NBA Projected Starting Lineups, Matchups, Injury News – 2/6/19

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Injury News

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Bucks: Eric Bledsoe (Achilles) is probable. Donte DiVincenzo (heel) is out.

Bulls: Wayne Selden (knee) is day-to-day

Hornets: Tony Parker (back) is day-to-day.

Jazz: Raul Neto (groin) is probable. Thabo Sefalosha (hamstring) is out.

Kings: None

Mavericks: Luka Doncic (ankle) expects to play. Courtney Lee, Trey Burke, and Tim Hardaway Jr. will not play their first game with Dallas just yet. Kristaps Porzingis is likely to remain out for the rest of the year.

Nets: Jared Dudley (hamstring) is out. Allen Crabbe (knee) is available.

Nuggets: Paul Millsap (ankle) and Jamal Murray (ankle) are questionable. Gary Harris (groin) is out.

Pelicans: Anthony Davis (finger), Nikola Mirotic (calf), Elfrid Payton (ankle) and E’Twaun Moore (quad) are out. Julius Randle (ankle) is a game-time decision.

Rockets: Clint Capela (thumb) remains out. Eric Gordon (knee) is questionable.

Spurs: Derrick White (heel) is out. LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan (load management) are out.

Suns: Devin Booker (hamstring) is a game-time decision.

Warriors: Klay Thompson (illness) is a game time decision. Jonas Jerebko (personal) is out.

Wizards: John Wall (achilles) is out for the next 12 months.

Today’s NBA Matchups

Contents

Charlotte Hornets (26-27) at Dallas Mavericks (24-28) 

Line: Mavericks -5.5, O/U: 215

Mavericks: 110 ppg, average defense, average pace

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

Notes:

• The Hornets lost 117-115 to the Clippers last night despite 32 points and 9 assists from All Star starter Kemba Walker.
• He might be getting some help soon, as Charlotte and the Grizzlies are reportedly in serious talks about a trade involving Marc Gasol.
• Cody Zeller returned after missing all of January with a hand injury. He played 23 minutes and grabbed a team-high 11 boards.
• Dallas lost in Detroit without Luka Doncic, but he tied his career high with 35 points in a win over the Cavs on Saturday. He also led the team with 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
• Maxi Kleber (10p, 9r), Dorian Finney-Smith (7p, 10r) and Jalen Brunson (15p, 6r, 4a) filled in the starting lineup spots where Dennis Smith Jr, DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews used to be.
• Courtney Lee, Trey Burke, and Tim Hardaway Jr. haven’t played their first games as Mavericks yet, and Kristaps Porzingis is probably going to remain out for the rest of the year.

Denver Nuggets (37-16) at Brooklyn Nets (28-27)

Line: Nuggets -2.5, O/U: 225

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

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

Notes:

• The Nets had won six straight, but they’ve dropped four of their last five.
• All Star D’Angelo Russell has averaging 24 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds in his last ten.
• Allen Crabbe has missed the last month and a half with a knee injury, and he’s available for this game.
• Caris LeVert is rehabbing with the G League team after that scary foot injury he suffered in November, getting back on the court much sooner than most expected.
• The Nuggets dropped a half a game behind the Warriors with a 129-103 loss in Denver on Monday. Paul Millsap missed that game with a sore ankle, and he’s questionable tonight.
• First-time All Star Nikola Jokic has averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists in his last ten, but he’s shot just 11-30 from the field in the past two games.
• Jamal Murray has been upgraded to questionable after missing five games, and Gary Harris will miss his fourth in a row with a groin injury.
• Malik Beasley and Monte Morris are stepping up, respectively averaging 23 points and 16 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in the last five.

New Orleans Pelicans (23-31) at Chicago Bulls (12-41)

Line: Bulls -1.5, O/U: 227

Bulls: 101 ppg, bottom ten defense, slower than average pace

Pelicans: 117 ppg, bottom five defense, top five pace

Notes:

• Both of these teams are 2-8 in their last ten.
• Anthony Davis is reportedly healthy, but the Pelicans are holding him out as they try to work out a trade before tomorrow’s deadline. He’s averaged 29 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2 steals this season.
• Jahlil Okafor has been the starting center, averaging 19 points and 11 boards in his last five.
• Nikola Mirotic has missed the last six games, and he’s out for this one too. Elfrid Payton and E’Twaun Moore are both out as well, and Julius Randle is a game-time call.
• Zach LaVine is averaging 23 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game this year.

