NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (May 16): Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons Out, LeBron James Questionable Sunday
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images. Pictured: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Sunday's NBA slate, along with notable injury news for each squad. For real-time updates to these lineups, check out our Action Labs NBA lineups page.
NBA Injury News
5:30 p.m. ET Update: Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers said the 76ers will be without Matisse Thybulle, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Danny Green, and Seth Curry for the regular-season finale Sunday. Furkan Korkmaz (ankle) was upgraded to available, and Shake Milton (knee) remains probable.
The Atlanta Hawks will be without Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, Kevin Huerter, Danilo Gallinari, Kris Dunn, and Brandon Goodwin during Sunday.
2 p.m. ET Update: Jimmy Butler remains out and will miss his second straight game due to a tight lower back. Goran Dragic has been added to the injury report and is questionable on Sunday in the second leg of the back-to-back due to rest purposes. With Butler out on Saturday, Nemanja Bjelica entered the starting lineup.
The Los Angeles Lakers once again are listing nearly half the team on the injury report for Sunday's regular season finale. Most notably, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. There is no word on any minutes limits as the Lakers could move up to the six seed in the West.
The Philadelphia 76ers have seven players listed on the injury report ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale. Notably, Joel Embiid is probable with an illness, while Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Danny Green, Seth Curry, and Matisse Thybulle are questionable.
Simmons is nursing a back injury, Thybulle has a hand injury and the others are questionable with injury management. Even if Embiid does play, it seems unlikely he'd see his usual workload.
1 p.m. ET Update: Bradley Beal will return to the lineup for the regular-season finale on Sunday after missing the previous three games with a strained left hamstring, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Devin Booker is resting along with Chris Paul, and head coach Monty Williams said Mikal Bridges will play limited minutes.
Domantas Sabonis will return on Sunday after missing the prior game due to a bruised left quad. Malcolm Brogdon has been ruled out.
Bradley Beal has been upgraded to questionable in advance of Sunday's contest after missing the past three games with a strained hamstring. Sunday's season finale against the Hornets has big playoff implications as the winner will get the No. 8 seed. There's been no word yet on whether Beal will be limited if he's cleared to play.
Jimmy Butler, who sat out for the Miami Heat on Saturday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, is questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons.
The Boston Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, Robert Williams, Marcus Smart, and Tristan Thompson for the regular-season finale on Sunday as the Celtics are locked into the seventh seed. Expect expanded roles for Peyton Pritchard, Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, Jabari Parker, Tremont Waters, and the rest of the available Celtics.
Indiana Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren said Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, and Aaron Holiday are game-time decisions for the regular-season finale on Sunday. Edmond Sumner and Jeremy Lamb will remain sidelined. Sabonis missed the previous game due to a bruised quad and Brogdon has missed the previous nine games with a sore hamstring.
Deandre Ayton and Cam Johnson are out for Sunday's regular-season finale. Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams talked about the possibility of resting players in the finale, so it's possible that more players are added to the injury report beyond just Ayton and Johnson.
Be sure to check the Action Labs NBA page for real-time updates.
