Starting lineups: Dec. 12

Friday nights are even better with wall-to-wall basketball and that's what the NBA has for you with an even dozen games tonight. 

Some good matchups are on tap with the Portland Trail Blazers visiting the Chicago Bulls, the Washington Wizards hosting the Los Angeles Clippers and Andrew Wiggins facing off against one of his favorite players in Kevin Durant as the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But the story of the night will be Kobe Watch. Bryant needs 31 points to pass Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's all-time scoring list and he'll take a crack at it against the Spurs in San Antonio. 

The Spurs may be third in the NBA in defensive rating, but they could be on high alert. Bryant was annoyed Thursday and it might be a game where his Lakers teammates may want to get the f*** out of his way.

Here are tonight's projected starting lineups:

Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls, 7 p.m. ET

*Blazers SG C.J. McCollum (finger) remains out
*Bulls C Joakim Noah (ankle, knee) will not play
*Bulls SF Doug McDermott (knee) will not play

Los Angeles Clippers at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m. ET

*Clippers SF Chris Douglas-Roberts (Achilles) remains out
*Clippers SF Reggie Bullock (ankle) remains out
*Clippers SG Jamal Crawford (elbow) probable
*Wizards SF Martell Webster (back) remains out

Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. ET

*Magic C Nikola Vucevic (back), PF Aaron Gordon (foot) remain out
*Hawks PF Mike Scott (illness) probable
*Hawks C Pero Antic (illness) doubtful

New York Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET

*Knicks SG J.R. Smith (heel) will not play
*Knicks SG Iman Shumpert (finger) will play
*Knicks PF Andrea Bargnani (calf), SF Cleanthony Early (knee) remain out
*Celtics C Vitor Faverani (knee) remains out
*Celtics SG Avery Bradley (illness) will not play

Philadelphia 76ers at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET

*76ers PG Tony Wroten (knee) will play
*76ers SF K.J. McDaniels (ankle) will play
*76ers C Joel Embiid (foot), PF Andrei Kirilenko (personal), SG Jason Richardson (knee, foot) remain out
*Nets PF Kevin Garnett (foot) doubtful
*Nets SF Joe Johnson (illness) probable
*Nets PF Mirza Teletovic (hip, face) will not play
*Nets C Brook Lopez (back) remains out

Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET

*Pacers PG George Hill (knee, quad), SF Paul George (leg), C Ian Mahinmi (foot) remain out
*Raptors SG DeMar DeRozan (groin) remains out

Charlotte Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET

*Hornets SG P.J. Hairston (discipline) probable
*Hornets SF Jeffery Taylor (suspension) remains out

Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET

*Timberwolves SF Shabazz Muhammad (ankle) probable
*Timberwolves PG Mo Williams (back) is out
*Timberwolves C Nikola Pekovic (wrist), SG Kevin Martin (wrist), PG Ricky Rubio (ankle), C Ronny Turiaf (hip) remain out

Cleveland Cavaliers at New Orleans Pelicans, 8 p.m. ET

*Cavaliers SF LeBron James (knee) questionable
*Cavaliers SG Mike Miller (concussion) will not play
*Pelicans SG Eric Gordon (shoulder) remains out

Detroit Pistons at Phoenix Suns, 9 p.m. ET

*Pistons SG Jodie Meeks (back) to make season debut
*Suns PG Isaiah Thomas (ankle) likely to return from 8-game absence

Miami Heat at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m. ET

*Heat SG Dwyane Wade (illness) will play
*Heat C Chris Andersen (ankle) is probable
*Heat PF Josh McRoberts (knee) will not play

Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET

*Lakers SF Wesley Johnson (illness) questionable
*Lakers SG Xavier Henry (Achilles), PF Ryan Kelly (hamstring), PG Steve Nash (back), SF Julius Randle (leg) remain out
*Spurs SF Kawhi Leonard (hand) will not play
*Spurs PG Tony Parker (hamstring) will play
*Spurs SF Patty Mills (shoulder) remains out