April 16th NBA Injury Report and Projected Lineups
- There are 11 games across the NBA on Friday, April 16th with the Nets, Clippers, and Sixers all in action
- James Harden remains out for Brooklyn, but Kevin Durant is back in the lineup alongside Kyrie Irving after resting two nights ago
- Find the projected lineups and latest injury news for all games below
It’s a heavy slate of contests across the association on April 16th. The marquee matchup of the night will feature the LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. Elsewhere, the Utah Jazz take on the Indiana Pacers, while the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs meet.
The Knicks continue to surge up the Eastern Conference standings and will be looking for their fifth-straight win as they visit Luka Doncic and the Mavericks.
NBA Injury News – April 16th
- [April 15th, 7 PM EST] Sixers’ Tobias Harris and Dwight Howard are both questionable (knee soreness) vs. Clippers
- [April 15th, 6 PM EST] Raptors’ Kyle Lowry, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam all out (rest) vs. Orlando, Gary Trent Jr. (ankle) doubtful
- [April 15th, 4 PM EST] Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard questionable (foot) vs. Sixers, Paul George available to play against Philly
April 16th NBA Projected Starting Lineups
Pacers vs Jazz Projected Starting Lineups
Malcolm Brogdon | PG | Mike Conley |
Caris LeVert | SG | Donovan Mitchell |
Edmond Sumner | SF | Bojan Bogdanovic |
Justin Holiday | PF | Royce O’Neale |
Domantas Sabonis | C | Rudy Gobert |
Myles Turner has a 50/50 chance of returning on Friday from a left ankle sprain, which has kept him out for the last five games. If he does return, expect Domantas Sabonis to slide back to power forward, while Goga Bitadze will see his role drastically reduced.
The Jazz have close to a full bill of health, with Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jordan Clarkson is expected to return from a four-game absence due to an ankle sprain. Role player Derrick Favors is expected to sit out the first night of a back-to-back with knee soreness, which could mean more minutes for Ersan Ilyasova off the bench.
Thunder vs Pistons Projected Starting Lineups
Theo Maledon | PG | Frank Jackson |
Lu Dort | SG | Wayne Ellington |
Darius Bazley | SF | Saddiq Bey |
Isaiah Roby | PF | Sekou Doumbouya |
Moses Brown | C | Isaiah Stewart |
In a matchup of the bottom-feeders in the East and West, a lot of the main guys will be out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be sidelined, while Pistons star Jerami Grant will rest alongside Mason Plumlee.
Lu Dort returns for OKC after resting against the Warriors and will look to carry the offense on Friday following a career-high 42 points vs. Utah earlier in the week.
Pelicans vs Wizards Projected Starting Lineups
Eric Bledsoe | PG | Russell Westbrook |
Naji Marshall | SG | Bradley Beal |
Brandon Ingram | SF | Deni Avdija |
Zion Williamson | PF | Rui Hachimura |
Steven Adams | C | Alex Len |
Both squads are pretty healthy in this cross-conference matchup. Lonzo Ball is just days away from a return after dealing with a hip injury, but he won’t suit up for this contest. The Wizards have no injuries to speak of as both their stars in Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook are ready to roll against Zion Williamson.
Clippers vs 76ers Projected Starting Lineups
Reggie Jackson | PG | Ben Simmons |
Luke Kennard | SG | Seth Curry |
Paul George | SF | Danny Green |
Marcus Morris | PF | Mike Scott |
Ivica Zubac | C | Joel Embiid |
In what should be the most exciting game of the night, Harris and Howard miss out for Philly, while Leonard is questionable to feature. George returns to the LA lineup and will be looking to continue his torrid scoring run against a Sixers team that just beat the depleted Nets.
Magic vs Raptors Projected Starting Lineups
Cole Anthony | PG | Malachi Flynn |
Gary Harris | SG | Fred VanVleet |
Chuma Okeke | SF | Stanley Johnson |
James Ennis | PF | Chris Boucher |
Wendell Carter | C | Khem Birch |
With Toronto still in the play-in race, it’s interesting that Nick Nurse is resting all of his main players in Siakam, Anunoby, and Lowry. VanVleet is expected to return from a hip issue, while Trent Jr. is out with an ankle injury.
Orlando is without Michael Carter-Williams after his impressive night against the Bulls, while Mo Bamba is questionable.
Hornets vs Nets Projected Starting Lineups
Terry Rozier | PG | Kyrie Irving |
Caleb Martin | SG | Landry Shamet |
Jalen McDaniels | SF | Kevin Durant |
Miles Bridges | PF | Jeff Green |
Bismack Biyombo | C | DeAndre Jordan |
The Nets get back Kevin Durant for this Hornets matchup after a rest day, while James Harden still remains out with a hamstring injury. Charlotte’s Devonte’ Graham hurt his quadricep the other night and will be sidelined, while Brad Wanamaker is questionable with an ankle sprain.
Nuggets vs Rockets Projected Starting Lineups
Monte Morris | PG | John Wall |
Will Barton | SG | Kevin Porter |
Michael Porter | SF | Jae’Sean Tate |
Aaron Gordon | PF | Kelly Olynyk |
Nikola Jokic | C | Christian Wood |
Aside from Jamal Murray’s season-ending ACL injury, Denver is at full strength, although his absence is certainly felt. The lowly Rockets have their injuries, but all of their starters are currently healthy.
Grizzlies vs Bulls Projected Starting Lineups
Ja Morant | PG | Tomas Satoransky |
Grayson Allen | SG | Garrett Temple |
Dillon Brooks | SF | Patrick Williams |
Kyle Anderson | PF | Thaddeus Young |
Jonas Valanciunas | C | Nikola Vucevic |
Chicago is without star player Zach LaVine on Friday as he enters the league’s health and safety protocols for the next few games. That will give Garrett Temple the chance to start for the slumping Bulls. Brandon Clarke is questionable for the Grizzlies due to hip soreness, which could mean more minutes for Kyle Anderson, who is typically in the starting lineup.
Heat vs Timberwolves Projected Starting Lineups
Kendrick Nunn | PG | Ricky Rubio |
Duncan Robinson | SG | Anthony Edwards |
Jimmy Butler | SF | Josh Okogie |
Trevor Ariza | PF | Jaden McDaniels |
Bam Adebayo | C | Karl-Anthony Towns |
Karl-Anthony Towns returns to the Minnesota lineup after a two-game absence due to personal issues. The Wolves got blown out by the Nets and Bucks without him, so it will be nice to have the big man back. The Heat are healthy, except for the absence of Victor Oladipo.
Trail Blazers vs Spurs Projected Starting Lineups
Damian Lillard | PG | Derrick White |
CJ McCollum | SG | Dejounte Murray |
Norman Powell | SF | DeMar DeRozan |
Robert Covington | PF | Keldon Johnson |
Jusuf Nurkic | C | Jakob Poeltl |
Portland is at full strength for a matchup with the Spurs as both teams look to end their poor runs. San Antonio is without Trey Lyles and Gorgui Dieng, but they’ve been out for a few weeks.
Knicks vs Mavericks Projected Starting Lineups
Elfrid Payton | PG | Luka Doncic |
RJ Barrett | SG | Josh Richardson |
Reggie Bullock | SF | Dorian Finney-Smith |
Julius Randle | PF | Maxi Kleber |
Taj Gibson | C | Kristaps Porzingis |
The red-hot Knicks will be at close to full strength on Friday against the Mavs. Nerlens Noel is questionable with ankle soreness but if he does end up playing, he’ll start at center over Taj Gibson. Mitchell Robinson is still out for the distant future with a hand injury. Dallas meanwhile is healthy as can be for this contest.