Projected Starting Lineups
Indiana Pacers vs. Toronto Raptors (1 p.m. ET)
Pacers Projected Lineup
PG – Caris LeVert
SG – Justin Holiday
SF – Doug McDermott
PF – Oshae Brissett
C – Domantas Sabonis
Injury news: Domantas Sabonis (Quad) has been cleared to play; Edmond Sumner (Knee), Aaron Holiday (Toe) Jeremy Lamb (Knee) and Malcolm Brogdon (Hamstring) are out
Raptors Projected Lineup
PG – Malachi Flynn
SG – DeAndre Bembry
SF – Stanley Johnson
PF – Freddie Gillespie
C – Khem Birch
Injury news: Kyle Lowry (Rest), Pascal Siakam (Shoulder), Fred VanVleet (Rest), OG Anunoby (Rest), and Yuta Watanabe (Ankle) are out
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks (1 p.m. ET)
Celtics Projected Lineup
PG – Payton Pritchard
SG – Romeo Langford
SF – Aaron Nesmith
PF – Semi Ojeleye
C – Luke Kornet
Injury news: Tristan Thompson (Chest), Kemba Walker (Neck), Evan Fournier (Knee), Marcus Smart (Calf), Jayson Tatum (Ankle), and Robert Williams (Toe) are out
Knicks Projected Lineup
PG – Elfrid Payton
SG – RJ Barrett
SF – Reggie Bullock
PF – Julius Randle
C – Nerlens Noel
Injury news: Nothing new
Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards (1 p.m. ET)
Hornets Projected Lineup
PG – LaMelo Ball
SG – Terry Rozier
SF – Jalen McDaniels
PF – PJ Washington
C – Cody Zeller
Injury news: Cody Martin (Ankle) is out
Wizards Projected Lineup
PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Davis Bertans
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Alex Len
Injury news: Bradley Beal (Hamstring) is active; Raul Neto (Hamstring) is questionable
Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs (2 p.m. ET)
Suns Projected Lineup
PG – Cameron Payne
SG – Mikal Bridges
SF – Torrey Craig
PF – Jae Crowder
C – Dario Saric
Injury news: Chris Paul (Rest), Devin Booker (Rest), Abdel Nader (Knee), Cam Johnson (Wrist), and Deandre Ayton (Knee) is out
Spurs Projected Lineup
PG – Dejounte Murray
SG – Lonnie Walker
SF – DeMar DeRozan
PF – Keldon Johnson
C – Jakob Poeltl
Injury news: Trey Lyles (Ankle) and Patty Mills (Rest) are out
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors (3:30 p.m. ET)
Grizzlies Projected Lineup
PG – Ja Morant
SG – Dillon Brooks
SF – Kyle Anderson
PF – Jaren Jackson Jr.
C – Jonas Valanciunas
Injury news: Sean McDermott (Foot) is out
Warriors Projected Lineup
PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Kent Bazemore
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – Kevon Looney
Injury news: Damion Lee (Conditioning) is out
Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET)
Magic Projected Lineup
PG – Cole Anthony
SG – Gary Harris
SF – Dwayne Bacon
PF – Moe Wagner
C – Wendell Carter Jr.
Injury news: Wendell Carter Jr. (Eye) and RJ Hampton (Ankle) are doubtful
76ers Projected Lineup
PG – George Hill
SG – Shake Milton
SF – Furkan Korkmaz
PF – Mike Scott
C – Dwight Howard
Injury news: Shake Milton (Knee) is probable; Danny Green (Hip), Tobias Harris (Knee), Seth Curry (Hip), Joel Embiid (Illness), Ben Simmons (Back), and Matisse Thybulle (Hand) are out
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets (7 p.m. ET)
Cavaliers Projected Lineup
PG – Darius Garland
SG – Collin Sexton
SF – Isaac Okoro
PF – Dean Wade
C – Jarrett Allen
Injury news: Kevin Love (Rest) and Isaiah Hartenstein (Concussion) are out
Nets Projected Lineup
PG – James Harden
SG – Kyrie Irving
SF – Bruce Brown
PF – Kevin Durant
C – Blake Griffin
Injury news: Nothing new
Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks (7 p.m. ET)
Rockets Projected Lineup
PG – DJ Augustin
SG – Armoni Brooks
SF – Jae'Sean Tate
PF – Kenyon Martin Jr.
C – Kelly Olynyk
Injury news: Avery Bradley (Personal), Christian Wood (Ankle), Danuel House (Ankle), Khyri Thomas (Achilles), and Kevin Porter Jr. (Ankle) are out
Hawks Projected Lineup
PG – Trae Young
SG – Solomon Hill
SF – Tony Snell
PF – John Collins
C – Onyeka Okongwu
Injury news:
Trae Young (Toe) and Tony Snell (Achilles) are probable; Clint Capela (Achilles), Kris Dunn (Ankle), Bogdan Bogdanovic (Hamstring), Kevin Huerter (Ankle), Danilo Gallinari (Back), and Brandon Goodwin (Illness) are out
Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons (8 p.m. ET)
Heat Projected Lineup
PG – Kendrick Nunn
SG – Duncan Robinson
SF – Trevor Ariza
PF – Nemanja Bjelica
C – Bam Adebayo
Injury news: Goran Dragic (Rest) is questionable; Jimmy Butler (Back) is out
Pistons Projected Lineup
PG – Killian Hayes
SG – Hamidou Diallo
SF – Josh Jackson
PF – Saddiq Bey
C – Mason Plumlee
Injury news: Cory Joseph (Ankle) is questionable; Deividas Sirvydis (Tibia), and Frank Jackson (Ankle) are doubtful; Sekou Doumbouya (Personal), Isaiah Stewart (Personal), Rodney McGruder (Elbow), Jerami Grant (Knee), and Wayne Ellington (Calf) are out
Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers (9 p.m. ET)
Nuggets Projected Lineup
PG – Facundo Campazzo
SG – Austin Rivers
SF – Aaron Gordon
PF – Michael Porter Jr.
