NBA Matchups, Lineups and Injury News 4/9/19

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.

Bulls: Zach LaVine (thigh) and Otto Porter (shoulder) are out. Kris Dunn (back) is doubtful.

Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson (rest), Kevin Love (rest), and Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) are out. Nik Stauskas (back) is questionable.

Celtics: Al Horford (knee), Gordon Hayward (ankle), Kyrie Irving (knee), Marcus Morris (ankle), Aron Baynes (ankle), Jayson Tatum (leg), and Marcus Smart are out. Guerschon Yabusele (foot) and Jaylen Brown (back) are probable.

Grizzlies: Mike Conley (ankle), Joakim Noah (knee) and Avery Bradley (lower leg) are out. Kyle Anderson (shoulder) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh) are done for the year.

Heat: None

Hornets: Cody Zeller (knee), Shelvin Mack (personal), Michael Kidd Gilchrist (personal) and Marvin Williams (foot) are out.

Jazz: Kyle Korver (knee), Ricky Rubio (quad) and Raul Neto (ankle) are out. Derrick Favors (back) is probable.

Knicks: Lance Thomas (personal), Noah Vonleh (ankle), Kadeem Allen (concussion), Emmanuel Mudiay, and Allonzo Trier (calf) are out.

Lakers: Kyle Kuzma (foot) is out. Reggie Bullock (neck) is questionable.

Mavericks: Luka Doncic (thigh) and Maxi Kleber (knee) are expected to play. Courtney Lee (hip) is a game-time decision.

Nuggets: None

Pelicans: Anthony Davis (back) is probable. Stanley Johnson (ankle), Darius Miller (hip) and Frank Jackson (concussion) are out. Julius Randle is day-to-day.

Pistons: Blake Griffin (knee) is questionable.

Raptors: None

Rockets: None

76ers: Joel Embiid (knee) and JJ Redick (back) are out. Jimmy Butler (back tightness) is day-to-day. Jonah Bolden (knee) and Furkan Korkmaz (knee) are questionable.

Suns: TJ Warren (ankle) and Deandre Ayton (ankle) are out. Josh Jackson (ankle) is questionable.

Thunder: None

Timberwolves: Luol Deng (achilles), Taj Gibson (calf) and Jerryd Bayless (ankle) are out.

Trail Blazers: None.

Warriors: Kevin Durant (rest), Andrew Bogut (rest), and Andre Iguodala (toe) are out.

Wizards: Jordan McRae (achilles) and Jabari Parker (knee) are questionable.

Today’s NBA Matchups

Boston Celtics (48-33) at Washington Wizards (32-49)

Line: Wizards -4.5, O/U: 224

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

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

Notes:

• If you’re wondering what the Wizards are up to, they lost to the Bulls and Knicks this week.
• Outside of Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier, Boston’s entire rotation is resting tonight. The Celtics are already locked into the fourth seed.

Charlotte Hornets (38-42) at Cleveland Cavaliers (19-62)

Line: Hornets -8, O/U: 221

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

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

Notes:

• Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson are both done for the year.
• Rookie Collin Sexton has averaged 21 points per game since the All Star break.
• The Hornets have stumbled, but they can still make the playoffs if they win tonight and tomorrow against Orlando. Detroit would need to lose to either Memphis or New York.
• Kemba Walker had 31 points, 7 assists and 8 boards in a 104-91 win over Detroit, and they’ll have the tiebreaker if it comes to that.

Denver Nuggets (53-27) at Utah Jazz (49-31)

Line: Jazz -2.5, O/U: 214

Jazz: 109 ppg, top five defense, average pace

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

Notes:

• The Jazz have gone 12-2 in the last month, but they only faced one playoff team and just lost to the hollow shell of the Lakers.
• Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert have played very well down the stretch, but they’ll be tested against some actual competition.
• Kyle Korver just wrote a powerful essay on white privilege and confronting racism.
• Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, Raul Neto, Kyle Korver and Dante Exum are all out tonight.
• The Nuggets have the 2 seed locked up. They rested Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap in a 115-108 loss to Portland, and it’s unclear if they’ll play tonight.

Golden State Warriors (56-24) at New Orleans Pelicans (33-48)

Line: Warriors -9, O/U: 236

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

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

Notes:

• This has to be Anthony Davis‘ last game in a Pelicans uniform… right?
• Julius Randle is listed as day-to-day, and Stanley Johnson is out.
• The Pelicans never fully committed to tanking. They will not have a lot of ping pong balls.
• The Warriors have won five in a row and eight of their last ten, and they have two last tune ups against battered Western Conference dregs in New Orleans and Memphis.
• Kevin Durant is resting in this one along with Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala.
• Steph Curry scored 27 in the final regular season home game in Oracle Arena, a 131-104 torching of the Clippers.
• Klay Thompson‘s shooting has dipped to 42.5% from the floor and 37.5% from three in his last ten.

