About Taavi Pailk - RotoBaller
Joel Embiid Good To Go Thursday
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) has been cleared to play in Game 3 against the Knicks on Thursday. The team has upgraded him from questionable to available. He was always going to play, and Philadelphia will need him to play well to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the first-round series. Embiid has averaged 31.5... Read More
Daniel Gafford Listed As Questionable For Friday
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Daniel Gafford (back) is considered questionable for Friday's Game 3 against the Clippers. He couldn't practice on Thursday after being limited to only nine minutes due to a back issue in Game 2. Maxi Kleber saw 28 minutes off the bench on Tuesday, while Dereck Lively II also benefited. Both should figure... Read More
Tim Hardaway Jr. Ruled Out For Game 3
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's Game 3 against the Clippers. Dallas' three-point bomber sprained his right ankle in Game 2 and hasn't recovered in time for Friday's game. Josh Green and Dante Exum will have a chance to log extra minutes without Hardaway Jr., although they aren't... Read More
Giannis Antetokounmpo Doubtful For Game 3
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) continues to carry a doubtful designation on the injury report ahead of Friday's Game 3 against Indiana. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers believes that Antetokounmpo is getting "close" to returning, but it looks like his comeback won't happen on Friday. Bobby Portis has started in Antetokounmpo's absence, averaging a... Read More
Khris Middleton Misses Thursday's Practice, Questionable For Game 3
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) didn't practice on Thursday and is considered questionable for Friday's Game 3 against the Pacers. Middleton hurt his right ankle in Tuesday's Game 2, although he was still able to log 36 minutes in the contest. The three-time All-Star has played well in the series, averaging 19.0 points, 7.5... Read More
Dean Wade Ruled Out For First Round
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) has been ruled out for the first-round series against Orlando. He missed the end of the regular season with a knee injury and hasn't featured in the first two playoff games either. Georges Niang, Caris LeVert, and Isaac Okoro lead the Cavaliers bench without Wade. Okoro has been the... Read More
Sonny Milano Misses Practice On Thursday
Washington Capitals winger Sonny Milano (undisclosed) missed practice on Thursday ahead of Friday's Game 3 against the Rangers. He was reportedly absent for maintenance purposes after averaging 11:33 of ice time across the first two games in the series. Milano has mustered only one shot on goal against the Rangers and hasn't picked up any... Read More
Filip Chytil Joins Rangers For Trip To Washington
New York Rangers forward Filip Chytil (head) has traveled with the team to Washington and could return to action Friday when the two teams continue their first-round battle. The 24-year-old has been out of commission since early November. Before suffering a head injury, Chytil skated in 10 games, posting six assists. He would be a... Read More
Jesper Fast Remains Out On Thursday
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jesper Fast (upper body) will remain unavailable for Thursday's Game 3 against the Islanders. He suffered an upper-body in the team's regular-season finale and will be forced to skip a third consecutive game. Fast had only one point in his final nine regular-season appearances, but he did well in a limited... Read More
Matt Martin A Game-Time Call Thursday
New York Islanders winger Matt Martin is considered a game-time decision for Thursday's matchup against Carolina due to an undisclosed injury. Martin didn't practice on Wednesday after averaging 10:12 of ice time across the first two games of the series. He's been anonymous against the Hurricanes so far, producing only one shot on goal and... Read More
Anton Lundell Takes Over As Second-Line Center Thursday
Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell will skate on the second line in Thursday's Game 3 against the Lightning. He will be filling in for Sam Bennett (upper body), who was injured in the second game of the series. Lundell already saw some action in the spot in Game 2 and collected an assist on Carter... Read More
Ryan Lomberg Ruled Out For Game 3
Florida Panthers winger Ryan Lomberg (illness) will remain out for Game 3 against Tampa Bay on Thursday. He's battling an undisclosed illness and didn't travel with the team. Florida currently has him in quarantine. Kyle Okposo will be entering the lineup on Thursday. The veteran should add some offensive threat to the team after registering... Read More
Jack Eichel Makes NHL History In Game 2 Win
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel picked up two points in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Dallas, becoming the fastest U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach 30 career postseason points. Eichel skated in his 23rd Stanley Cup Playoffs game and helped out offensively with an assist and an empty-net goal. He was also tied for... Read More
Brad Marchand Racks Up Three Points In Game 3 Victory
Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand tallied three points as the team defeated Toronto 4-2 in Game 3 of the first-round series on Wednesday. He did all of his work in the third period, setting up Jake DeBrusk for a power-play goal with 1:07 played and scoring twice. Marchand put the Bruins 3-2 up at... Read More
Leon Draisaitl Posts Two Assists In Wednesday's Loss
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl couldn't score with eight attempts on goal but had two assists in Wednesday's dramatic 5-4 overtime loss to the Kings. Draisaitl's contributions helped the Oilers work back from a 2-0 deficit, with his second assist coming in a power-play situation. The German superstar now boasts four points (one goal, three... Read More