C – Nikola Jokic
Injury news: Nothing new
Trail Blazers Projected Lineup
PG – Damian Lillard
SG – CJ McCollum
SF – Norman Powell
PF – Robert Covington
C – Jusuf Nurkic
Injury news: Nothing new
Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans (9 p.m. ET)
Lakers Projected Lineup
PG – Dennis Schroder
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF – LeBron James
PF – Anthony Davis
C – Andre Drummond
Injury news: Anthony Davis (Adductor), and LeBron James (Ankle) are questionable; Alex Caruso (Foot), Alfonzo McKinnie (Ankle), Kyle Kuzma (Back), Jared Dudley (Knee), and Marc Gasol (Finger) are probable
Pelicans Projected Lineup
PG – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SG – Eric Bledsoe
SF – Naji Marshall
PF – Wenyen Gabriel
C – Willy Hernangomez
Injury news: Wes Iwundu (Shoulder), and James Johnson (Knee) are questionable; Steven Adams (Toe), Brandon Ingram (Ankle), and Lonzo Ball (Thumb) are out
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls (9 p.m. ET)
Bucks Projected Lineup
PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Donte DiVincenzo
SF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF – PJ Tucker
C – Brook Lopez
Injury news: Axel Toupane (Oblique) is out; Khris Middleton (ankle) is out
Bulls Projected Lineup
PG – Coby White
SG – Garrett Temple
SF – Patrick Williams
PF – Thaddeus Young
C – Lauri Markkanen
Injury news: Zach LaVine (knee), Nikola Vucevic (rest), Daniel Theis (hip), Tomas Satoransky (ankle), and Troy Brown Jr. (ankle) are out
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (9 p.m. ET)
Clippers Projected Lineup
PG – Patrick Beverley
SG – Paul George
SF – Kawhi Leonard
PF – Marcus Morris
C – Ivica Zubac
Injury news: Terance Mann (Personal), and DeMarcus Cousins (Foot) are questionable; Amir Coffey (COVID Protocols) is out
Thunder Projected Lineup
PG – Theo Maledon
SG – Aleksej Pokusevski
SF – Darius Bazley
PF – Isaiah Roby
C – Moses Brown
Injury news: Ty Jerome (Calf) is questionable; Lu Dort (Knee) is out
Utah Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings (9 p.m. ET)
Jazz Projected Lineup
PG – Mike Conley
SG – Joe Ingles
SF – Bojan Bogdanovic
PF – Royce O'Neale
C – Rudy Gobert
Injury news: Nothing new
Kings Projected Lineup
PG – Delon Wright
SG – Buddy Hield
SF – Louis King
PF – Chimezie Metu
C – Damian Jones
Injury news: Hassan Whiteside (Back) is questionable; Richaun Holmes (Knee), De'Aaron Fox (COVID Protocols), Justin James (Ankle), and Marvin Bagley (Groin) are out
Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (9 p.m. ET)
Mavericks Projected Lineup
PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Tim Hardaway Jr.
SF – Dorian Finney-Smith
PF – Kristaps Porzingis
C – Dwight Powell
Injury news: Maxi Kleber (Achilles) is doubtful
Timberwolves Projected Lineup
PG – Ricky Rubio
SG – D'Angelo Russell
SF – Anthony Edwards
PF – Jaden McDaniels
C – Karl-Anthony Towns
Injury news: Nothing new
Phan’s Bet to Watch
As of 12 p.m. ET, Justin Phan sees betting value in multiple games, including Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.
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