NBA Injury News & Starting Lineups (May 5): Nikola Jokic Probable, Nerlens Noel Cleared to Play Wednesday

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 updates to these lineups, check out our Action Labs NBA lineups page.

NBA Injury News

8 p.m. ET Update: Nerlens Noel has been upgraded to available after sitting out Monday's game with a sprained ankle.

6:30 p.m. ET Update: Christian Wood and Danuel House have officially been ruled out Wednesday night ahead of their game against the Sixers.

Goga Bitadze has been cleared to play Wednesday after missing the Pacers' previous seven games due to a sprained left ankle. Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb and Edmond Sumner have been ruled out.

Khris Middleton was downgraded to doubtful Wednesday as he nurses a sore right knee on the second leg of a back-to-back. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday are probable.

Romeo Langford has been placed in the concussion protocol and won't be available to play Wednesday.

3 p.m. ET Update: Rui Hachimura has been ruled out Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks with a non-COVID related illness.

Tristan Thompson has been ruled out Wednesday after previously being considered probable due to a strained pectoral. Robert Williams is expected to get the nod at center.

Christian Wood has been added to the injury report and is listed doubtful against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a sore ankle. Bogdan Bogdanovic was removed from the injury report after being considered probable with a sore hamstring.

Jae Crowder will sit out for the eighth straight game Wednesday due to a sprained right ankle. There's no word yet on when he'll return to the Phoenix Suns' lineup.

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens revealed that Jaylen Brown is dealing with a sprained ankle and will miss Wednesday's game, but will be day-to-day moving forward. Tristan Thompson has also been added to the injury report with a strained pectoral and is questionable for Wednesday.

Jayson Tatum, who left their most recent game near the end of the buzzer, practiced in full on Tuesday and should be a full go. Kemba Walker was also a full participant in practice on Tuesday and will return Wednesday after being sidelined due to a strained oblique.

Damian Lillard has been added to the injury report with a left foot contusion and is probable to play on Wednesday. Norman Powell is questionable with knee soreness, and if he is unable to suit up, Derrick Jones Jr. could return to the starting lineup.

Malcolm Brogdon is listed questionable in advance of Wednesday's contest as he continues to deal with a sore hamstring. He's missed the past two games with the injury, and Doug McDermott moved into the starting lineup with Edmond Sumner and Caris LeVert in the backcourt. LeVert has led all Pacers players with a 31% Usage Rate over the past two games in Brogdon's absence.

Bogdan Bogdanovic is considered probable in advance of Wednesday's game against the Phoenix Suns as he continues to deal with a sore hamstring. He missed two games with the injury, but has played in each of the past two without any issue, averaging 33.9 minutes. There shouldn't be any expectation of a minutes limit moving forward as the Hawks continue to lean heavily on him on the wing.

Nerlens Noel is considered questionable ahead of Wednesday's game against the Denver Nuggets after sitting out of Monday's win with a sprained ankle. Taj Gibson got the start in his place and played 33.4 minutes to no one's surprise, as New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau continues to lean heavily on most of his starters. 

On the other side of the matchup, Nikola Jokic is probable after being added to the injury report with a sore toe. This seems like a minor injury that shouldn't cost Jokic time, but his status will be monitored closely leading up to tip off.

PJ Dozier has been ruled out with an adductor injury that will leave the Nuggets extremely shorthanded in the backcourt and will mean extended minutes for Austin Rivers and Shaq Harrison. 

Sacramento Kings rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton will likely miss the rest of the season after sustaining a hyperextended left knee Sunday. His MRI revealed no ligament damage, and Haliburton will avoid surgery, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

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

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Projected Starting Lineups

Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET)

Celtics Projected Lineup

PG – Kemba Walker
SG – Marcus Smart
SF – Evan Fournier
PF – Jayson Tatum
C – Robert Williams

Injury news: Tristan Thompson (Chest), Jaylen Brown (Ankle) is out and Romeo Langford (concussion) are out

Magic Projected Lineup

PG – Cole Anthony
SG – Gary Harris
SF – Dwayne Bacon
PF – Moe Wagner
C – Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury news: Wendell Carter Jr. (eye), Terrence Ross (Back), Otto Porter (Foot) and James Ennis (Calf) are out

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET)

