanVleet
SF – OG Anunoby
PF – Pascal Siakam
C – Aron Baynes

Injury news: Norman Powell (protocols) is out.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (Postponed)

Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET)

Hawks Projected Lineup

PG – Trae Young
SG – Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF – Cam Reddish
PF – Danilo Gallinari
C – John Collins

Injury news: Kevin Huerter (elbow), Cam Reddish (ankle) and Brian Goodwin (elbow) are available. Clint Capela (Achilles) is out. Rajon Rondo (protocols), Kris Dunn (knee) Onyeka Okongwu (foot) and Tony Snell (foot) are out.

Bulls Projected Lineup

PG – Coby White
SG – Zach LaVine
SF – Otto Porter
PF – Lauri Markkanen
C – Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury news: Tomas Satoransky (protocols) is active.

San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET)

Spurs Projected Lineup

PG – Dejounte Murray
SG – Lonnie Walker
SF – DeMar DeRozan
PF – Rudy Gay
C – LaMarcus Aldridge

Injury news: Derrick White (toe) is out. Keldon Johnson (foot) is active.

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Ja Morant
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Dillon Brooks
PF – Kyle Anderson
C – Jonas Valanciunas

Injury news: Justice Winslow (hip) is out. Grayson Allen is expected to replace him in the starting lineup.

Detroit Pistons at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET)

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Killian Hayes
SG – Delon Wright
SF – Jerami Grant
PF – Blake Griffin
C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: None

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – D'Angelo Russell
SG – Malik Beasley
SF – Josh Okogie
PF – Juan Hernangomez
C – Karl-Anthony Towns

Injury news: None

Sacramento Kings at Denver Nuggets (9 p.m. ET)

Kings Projected Lineup

PG – De'Aaron Fox
SG – Buddy Hield
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Marvin Bagley
C – Richaun Holmes

Injury news: Jabari Parker (back) is out.

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Jamal Murray
SG – Gary Harris
SF – Will Barton
PF – Paul Millsap
C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: JaMychal Green (calf) will not play.

Utah Jazz at Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET)

Jazz Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Derrick Favors (knee) is expected to play and back up Gobert. Joe Ingles (COVID) will be available.

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

PG – Damian Lillard
SG – CJ McCollum
SF – Derrick Jones Jr.
PF – Robert Covington
C – Jusuf Nurkic

Injury news: Anfernee Simons (hamstring) is questionable. Nassir Little (protocols) and Zach Collins (ankle) are both out.

Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns (10:30 p.m. ET)

Mavericks Projected Lineup

PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Josh Richardson
SF – Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF – Dorian Finney-Smith
C – Dwight Powell

Injury news: Maxi Kleber (knee) is probable.

Suns Projected Lineup

PG – Chris Paul
SG – Devin Booker
SF – Mikal Bridges
PF – Jae Crowder
C – Deandre Ayton

Injury news: Chris Paul (ankle) is active. Frank Kaminsky is out until his clears health protocols since being claimed. Dario Saric (quad) and Abdel Nader (concussion) are also out.

Phan's Bet to Watch

As of 9 a.m. ET, Justin Phan is still seeing value on one matchup: Pelicans vs. Raptors. To see his analysis and pick on that game, sign up for our NBA Insiders Tool.