NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (Jan. 17): Kemba Walker Expected to Return for Celtics Sunday

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.

Sunday's NBA Injury News

Kemba Walker has been cleared to make his season debut on Sunday after undergoing left knee stem cell injection three months prior. Per our NBA Insiders injury dashboard, Walker will likely have his minutes limited as he returns from surgery and rehab, but his availability should offer stability to the rotation.

Los Angeles Clippers sixth man, Lou Williams, is questionable ahead of Sunday's game. He missed their previous game due to left hip discomfort.

The Dallas Mavericks will continue to be without Josh Richardson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell, and Maxi Kleber for Sunday's game due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Jalen Brunson is questionable to suit up due to health and safety protocols and Tim Hardaway Jr. is questionable with a neck injury.

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

Sunday's Projected Starting Lineups

Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards (PPD)

This game was postponed due to ongoing COVID-19 contact tracing.

New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (1 p.m. ET)

Knicks Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Mitchell Robinson (heel) and  Nerlens Noel (back) are probable, Alec Burks is out.

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Kemba Walker
SG – Marcu Smart
SF – Jaylen Brown
PF – Grant Williams
C – Tristan Thompson

Injury news: Tacko Fall (ankle) and Carsen Edwards (health protocols) are out.

Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks (3 p.m. ET)

Bulls Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Otto Porter (back) and Garrett Temple (ankle) are probable.

Mavericks Projected Lineup

PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Wes Iwundu
SF – Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF – Kristaps Porzingis
C – Willy Cauley-Stein

Injury news: Tim Hardaway Jr. (neck) and Jalen Brunson (health protocols) are questionable, Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) is probable, Josh Richardson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell, and Maxi Kleber are out.

Philadelphia 76ers at Oklahoma City Thunder (7 p.m. ET)

76ers Projected Lineup

PG – Ben Simmons
SG – Tyrese Maxey
SF – Danny Green
PF – Tobia Harris
C – Dwight Howard

Injury news: Ben Simmons (knee) is active.

Thunder Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Al Horford (personal) is out.

Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets (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: Derrick Favors (knee) is probable, Joe Ingles (Achilles) is out.

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Jamal Murray
SG – Gary Harris
SF – Will Barton
PF – Paul Millsap
C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: Gary Harris (personal) is active after missing two games.

New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings (9 p.m. ET)

Pelicans Projected Lineup

PG – Eric Bledsoe
SG – Josh Hart
SF – Brandon Ingram
PF – Zion Williamson
C – Steven Adams

Injury news: Lonzo Ball (knee) is out.

Kings Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Marvin Bagley (wrist) and Hassan Whiteside are questionable.

Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Clippers (10 p.m. ET)

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Edmond Sumner
SF – Justin Holiday
PF – Domantas Sabonis
C – Myles Turner

Injury news: Caris LeVert is out indefinitely after a physical revealed a mass on his kidney.

Clippers Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Lou Williams (hip) is questionable

Phan’s Bet to Watch

As of 11 a.m. ET, Justin Phan isn't sees betting value in any Saturday games. To get instant alerts when he sees an edge and his analysis on those picks, sign up for Action Labs.