NBA Matchups, Lineups and Injury News 3/16/19

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.

Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson (foot) and Larry Nance Jr. (ribs) could play.

Celtics: Guerschon Yabusele (illness), Terry Rozier (illness), and Daniel Theis (illness ) are questionable.

Grizzlies: None

Hawks: Miles Plumlee (knee) is out.

Jazz: Dante Exum (patella tendon) is out indefinitely.

Mavericks: Devin Harris (ankle) is questionable.

Nets: Allen Crabbe (knee) is out. Treveon Graham (back), Shabazz Napier (personal), and DeMarre Carroll (knee) are probable.

Nuggets: Torrey Craig (shoulder) is questionable.

Pacers: None

Pelicans: Jrue Holiday (abdominal strain) and E’Twaun Moore (quad) are out.

Rockets: None

Spurs: None

Suns: Tyler Johnson (knee) is day-to-day.

Thunder: None

Trail Blazers: Mo Harkless (knee) is day-to-day.

Warriors: Kevin Durant (ankle) is questionable.

Wizards: Trevor Ariza (knee) and Tomas Satoransky (head) are day-to-day.

Today’s NBA Matchups

Contents

Atlanta Hawks (24-45) at Boston Celtics (42-27)

Line: Celtics -10.5, O/U: 232

Celtics: 112 ppg, top five defense, slower than average pace

Hawks: 113 ppg, bottom ten defense, fastest pace in the NBA

Notes:

• The Celtics have won four of their last five, coming off a 126-120 win over the Kings.
• Kyrie Irving had a 31 point, 12 assist triple-double, even though he only shot 1-9 from three.
• Marcus Morris had 21 points and 13 boards, Jaylen Brown added 22, and Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, and Gordon Hayward all scored in  double figures.
• Terry Rozier and Daniel Theis are questionable with illnesses tonight, as something seems to be going around the locker room.
• The Hawks are .500 in their last ten, coming off back to back wins against Memphis and New Orleans.
• Trae Young had been in a bit of a slump, but he put up 22 points and 8 assists in the 132-111 win over the Grizzlies.
• John Collins is leading the team with 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this year, up to 25 and 12 in his last ten.

Brooklyn Nets (36-34) at Utah Jazz (39-29)

Line: Jazz -8, O/U: 219

Jazz: 109 ppg, top five defense, average pace

Nets: 112 ppg, below average defense, below average pace

Notes:

• The Jazz stumbled in two games without Ricky Rubio, but beat the Timberwolves 120-100 in his return.
• Donovan Mitchell is averaging 28, 5 and 5 in his last ten games.
• Rudy Gobert can pretty much be relied upon for 15 points, 13 boards and 3 blocks per game.
• Derrick Favors has been getting into a groove, averaging 17.5 points and 9 rebounds in the last two.
• The Nets had won four in a row before losing 108-96 in Oklahoma City.
• Spencer Dinwiddie has led Brooklyn in scoring each of the last four games, averaging 24 per.
• D’Angelo Russell is shooting just 37% from the floor and 28% from deep in his last five.
• Allen Crabbe is out tonight, averaging 10 a game this year.

Cleveland Cavaliers (17-52) at Dallas Mavericks (27-41) 

Line: Mavericks -7.5, O/U: 218

Mavericks: 109 ppg, average defense, average pace

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

Notes:

• The Mavs have lost 7 in a row, and that trend should continue for this team at this point in the year.
• Luka Doncic has shot just 3-21 from the free throw line in his last three games, including two losses by just one point.
• The Cavs are 4-6 in their last ten, playing better with Kevin Love back and averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds per game since returning.
• Collin Sexton is averaging 20 per game in his last ten.

Indiana Pacers (44-25) at Denver Nuggets (45-22)

Line: Nuggets -7, O/U: 213

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

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

Notes:

• Denver seems to be correcting things, winning three of four after a brief skid. Still, they barely escaped with a 100-99 win over Dallas.
• Nikola Jokic hit a leaning floater at the buzzer to win that game, adding 14 boards and 8 assists but only scoring 11 points.
• Paul Millsap scored 33 on just 19 shots as the defense keyed in on the Joker.
• Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Gary Harris combined for 32 points and 10 assists.
• The Pacers are 17-16 on the road, but Denver is 29-6 in the friendly confines.
• Bojan Bogdanovic put up 23 points, 5 assists and 4 boards in a 108-106 win over the Pacers.
• Domantas Sabonis had missed a few with an ankle injury, but he led the team with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists off the bench.