Trail Blazers Projected Lineup

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

Injury news: Damian Lillard (Foot) is Active; Norman Powell (Knee) is out

Cavaliers Projected Lineup

PG – Collin Sexton
SG – Isaac Okoro
SF – Cedi Osman
PF – Kevin Love
C – Jarrett Allen

Injury news:  Isaiah Hartenstein (Concussion) is active; Lamar Stevens (Concussion) is doubtful; Darius Garland (Ankle) is out

Sacramento Kings vs. Indiana Pacers (8 p.m. ET)

Kings Projected Lineup

PG – Delon Wright
SG – Buddy Hield
SF – Maurice Harkless
PF – Marvin Bagley
C – Richaun Holmes

Injury news: Chimezie Metu (Back) is questionable; Harrison Barnes (Adductor) is doubtful; De'Aaron Fox (COVID Protocols) and Tyrese Haliburton (Knee) are out

Pacers Projected Lineup

PG – Caris LeVert
SG – Aaron Holiday
SF – Doug McDermott
PF – Oshae Brissett
C – Domantas Sabonis

Injury news: Jeremy Lamb (Knee), Malcolm Brogdon (Hamstring) and Edmond Sumner (Knee) are out; Goga Bitadze (Ankle) is active

Washington Wizards vs. Milwaukee Bucks (8 p.m. ET)

Wizards Projected Lineup

PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Raul Neto
SF – Bradley Beal
PF – Anthony Gill
C – Alex Len

Injury news: Chandler Hutchison (Ankle) is questionable; Rui Hachimura (illness) is out

Bucks Projected Lineup

PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Donte DiVincenzo
SF – PJ Tucker
PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
C – Brook Lopez

Injury news: Jeff Teague (Abdominal) is active; Khris Middleton (knee) and Axel Toupane (Oblique) are out

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET)

Grizzlies Projected Lineup

PG – Ja Morant
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Dillon Brooks
PF – Kyle Anderson
C – Jonas Valanciunas

Injury news: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Knee) is out

Timberwolves Projected Lineup

PG – D'Angelo Russell
SG – Anthony Edwards
SF – Josh Okogie
PF – Jaden McDaniels
C – Karl-Anthony Towns

Injury news: Nothing new

Phoenix Suns vs. Atlanta Hawks (8 p.m. ET)

Suns Projected Lineup

PG – Chris Paul
SG – Devin Booker
SF – Mikal Bridges
PF – Torrey Craig
C – Deandre Ayton

Injury news: Jae Crowder (Ankle) is out

Hawks Projected Lineup

PG – Trae Young
SG – Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF – Tony Snell
PF – John Collins
C – Clint Capela

Injury news: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Hamstring) is active

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets (8 p.m. ET)

76ers Projected Lineup

PG – Ben Simmons
SG – Seth Curry
SF – Danny Green
PF – Tobias Harris
C – Joel Embiid

Injury news: Furkan Korkmaz (Ankle) is out

Rockets Projected Lineup

PG – Kevin Porter Jr.
SG – Avery Bradley
SF – DaQuan Jeffries
PF – Kenyon Martin Jr.
C – Kelly Olynyk

Injury news: DJ Augustin (Ankle) is active; Danuel House (Ankle), Jae'Sean Tate (COVID Protocols), Christian Wood (ankle) and DJ Wilson (COVID Protocols) are out

New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets (9 p.m. ET)

Knicks Projected Lineup

PG – Elfrid Payton
SG – RJ Barrett
SF – Reggie Bullock
PF – Julius Randle
C – Nerlens Noel

Injury news: Nerlens Noel (Ankle) and Norvel Pelle (Ankle) are active

Nuggets Projected Lineup

PG – Facundo Campazzo
SG – Austin Rivers
SF – Aaron Gordon
PF – Michael Porter Jr.
C – Nikola Jokic

Injury news: Nikola Jokic (Toe) and Zeke Nnaji (Ankle) are probable; PJ Dozier (Adductor) is out

San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz (9 p.m. ET)

Spurs Projected Lineup

PG – Dejounte Murray
SG – Devin Vassell
SF – DeMar DeRozan
PF – Keldon Johnson
C – Jakob Poeltl

Injury news: Nothing new

Jazz Projected Lineup

PG – Joe Ingles
SG – Royce O'Neale
SF – Bojan Bogdanovic
PF – Georges Niang
C – Rudy Gobert

Injury news: Mike Conley (Hamstring) is out

Phan’s Bet to Watch

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