NBA Projected Starting Lineups, Matchups, Injury News 3/1/19

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.

Bucks: George Hill (groin) and Sterling Brown (wrist) are out.

Bulls: None

Celtics: Aron Baynes (foot) is out. Daniel Theis (knee) is questionable.

Clippers: Wilson Chandler (quad) and Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) are out.

Hawks: Miles Plumlee (knee) is out.

Hornets: Marvin Williams (toe) is doubtful.

Kings: Marvin Bagley III (knee sprain) is out.

Lakers: Lance Stephenson (toe) is out.

Nets: Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb) will play.

Pelicans: None

Raptors: None

Suns: TJ Warren (ankle) is out. Devin Booker (sprained big toe) is questionable.

Trail Blazers: Evan Turner (knee) is out. Enes Kanter is out.

Wizards: None

Today’s NBA Matchups

Contents

Charlotte Hornets (28-33) at Brooklyn Nets (32-31)

Line: Nets -3, O/U: 228

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

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

Notes:

• The Nets should make the playoffs, but fell to the Wizards 125-116 in their last game.
• It was Caris LeVert bobblehead night, and he scored 0 points in 20 minutes. He only just got back from an extended injury absence, along with Allen Crabbe who had 8 points in 25 minutes off the bench.
• D’Angelo Russell dropped 40 points and 7 assists on his 23rd birthday, then led the Nets with 23 and 8 in Monday’s 101-85 win over a struggling San Antonio.
• Spencer Dinwiddie is back from a thumb injury tonight, another major piece of this team, averaging 17 points and 5 assists this year.
• The Hornets have lost five of their last six, and now they’re just outside the Eastern Conference playoff bracket.
• Kemba Walker is averaging 30 points and 6 assists per game in his last ten shooting just 42% from the floor, which is his career average.

Chicago Bulls (17-45) at Atlanta Hawks (21-41)

Line: Hawks -3, O/U: 229

Hawks: 111 ppg, bottom ten defense, fastest pace in the NBA

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

Notes:

• The Hawks are 14-18 since mid-December, and fans should have high hopes about the years to come.
• Rookie Trae Young scored a career-high 36 in a loss in Houston, then dropped 36 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds the next game in a 131-123 win over Minnesota. He’s averaging 30 points and 9 assists in his last five games.
• Second-year big John Collins added 34 points and 8 boards against the Timberwolves, averaging 20 and 10 this season to lead the team in both categories.
• Chicago has won four of their last five, most recently 109-107 in Memphis against a Grizzlies team that has all but thrown in the towel.
• Zach LaVine‘s scoring is boom or bust, but he led all scorers in that game with 30.
• Lauri Markkanen is averaging 26 points and 12 rebounds per game in his last ten.
• New Bull Otto Porter came back from a minor leg injury to score 20 in the win over Memphis.

Los Angeles Clippers (34-29) at Sacramento Kings (31-30) 

Line: Kings -3.5, O/U: 238

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

Clippers: 114 ppg, below average defense, fast pace

Notes:

• The Kings have lost four of their last five, most recently 141-140 in overtime against the Bucks.
• Rookie Marvin Bagley III suffered a scary knee injury in that one, but thankfully it’s just a sprain.
• Harrison Barnes is averaging 11 points on 35% shooting with the Kings.
• Buddy Hield had 32 points against Milwaukee, but needed 29 shots.
• De’Aaron Fox is averaging 17 points, 7 assists and 2 steals per game.
• Corey Brewer has signed with the Kings for the rest of the season.
• These two teams will be battling for a playoff spot for the rest of the season, but based on their trade deadline moves the Kings want it more.
• Montrezl Harrell is averaging 21 points on 68% shooting in his last five games.
• Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari both had 18 points in a 111-105 loss to Utah, but combined to shoot 8-32.

Milwaukee Bucks (47-14) at Los Angeles Lakers (30-31)

Line: Bucks -5, O/U: 238

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

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

Notes:

• The Lakers stopped a 2-6 skid with a 125-119 win over the Pelicans.
• LeBron had 33 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists, and he hit an impossible dagger 3 to seal the win.
• Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma combined for 45 points and 11 rebounds.
• Milwaukee has won six in a row and eleven of their last twelve, most recently 141-140 in overtime in Sacramento.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a game with a sore knee and played just 24 minutes in the next close win. He added 17 points and 7 rebounds.
• Khris Middleton, Malcom Brogdon, Nikola Mirotic, and Eric Bledsoe each put up 20+ points to pick up the slack.

New Orleans Pelicans (27-36) at Phoenix Suns (12-50)

Line: Pelicans -5.5, O/U: 236

Suns: 106 ppg, bottom five defense, average pace

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

Notes:

• The Suns snapped a 17-game losing streak with a 124-121 win in Miami.
• Devin Booker led the way with 21 points, 9 assists, Deandre Ayton added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and five other Suns scored in double figures.
• Anthony Davis put up 22 points and 8 rebounds and helped the Pelicans compete with the Lakers, but he didn’t play the fourth quarter and they lost 125-119.
• Julius Randle scored 35 against his former team. He’s averaging 25 points and 8 rebounds in his last five.
• Jrue Holiday put up 19 points and 10 assists, averaging 21 and 7.5 in his last ten.

Washington Wizards (25-36) at Boston Celtics (37-25)

Line: Celtics -9, O/U: 232

Celtics: 113 ppg, top five defense, slower than average pace

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

Notes:

• The Celtics own the longest active losing streak in the NBA, having lost four in a row to start the second half of the season. They shot just 18% from three in a 97-92 loss to Portland.
• Kyrie Irving bounced back with 31 points, but nobody else reached 15.
• Irving continues to answer questions in a way that fuels speculation about whether or not he will leave Boston this summer, and that has to be impacting the locker room a bit.
• The Wizards had lost four in a row, but won 125-116 in Brooklyn behind 31 points from Bradley Beal.
• Trevor Ariza added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Bobby Portis had a double double too.
• It’s really unclear what Washington’s plan is with John Wall out for the next 12 months at least. They’re in a pretty tough spot with his contract.

Portland Trail Blazers (37-23) at Toronto Raptors (45-17)

Line: Raptors -5, O/U: 227

Raptors: 114 ppg, above average defense, average pace

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

Notes:

• Toronto has won eight of their last nine, coming off a 118-95 drubbing of the Celtics.
• Kawhi Leonard had 21 points and 6 rebounds in just 26 minutes, and Pascal Siakam led the way with 25 and 8.
• Kyle Lowry only took six shots, but dished 11 dimes.
• Serge Ibaka reclaimed his starting role from Marc Gasol, at least for now.
• The Blazers have won five straight games, the first four by double digits and the last four on the road. They’re coming off a 97-92 win in Boston.
• Damian Lillard put up 33 points and a team-high 4 assists in that game, and Jusuf Nurkic and Mo Harkless combined for 33 points and 16 boards.
• CJ McCollum followed up a 35-point performance with 14 on 6-19 shooting in the Celtics win.