NBA Projected Starting Lineups, Matchups, Injury News – 1/25/19

For live betting information on all games, click here.

Injury News

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

Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo (heel) is out.

Bulls: Jabari Parker (knee) plans to play. Wendell Carter Jr. (thumb) is out for 8-12 weeks.

Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson (foot) is out. Larry Nance Jr. (knee) is expected to play.

Clippers: Danilo Gallinari (back) is out.

Grizzlies: Marc Gasol (back) is day-to-day. Joakim Noah (personal) is expected to play. Garrett Temple (heel) is probable.

Heat: None

Hornets: None

Jazz: None

Kings: None

Knicks: Emmanuel Mudiay (shoulder) is questionable. Luke Kornet (ankle) is out.

Magic: Aaron Gordon (back) is expected to play. Isaiah Briscoe (ankle) is day-to-day.

Mavericks: None

Nets: Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb) is out. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (shoulder) is questionable. Jared Dudley (hamstring) is out.

Nuggets: Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) is questionable.

Pistons: Andre Drummond (concussion) has cleared the concussion protocol. Ish Smith (groin) is out.

Raptors: Kawhi Leonard (rest) and OG Anunoby (personal) are expected to play.

Rockets: Chris Paul (hamstring) and Brandon Knight (knee) are questionable. Clint Capela (thumb) remains out. Nene Hilario (undisclosed) is day-to-day.

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

Timberwolves: Jeff Teague (foot), Derrick Rose (ankle), and Tyus Jones (ankle) are day-to-day.

Wizards: None

Today’s NBA Matchups

Contents

Washington Wizards (20-27) at Orlando Magic (20-28)

Line: Magic -4, O/U: 219

Magic: 104 ppg, average defense, slow pace

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

Notes:

• The Wizards are 7-6 since losing John Wall for the season nearly a month ago, and they’ve played top-ten defense in that stretch.
• Tomas Satoransky has started every game in January, averaging 11 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
• Bradley Beal is averaging 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game in January. Trevor Ariza and Otto Porter are both averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds this month.
• Orlando has lost four of their last five and is now eight games under .500, but the East is so bad they’re still in the playoff mix.
• Over the last ten games, Nikola Vucevic is averaging 21 points, 13 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1 block.

New York Knicks (10-36) at Brooklyn Nets (26-23)

Line: Nets -9, O/U: 223

Knicks: 107 ppg, second worst defense in the NBA, average pace

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

Notes:

• The Nets have won five in a row and eight of their last ten, surging into the sixth slot in the Eastern Conference.
• D’Angelo Russell is averaging 28 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds during the winning streak.
• Spencer Dinwiddie tore ligaments in his right thumb, and he could miss the next month or more if it requires surgery.
• The Knicks have lost 15 of their last 16 and seven straight, which is good for them considering their season is now about ping pong balls.
• Enes Kanter has been complaining about his reduced role, and someone asked Coach Fizdale if he was worried about that becoming a distraction. His response: “What are we gonna do, lose some more games?”

Miami Heat (22-24) at Cleveland Cavaliers (9-40)

Line: Heat -9, O/U: 208

Cavaliers: 103 ppg, worst defense in the NBA, bottom five pace

Heat: 106 ppg, top ten defense, slower than average pace

Notes:

• Miami has lost four of their last five, including a four-game road trip where the only win came against Chicago.
• Hassan Whiteside is coming off of 22 points and 16 rebounds in a loss to the Clippers on Wednesday.
• Cleveland has lost five straight and gone 1-17 going back over a month, tanking with ruthless efficiency.
• Tristan Thompson is far and away their best player, and the Cavs aren’t going to rush him back in a season that is already long gone.

Sacramento Kings (24-22) at Memphis Grizzlies (19-27)

Line: Grizzlies -2, O/U: 214

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

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

Notes:

• The Kings are 1-3 on this road trip so far, with the only win coming in Detroit.
• De’Aaron Fox missed Tuesday’s loss in Toronto with a sore toe. He’s averaging 17 points and 7 assists per game this year, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to go for this one.
• Buddy Hield is averaging 20 points per game shooting 48% from the floor and 44% from deep.
• Marc Gasol has been in and out of the lineup due to back soreness, but is not on the injury report for this one. For the first time in a long time, he and and Mike Conley are on the trading block.
• The Grizzlies have lost 13 of their last 14, including seven straight since Kyle Anderson went down with an ankle sprain.