Anze Kopitar Completes Three-Point Night With Overtime Game-Winner
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar had a big performance in Game 2 against the Oilers on Wednesday, scoring the game-winning goal and bagging two assists in a 5-4 overtime victory. Playing in his 94th Stanley Cup Playoffs game, which ties a franchise record, Kopitar set up a pair of Adrian Kempe goals in the... Read More
Mason Marchment Exits With Injury Wednesday
Dallas Stars center winger Mason Marchment left Wednesday's Game 2 against the Golden Knights early due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old, who bagged a career-high 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) during the regular season, recorded a game-high eight hits before being forced off after logging 10:22 of ice time. There were no updates... Read More
Radek Faksa Injured In Game 2
Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa couldn't complete Wednesday's Game 2 against Vegas due to an undisclosed injury. He was hurt in the third period, exiting after soaking in 8:41 of action on the fourth line. Faksa didn't contribute offensively in the contest and finished with a minus-one rating, but he won four of five faceoffs... Read More
Trey Murphy III Cools Off In Game 2
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III had an eight-point outing on Wednesday as the team suffered a blowout loss in Game 2 against the Thunder. The 23-year-old saw his shot disappear after leading the Pelicans with 21 points in the series opener. He finished with 3-for-8 shooting and made only two of six attempts... Read More
CJ McCollum Blows Hot And Cold In Game 2
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum was limited to 15 points in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Thunder, shooting 6-for-14 from the field and 1-for-5 from outside. Nine points came in the second quarter following a zero-point effort in the first. McCollum posted half of the team's four steals and picked up five rebounds... Read More
Brandon Ingram Overcomes Cold Start In Game 2
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Brandon Ingram finished Wednesday's Game 2 loss against Oklahoma City with a full line after initially struggling in the contest. Ingram had only four points in the first half before finding his rhythm in the second and finishing with 18 points on 5-for-10 shooting. He nailed all eight free throws and... Read More
Jonas Valanciunas Leads Pelicans In Scoring Wednesday
New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas finished Wednesday's heavy 124-92 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 as the team's top scorer, netting 19 points in 23 minutes on 8-for-14 shooting. The Lithuanian big man had an incredible start to the contest, scoring all of New Orleans' first 11 points. A Herbert Jones triple broke... Read More
Jalen Williams Contributes In All Areas Wednesday
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams was effective all over the court in Wednesday's Game 2 victory over the Pelicans, scoring 21 points and registering five rebounds and one steal with a game-high seven assists. He was 1-for-3 with the three-ball and shot 10-for-17 from the field. Williams played a significant role as the Thunder... Read More
Chet Holmgren Sets The Tone For Thunder In Game 2
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren had an amazing 20-point first half in Game 2 against New Orleans on Wednesday, adding six further points after the break to help the team to a blowout win. Holmgren exchanged buckets early on with Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas and already matched his Game 1 tally of 15 points... Read More
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder To Victory
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 33 points as the team grabbed a 2-0 series lead against New Orleans with a 124-92 victory on Wednesday. After struggling from deep in Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander hit three three-point bombs with five attempts and shot a very efficient 13-for-19 overall. He also bagged a... Read More
Nicolas Claxton The "No. 1 Priority" For Nets In Offseason
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but if the team has its way, he won't be going anywhere soon. According to general manager Sean Marks, tying Claxton down will be the "No. 1 priority" for the team in the summer. Marks added that he hopes Claxton will be... Read More
Grayson Allen Not Ruled Out For Game 3
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (ankle) hasn't been ruled out for Game 3 against Minnesota on Friday. X-rays came back negative after Allen re-injured his right ankle in Tuesday's Game 2. He is considered day-to-day. "Got to see what the next two days look like," Allen said when asked about his chances of featuring in... Read More
Nikola Jovic Available For Game 2
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (back) has been cleared to play in Wednesday's Game 2 against Boston. He was a late addition to the injury report with a back issue, but the team has upgraded him from probable to available. The 20-year-old logged 26 minutes in Game 1 and had 10 points and six rebounds... Read More
Ryan Lomberg Could Be Back For Game 3
Florida Panthers winger Ryan Lomberg (illness) could be available again for Thursday's Game 3 against Tampa Bay. He missed Game 2 on Tuesday with an illness, but Panthers head coach Paul Maurice believes that Lomberg might be an option on Thursday. Steve Lorentz skated in Lomberg's place on the fourth line on Tuesday, logging 6:06... Read More
Cam Talbot Starts Game 2 For Kings
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot is the team's confirmed starter for Wednesday's Game 2 against Edmonton. Talbot remains between the sticks against his former team despite struggling in Game 1. The veteran netminder gave up six goals in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Oilers. He finished the contest with 38 saves. Talbot has lost... Read More