RADIO
Jonas Valanciunas Boxes Out The Competition
4/17:Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas played phenomenally in Game 2 on Tuesday night versus the Washington Wizards. Valanciunas scored 19 points, shooting 8-for-11 from the floor. Valanciunas also had 14 boards and two blocks. Valanciunas in the two outings in the playoffs has averaged 11.5 boards while getting 25 percent of the available rebounds when he is on the floor. The next game of the series between the Raptors and the Wizards is Friday. The Wizards only have a 44.5 rebounding percentage in the two contests this postseason, so expect Valanciunas to continue to clean the glass.Source: Matt Sparkington-RotoBaller
Donovan Mitchell Remains Questionable for Game 2
4/17:Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (foot) is questionable for Game 2 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Mitchell went through parts of Tuesday's practice, but it's unclear whether or not he took contact. There is a good chance that Mitchell becomes a game-time decision on Wednesday. The Jazz are going to be cautious with Mitchell and will likely wait to see how he feels after warmups. That means more information should be known later on Wednesday.Source: Utah Jazz
Maurice Harkless is Questionable for Game 2
4/17:Portland Trail Blazers small forward Maurice Harkless (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's Game 2 versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Harkless had arthroscopic knee surgery in late March and was able to participate in practice on Monday. Harkless has not played since late March, which has resulted in more playing time for Evan Turner. Harkless was playing well prior to his injury and is expected to take away plenty of minutes from Turner. However, Harkless could be on a minutes limit if he plays on Tuesday, so DFS players may want to stay away.Source: Jason Quick
Paul George Continues Non-Contact Work At Practice
4/17:Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Paul George (hip) did non-contact work during Tuesday's practice. He was also limited to non-contact work during practice on Monday, but OKC fans should not be too worried. George has downplayed the severity of the injury and said he'll "never sit out playoff games." This is likely just the Thunder being cautious with their superstar. It would be shocking to see George sidelined during Game 2 on Wednesday.Source: Brett Dawson
Joel Embiid Limited to Non-Contact Work
4/17:Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (face) is limited to non-contact work during practice on Tuesday. Head coach Brett Brown did not offer much about Embiid's status for Game 3. Embiid wants to be out there, but the Sixers also want to be cautious with their superstar center. He's missed the first two games of the postseason due to an orbital fracture. Either Ersan Ilyasova or Amir Johnson would continue to draw the starts at center if Embiid is sidelined again.Source: Jessica Camerato
Ryan Anderson is Hopeful to Play in Game 2
4/17:Houston Rockets forward/center Ryan Anderson (ankle) is hopeful to play in Game 2 versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Anderson missed the final four games of the regular season and Game 1 of the postseason. Head coach Mike D'Antoni said on Sunday that Anderson was not quite ready to return to game action, but he was in uniform. The Rockets should have another update on Anderson's status some time on Wednesday. Luc Mbah a Moute (shoulder) is sidelined for this series, so Anderson could play some valuable minutes off the bench.Source: Jonathan Feigen
Kyle Korver Returns to Practice on Tuesday
4/17:Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Kyle Korver (illness) practiced with the team on Tuesday. He sat out of Monday's practice after playing just four minutes in Game 1 versus the Indiana Pacers. However, head coach Ty Lue wants to get Korver more involved after the Cavs made just eight triples in over 30 attempts during the loss to the Pacers in Game 1. Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson would see increased roles if Korver misses Game 2 or for some reason sits most of it again.Source: Jordan Zirm
Fred VanVleet is Doubtful on Tuesday
4/17:Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet (shoulder) is doubtful for Tuesday's Game 2 contest versus the Washington Wizards. VanVleet was listed as questionable on Monday, but has been downgraded to doubtful and is likely headed towards a game-time decision on Tuesday. The Raptors want to make sure VanVleet is 100 percent before letting him return to the court. Delon Wright finished with 18 points, four assists and three steals in 25 minutes off the bench in Game 1. He'll be looking at roughly 20 minutes off the bench behind Kyle Lowry if VanVleet is unable to play.Source: Blake Murphy
