Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Wednesday's NBA slate, along with notable injury news for each squad. For real-time injury updates, check out our FantasyLabs NBA news page.
NBA Injury News
7 p.m. ET Update: The Memphis Grizzlies have ruled out Ja Morant in Game 2 of the Lakers vs Grizzlies series due to a sore right hand.
The key news off the day surrounds the former two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and one of the league's most exciting and unstoppable guards Ja Morant.
Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable as of the time of this writing with back soreness after a hard fall in Game 1 of the Heat vs. Bucks series. He did not practice with the Bucks, but is questionable tag is good news considering he was listed as doubtful earlier in the day.
Morant appears to be the more worrisome case of the two. Morant, who was already nursing a hand injury, landed awkwardly on his right hand in Sunday's Game 1 loss and could not return to the game. He was seen shooting left handed at Grizzlies practice, with his right hand heavily wrapped in ice and is officially listed as questionable.
Ja Morant’s right hand is now wrapped. https://t.co/Bhejrzgzw7pic.twitter.com/ZRMzjaiziR
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) April 18, 2023
In Wednesday's late game, both centers Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic are listed as questionable to suit up for Game 2. Gobert has been dealing with back issues since the end of the regular season and that's the reason he's on the injury report here. Jokic is on the injury report for a sore wrist, though the indication is that he should be available by tip-off.
Projected Starting Lineups
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 p.m. ET)
Lakers Projected Lineup
PG – D'Angelo Russell
SG – Austin Reaves
SF – LeBron James
PF – Jarred Vanderbilt
C – Anthony Davis
Injury news: Anthony Davis (foot), LeBron James (foot) and Dennis Schroder (Achilles) are probable
Grizzlies Projected Lineup
PG – Tyus Jones
SG – Desmond Bane
SF – Dillon Brooks
PF – Jaren Jackson Jr.
C – Xavier Tillman
Injury news: Ja Morant (hand) is questionable; Steven Adams (knee), Brandon Clarke (Achilles) and Jake LaRavia (calf) are Out
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks (9 p.m. ET)
Heat Projected Lineup
PG – Gabe Vincent
SG – Max Strus
SF – Caleb Martin
PF – Jimmy Butler
C – Bam Adebayo
Injury news: Kyle Lowry (knee) is questionable; Tyler Herro (hand) and Nikola Jovic (back) are out
Bucks Projected Lineup
PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
C – Brook Lopez
Injury news: Wesley Matthews (calf) is out, Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) is questionable
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets (10 p.m. ET)
Timberwolves Projected Lineup
PG – Mike Conley
SG – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SF – Anthony Edwards
PF – Karl-Anthony Towns
C – Rudy Gobert
Injury news: Jaylen Nowell (knee) and Rudy Gobert (back) are questionable; Naz Reid (wrist) and Jaden McDaniels (hand) are out
Nuggets Projected Lineup
PG – Jamal Murray
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF – Michael Porter Jr.
PF – Aaron Gordon
C – Nikola Jokic
Injury news: Nikola Jokic (wrist) is questionable