Los Angeles Clippers (26-22) at Chicago Bulls (11-37)

Line: Clippers -6, O/U: 220

Bulls: 110 ppg, top ten defense, bottom five pace

Clippers: 114 ppg, below average defense, fast pace

Notes:

• The Clippers have lost six of their last ten, but they’re 2-1 on this road trip so far with wins in San Antonio and Miami.
• Tobias Harris had 31 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in that game, and Lou Williams was one of five other Clippers in double figures.
• Danilo Gallinari is out again with a back injury, and he’s the second leading scorer on this team.
• The Bulls are 1-10 in January, and the only win came against a Cleveland team that they should be trying to beat at losing.
• Chicago rookie Wendell Carter Jr. has averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes per game this year. He needs thumb surgery and will be out for two to three months.

Detroit Pistons (20-26) at Dallas Mavericks (21-26) 

Line: Mavericks -5, O/U: 208

Mavericks: 110 ppg, average defense, average pace

Pistons: 107 ppg, above average defense, average pace

Notes:

• Blake Griffin is averaging 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the last ten, and the Pistons are 4-6 in that stretch.
• Andre Drummond has cleared the concussion protocol though it’s unclear if he’ll play in this one or if he will have any minutes restriction.The Mavs had lost seven of their last nine before beating the Clippers.
• Luka Doncic has averaged 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists over his last ten games, though he’s shot just 30% from the floor in his last three.
• Dennis Smith Jr. put up 17 points and 8 rebounds in his return after spending six games away from the team, apparently unhappy with his role next to Doncic. He reportedly had productive talks with Rick Carlisle and is back starting, but keep an eye on this as the trade deadline approaches.

Charlotte Hornets (23-24) at Milwaukee Bucks (34-12)

Line: Bucks -11.5, O/U: 230

Bucks: 118 ppg, best defense in the NBA, very fast pace

Hornets: 112 ppg, below average defense, average pace.

Notes:

• Kemba Walker has been named an All Star starter for the first time in his career, averaging 25 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds per game this season.
• Charlotte has won four of their last five, with the only loss coming in Indiana on the second night of a back to back.
• The Hornets are 7-16 on the road, coming off a 118-107 win in Memphis.
• Milwaukee has won five in a row, and they’re 21-4 at home this season.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo is the All Star captain from the Eastern Conference. He’s averaging 26 points on 58% shooting, 12.5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game.

Phoenix Suns (11-39) at Denver Nuggets (31-15)

Line: Nuggets -16, O/U: 224

Nuggets: 111 ppg, above average defense, bottom five pace.

Suns: 106 ppg, bottom five defense, average pace

Notes:

• The Suns are 2-13 in the last month, including six straight losses.
• Phoenix has been without Deandre Ayton and Richaun Holmes, dealing with ankle and foot sprains respectively.
• Dragan Bender is averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds in 29 minutes per game as the starting center by necessity.
• TJ Warren is out with an ankle injury, and he’s averaging 18 points a year.
• The Nuggets are coming off a road loss in Utah, but they’re 20-4 at home this year.
• Nikola Jokic’s last ten games: 25.5 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists.
• Denver’s second star Jamal Murray is averaging 19 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in January.

Minnesota Timberwolves (24-24) at Utah Jazz (26-21)

Line: Jazz -10.5, O/U: 217

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

Jazz: 108 ppg, top five defense, average pace

Notes:

• The Jazz have won eight of their last ten, including 114-108 over Denver on Wednesday.
• Donovan Mitchell’s last ten: 30 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds per game. He’s put up 36 and 35 in the last two games.
• Ricky Rubio is getting back in the swing of things, posting 17 points and 6 assists in his first start since returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for six games.
• Minnesota lost 149-107 in Philly and then blew a 10-point second half lead to the Spurs, but they bounced back with two straight wins against the Suns and a victory over the LeBron-less Lakers in LA yesterday.
• January Timberwolves leaders: Karl-Anthony Towns: 25 points, 13 boards and 2 blocks, Andrew Wiggins: 21 points, 6 rebounds, Derrick Rose: 17 points, 4 assists.
• 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 and Tyus Jones are both dealing with ankle injuries, so the point guard spot might be a bit of a problem.

Marquee Matchup

Toronto Raptors (36-14) at Houston Rockets (27-20)

Line: Raptors -3.5, O/U: 228

Rockets: 113, bottom five defense, bottom five pace

Raptors: 114 ppg, above average defense, average pace

Notes:

• The Raptors are 8-2 in their last ten, and still lead the league in wins so far.
• Kawhi Leonard should be well rested after sitting out four games in a row, including the loss to Indiana on Wednesday. Toronto is now 11-3 without him this year.
• Kyle Lowry has posted 15 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds per game in his last five.
• James Harden is averaging 52 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in his last five, including performances of 57, 58, and most recently 61 in a 114-110 win over the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
• Chris Paul is listed as questionable for this one, so Harden’s one man show continues.
• Kenneth Faried was just acquired to fill in for Clint Capela, and he’s averaging 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals in his first two games in Houston.