May 22, 2025
Indiana Pacers forward/center
Pascal Siakam had a tough time hitting shots in Wednesday's 138-135 overtime win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. He went 7-for-16 from the field, missing both of his attempts from deep. However, the Cameroonian star still produced a decent fantasy line, notching 17 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals in a team-high 43 minutes. Siakam's shooting woes robbed him of an opportunity to record a third consecutive 20-point effort. Still, it was a good showing from him, and considering Siakam has shot 53.5 percent for the entire postseason, there is a strong chance he will do better in Friday's Game 2.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 22, 2025
Indiana Pacers forward
Aaron Nesmith had a major role in Wednesday's 138-135 comeback victory over the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, putting up 30 points with a remarkable 8-for-9 three-point shooting. He had saved most of his three-point bombs for the final five minutes of regulation, racking up a whopping 20 points to help the Pacers push the game to overtime from a 14-point deficit. Nesmith made only one two-point shot, going 9-for-13 from the field. He also had a pair of rebounds and blocks with one steal in the contest. While Nesmith is mainly known for his defensive abilities, he has hit three-pointers at an outstanding rate throughout the postseason (53.8 percent), and the Knicks need to pay closer attention to him when he has the ball behind the arc.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 22, 2025
Indiana Pacers point guard
Tyrese Haliburton produced a big double-double to lead his team to a 138-135 overtime victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. He finished with 31 points and 11 assists, pushing the game past regulation with a buzzer-beating shot. Haliburton had a quiet fourth quarter but more than made up for it with the dramatic bucket, which sent the game to overtime after New York had led by 14 points with under three minutes remaining in the period. The two-time All-Star finished 12-for-23 from the field and shot 4-for-12 from behind the arc, wrapping up his line with four rebounds and one assist. This was Haliburton's sixth double-double of the postseason and his second consecutive 30-point game. He appears to be peaking at just the right moment as the Pacers hope to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday night. SGA, who received 71 first-place votes, 42 more than Denver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic, had a stellar campaign. He appeared in 76 games during the regular season, averaging a career-high 32.7 points with 5.0 boards, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks. The 26-year-old also led OKC to a 68-14 record to secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Without question, Gilgeous-Alexander has the potential to earn a few more MVP awards moving forward. He'll also be the No. 1 overall fantasy option for many managers heading into the 2025-26 season.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Communications
May 21, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves center
Rudy Gobert put in a disappointing 21-minute effort in Tuesday's Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, tallying only two points, three rebounds, one steal, and one block in a 114-88 loss. He finished 1-for-3 from the field and missed both of his free throws. The Thunder are well-equipped in the paint with
Isaiah Hartenstein and
Chet Holmgren, and Gobert has to contribute a lot more for Minnesota to have a chance at making it into the NBA Finals. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year has averaged only 1.3 blocks this postseason, while notching 8.3 points and grabbing 9.0 rebounds.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards struggled to make an impact in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, settling for 18 points in a 114-88 loss. Edwards hurt his right ankle late in the first quarter but still logged a team-high 37 minutes of playing time. Additionally, he led the Timberwolves with nine rebounds and registered three assists and one block, shooting 5-for-13 from the field with a 3-for-8 record from deep. Edwards has averaged 20 shot attempts per game this postseason, so it's quite an achievement for the Thunder to limit him to just 13 shots. Remarkably, this also marks only the second game in the playoffs where Edwards didn't reach the 20-point plateau. We can expect him to come back with a much stronger effort in Game 2.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward
Julius Randle maintained his hot hand in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder but couldn't save his squad from a 114-88 defeat. The former Knick put up a team-high 28 points on 9-for-13 shooting, tallying eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Randle made five triples with six attempts but also committed five turnovers in the game. While Randle has been hot offensively in the postseason, his ball-handling has been poor in recent games, with this being his fourth consecutive outing with at least four turnovers. Against a top team like the Thunder, Minnesota cannot afford any sloppiness in its game, and Randle must lead the way alongside
Anthony Edwards.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center
