April 29th NBA Injury Report and Projected Starting Lineups – News on Antetokounmpo, Irving, Porzingis & More

• Six NBA games are on Thursday’s schedule 
• Kristaps Porzingis is one of many stars featuring on NBA injury reports ahead of Thursday’s games
• Read below for the latest NBA injury news and projected lineups

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Thursday is a relatively quiet night by the NBA’s chaotic standards in 2020-21. Still, though, this is a day which will impact the play-in picture in both conferences.

Steph Curry leads the Golden State Warriors against the vastly improved Minnesota Timberwolves. MVP favorite Nikola Jokic takes the Denver Nuggets into a matchup with the Raptors following a Wednesday night win over the Pelicans.

Those Pels are looking to bounce back from that loss when they face the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder.

Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks continue their push for a top two seed against Houston, who own the worst record in the Association. Still without James Harden, the Brooklyn Nets face a depleted Indiana Pacers club, and the injury-hit Dallas Mavericks matchup with the 19-43 Detroit Pistons.

NBA Injury News – April 29th

• [1:30pm EST] Fred VanVleet will be out for Toronto in Denver due to “injury recovery”
• [1:00pm EST, April 29] Kyrie Irving is officially out for Brooklyn in Indy tonight due to right groin soreness
• [8pm EST, April 28th] Kristaps Porzingis and Josh Richardson are listed as questionable for the Mavericks’ game with Detroit
• [9pm EST, April 28th] Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) are probable for the Bucks against Houston
• Brooklyn remains without James Harden, Bruce Brown and Nic Claxton for Thursday’s game
• Indiana is without Domantas Sabonis, T.J. Warren, Myles Turner and Jeremy Lamb

April 29th NBA Projected Starting Lineups

Pacers vs Nets Projected Lineups

Myles Turner remains sidelined with a toe injury. Domantas Sabonis (back) and Jeremy Lamb (knee) are also out for Thursday’s game with the Nets. Backup center Goga Bitadze (ankle) joins them on the injury report, though he’s listed as questionable. T.J. Warren is out for the year.

Kevin Durant is back in the lineup for the Nets. James Harden (hamstring) is sidelined for a while yet, however, and COVID-19 protocols keep Nic Claxton unavailable. Steve Nash hopes to have Bruce Brown back for Friday’s game, but this one comes too soon for the do-it-all former Piston. Alize Johnson (COVID-19 protocols) is questionable.

Pistons vs Mavericks Projected Lineups

Detroit is joining the Oklahoma City tank train. Wayne Ellington, Cory Joseph, Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee are all rested for Thursday’s game. Rodney McGruder and Dennis Smith Jr are out through injuries.

Dallas’ injury report is messier. Tyrell Terry (personal) is a confirmed absentee, but the rest is less certain. Kristaps Porzingis, Josh Richardson, J.J. Redick, Maxi Kleber, and Dorian Finney-Smith are questionable. Luka Doncic is day-to-day. With Detroit resting so many players, it’s unlikely the Mavericks take any fitness risks with their core rotation pieces.

Rockets vs Bucks Projected Lineups

Houston is without John Wall (hamstring), Eric Gordon (groin) and D.J. Augustin (ankle) indefinitely. They join David Nwaba and Dante Exum on the sidelines. Sterling Brown is also out for Thursday’s game, while Danuel House and Avery Bradley are questionable.

Milwaukee has got healthy lately. Reaching the two seed has become possible after consecutive wins over the Sixers. Donte DiVincenzo and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only names on the injury report, but both are probable.

Timberwolves vs Warriors Projected Lineups

Minnesota has waited a long time to get healthy. With three wins in a row, they are enjoying their best run of the season. This is without Malik Beasley, however, who is still recovering from a hamstring issue.

The Warriors have a much more cluttered injury report. Klay Thompson and James Wiseman are out for the year, of course, and they are also without Damion Lee (COVID-19 protocols) and Eric Paschall (hip). Kelly Oubre is listed as doubtful for this one.

Nuggets vs Raptors Projected Lineups

Monte Morris and Will Barton sat out Denver’s Wednesday win over the Pelicans. With Jamal Murray out long-term, Mike Malone has a backcourt crisis. Facundo Campazzo is in line for another start, while recently signed Austin Rivers should get big minutes off the bench.

Toronto is without deadline acquisition Gary Trent Jr (leg) and Chris Boucher (MCL) is unlikely to be available any time soon. Their starting five should be settled, though, with OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam returning to the forward spots since the arrival of Khem Birch.

Thunder vs Pelicans Projected Lineups

Having re-aggravated a niggling toe injury on Wednesday, it’s unlikely Steven Adams is available for this game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Josh Hart are still out. New Orleans could play it safe with Zion Williamson. It’s the second night of a back-to-back against a team not trying to win, but Williamson has already played two back-to-backs this month. There’s a good chance he starts and plays limited minutes.

Al Horford, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Mike Muscala are effectively out for the year as the Thunder prioritize development. Coming off a win over Boston, it’s unclear if they will leave out Luguentz Dort or Darius Bazley.