Memphis Grizzlies (28-41) at Washington Wizards (29-40)

Line: Wizards -1.5, O/U: 226

Wizards: 114 ppg, bad defense, faster than average pace

Grizzlies: 101 ppg, top ten defense, bottom five pace

Notes:

• The Hornets essentially ended Washington’s playoff hopes yesterday by handing them a 116-110 L.
• Bradley Beal had 40, 5 and 5 in that game, averaging 29 points, 7 assists and 6 boards in his last ten.
• Tomas Satoransky’s stats may not show it, but he’s a huge contributor as the starting point guard. He left the game yesterday with a head injury.
• The Grizzlies have actually been playing a little better since their season ended over a month ago. Still, they have games like their last one, a 132-111 loss to the Hawks
• Mike Conley put up 20 points, 7 assists and 4 boards in that game, basically his average this year.

Phoenix Suns (16-54) at New Orleans Pelicans (30-41)

Line: Pelicans -3, O/U: 234

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

Suns: 106 ppg, bottom five defense, average pace

Notes:

• The Pelicans have lost five straight, and they’ll probably continue on that path.
• Anthony Davis rested in a 122-110 loss to Portland yesterday.
• Julius Randle stuffed the stat sheet with 45 points, 11 boards, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals and 7 turnovers in that game.
• New Orleans played really well around Jrue Holiday, maybe too well. He’s been out with an ab strain for the last four, and the Pelicans might shut him down because the league hasn’t told them not to.
• The Suns have played some decent ball lately, but they’re still 6-30 on the road for the year.
• Deandre Ayton bounced back from a 2-point game with 17 and 14 in a 108-102 loss to the Rockets.
• Devin Booker is averaging 31 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds in his last five, and Kelly Oubre Jr. is putting up 19 a game in that stretch.

Portland Trail Blazers (42-26) at San Antonio Spurs (40-29)

Line: Spurs -2.5, O/U: 224

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

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

Notes:

• The Spurs have won seven in a row since finishing their 1-7 Rodeo Road Trip, coming off a 109-83 win over the Knicks. Six Spurs scored in double figures, and nobody played more than 28 minutes.
• DeMar DeRozan is pretty hot coming out of the All Star break, and he’s averaged 33 points and 7 assists against Portland this year.
• Derrick White is averaging 12, 5 and 5 in his last ten, and tonight he’ll be tasked with slowing Damian Lillard.
• LaMarcus Aldridge is posting 23 points and 9 rebounds in his last ten games, shooting 55% from the floor. Pop has been starting dirty-work center Jakob Poeltl, who had 12 points, 9 boards and 5 blocks in the NY win. Aldridge looks very comfortable at his natural power forward position.
• The Blazers have won three in a row, including road wins against the Clippers and Pelicans.
• Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 47 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds in the win in New Orleans.
• Jusuf Nurkic is in a bit of a slump, shooting just 40% from the floor in his last five.

Marquee Matchup

Golden State Warriors (46-21) at Houston Rockets (42-27)

Line: Thunder -2, O/U: 231

Rockets: 113 ppg, bottom five defense, bottom five pace

Warriors: 119 ppg, average defense, faster than average pace

Notes:

• The Rockets had won nine in a row, but lost a close one to the Warriors 106-104.
• James Harden had 29 points and 10 assists in the loss, but he shot just 2-12 from three.
• Chris Paul added 24, and Clint Capela and Eric Gordon both scored in double figures, but Houston shot 11-40 asa team from deep.
• Both teams are among the best in the West, but they’ve both been only average in the last ten.
• Klay Thompson went off for 30 as the Dubs edged the Rockets 106-104.
• DeMarcus Cousins had himself a game, adding 27 points, 8 boards and 7 assists.
• Any time Kevin Durant faces off against his former team it’s must-watch television, but he’s questionable with an ankle injury.
• Steph Curry is shooting just 40% from the floor and 34% from three in his last five.