Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Thursday'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.
Thursday's NBA Injury News
6:30 p.m. ET Update: Tyler Herro will suit up for the Miami Heat Thursday after missing the past seven games with neck spasms. Avery Bradley has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful with a knee contusion.
The Los Angeles Lakers announced LeBron James will play after he was listed as questionable with ankle soreness.
3 p.m. ET Update: The Lakers have officially announced Anthony Davis will sit in the Los Angeles Lakers' road matchup with the Detroit Pistons Thursday. The The Suns announced that Booker, Cameron Payne, Daric Saric, and Damian Jones are out in the second leg of a back-to-back against the Golden State Warriors Thursday.
The Heat also announced Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic will miss Thursday's game. Avery Bradley is also questionable.
1:30 p.m. ET Update: Anthony Davis suffered a right knee contusion on Wednesday in the front end of the back-to-back and is officially listed questionable on Thursday. LeBron James is questionable due to a sprained left ankle and has been on the injury report nearly every game this season despite playing every game.
The NBA schedule for Thursday is short with just four games on the slate and the injury report is short as well with the majority of the focus on one team. The Miami Heat are nearly through with their COVID issues, but have a number of injuries impacting their depth.
Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic were upgraded from out to questionable. Second-year guard Tyler Herro hasn't played since Jan. 14 and is questionable to suit up for the Heat as he continues to recover from a neck injury.
On the other side of that matchup, the Los Angeles Clippers are still without their two best players, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who are both in the league's health and safety protocol.
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to get Rodney Hood back in the lineup after he sat out their last game with a quad injury. However, Robert Covington is out of their Thursday night matchup with the Houston Rockets with a concussion.
Anthony Davis and LeBron James were added to the injury report as questionable. That's not all that uncommon so far this season, but it's notable as the Lakers will be on the second night of a back-to-back.
Be sure to check the Action Labs NBA page for real time updates.
Thursday's Projected Starting Lineups
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m. ET)
Trail Blazers Projected Lineup
PG – Damian Lillard
SG – Gary Trent Jr.
SF – Derrick Jones Jr.
PF – Carmelo Anthony
C – Enes Kanter
Injury news: Derrick Jones Jr. (quad) is probable, Robert Covington (concussion) is out.
Rockets Projected Lineup
PG – John Wall
SG – Victor Oladipo
SF – Jae'Sean Tate
PF – PJ Tucker
C – Christian Wood
Injury news: Christian Wood (ankle) is active.
Los Angeles Lakers at Detroit Pistons (8 p.m. ET)
Lakers Projected Lineup
PG – Dennis Schroder
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF – LeBron James
PF – Kyle Kuzma
C – Marc Gasol
Injury news: LeBron James is questionable. Anthony Davis is out.
Pistons Projected Lineup
PG – Delon Wright
SG – Wayne Ellington
SF – Jerami Grant
PF – Blake Griffin
C – Mason Plumlee
Injury news: Nothing new.
LA Clippers vs. Miami Heat (8 p.m. ET)
Clippers Projected Lineup
PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Luke Kennard
SF – Terance Mann
PF – Nicolas Batum
C – Serge Ibaka
Injury news: Nothing new.
Heat Projected Lineup
PG – Tyler Herro
SG – Duncan Robinson
SF – KZ Okpala
PF – Kelly Olynyk
C – Bam Adebayo
Injury news: Tyler Herro (Neck) is active. Jimmy Butler (health protocols), Goran Dragic (groin), Moe Harkless (thigh), Meyers Leonard (shoulder), and Chris Silva (hip) are out.
Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET)
Warriors Projected Lineup
PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Kelly Oubre
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – James Wiseman
Injury news: Nothing new
Suns Projected Lineup
PG – Chris Paul
SG – Mikal Bridges
SF – Cam Johnson
PF – Jae Crowder
C – Deandre Ayton
Injury news: Dario Saric (health protocols) is out.
Phan’s Bet to Watch
As of 3 p.m. ET, Justin Phan is seeing betting value in one Thursday game: Clippers vs. Heat. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.
