May 7, 2025
New York Knicks guard
Jalen Brunson had 17 points in the postseason win over the Celtics on Wednesday night. He added seven assists, three rebounds, and one block. The 28-year-old had 29 points in Game 1. While he cooled off in this one, he stepped up when it mattered the most, helping the Knicks come from behind to put New York up 2-0 in the series. Both clubs will head to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon. With that in mind, Brunson averaged 31.5 points and 7.5 assists at home in two meetings with the Celtics during the regular season, so he's certainly worth considering for DFS lineups.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Boston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) finished with eight points and four rebounds in Wednesday's loss to New York. The former Knick logged only 13 minutes in Game 1 before he was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. While he was able to suit up for Game 2, he's still dealing with the remnants of the illness that cost him time during the regular season, limiting him to only 14 minutes from off the bench. With only 27 minutes combined for Porzingis in the first two contests of the series, both teams will head to Madison Square Garden for Game 3. It's apparent the C's need Porzingis involved more than he has been. However, it's unknown how much action he'll see on Saturday, so DFS managers should consider keeping him out of the lineup.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Boston Celtics forward
Jayson Tatum scored 13 points in Wednesday's 91-90 loss to the Knicks. He added 14 boards, five assists, three steals, and one block. The former Duke Blue Devil had a tough time finding the bottom of the net in Game 1. Unfortunately, that trend continued in Game 2, with Tatum going 5-for-19 from the field and 1-for-5 from behind the three-point line. With the Knicks up 2-0, the series will head back to New York for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon. But on a positive note, Tatum averaged 36 points and 44% shooting from deep at Madison Square Garden during the regular season (two appearances), so there's reason to believe he may turn things around.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard
Rob Dillingham (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors. The rookie guard is struggling to recover from an ankle injury, missing the entire postseason. Even if he were healthy, Dillingham would likely not be part of Minnesota's regular rotation.
Mike Conley and
Donte DiVincenzo share minutes at the point guard position, with the latter being a better option for DFS managers, despite coming off the bench.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
May 7, 2025
Boston Celtics forward/center
Al Horford will join the starting unit for Wednesday's Game 2 showdown against the New York Knicks. He is taking the starting spot from
Kristaps Porzingis. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla will try to shake things up after his team missed a historic 45 three-point shots in Monday's Game 1 loss. Horford will make his fifth start of the postseason. He has averaged 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in the role. While Porzingis drops to the bench, he should still have a significant role to play in the contest. Given his struggles this postseason, he may even feel more comfortable as a member of the second unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sean Grande
May 7, 2025
Boston Celtics forward
Sam Hauser (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's matchup against the New York Knicks. This outcome was always likely after the team labeled him as doubtful on the initial injury report. Hauser is nursing a right ankle sprain sustained during Monday's Game 1 against the Knicks. While Boston will miss Hauser's outside shooting, his impact has been limited in these playoffs, and the Celtics should cope easily without him, especially with
Jrue Holiday back in the lineup for the series and
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) also available for Wednesday's contest.
--Taavi PailkSource: Boston Celtics
May 7, 2025
Boston Celtics forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) has been upgraded from probable to available for Wednesday's Game 2 against the New York Knicks. Porzingis' night was cut short in the series opener due to illness, but he is ready to suit up for Wednesday's clash. On Monday night, Porzingis finished scoreless with four rebounds on 0-for-4 shooting, and a much better performance is expected from him in Game 2. However, he has been sluggish in these playoffs, averaging only 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds, making it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him.
--Taavi PailkSource: Boston Celtics
May 7, 2025
Golden State Warriors point guard
Stephen Curry (hamstring) will miss at least one week of action. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain on Wednesday, and the team announced that Curry will be re-evaluated in one week. This means he is set to miss at least three games in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Game 5 in the matchup is scheduled for next Wednesday, and it's possible Curry will then be ready to return. Curry's injury is a big blow for the Warriors, but they have seen
Buddy Hield step up big time in recent games and still have
Jimmy Butler III to lead the way.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Ty Jerome had a rough outing in Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, shooting a horrible 1-for-14 from the field to finish a 120-119 loss with two points. Jerome took
Sam Merrill's spot in the starting unit and struggled right out of the gate, with Pacers center
Myles Turner blocking a pair of his shots. The 27-year-old made his only field goal early in the third quarter. He finished 0-for-4 from outside and had two rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes. With
Darius Garland (toe) injured, Jerome must do much more for the Cavaliers, who are now in an uncomfortable 2-0 series hole after losing two home games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Indiana Pacers center
Myles Turner played a pivotal role in Tuesday's 120-119 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, posting 23 points on 8-for-17 shooting and blocking five shots. Additionally, he recorded eight rebounds with one steal and one block, finishing 2-for-5 with his shots from the three-point line. This was Turner's third outing in four games with 20-plus points. He is in a great position to enjoy further offensive success against the Cavaliers, as they lost
Evan Mobley (ankle) for Tuesday's Game 2. It was a difficult matchup on paper for Turner, but he has been strong in the series so far, averaging 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center
Naz Reid returned to his Sixth Man of the Year form in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, putting up 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting and collecting five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in a 99-88 loss. Reid, who was 3-for-7 from behind the arc, appeared to have injured his left leg in the second quarter but was able to finish the contest, logging 34 minutes. Minnesota saw Reid contribute only 11.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it looks like he will have a much more important role to play in the matchup against the Warriors.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards led his squad in several categories on Tuesday night, but the team suffered a 99-88 loss in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors. The Timberwolves got off to a really slow start, scoring only 31 points in the first half. Things improved in the second 24 minutes, with Edwards leading the way. He finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block, shooting 9-for-22 from the field and 1-for-5 from downtown. Edwards has now recorded two consecutive double-doubles for the second time this season, but Minnesota definitely needs to get more scoring from him. The young superstar has been limited to 38 total points over the last two contests.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Golden State Warriors forward
Jimmy Butler III nearly recorded a triple-double in Tuesday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing a 99-88 road victory with 20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in 41 minutes. He went 7-for-20 from the field, including 2-for-8 from downtown, and had a quiet night at the free-throw line this time around, going 4-for-6. Butler III helped Golden State to overcome the loss of
Stephen Curry (hamstring) in the contest and is expected to take on extra responsibilities on the offensive end going forward if Curry must sit out additional time. Over the last three games, Butler III has averaged 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Golden State Warriors guard/forward
Buddy Hield finished Tuesday's 99-89 win in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves as the leading scorer in the contest, putting up 24 points on 7-for-19 shooting. Hield initially struggled to hit shots, but he stepped up for the Warriors after
Stephen Curry (hamstring) exited the game. He was only two rebounds short of a double-double, dished out three assists, and snagged one steal while hitting 5-for-8 from downtown. After combining for only four points in Games 5 and 6 against the Houston Rockets, Hield has exploded for 57 points across two outings, sinking 14 attempts from three-point range. With Curry potentially missing more time, the Warriors are set to rely more on Hield offensively moving forward.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Golden State Warriors point guard
Stephen Curry (hamstring) will undergo an MRI on Wednesday and is considered day-to-day by the team, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reports. The veteran superstar injured his left hamstring in Tuesday's Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. After the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sounded pessimistic about Curry's chances of playing in Game 2 on Thursday night. "We don't know yet," Kerr said. "But with a hamstring, it's hard to imagine that he would play Thursday." Curry's injury is a tough pill to swallow, but the Warriors proved on Tuesday that they can cope without him.
Jimmy Butler III and
Buddy Hield spearheaded the offense in Curry's absence. Meanwhile, the situation provides
Brandin Podziemski and
Gary Payton II with more playing opportunities.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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