May 18th NBA Injury Report & Projected Starting Lineups for Wizards vs Celtics, Pacers vs Hornets

By Robert Duff in NBA Basketball
Published:

- The NBA postseason gets underway Tuesday, May 18th with the the first games in the Eastern Conference play-in round
- Tuesday’s slate of games features the #8 seeded Washington Wizards at the #7 Boston Celtics and the #9 Indiana Pacers playing host to the #10 Charlotte HornetsÂ
- Read below for projected lineups and the latest injury news for the NBA schedule on May 18th
Postseason play begins in the NBA on Tuesday with the initial Eastern Conference play-in games and starting lineups as well as the latest injury news are available right here.
The #7 Boston Celtics will be without shooting guard Jaylen Brown as they play host to the #8 Washington Wizards. Three starters — center Myles Turner, power forward Domantas Sabonis and point guard Malcolm Brogdon — could all be out for the #9 Indiana Pacers as they face the #10 Charlotte Hornets.
NBA Injury News – May 18th
- [12:15pm EST] According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Caris LeVert will now miss the game vs Charlotte for Indiana due to health and safety protocols
- [9am EST]: Celtics SF Jaylen Brown (wrist) underwent successful surgery Thursday and is expected to return to basketball activities in about three months, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports
- [9am EST]: Wizards PG Raul Neto (hamstring) is probable for Tuesday’s play-in game against the Celtics
- [9am EST]: Pacers PG Malcom Brogdon (hamstring) is questionable and a game-time decision for Tuesday’s play-in game against the Hornets
- [9am EST]: Hornets SF Cody Martin (ankle) is ruled out for Tuesday’s match against the Pacers in the play-in tournament, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer reports
May 18th NBA Projected Starting Lineups
Hornets vs Pacers Projected Lineups
LaMelo Ball | PG | Malcolm Brogdon |
Terry Rozier | SG | TJ McConnell |
Jalen McDaniels | SF | Edmond Sumner |
Miles Bridges | PF | Doug McDermott |
PJ Washington | C | Domantas Sabonis |
Injury-riddled Indiana is struggling to cobble together a lineup for Tuesday’s game. Already without small forward TJ Warren, who is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his left foot, three more Pacers starters are uncertain or unavailable to face the Hornets.
Pacers center Myles Turner is definitely out. Turner has no timetable to return from a right toe sprain, J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star reports. Point guard Brogdon (hamstring) and power forward Sabonis (bruised left quadriceps) will both be game-time decisions and are listed as questionable.
Point guard Edmond Sumner (knee), expected to start at small forward in the injury-depleted lineup, and point guard Aaron Holiday (toe) are also questionable. Sumner has missed the past four games. Shooting guard Jeremy Lamb (knee) is out.
Caris LeVert was a late breaking add to the injury report, and he is out due to safety protocols.
Hornets small forward Cody Martin (ankle) has been ruled out for Tuesday’s game. He’s missed the past eight games. Small forward Gordon Hayward (foot) is also out. Hayward could be available for first-round playoff action if the Hornets advance beyond the play-in round.
Wizards vs Celtics Projected Lineups
Russell Westbrook | PG | Kemba Walker |
Raul Neto | SG | Marcus Smart |
Bradley Beal | SF | Evan Fournier |
Rui Hachimura | PF | Jayson Tatum |
Alex Len | C | Robert Williams III |
Wizards point guard Raul Neto (hamstring) is listed as probable for Tuesday’s game, but will be a game-time decision. Washington coach Scott Brooks is of the belief that the outlook for Neto is improving and that he’s trending toward playing.
Washington small forward Deni Avdija (right fibular hairline fracture), a starter for 32 games this season, is out. Center Thomas Bryant is also out. He’s recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.
Celtics center Robert Williams III (toe) is listed as probable and will be a game-time decision. Shooting guard Marcus Smart (calf) and center Tristan Thompson (pectoral strain) returned to practice Monday and Celtics coach Brad Stevens indicated that he expected both to play. Point guard Kemba Walker (neck), out the past week, is also good to go.
Following his surgery, shooting guard Brown (torn wrist ligament) is out for the season.

Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.