NBA Matchups, Lineups and Injury News 3/31/19

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Injury News

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

Clippers: Danilo Gallinari (ankle) is day-to-day. Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) is out.

Grizzlies: Joakim Noah (knee), Avery Bradley (lower leg) and Chandler Parsons (illness) are day-to-day. Kyle Anderson (shoulder) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh) are done for the year.

Hornets: Cody Zeller (knee) is out.

Kings: None

Lakers: LeBron James (groin) is done for the season. Josh Hart (knee) had surgery on his patellar tendon and is done for the year. Reggie Bullock (foot) and Tyson Chandler (illness) are out.

Mavericks: Luka Doncic (thigh) is out.

Nuggets: None

Pelicans: Anthony Davis (back) is a game-time decision. Jrue Holiday (abdominal strain), E’Twaun Moore (quad) and Frank Jackson (concussion) are out.

Spurs: None

Thunder: None

Warriors: None

Wizards: Trevor Ariza (groin) is out.

Today’s NBA Matchups

Dallas Mavericks (29-46) at Oklahoma City Thunder (44-32)

Line: Thunder -12.5, O/U: 218

Thunder: 116 ppg, second-best defense in the NBA, top five pace

Mavericks: 109 ppg, average defense, average pace

Notes:

• The looked like a top team in the West earlier this season, but they’re just 4-6 in their last ten. They did clinch a playoff spot with Sacramento’s loss to the Rockets last night.
• Paul George had 25 points and 9 boards in a 115-105 loss to the Nuggets. Russell Westbrook had 27, 9 and 9, but the pair shot just 3-12 from deep.
• Steven Adams has been good for about 14 and 10 this year, but his production has dipped a bit in the last ten games.
• The Mavs have committed to the rebuild, which means losing a lot of games
• Luka Doncic is out tonight with a bruised thigh. He shouldn’t play too much more this season.
• The NYPD is investigating Kristaps Porzingis for a rape that allegedly happened the night he tore his ACL in February of last year. He denies the allegation, and the league and the Mavericks knew about it before he was traded by the Knicks.

Los Angeles Lakers (34-42) at New Orleans Pelicans (32-45)

Line: Pelicans -3.5, O/U: 234

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

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

Notes:

• The idea that the Pelicans poisoned the Lakers’ well with the Anthony Davis trade rumors out of spite is hilarious and plausible. He’s a game-time decision tonight, and he’s only played half of the last ten games.
• Jrue Holiday has been out with an ab strain, and he might just get shut down.
• Elfrid Payton and Julius Randle are the two best players on the floor for the Pelicans.
• LeBron‘s season is over in March, ending streaks of 8 Finals appearances and 13 playoff runs in a row. He’ll finish the year with averages of 27 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8 assists in 55 games.
• Josh Hart,  Lonzo Ball, and Brandon Ingram are all done for the year as well.

Memphis Grizzlies (31-45) at Los Angeles Clippers (46-31)

Line: Clippers -9, O/U: 222

Clippers: 114 ppg, below average defense, fast pace

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

Notes

• The Clippers have won eight of their last ten, and they’ll probably finish as the fifth or sixth seed out West defying all expectations.
• Danilo Gallinari didn’t play in a 132-108 win over Cleveland, but Jeff Green put up 18 and 10 in his place.
• Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell combined for 41 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists off the bench, seemingly an every-game occurrence.
• The Grizzlies have been out of the playoff race for a long time, but they still win games. They beat Phoenix 120-115 last night.
• Jonas Valanciunas put up 34 points, 20 boards, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in a virtuoso performance. Memphis might have actually gotten the best player in the Marc Gasol trade.
• Mike Conley added 33 points and 5 dimes in the win.

Sacramento Kings (37-39) at San Antonio Spurs (43-32)

Line: Spurs -10.5, O/U: 226

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

Kings: 113 ppg, bottom-third defense, second-fastest pace

Notes:

• The Spurs clinched a playoff spot from their couches when the Kings lost yesterday. It’s their 22nd consecutive trip, the longest streak in the four major American sports by a decade.
• It wasn’t pretty or easy, but San Antonio beat Cleveland 116-110 on Manu Ginobili’s jersey retirement night. Fittingly, it was Patty Mills who drained the dagger three and celebrated with Manu’s fist pump.
• DeMar DeRozan put up 25 points and 8 assists, but LaMarcus Aldridge had an off night with just 14 points and 3 boards.
• Derrick White doesn’t put up huge numbers, but his defense and presence on the floor is vital. Cleveland was able to build a lead when he got into foul trouble in the first half.
• The Kings had a good run, but it officially ended with a 119-108 loss in Houston yesterday.
• The future built around De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III is very bright. Bagley started that game and put up 20 points and 12 boards.

Washington Wizards (31-45) at Denver Nuggets (50-24)

Line: Nuggets -10.5, O/U: 226

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

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

Notes:

• The Nuggets are winners of eight of their last ten and 30-6 at home this year.
• Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic combined for 50 points, 12 assists and 21 rebounds in a 115-105 win over OKC.
• The Wizards have lost five of their last six, and their season has been over for a long time.

• Bradley Beal stays getting buckets, averaging 28 a game in his last ten.

Marquee Matchup

Charlotte Hornets (35-40) at Golden State Warriors (51-23)

Line: Warriors -11.5, O/U: 229

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

Hornets: 111 ppg, below average defense, average pace.

Notes:

• The Warriors’ last game ended in hilarious fashion. Down three in overtime, Kevin Durant was fouled on the catch before hitting a three that didn’t count. They complained profusely before Steph Curry (37 points) drilled one in the corner with .5 seconds left and ran down the court mocking the refs. They then called a soft but correct foul on KD to send Minnesota to the line for the win.
• DeMarcus Cousins only played 26 minutes in that game but had 16 points and 9 rebounds.
• Karl-Anthony Towns closed out on Draymond Green at the arc so slowly that it could have been a three-second violation. He’s at 27% from deep this year.
• Klay Thompson has been up and down with his scoring, shooting just 44% from the floor in his last ten.
• The Hornets loss to the Lakers put an embarrassing dent in their slim playoff hopes, now 2.5 games back with just seven to play.
• Kemba Walker had 24 points but shot just 1-7 from deep. He is now 0-28 in his career against LeBron James.
• Dwayne Bacon has scored 20+ points in three straight games now as a member of the starting lineup.