NBA Projected Starting Lineups, Matchups, Injury News – 2/8/19

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Injury News

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Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), George Hill (leg), and Sterling Brown (wrist) are probable. Khris Middleton (rest) and Nikola Mirotic (calf) are out.

Bulls: Zach LaVine (ankle) is day to day.

Cavaliers: Kevin Love (toe) is a game-time decision. Tristan Thompson (foot) is out.

Heat: None

Kings: None

Knicks: Frank Ntilikina (groin) is out.

Mavericks: None

Nets: Caris LeVert (foot) and Allen Crabbe (knee) are available.

Nuggets: Paul Millsap (ankle) is questionable. Gary Harris (groin) is out.

Pelicans: Anthony Davis (finger) will return to the starting lineup. Julius Randle (ankle) Elfrid Payton (ankle) and E’Twaun Moore (quad) is questionable.

Pistons: Ish Smith (rest) is probable.

76ers: None

Suns: Devin Booker (hamstring) is questionable. TJ Warren (ankle) and De’Anthony Melton (ankle) are out.

Timberwolves: Jeff Teague (foot), Tyus Jones (ankle), Robert Covington (ankle), and Derrick Rose (ankle) are out. Jerryd Bayless (toe) is questionable.

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

Chicago Bulls (12-42) at Brooklyn Nets (29-27)

Line: Nets -9, O/U: 224

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

Bulls: 102 ppg, bottom ten defense, slower than average pace

Notes:

• The Nets had lost three in a row, but bounced back with a home win over the stellar Nuggets on Wednesday.
• All Star D’Angelo Russell put up 27 points and 11 assists in that win, and he’s averaging 26 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds in his last ten.
• Allen Crabbe and Caris LeVert have both been out for a long time, but they’re both back tonight.
• The Bulls acquired Otto Porter for Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis and a pick at the deadline.
• Chicago is expected to buy out Robin Lopez.
• Zach LaVine is day-to-day with ankle soreness. He’s averaging 23 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game this year.

Cleveland Cavaliers (11-43) at Washington Wizards (22-32)

Line: Wizards -9.5, O/U: 220

Cavaliers: 102 ppg, worst defense in the NBA, bottom five pace

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

Notes:

• John Wall‘s awful achilles injury forced Washington to do some rearranging at the trade deadline, moving Otto Porter for Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis and a pick. They also traded Markieff Morris the Pelicans for Wesley Johnson for cap purposes.
• 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. He had 31 in the last game against Cleveland.
• Two teams with some of the bleakest futures in the entire league face off in a game that should be thoroughly depressing.
• One of Cleveland’s only wins in the last month came against this Washington team last week in Washington 116-113.
• Kevin Love hasn’t played since the very start of the year, but he’s a game-time decision tonight.
• Cedi Osman had 26 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds in that game, but he’s out for this one with an ankle.

Golden State Warriors (37-15) at Phoenix Suns (11-45)

Line: N/A

Suns: 106 ppg, bottom five defense, average pace

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

Notes:

• The Suns have lost 19 of their last 21, including twelve in a row.
• Devin Booker is averaging 29 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in his last five games, but he’s questionable with a tight hamstring after missing the loss in Utah.
• Josh Jackson scored 27 in that game to go with 7 assists and 5 steals, stepping up as the primary ball handler with booker out.
• Golden State has won 13 of their last 14 games. They beat the Lakers with LeBron resting, and Coach Pop decided it wasn’t even worth playing DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge on Wednesday. The Warriors won that game 141-102.
• Klay Thompson has led the team in scoring the past two games, shooting 21-28 from the floor and 8-13 from three.
• Steph Curry is averaging 29 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game this season.
• Kevin Durant broke his media silence with a classic rant, clearly frustrated by all of the questions about the Knicks and his impending free agency.
• DeMarcus Cousins averaging 14.5 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists per game in his first eight games with Golden State.

Miami Heat (25-27) at Sacramento Kings (28-26) 

Line: Kings -3.5, O/U: 218

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

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

Notes:

• The Kings acquired Harrison Barnes and Alec Burks and sent Iman Shumpert to Houston, positioning themselves for a playoff run this year. Barnes averaged 18 points and 5 assists per game in his career in Dallas.
• De’Aaron Fox managed just 6 points and 6 assists in a 127-101 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday.
• Buddy Hield is in the Three Point Contest, shooting 46% from deep this year and taking over 7 per game.
• The Heat lost three in a row at home, but won in Portland on Tuesday.
• Miami traded Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington to the Suns for Ryan Anderson at the deadline.

