April 18, 2025
New York Knicks forward/center
Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) is ready to rejoin the lineup on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons. Towns has been managing a left knee injury and did not play in the last two regular-season games. However, he has been removed from the injury report ahead of the postseason. Towns met the Pistons three times during the regular season and had no trouble filling the box score. He averaged 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in the matchup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2025
Miami Heat guard/forward
Pelle Larsson (ankle) has been upgraded from probable to available ahead of Friday's tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks. The Swedish rookie will suit up, but it wouldn't be surprising if he stayed on the bench for the entire contest, as happened in Wednesday's win over the Chicago Bulls.
Davion Mitchell and
Kyle Anderson led the second unit against Chicago and will likely do so again on Friday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2025
Miami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic (hand) will be available for Friday's play-in contest against the Atlanta Hawks. The team has upgraded him from probable to available. Jovic has missed nearly two months due to a fractured hand, but the Heat will finally have him back in the lineup for Friday's do-or-die matchup. However, it's unclear if Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra plans to use Jovic in Friday's game. The 21-year-old was effective during the regular season, averaging a career-high 10.7 points with 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2025
Atlanta Hawks point guard
Trae Young (Achilles) has been cleared to play in Friday's play-in contest against the Miami Heat. His status has been upgraded once again from probable to available. The Hawks will need a strong performance from their leader on Friday to qualify for the playoffs. During the regular season, Young struggled to score against the Heat, shooting only 35 percent from the field. Nevertheless, he still averaged a double-double in the matchup, with 17.0 points and 12.3 assists per game.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2025
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center
Giannis Antetokounmpo (shoulder) has been removed from the injury report before Saturday's playoff opener against the Indiana Pacers. The two-time MVP has battled several health issues during the campaign and missed the regular-season finale due to a minor shoulder problem. Antetokounmpo has been dominant against the Pacers throughout the year, averaging 30.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals in the matchup. On Saturday, he is expected to maintain increased offensive usage, as
Damian Lillard (conditioning) remains out of the lineup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2025
Milwaukee Bucks point guard
Damian Lillard (conditioning) has been officially ruled out for Saturday's Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers. Lillard has been cleared of his deep-vein thrombosis and is now working to improve his conditioning to a level that would allow him to participate in an intense playoff contest. He last played on March 18. Speaking during his media availability on Friday, Lillard said, "The moment that I feel I can go, I'm going to go." On Saturday, the Bucks backcourt will continue to rely more on
Ryan Rollins (shoulder) and
Kevin Porter Jr. (wrist), who are both available after sitting out the regular-season finale.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2025
Miami Heat guard
Pelle Larsson (ankle) has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Friday's play-in matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. The rookie has been out since April 7 with a sprained ankle but started in six consecutive games before going down with the injury. Head coach Erik Spoelstra said that he expects Larsson to be able to suit up, so it seems he could receive some minutes. It's unclear whether or not he'll move back into the starting lineup, though. Across 55 appearances this season, Larsson averaged 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. If he does see some playing time, he'll likely take some minutes from
Alec Burks and
Davion Mitchell.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2025
Miami Heat forward
Kevin Love (personal) was originally listed as questionable for Friday night's play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks, but it looks like he'll be downgraded to out. According to NBA Insider Ira Winderman, the veteran big man has left the team for ongoing family reasons. There haven't been reports that suggest what exactly is going on, but the team will move forward without him in the meantime. That likely means that
Kel'el Ware,
Kyle Anderson, and
Haywood Highsmith will continue to get minutes in the frontcourt. Ware has taken over the starting spot and registered six points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal in their win over the Chicago Bulls.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Ira Winderman
April 18, 2025
Miami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic (hand) is dealing with a broken hand and is considered questionable for Friday's play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, head coach Erik Spoelstra said that he expects both Jovic and
Pelle Larsson (ankle) to play. Still, it seems unlikely that Jovic will be used even if he is upgraded. The third-year forward hasn't played since February 23, and hasn't played more than 46 games in a season yet. This year, he averaged a career-high in minutes per game (25.1) and posted 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 threes per game.
Kyle Anderson and
Haywood Highsmith will likely continue to receive some more minutes off of the bench in his place.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Chiang
April 17, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Donovan Mitchell (ankle) practiced fully on Thursday, indicating that he will be 100 percent ready when the team begins its playoff campaign on Sunday. The six-time All-Star sat out the final four regular-season games due to an ankle injury. Mitchell has proven himself as a highly productive playoff performer and will be expected to make a deep run with his team after the Cavaliers dominated the regular season. For his postseason career, Mitchell has averaged 28.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in 37.6 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Camryn Justice
April 17, 2025
Milwaukee Bucks point guard
Damian Lillard (calf) has been cleared of deep vein thrombosis and is no longer on blood-thinning medication. This marks a significant step in his return to the lineup. Although Lillard is expected to be out for Saturday's Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, his comeback appears to be around the corner. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said on Thursday that there is a "very good chance" Lillard will play in the postseason. The nine-time All-Star averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.2 steals during the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 17, 2025
Miami Heat guard/forward
Pelle Larsson (ankle) is considered questionable for Friday's play-in action against the Atlanta Hawks. Larsson was also uncertain for Wednesday's matchup against the Chicago Bulls but was upgraded to available ahead of tip-off. However, he did not receive any playing time off the Miami bench. The Swedish rookie has been nursing an ankle sprain recently, which sidelined him for three games at the end of the regular season. With the Heat squad now relatively healthy, it seems unlikely that Larsson will play a significant role during the postseason.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 17, 2025
Miami Heat forward/center
Kevin Love (conditioning) remains questionable on the injury report ahead of Friday's clash against the Atlanta Hawks. Love missed the end of the regular season due to personal reasons and is currently focused on regaining the conditioning necessary to return to play. During the postseason, Love's experience could be a valuable asset for the Heat; however, his productivity has been relatively low this campaign. Love averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds during the regular season, appearing in only 23 games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 17, 2025
Miami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic (hand) has been listed as questionable for Friday's play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks. The 21-year-old is making progress toward his return to the lineup, but he may miss another game on Friday due to a fractured hand. Jovic's inclusion in the lineup would provide an additional frontcourt option for the Heat, who have been without the England-born Serbian since late February. During the regular season, Jovic averaged 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 25.1 minutes, primarily coming off the bench.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 17, 2025
Dallas Mavericks point guard
Brandon Williams (oblique) is listed as probable for Friday's play-in matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 25-year-old is dealing with a left oblique strain but managed to play through the injury on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings. Williams impressed with 17 points and five assists in 18 minutes off the bench. Before Wednesday's game, Williams was listed as questionable on the injury report, so he appears to be making progress in his recovery. Williams will be in a good spot to replicate his Wednesday performance since Memphis allows the fourth-most bench points in the league.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
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