NBA Projected Starting Lineups, Matchups, Injury News – 1/24/19

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Injury News

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Lakers: Lonzo Ball (ankle) is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Rajon Rondo (hand) is expected to make his return. LeBron James(groin) remains out.

Pelicans: Anthony Davis (finger) will be reevaluated Friday, and could play next week. Nikola Mirotic (calf) is day-to-day.

Suns: Deandre Ayton (ankle) is doubtful. Richaun Holmes (foot) is questionable. TJ Warren (ankle) is out.

Thunder: None

Timberwolves: Jeff Teague (foot) is questionable.

Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard (hand) is questionable.

Warriors: Jonas Jerebko (personal) is out.

Wizards: None

Today’s NBA Matchups

Contents

Golden State Warriors (33-14) at Washington Wizards (20-26)

Line: Warriors -10.5, O/U: 235

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

Wizards: 113 ppg, bad defense, faster than average pace

Notes:

• The Wizards are 7-5 since losing John Wall for the season nearly a month ago, and they’ve played top-ten defense in that stretch.
• Washington is 4-5 in their last five playing some excellent basketball, beating Philadelphia and Milwaukee, before Toronto beat them at the overtime buzzer.
• Tomas Satoransky has filled in admirably, averaging 11 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists starting the last ten games. He doesn’t put up crazy numbers, but his work without the ball is a notable difference from Wall’s style.
• Bradley Beal has emerged as the team’s new alpha, posting 29 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists per game in January.
• Klay Thompson scored 44 and hit an NBA-record ten in a row from deep in a blowout win over the Lakers.
• Golden State has won eight in a row, and they’re averaging 131 points per game in January. Steph, Klay, and KD are combining for an average of 83 in that stretch, all shooting over 49% from the floor and 44% from deep.
• DeMarcus Cousins had 14 points in 15 minutes in his Warriors debut, then 8 points 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 21 minutes in the next game.
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New Orleans Pelicans (22-25) at Oklahoma City Thunder (29-18)

Line: Thunder -12.5, O/U: 233

Pelicans: bottom five defense, top five pace

Thunder: 113 ppg, best defense in the NBA, top five pace

Notes:

• The Thunder had lost five of seven, but bounced back with three straight wins.
• Paul George‘s last five games: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals.
• Oklahoma City started the year with the top defense in the NBA, but giving up over 120 points per game in January. That’s 29th in the league ahead of only Cleveland.
• Russell Westbrook is averaging 25 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in his last ten games, but he’s shooting just 42% from the floor. He put up 29, 14 and 10 in a win over the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
• Anthony Davis’s left index finger is only sprained, and he could be back as early as next week. He will be reevaluated tomorrow. Davis had averaged
• New Orleans looks like a team without their top-five player in a home loss to a reeling Pistons team yesterday. Nikola Mirotic scored 21 in a win over Memphis, but tweaked his calf in the Detroit loss.
• Jahlil Okafor has played 33 minutes per game in Davis’ absence, averaging 18.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in the last two games.
• Other Pelicans stepping up without Davis: Julius Randle has 16.5 points and 12.5 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday has 25 points, 8 rebounds, 6.5 assists over the last two.

Portland Trail Blazers (29-20) at Phoenix Suns (11-38)

Line: Trail Blazers -7.5, O/U: 220.5

Suns: 106 ppg, bottom five defense, average pace

Trail Blazers:  112.5 ppg, average defense, below average pace

Notes:

• The Suns are 2-11 in their last 13 games, including five straight losses.
• Phoenix could be without rookie top pick Deandre Ayton and Richaun Holmes, dealing with ankle and foot sprains respectively.
• The Suns have gone smaller without them in recent games, and Dragan Bender is averaging 12.5 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes per game as the de facto starting center.
• TJ Warren is out with an ankle injury, and he’s averaging 18 points a year.
• Damian Lillard is averaging 30 points and 7 assists in the last five games, but he’s questionable for this one with a hand injury. He had 36 in a loss to the Thunder on Tuesday.
• The Blazers have won seven of their last ten, but they’re just 9-13 on the road.

Marquee Matchup

Minnesota Timberwolves (23-24) at Los Angeles Lakers (25-23)

Line: Timberwolves -1, O/U: 229.5

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

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

Notes:

• Los Angeles beat OKC on the road in overtime, but then lost in overtime in Houston and got blown out by Golden State.
• Lonzo Ball suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain, and he’s expected to miss at least four weeks. He had averaged 11 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 6.5 apg in January.
• Rajon Rondo is expected to return from a broken hand with no minutes restriction. He’s missed most of the last two months.
• The Lakers are 5-9 since LeBron’s groin injury. He’s out for this one, but could be back soon. This is the longest stretch he has missed due to injury in his entire career.
• Lakers core in January: Kyle Kuzma has 21 ppg and 6 rpg, and Brandon Ingram has 17 ppg, 7 rpg and 4.5 apg.
• Minnesota has won two straight, even though it’s somewhat expected when you play the Suns twice in a row.
• In January Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 25 points, 13 boards and 2 blocks while Andrew Wiggins is putting up 21 per game.
• The Timberwolves are just 7-16 on the road this season.
• Jeff Teague is questionable for this one with a foot injury, and he’s averaging 11.5 points and 8 assists this year. Derrick Rose is averaging 19 and 5 in January.
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