Milwaukee Bucks (40-13) at Dallas Mavericks (25-28) 

Line: Bucks -8, O/U: 223

Mavericks: 109 ppg, average defense, average pace

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

Notes:

• The Mavs made a big trade for Kristaps Porzingis focused on the future, and they’ve won their last two games despite giving up three starters.
• They also traded Harrison Barnes mid-game for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph the day before the deadline.
• Luka Doncic tied his career high with 35 points and added 11 rebounds and 6 assists against the Cavs, then he had another triple double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 11 dimes against Charlotte.
• Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jalen Brunson are filling in the starting lineup spots where Dennis Smith Jr, DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews used to be.
• The Bucks have won five straight and nine of their last ten. They’re the best team in the East right now, and they got better when they traded Stanley Johnson and second round picks for Nikola Mirotic at the deadline.
• Mirotic is averaging 17 points and 8 boards per game this year, but he’s missed extended time with a calf injury and it’s not clear when he’ll be ready to play.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 43 points, 6 boards and 4 assists in a win over Washington on Wednesday. He’s averaging 27 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists this season.
• All Star Khris Middleton is averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists this year, but he’s out in this one for rest.

Minnesota Timberwolves (25-29) at New Orleans Pelicans (24-31)

Line: Pelicans -6, O/U: 233

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

Timberwolves: 111 ppg, below average defense, faster than average pace

Notes:

• Anthony Davis didn’t get the trade he wanted. He’ll play out the year in New Orleans, but fewer minutes and no back-to-back games. He’s averaged 29 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2 steals this season.
• Nikola Mirotic saw traded to the Bucks for Stanley Johnson, Jason Smith and four second-round picks.
• Julius Randle returned from injury against the Bulls, posting 31 points and 7 rebounds in 31 minutes.
• Minnesota has lost five of their last six games, including 122-112 yesterday in Orlando.
• Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 26 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his last ten games.
• Jeff Teague, Tyus Jones, and Derrick Rose have all missed the last week or more with foot/ankle issues, leaving 35 points and 17 assists per game on the bench.
• Jerryd Bayless had averaged 14 points, 8 assists and 4 boards in five games as the de facto starting point guard, but he’s questionable with a toe injury.

New York Knicks (10-43) at Detroit Pistons (24-29)

Line: Pistons -9, O/U: 207

Pistons: 106 ppg, above average defense, average pace

Knicks: 105 ppg, second worst defense in the NBA, average pace

Notes:

• The Pistons have struggled, but beat Denver and this Knicks team on back-to-back nights to start the week.
• Blake Griffin had 29 points and 8 assists in that game, and Andre Drummond added 17 points and 16 rebounds.
• Reggie Bullock was traded to the Lakers for Svi Mykhailiuk and a second round pick.
• The Knicks lave lost 14 straight, winning two games in the last two months.
• Dennis Smith Jr. and DeAndre Jordan are now starting for New York, with Jordan averaging 10 points and 10 boards and Smith coming off of 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in a loss to Detroit on Tuesday.
• Wesley Matthews played two games with the Knicks before being bought out and signing with the Pacers.
• The Knicks bought out Enes Kanter minutes after the trade deadline passed.

Marquee Matchup

Denver Nuggets (37-17) at Philadelphia 76ers (34-20)

Line: N/A

76ers: 115 ppg, above average defense, faster than average pace

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

Notes:

• The Sixers made big moves at the deadline, acquiring Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott for Landry Shamet, Mike Muscala, Wilson Chandler, and four picks.
• Harris was an All Star snub out west, and he’s joining Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, and JJ Redick in one of the most stacked starting lineups outside of the Bay.
• Philly also traded former first overall pick Markelle Fultz for two picks and Jonathon Simmons, who once paid to try out for a D League team.
• On the court, they’ve lost  consecutive games to the Raptors and Kings.
• The Nuggets have lost two away games with Paul Millsap out with an ankle. He’s questionable again tonight.
• First-time All Star Nikola Jokic has averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists in his last ten, and his 25, 14 and 10 was not enough to beat Brooklyn on Wednesday.
• Jamal Murray returned from injury with 19 points and 11 assists in that game, but Gary Harris missed another with a groin injury and he’s out again tonight.
• Malik Beasley and Monte Morris are stepping up, respectively averaging 22 points and 18 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds in the last five.