Phoenix Suns (11-44) at Utah Jazz (30-24)

Line: Jazz -14.5, O/U: 220

Jazz: 109 ppg, top five defense, average pace

Suns: 106 ppg, bottom five defense, average pace

Notes:

• The Jazz had been scorching hot, but lost by 27 this week both in Portland and to the Rockets.
• All Star snub Rudy Gobert is averaging 17 points, 14 boards, and 3 blocks in his last ten games.
• Donovan Mitchell’s last ten: 27 points, 5.5 assists, 5 rebounds per game.
• Ricky Rubio didn’t hit a shot from the floor and had 3 turnovers to 2 assists in that ugly loss to Houston, who was playing on the second night of a back to back.
• The Suns have lost 18 of their last 20, including eleven in a row.
• Devin Booker is averaging 29 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in his last five games, but he’s a game-time decision tonight with a tight hamstring.

San Antonio Spurs (32-23) at Golden State Warriors (37-15)

Line: Warriors -14.5, O/U: 231

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

Spurs: 112 ppg, average defense, very slow pace

Notes:

• Golden State has won twelve of their last 13 games, most recently on Saturday against the Lakers with LeBron resting.
• Steph Curry had a rare off game shooting the ball with just 14 points on 5-15 from the floor. The night before, he had 41 and went 10-18 from three.
• Klay Thompson missed the loss to Philly, but returned with a team-high 28 points against LA.
• Kevin Durant is shooting just 4-23 (17%) on 3-pointers in his last five games.
• DeMarcus Cousins is coming off of 18 and 10, his first double double as a Warrior. He’s averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists per game in his first six games with Golden State.
• The Spurs started their annual Rodeo Road Trip with a 127-112 loss in Sacramento on Monday, clearly missing second-year point guard Derrick White on both ends. He will miss some time with plantar fasciitis.
• Gregg Popovich might get a call from the league about resting LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan in tonight’s nationally televised game, but it’s smart to punt to a more winnable game tomorrow in Portland.
• The bulk of offensive creation will come from small shooting guards Bryn Forbes and Patty Mills. Rookie Lonnie Walker IV might finally get some extended minutes, and Pau Gasol and Jakob Poeltl will split minutes at center.

Washington Wizards (22-31) at Milwaukee Bucks (39-13)

Line: Bucks -12, O/U: 230

Bucks: 117 ppg, best defense in the NBA, very fast pace

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

Notes:

• The Bucks went 11-2 in a stretch where they played ten games on the road. They’re coming off four straight wins in Detroit, Toronto, Washington, and Brooklyn.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 30 points, 15 boards and 9 assists in Brooklyn. He’s averaging 27 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists this season.
• Khris Middleton is an All Star, averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists this year to go with excellent defense.
• John Wall was already out for the season, and he’ll be out for the next 12 months after falling in his home and rupturing his achilles. The Wizards owe the 28-year-old star $169 million over the next four years, and this injury takes a toll on athletic explosion like no other.
• Tomas Satoransky is even more important now. He’s averaging 11 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in his last ten as the starting point guard.
• Bradley Beal is averaging 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game in his last ten.

Marquee Matchup

Houston Rockets (31-22) at Sacramento Kings (28-25) 

Line: Rockets -3.5, O/U: 236

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

Rockets: 112 ppg, bottom five defense, bottom five pace

Notes:

• The Kings have won three in a row at home over the Hawks, 76ers and Spurs.
• Rookie Marvin Bagley III put up a career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds in the win over San Antonio, and he threw down a sick 360 oop in the process.
• De’Aaron Fox added 20 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds, and he’s averaging 17.5 points, 7 assists and 2 steals per game this year.
• Buddy Hield is in the Three Point Contest, shooting 46% from deep this year and taking over 7 per game.
• The Rockets have won two in a row, behind James Harden‘s one man show.
• Harden followed up 43 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals, and 4 blocks with 44 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. It’s just regular at this point.
• Chris Paul had 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals in the win in Phoenix on Monday.
• Eric Gordon is questionable with a knee. He’s averaged 18 points in nine games since returning from a knee injury.