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April 16th NBA Injury Report and Projected Lineups

Quinn Allen

by Quinn Allen in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 16, 2021 · 6:26 AM PDT

Kawhi Leonard is questionable for a marquee matchup with the Sixers on Friday. (Photo by PI/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire)
  • 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

Pacers
VS
Jazz
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

Thunder
VS
Pistons
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

Pelicans
VS
Wizards
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

Clippers
VS
76ers
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

Magic
VS
Raptors
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

Hornets
VS
Nets
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

Nuggets
VS
Rockets
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

Grizzlies
VS
Bulls
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

Heat
VS
Timberwolves
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

Blazers
VS
Spurs
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

Knicks
VS
Mavericks
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.

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