NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (May 3): Joel Embiid On Track to Return, Marcus Smart Questionable

NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (May 3): Joel Embiid On Track to Return, Marcus Smart Questionable article feature image
Credit:

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before a game in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

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

Joel Embiid is expected to make his return to the lineup for the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 against the Boston Celtics Wednesday, according Shams Charania of The Athletic. Embiid has missed 12 days after getting injured in Game 3 of the 76ers-Nets series in Round 1, but has done light work in practice in the interim.

He is still listed as doubtful on the official NBA injury report, so we can expect word on if he'll actually play closer to tip-off. Marcus Smart is the other key player on the injury report after suffering a chest contusion in the Game 1 loss to the 76ers. While he did finish the game, he's questionable to play in Game 2.

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Projected Starting Lineups

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (8 p.m. ET)

76ers Projected Lineup

PG – James Harden
SG – Tyrese Maxey
SF – Tobias Harris
PF – P.J. Tucker
C – Joel Embiid

Injury news: Joel Embiid (knee) is listed as Doubtful, but expects to play

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Derrick White
SF – Jaylen Brown
PF – Jayson Tatum
C – Al Horford

Injury news: Jaylen Brown (facial fracture) is Available; Marcus Smart (chest) is Questionable

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