NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Jan. 8): Westbrook Day-to-Day With Finger Injury, Kyrie Irving Unlikely to Play Friday

Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards.

Below are the projected starting lineups for each team playing on Friday’s NBA slate, along with notable injury news for each squad. For real-time updates to these lineups, check out our NBA Insiders lineups page.

Friday’s NBA Injury News

The news to watch for Friday involves one team that isn’t playing (the Philadelphia 76ers) and one team that is expected to play as of this morning (the Brooklyn Nets).

Sixers guard Seth Curry tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday night and was on the sideline for a portion of the first quarter before leaving the arena once he became aware of his test results. Curry didn’t play, but sat near Joel Embiid.

So far there’s been no word on whether any Sixers players who were active for Thursday’s game or staff have also tested positive. But the contact tracing could potentially impact the Nets who play in Memphis Friday.

Kyrie Irving was a late scratch from that game as well citing personal reasons and is doubtful to play agains the Grizzlies.

Russell Westbrook is questionable to play agains the Boston Celtics after suffering a finger injury in the Washington Wizards’ last game.

Per our NBA Insiders tool:

Coach Brooks said Westbrook’s finger is still sore from the dislocation and it’s unclear if he’ll play on Friday. Westbrook was held out of practice on Thursday and is considered day-to-day. He suffered the dislocation late in Wednesday’s loss, and if he has to miss time, Raul Neto will move back into the starting lineup in his place with Ish Smith backing him up.

Be sure to check the Action Labs NBA page for real time updates.

Friday’s Projected Starting Lineups

Phoenix Suns at Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET)

Suns Projected Lineup

PG – Chris Paul
SG – Devin Booker
SF – Mikal Bridges
PF – Jae Crowder
C – Deandre Ayton

Injury news: Nothing

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Delon Wright
SG – Josh Jackson
SF – Jerami Grant
PF – Blake Griffin
C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: Josh Jackson (ankle) and Derrick Rose (knee) are probable.


Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET)

Thunder Projected Lineup

PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG – George Hill
SF – Lu Dort
PF – Darius Bazley
C – Al Horford

Injury news: Aleksej Pokusevski (concussion) is out.

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – Elfrid Payton
SG – RJ Barrett
SF – Reggie Bullock
PF – Julius Randle
C – Mitchell Robinson

Injury news: Alec Burks (ankle) and Frank Ntilikina (knee) remain out, Reggie Bullock (knee) and Kevin Knox (knee) are probable, and Nerlens Noel (ankle, knee) is questionable


Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans (7:30 p.m. ET)

Hornets Projected Lineup

PG – Devonte’ Graham
SG – Terry Rozier
SF – Gordon Hayward
PF – PJ Washington
C – Bismack Biyombo
Injury news: Nothing new

Pelicans Projected Lineup

PG – Lonzo Ball
SG – Eric Bledsoe
SF – Brandon Ingram
PF – Zion Williamson
C – Steven Adams

Injury news: Nothing new


Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET)

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Deni Avdija
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Thomas Bryant

Injury news: Russell Westbrook is questionable

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Jaylen Brown
SF – Jayson Tatum
PF – Daniel Theis
C – Tristan Thompson

Injury news: Tristan Thompson, Robert Williams, Grant Williams, and Carsen Edwards are questionable due to health and safety protocols, Jeff Teague (ankle) is questionable as well.


Utah Jazz at Milwaukee Bucks (8 p.m. ET)

Jazz Projected Lineup

PG – Mike Conley
SG – Donovan Mitchell
SF – Bojan Bogdanovic
PF – Royce O’Neale
C – Rudy Gobert

Injury news: Joe Ingles (Achilles) is questionable, Derrick Favors (knee) is probable.

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Donte DiVincenzo
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
C – Brook Lopez

Injury news: Pat Connaughton (ankle) is out.


Orlando Magic at Houston Rockets (8 p.m. ET)

Magic Projected Lineup

PG – Cole Anthony
SG – Evan Fournier
SF – Dwayne Bacon
PF – Aaron Gordon
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: Evan Fournier (back) is questionable, Markelle Fultz (ACL) and Michael Carter-Williams (foot) are out.

Rockets Projected Lineup

PG – John Wall
SG – James Harden
SF – David Nwaba
PF – PJ Tucker
C – Christian Wood

Injury news: Christian Wood (knee) is questionable, Danuel House (back) is out.


Brooklyn Nets at Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET)

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – Caris LeVert
SG – Bruce Brown
SF – Taurean Prince
PF – Jeff Green
C – Jarrett Allen

Injury news: Kyrie Irving will miss Friday’s game for personal reasons.

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Tyus Jones
SG – Dillon Brooks
SF – Kyle Anderson
PF – Brandon Clarke
C – Jonas Valanciunas

Injury news: Nothing new


Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET)

Bulls Projected Lineup

PG – Coby White
SG – Zach LaVine
SF – Otto Porter
PF – Patrick Williams
C – Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury news: Nothing new

Lakers Projected Lineup

PG – Dennis Schroder
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF – LeBron James
PF – Anthony Davis
C – Marc Gasol

Injury news: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) is questionable


Toronto Raptors at Phoenix Suns (9 p.m. ET)

Raptors Projected Lineup

PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Fred VanVleet
SF – OG Anunoby
PF – Pascal Siakam
C – Aron Baynes

Injury news: Nothing new

Kings Projected Lineup

PG – De’Aaron Fox
SG – Buddy Hield
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Marvin Bagley
C – Richaun Holmes

Injury news: De’Aaron Fox (hamstring) is questionable.


Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET)

Clippers Projected Lineup

PG – Patrick Beverley
SG – Paul George
SF – Kawhi Leonard
PF – Nicolas Batum
C – Serge Ibaka

Injury news: Nothing new

Warriors Projected Lineup

PG – Stephen Curry
SG – Kelly Oubre
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Draymond Green
C – James Wiseman

Injury news: Stephen Curry (ankle) is probable


Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 9:30 a.m. ET, Justin Phan isn’t seeing betting value in any of Friday’s matchups. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.

Leave a Reply