Chet Holmgren was unable to extend his double-double streak to three games during Tuesday's Western Conference Finals opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he still had a very productive night in a 114-88 victory. The 23-year-old scored 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, hitting his only three-point attempt, and recorded seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks. Holmgren's versatility makes it challenging for opponents to handle him, and the Timberwolves must certainly limit his impact to keep the series competitive. Through 12 postseason appearances, Holmgren has averaged 15.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 29.8 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward
Jalen Williams made an impact all over the court in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, recording 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a 114-88 win. He shot 7-for-18 from the field, including 1-for-2 from outside, and was perfect with his free throws, going 4-for-4. It was an impressive two-way performance from Williams, who was close to achieving his seventh postseason game with 20-plus points and set a playoff career high in steals. While Williams' shooting numbers have dropped in the postseason, he continues to be highly effective, averaging 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 steals.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander propelled his team to a 114-88 victory in the Western Conference Finals opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring a game-high 31 points on 10-for-27 shooting Tuesday night. He also had the most assists in the game with nine and picked up five rebounds with three steals, shooting 11-for-24 at the charity stripe. This was a rough shooting night for Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished 0-for-4 from three-point range, but he still got the job done on the offensive end, registering his fourth consecutive 30-point game. With improved efficiency, Gilgeous-Alexander is capable of much more in the series. He shot nearly 53 percent from the field against the Denver Nuggets in the previous round, so Tuesday was likely just a blip.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 20, 2025
Miami Heat forward
Andrew Wiggins may be on the move again this summer. According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, there is a 50-50 chance that Wiggins will be traded just a few months after the Heat acquired him from the Golden State Warriors. Wiggins' contract is worth $28.2 million next season, and he holds a $30.2 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign. Following his move to Miami, Wiggins had a larger role offensively, averaging 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.1 minutes. At 30, he is still at the peak of his powers and will likely attract many suitors if the Heat decide to part ways with him.
--Taavi PailkSource: Ira Winderman
May
20,
2025
Boston
Celtics
guard
Jrue
Holiday
is
keen
to
remain
in
Boston.
"We
still
have
a
really,
really
great
opportunity
and
a
great
window
to
be
successful
and
win
a
championship
again,"
Holiday
told
reporters
during
his
read more...
May 20, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard
Ty Jerome is scheduled for unrestricted free agency, but he will remain in Ohio if the team has its way. "Love to keep him. We're hopeful," Cavaliers president Koby Altman said. Jerome had his second season with the Cavaliers, although it was essentially a debut campaign for him after an ankle injury derailed his year in 2023-24, during which he played in only two games. The 27-year-old was one of the best bench players in the league, averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 19.9 minutes. He finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. Now, Jerome is looking at a substantial raise from his current $2.5 million salary. The Cavaliers can offer him a maximum of $14.3 million for next season, and it remains to be seen whether that will be enough to keep him around.
--Taavi PailkSource: Michael Scotto
May 20, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans forward/center
Zion Williamson hasn't seen any success during his time in Louisiana, leaving his future murky, but he remains an integral part of the team's plans. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Pelicans' newly-hired president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, wants to "make things work with Williamson as the team's centerpiece." New Orleans has aimed to build around Williamson ever since drafting him in 2019 as the No. 1 pick, but his availability is a significant concern. The 24-year-old has never played more than 70 games in a single NBA season and was limited to just 30 appearances in 2024-25. When healthy, Williamson can be a fantasy beast, but history has shown that managers can't count on that.
--Taavi PailkSource: Marc Stein
May 20, 2025
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center
Giannis Antetokounmpo has experienced three consecutive first-round exits with the team and is reportedly considering his future with the club. He is scheduled to meet with the team this week to discuss his future. NBA insider Marc Stein has reported that the Bucks remain "hopeful" that Antetokounmpo won't request a trade. Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career in Milwaukee, where he has become a two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star. However, he will turn 31 in December, and personal accolades seem to be secondary for him at this stage of his career, with Antetokounmpo focused on winning another championship. Even if he moves on, Antetokounmpo will remain among the top producers in fantasy basketball, and there should still be plenty of juice left in him.
--Taavi PailkSource: Marc Stein
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