Memphis Grizzlies (32-48) at Detroit Pistons (39-41)

Line: Pistons -10.5, O/U: 209

Pistons: 107 ppg, above average defense, average pace

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

Notes:

• The Pistons have lost four in a row, but if they beat the Grizzlies and Knicks (48-112 combined) they’re in the playoffs.
• Blake Griffin missed three games with a knee, scored 45 in a loss to the Thunder and then 16 on 28% shooting in a loss to the Hornets. He’s questionable tonight.
• Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith will need to step up and lead this team if Griffin is out or limited.
• The Grizzlies hopes died a long time ago, but they haven’t stopped competing yet.
• Justin Holiday led the way with 30 points in a 129-127 OT loss to Dallas.
• Jonas Valanciunas is done for the year, and Mike Conley probably is too.
• Delon Wright is making the most of his opportunity. He followed up 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds with 20, 12 and 13, his first triple doubles ever in back to back games.

New York Knicks (16-64) at Chicago Bulls (22-58)

Line: Bulls -1.5, O/U: 217

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

Knicks: 106 ppg, second worst defense in the NBA, average pace

Notes:

• Both of these historic franchises are in a sorry state of disrepair. The Knicks will have the best odds at the top pick in the Draft, and the Bulls won’t be far behind.
• Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Otto Porter are all probably done for the year.
• Don’t ask why, but Mario Hezonja started at point guard for the Knicks. He actually dropped 30 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds in a 113-110 win over Washington.
• Dennis Smith Jr. came back from a back injury and played in that game, and again, the logic behind that decision is a complete mystery.

Philadelphia 76ers (50-30) at Miami Heat (38-42)

Line: Heat -5, O/U: 220

Heat: 105 ppg, top ten defense, slower than average pace

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

Notes:

• The Heat have lost four in a row, so they need to win out and get some help to make the playoffs. Detroit would need to lose to both Memphis and New York, so really they would need a lot of help.
• In all likelihood, this will be Dwyane Wade’s final home game. He averaged 22, 5 and 5 for his career, won three titles and left his mark as one of the greatest shooting guards to ever play the game.
• The good news for Miami is that Joel Embiid and JJ Redick are out, and Jimmy Butler might not play either.
• Philadelphia is still a problem with Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons, but they’re already locked into the 3 seed so they will not be nearly as desperate in this game.

Phoenix Suns (19-62) at Dallas Mavericks (30-46) 

Line: Mavericks -8, O/U: 223

Mavericks: 109 ppg, average defense, average pace

Suns: 106 ppg, bottom five defense, average pace

Notes:

• Could this be Dirk’s final home game ever? That’s the only element of this game that is even remotely interesting.
• Luka Doncic has missed four of the last five, but he’s expected to play tonight.
• It’s hard to put into words just how bad the Suns were this year, so to honor them I’m not even going to try.

Portland Trail Blazers (51-29) at Los Angeles Lakers (37-44)

Line: Blazers -9.5, O/U: 224

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

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

Notes:

• The Lakers’ sad season is coming to a weird end: wins despite having no incentive and none of their main players.
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope dropped 32, 6 and 6 in a 113-109 win over the Jazz.
• Alex Caruso and JaVale McGee combined for 40 points, 14 assists and 8 boards.
• The Blazers can win out and still not improve their playoff seeding. If Houston loses tonight, however, that door opens.
• Damian Lillard scored 30 in a 115-108 win over the Nuggets.
• CJ McCollum didn’t look great in his return. He shot just 3-13 from the floor.
• Enes Kanter is averaging 16 and 10 in his last ten, filling in beautifully for Jusuf Nurkic.

Toronto Raptors (57-24) at Minnesota Timberwolves (36-44)

Line: Raptors -7, O/U: 229

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

Raptors: 114 ppg, above average defense, average pace

Notes:

• Minnesota has no incentive to win, and you have to give Ryan Saunders credit for pushing his guys to compete anyway.
• Karl-Anthony Towns put up 35 points and 7 rebounds in a 132-126 loss to the Thunder.
• Andrew Wiggins had 24 in that game, and he’s been productive in this meaningless end part of the season.
• The Raptors will be the two seed. They’ve been cautious with Kawhi Leonard all year, so it’s weird that he’s not listed as out for load management tonight.
• Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell each had a team-high 23 in a 117-109 OT win over a desperate Miami team.
• Kyle Lowry had 5 points in 42 minutes in that one, woof.

Marquee Matchup

Houston Rockets (53-28) at Oklahoma City Thunder (47-33)

Line: Rockets -2, O/U: 230

Thunder: 116 ppg, top five defense, top five pace

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

Notes:

• This is the biggest game of the night in terms of playoff implications. A Thunder win means they’ll probably avoid the first round with the Warriors, but a loss makes that the likeliest scenario. If they win tonight and tomorrow in Milwaukee, they’re guaranteed the sixth seed or better.
• Paul George and Russell Westbrook each put up 27 in a 132-126 win over Minnesota, their third straight.
• The Rockets have won 20 of their last 23, and could take over the 2 seed if they win tonight and Denver loses to either Utah or Minnesota.
• James Harden had 30 points, 9 assists and 13 boards in a 149-113 win over Phoenix.
• Houston hit an NBA-record 27 threes in the game, and Eric Gordon had 8 of them.
• Chris Paul had 6 points, 9 assists and 5 steals, and Clint Capela added 22 and 13.