Man, if you looked at the injury report for January 15, 2026, and thought it looked more like a hospital wing than a basketball slate, you aren't alone. It is a mess out there. Honestly, between the international travel and the mid-season "bumps and bruises" that are actually major setbacks, tonight's rotations are basically a guessing game for some teams.
We’ve got nine games on the schedule. Nine. That is a lot of bodies to keep track of, especially when you realize half the stars we actually pay to see are currently listed as "Out" or "Questionable" with stuff like calf strains and ankle tweaks.
The biggest headline? The NBA is in Berlin. The Magic and Grizzlies are tipping off at the Uber Arena, and if you were hoping to see Ja Morant fly through the air in Germany, I’ve got some bad news. He's out again. That right calf is just not cooperating.
The Berlin Special: Grizzlies vs. Magic
Starting with the early bird special. The starting lineups for tonight's NBA games kick off with this international showdown. Orlando is technically the "home" team here.
Orlando Magic Projected Starters:
- Anthony Black (PG)
- Desmond Bane (SG)
- Franz Wagner (SF)
- Paolo Banchero (PF)
- Wendell Carter Jr. (C)
Franz Wagner is back! That is huge for the Berlin crowd. He’s the local hero, and having him back in the lineup after his injury stint stabilizes everything for Coach Mosley. Paolo Banchero is obviously the engine, but keep an eye on Desmond Bane. Seeing him in a Magic jersey still feels a little weird to some fans, but he's been their primary secondary-creator with Jalen Suggs sidelined by that knee issue.
Memphis Grizzlies Projected Starters:
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- Cam Spencer (PG)
- Jaylen Wells (SG)
- Cedric Coward (SF)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF)
- Jock Landale (C)
Look at that backcourt. No Ja Morant. No Scotty Pippen Jr. No Ty Jerome. It is a skeleton crew. Jaren Jackson Jr. is going to have to shoot 30 times tonight if they want to stay competitive. They’re basically playing "Draft Pick Bingo" with some of these starters, but that’s the reality of their current injury luck.
Heavy Hitters in the East: Suns at Pistons
This is the game of the night. You've got Detroit, who currently holds the best record in the Eastern Conference (yeah, you read that right), hosting a Phoenix team that’s trying to stay afloat in a brutal West.
Detroit Pistons Expected Starters:
- Cade Cunningham (PG)
- Duncan Robinson (SG)
- Ausar Thompson (SF)
- Tobias Harris (PF)
- Jalen Duren (C)
Cade is the real deal. He’s averaging nearly 27 points a night and he’s finally got the spacing he needs with Duncan Robinson out there. Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart are both "probable," but expect Duren to get the nod to bang with the Suns' bigs.
Phoenix Suns Expected Starters:
- Collin Gillespie (PG)
- Grayson Allen (SG)
- Dillon Brooks (SF)
- Royce O’Neale (PF)
- Mark Williams (C)
The Suns are hurting. Devin Booker is officially out with that left ankle sprain, and Jalen Green is missing time too. Relying on Collin Gillespie to run the point against Cade Cunningham is... a choice. It's a tough spot for Phoenix. They’re basically leaning on Dillon Brooks' "energy" (read: chaos) and Grayson Allen's shooting to keep them in this.
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What’s Going on in Texas?
The Dallas Mavericks are in a tailspin. There's no other way to put it.
They lost Cooper Flagg to an ankle injury in that Nuggets game, and the American Airlines Center crowd is understandably panicking. He’s the Rookie of the Year frontrunner and basically the only thing keeping the vibes high while Anthony Davis is out with that hand ligament damage.
Dallas Mavericks Projected Starters vs. Utah:
- Jaden Hardy (PG)
- Max Christie (SG)
- Naji Marshall (SF)
- P.J. Washington (PF)
- Dwight Powell (C)
Kyrie Irving is out. Anthony Davis is out. Cooper Flagg is out. Dereck Lively II is out for the season. Honestly, if you're a Mavs fan, you might want to look at the 2026 Draft boards again.
Utah Jazz Projected Starters:
- Keyonte George (PG)
- Isaiah Collier (SG)
- Brice Sensabaugh (SF)
- Cody Williams (PF)
- Kyle Filipowski (C)
Utah is young and fast. They’ve got Walker Kessler out, but Filipowski has been a revelation as a playmaking five.
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The Late Night Coast Slate
Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets
- OKC: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren.
- HOU: Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun.
Yes, KD is starting at the two-guard for Houston. It’s a wild lineup, but it works because Amen Thompson is basically a 6'7" defensive monster who covers everyone. Shai is probably the MVP favorite right now, so this back-and-forth between him and the Rockets' length is going to be high-level basketball.
New York Knicks at Golden State Warriors
- NYK: Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, O.G. Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns.
- GSW: Stephen Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Quinten Post.
Jimmy Butler in a Warriors jersey still feels like a fever dream. The Knicks are still playing that "heavy minutes" style under Thibs, so expect Hart and Bridges to play about 46 minutes tonight.
Actionable Tips for Tonight’s Slate
If you're looking at the starting lineups for tonight's nba games for fantasy or just to know who to yell at on your TV, here is the move:
- Watch the Memphis Backcourt: With so many injuries, there is massive "garbage time" value here. Someone like Cam Spencer is going to get all the shots he can handle.
- Monitor the Dallas Frontcourt: Since they have zero healthy bigs, Utah’s Kyle Filipowski might have a career-high rebounding night.
- The Berlin Factor: International games are historically sluggish in the first half. The travel from the States to Germany is no joke, even for pro athletes. Look for a slow start in Magic/Grizzlies.
- The Detroit Hype is Real: Don't bet against the Pistons right now. They are disciplined, healthy, and Cade Cunningham is playing at an All-NBA First Team level.
You should probably check the official NBA injury report one last time about 30 minutes before tip-off. These "Probable" tags for guys like Jalen Duren or Tobias Harris can flip to "Out" in a heartbeat during warmups.