NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (March 21): Ben Simmons, Mitchell Robinson Questionable Sunday

Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers.

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

The Philadelphia 76ers are monitoring Ben Simmons ahead of their road game against the New York Knicks Sunday night. Simmons didn’t play in their game Saturday because of a sore knee after being listed as probable leading up to tip-off.

Blake Griffin is expected to make his debut with the Brooklyn Nets Sunday. He is considered probable and it’s very likely that he will be eased into game action initially given his extended layoff.

Lonzo Ball has been added to the injury report for Sunday’s game and is considered questionable with a strained hip flexor.

The Knicks are hoping to get Mitchell Robinson back in their lineup Sunday. He’s listed as questionable after being sidelined for the past five weeks due to a fractured right hand and subsequent surgery to repair it.

Nerlens Noel had moved into the starting lineup, and Taj Gibson has served as the backup center. If Robinson is cleared to play, Gibson could be removed from the rotation or serve in a diminished role. The Knicks could also see Immanuel Quickley and Elfrid Payton back in the rotation — both are questionable to play after missing games.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Houston Rockets with a sore shoulder. Al Horford has also been ruled out due to rest.

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

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Projected Starting Lineups

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat (1 p.m. ET)

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Caris LeVert
SF – Justin Holiday
PF – Domantas Sabonis
C – Myles Turner

Injury news: Nothing new

Heat Projected Lineup

PG – Kendrick Nunn
SG – Jimmy Butler
SF – Duncan Robinson
PF – Kelly Olynyk
C – Bam Adebayo

Injury news: Andre Iguodala (hip) is probable, Goran Dragic (back) and Avery Bradley (calf) are out


Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets (2 p.m. ET)

Thunder Projected Lineup

PG – Theo Maledon
SG – Lu Dort
SF – Aleksej Pokusevski
PF – Isaiah Roby
C – Moses Brown

Injury news: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (shoulder) and Al Horford (rest) are out

Rockets Projected Lineup

PG – John Wall
SG – Victor Oladipo
SF – Danuel House
PF – Jae’Sean Tate
C – Christian Wood

Injury news: DJ Augustin (illness) Kevin Porter Jr. (quad) and David Nwaba (wrist) are out


New Orleans Pelicans vs. Denver Nuggets (3 p.m. ET)

Pelicans Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Lonzo Ball (Hip) is questionable

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Jamal Murray
SG – Will Barton
SF – Michael Porter Jr.
PF – Paul Millsap
C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: Monte Morris (quad) is out


Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics (3:30 p.m. ET)

Magic Projected Lineup

PPG – Michael Carter-Williams
SG – Evan Fournier
SF – Aaron Gordon
PF – Al-Farouq Aminu
C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury news: Michael Carter-Williams (Illness) and James Ennis (calf) are questionable, Terrence Ross (knee) is out

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Kemba Walker
SG – Marcus Smart
SF – Jaylen Brown
PF – Jayson Tatum
C – Daniel Theis

Injury news: Tristan Thompson (health protocols) is out


Washington Wizards vs. Brooklyn Nets (7 p.m. ET)

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Garrison Mathews
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Alex Len

Injury news: Nothing new

Nets Projected Lineup

PG – James Harden
SG – Kyrie Irving
SF – Joe Harris
PF – Jeff Green
C – DeAndre Jordan

Injury news: Jeff Green (Shoulder) and Blake Griffin (injury management) are probable


Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET)

Raptors Projected Lineup

PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Fred VanVleet
SF – Norman Powell
PF – OG Anunoby
C – Pascal Siakam

Injury news: Nothing new

Cavaliers Projected Lineup

PG – Darius Garland
SG – Collin Sexton
SF – Isaac Okoro
PF – Larry Nance Jr.
C – Jarrett Allen

Injury news: JaVale McGee (illness) and Matthew Dellavedova (abdominal) are questionable, Taurean Prince (shoulder) and Kevin Love (calf) are out


Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET)

Bulls Projected Lineup

PG – Tomas Satoransky
SG – Zach LaVine
SF – Patrick Williams
PF – Thaddeus Young
C – Lauri Markkanen

Injury news: Nothing new

Pistons Projected Lineup

PG – Delon Wright
SG – Frank Jackson
SF – Saddiq Bey
PF – Jerami Grant
C – Mason Plumlee

Injury news: Wayne Ellington (adductor), Rodney McGruder (elbow), and Hamidou Diallo (groin) are out


Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks (8 p.m. ET)

76ers Projected Lineup

PG – Ben Simmons
SG – Danny Green
SF – Matisse Thybulle
PF – Tobias Harris
C – Tony Bradley

Injury news: Ben Simmons (Knee) is questionable

Knicks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Elfrid Payton (hamstring), Immanuel Quickley (ankle), and Mitchell Robinson (hand) are questionable; Derrick Rose and Austin Rivers are unavailable due to the health and safety protocols


Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET)

Lakers Projected Lineup

PG – Dennis Schroder
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF – Kyle Kuzma
PF – Markieff Morris
C – Damian Jones

Injury news: LeBron James is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain

Suns Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Cam Johnson (health protocols) has been removed from the injury report


Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET)

Mavericks Projected Lineup

PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Josh Richardson
SF – Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF – Maxi Kleber
C – Kristaps Porzingis

Injury news: James Johnson, (health protocols) and Willie Cauley-Stein (health protocols) are out, Dorian Finney-Smith (personal) is no longer on the injury report

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

PG – Damian Lillard
SG – CJ McCollum
SF – Derrick Jones Jr.
PF – Robert Covington
C – Enes Kanter

Injury news: Nothing new


Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 11:30 a.m. ET, Justin Phan sees betting value in one Sunday game: Magic vs. Celtics. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.

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