NBA Matchups, Lineups and Injury News 3/12/19

You can find all today’s starting lineups here. Follow live updates on Twitter.

For live betting information on all games, click here.

Injury News

For the most up to date injury information, click here.

Bucks: Sterling Brown (wrist) and George Hill (groin) are out.

Bulls: Zach LaVine (knee) is doubtful.

Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson (foot), Larry Nance Jr. (chest), and Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) are out.

Clippers: Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) remains out.

Knicks: Frank Ntilikina (groin) is out. Mario Hezonja (knee) is questionable.

Lakers: Kyle Kuzma (ankle) is day-to-day. Brandon Ingram (DVT), and Lonzo Ball (ankle) are done for the year. Lance Stephenson (toe) is a game-time decision. Tyson Chandler (neck) is questionable.

Mavericks: Luka Doncic (knee) is questionable.

Nuggets: Trey Lyles (hamstring) is out.

Pacers: Tyreke Evans (illness) is day-to-day.

Pelicans: None

76ers: Jimmy Butler (rest) is out. Boban Marjanovic (knee) is available.

Spurs: Rudy Gay (illness) is questionable.

Timberwolves: Andrew Wiggins (thigh) and Karl Anthony Towns (knee) are questionable. Luol Deng (Achilles) and Robert Covington (knee) are out.

Trail Blazers: None

Today’s NBA Matchups

Contents

Cleveland Cavaliers (17-50) at Philadelphia 76ers (42-25)

Line: 76ers -15, O/U: 222

76ers: 116 ppg, above average defense, faster than average pace

Cavaliers: 104 ppg, worst defense in the NBA, bottom five pace

Notes:

• Joel Embiid had 33 and 12 in a 106-89 win over Indiana after missing eight in a row.
• Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons combined for 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
• Jimmy Butler is resting tonight, averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals this year.
• The Cavs blew Toronto out 126-101 in a thoroughly confusing game.
• Kevin Love is averaging 21 points and 11 boards since returning to the floor, and he put up 16 and 18 in the win.
• Collin Sexton led the way with 28 points and 5 assists while Cedi Osman added 19, 7 and 7.

Los Angeles Lakers (30-36) at Chicago Bulls (19-49)

Line: Lakers -1, O/U: 225

Bulls: 104 ppg, bottom ten defense, slower than average pace

Lakers: 112 ppg, top ten defense, top five pace

Notes:

• The Bulls had been playing well but dropped two in a row against Detroit.
• Zach LaVine has been scoring at a high level, but he’s doubtful for this one.
• Lauri Markkanen is averaging 22 and 11 in his last ten and 19 and 9 on the year.
• The Lakers have lost their last five, and they’re all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs.
• Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are both done for the year,
• Sure this is LeBron‘s worst team season since he was a teenager, but he’s still going off. He had a 30-point triple-double in the 120-107 loss to Boston.

Milwaukee Bucks (50-17) at New Orleans Pelicans (30-39)

Line: Bucks -10.5, O/U: 236

Pelicans: 116 ppg, bottom five defense, top five pace

Bucks: 117 ppg, best defense in the NBA, very fast pace

Notes:

• New Orleans has lost three in a row, and that’s more on par with what this team is and where it’s going for the rest of the year.
• Anthony Davis is averaging 17 and 8 in the last ten games, of which he’s missed three. He’s only playing 20 minutes a game, none in the fourth quarter.
• Jrue Holiday has been a driving force behind that team success, and he’ll be out at least a week with an ab strain.
• Julius Randle has averaged 24 points and 7 boards in the last ten games.
• Bucks have lost three of their last five, all road games.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo has been getting almost exactly his average of 27 points, 13 boards and 6 assists with remarkable consistency.
• Khris Middleton is in a bit of a slump, shooting just 34% from the floor in his last five.
• Pau Gasol played against his former team in San Antonio, and he was -20 in 15 minutes. The Spurs attacked him in the pick and roll almost every time down the court.

Minnesota Timberwolves (32-35) at Denver Nuggets (43-22)

Line: Nuggets -9.5, O/U: 227

Nuggets: 112 ppg, above average defense, bottom five pace.

Timberwolves: 112 ppg, below average defense, faster than average pace

Notes:

• The Nuggets have lost four of their last five, with the only win coming against the Lakers. It’s funny, considering this is the first time all year they’ve been healthy.
• Nikola Jokic had 16 points 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, but he was -29 in a 122-105 loss in Golden State.
• The rest of the Nuggets shot just 36% from the floor, which isn’t gonna cut it in Oracle.
• Minnesota has all but let go of the rope on the season, especially defensively.
• Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are both questionable tonight after missing a win over the Knicks. Expect the Timberwolves to be cautious with both of them.

New York Knicks (13-54) at Indiana Pacers (42-25)

Line: Pacers -11.5, O/U: 208

Pacers: 108 ppg, top five defense, slower than average pace

Knicks: 105 ppg, second-worst defense in the NBA, average pace

Notes:

• The Pacers lost two in a row on the road by double digits against top East opponents in Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
• Bojan Bogdanovic is averaging 23 points a game in his last ten, but he’s 12-31 over the last two games.
• Domantas Sabonis had 9 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in his return to the court on Sunday.
• New York has lost six in a row, coming off a 103-92 loss to the Timberwolves.
• DeAndre Jordan played just 15 minutes in the loss, and Dennis Smith Jr. managed just 13 points and 5 turnovers.

San Antonio Spurs (38-29) at Dallas Mavericks (27-39) 

Line: Spurs -5, O/U: 218

Mavericks: 109 ppg, average defense, average pace

Spurs: 112 ppg, below average defense, very slow pace

Notes:

• The Mavs have lost ten of their last twelve. They’re even further out of the playoff hunt than the Lakers.
• Luka Doncic said he felt a pop in his knee while he was going for a rebound in that game, and he’s listed as questionable tonight. Expect Dallas to take the cautious approach, even if it’s not serious.
• The Spurs are winners of five straight, coming off an impressive 121-114 win over the league-leading Bucks.
• LaMarcus Aldridge led San Antonio with 29 points, 15 boards, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. He’s averaging 27 and 10 in his last five.
• DeMar DeRozan added 28 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.
• Rudy Gay is out again due to an illness. He’s averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds, providing some vital scoring pop and versatility off the bench when he does play.

Marquee Matchup

Portland Trail Blazers (40-26) at Los Angeles Clippers (39-29)

Line: Blazers -2.5, O/U: 233

Clippers: 114 ppg, below average defense, fast pace

Trail Blazers: 114 ppg, average defense, below average pace

Notes:

• The Clippers have won five in a row, coming off a 140-115 blowout over Boston yesterday.
• Lou Williams put up 34 off the bench after a 40 point game to pass Dell Curry for the most bench points in NBA history.
• Danilo Gallinari added 25 points, and five other Clippers scored in double figures.
• The Blazers are 2-3 in their last five, coming off a 127-120 win over Phoenix.
•  CJ McCollum‘s scoring has been hot and cold, but he led the way with 26 points on 11-14 shooting in that one.
• Damian Lillard had an off shooting night, but still had 18 points and 9 assists. Jusuf Nurkic also shot poorly but added 14 points and 8 boards.