Andre Iguodala Has Surprising Scoring Outburst In Game 2
4/17:Golden State Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala scored under 10 points 51 times during the regular season during a year in which Golden State never relied on the veteran for scoring. In Monday night's Game 2 win over the Spurs, though, Iguodala scored 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting. He also added seven rebounds and five assists. His track record this season suggests that DFS players shouldn't expect another double-digit scoring night in Game 3, but with the rotation shrunk down for the playoffs, it's possible Iguodala gets the green light to shoot again. He's a medium-ceiling and low-floor play.Source: Basketball Reference
Klay Thompson Has Strong Outing In Game 2
4/17:Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson scored 31 points on 12-for-20 shooting in Monday's victory over the San Antonio Spurs. He was 5-for-8 from deep and added five assists as well. Thompson has shot the ball incredibly well in this series, an impressive feat against a Spurs team that ranked near the top during the regular season at defending the three-point line. At this point, it seems more likely that Thompson will keep up this pace than it does that the Spurs will rediscover their perimeter defense. Thompson is a strong DFS play, though his lack of impact off of the ball is a little worrisome.Source: Basketball Reference
Kevin Durant Leads Warriors In Scoring In Game 2
4/17:Golden State Warriors small forward Kevin Durant scored a team-high 32 points on 10-for-19 shooting in Monday's Game 2 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The Warriors star went 9-for-10 from the free throw line in the victory and added six rebounds and six assists. Durant is hitting 52.8 percent of his shots in this series, though he's made just 30.8 percent of his three-point attempts. He remains a top DFS option against a Spurs defense that hasn't been able to slow him down yet.Source: Basketball Reference
Rudy Gay Shoots Well After Moving Into Starting Lineup
4/17:San Antonio Spurs small forward Rudy Gay played well enough in Game 1 to justify a change in the Spurs starting lineup before the second game of their first-round series against the Warriors. He responded by shooting 6-for-12 from the field with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Gay was 0-for-3 from deep, though, and didn't manage to get to the free throw line. His ability to score the ball should keep him in the lineup as the series continues, but his inconsistency makes him a boom-or-bust fantasy player.Source: Basketball Reference
Patty Mills Scores 21 Points In Game 2
4/17:San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills saw a marked increased in shot attempts in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Golden State Warriors, taking 16 shots and making seven of them. Mills scored 21 points and added three rebounds and three assists. After a lackluster opening game, Mills was a key piece in San Antonio's improved effort. Still, he's struggled this season against the Warriors and it's unlikely he'll maintain this presence as the series continues. He had just five games with 20 or more points during the regular season.Source: Basketball Reference
LaMarcus Aldridge Has Big Night In Game 2 Loss
4/17:San Antonio Spurs power forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge scored 34 points on 11-for-21 shooting in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He made all 12 of his free throw attempts and also grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds. If the Spurs have any hope of overcoming their two-game deficit in the series, Aldridge will need to continue putting up strong numbers. It may be a tough task, though, as he'll often be matched up with Draymond Green, whose defense can put the clamps on Aldridge. Expect this game to represent Aldridge's ceiling in the series.Source: Basketball Reference
Ersan Ilyasova Could Start Game 2
4/16:Philadelphia 76ers forward Ersan Ilyasova may start at center for Game 2 against the Miami Heat on Monday. Amir Johnson drew the start at center for Game 1, but was replaced by Ilyasova in the second half. This move neutralized Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who played just 12 minutes during Game 1. Head coach Erik Spoelstra expect the Sixers to do the same thing in Game 2. Head coach Brett Brown did not say who was starting for Game 2, but said the pairing of Ilyasova and Dario Saric "will likely surface again." DFS players will want to keep an eye out for Brown's starting lineup on Monday. Ilyasova is a must-own player if he's given the start over Amir Johnson.Source: Philly.com
