3 weeks agoGolden State Warriors guard
Stephen Curry was named the 2023-24 NBA Clutch Player of the Year on Thursday night. The veteran sharpshooter has had plenty of big moments throughout his career, so this shouldn't surprise anyone. With that said, Curry, who has been in the league for 15 seasons, is as good as ever. He averaged 26.4 points and 5.1 assists during the 2023-24 campaign. He also appeared in 74 games, his most since 2016-17. While Curry might only have a few seasons left, he should remain productive until he calls it quits.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
3 weeks agoPhiladelphia 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 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in 38.0 minutes through the first two games in the matchup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia 76ers
3 weeks agoDallas 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 heavily in the rotation again on Friday if Gafford can't play. Lively II could be an intriguing DFS play if he joins the first unit. The rookie from Duke averaged 8.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks as a starter during the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoDallas 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 good fantasy options. Both players failed to score in Game 2, with the Mavericks relying heavily on their first unit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoMilwaukee 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 double-double in the series with 14.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in 30.5 minutes. He could see a few more minutes on Friday, as
Khris Middleton (ankle) is considered questionable for the contest.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoMilwaukee 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 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. With
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) likely remaining on the shelf,
Damian Lillard would be expected to do even more offensively.
Malik Beasley and
Jae Crowder should share most of Middleton's minutes if he's out, with one of them likely moving to the first unit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoCleveland 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 most productive player of the trio in the playoffs, although his 7.0 points and 2.5 steals per game shouldn't excite many DFS players.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Cleveland Cavaliers
3 weeks agoNew 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 from three-point land. Murphy III grabbed five rebounds and swatted away one shot while handing out two assists. The Pelicans will look to produce a bounce-back performance on Saturday at home, with Murphy III set to remain
Zion Williamson's (hamstring) fill-in in the starting unit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoNew 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 with four assists. The veteran is now 3-for-14 from downtown through the first two games of the series. A big improvement is needed from him in home games for New Orleans to have a shot in the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoNew 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 tallied four rebounds with three assists, one steal, and one block. Ingram hasn't looked quite himself since returning from a knee injury in the regular-season finale. The talented scorer has yet to make a three-pointer in the series against OKC and averages a measly 15.0 points on 37 percent shooting.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoNew 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 Valanciunas' scoring run at the 7:58 mark in the first quarter. After gobbling up 20 rebounds in Game 1, Valanciunas settled for seven boards this time, adding two assists to his tally. The Pelicans center has been productive in the series, but his defensive shortcoming resulted in
Chet Holmgren getting 20 first-half points in Game 2. The veteran definitely has to improve at that end to earn consistent playing time.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoOklahoma 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 had a historic outing -- for the first time ever in the NBA playoffs, a team had all of its points scored by players aged 25 or younger. It's been a strong start for Williams in the series, as he is averaging 20.0 points with 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoOklahoma 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 in the first quarter. He finished with 9-for-13 shooting, including 3-for-6 from downtown. Holmgren's efforts included the Thunder's only two blocks in the game, and he wrapped up his line with seven rebounds and one assist. The 21-year-old rookie has a tough matchup in the series against Valanciunas, but he's stood tall in the battle so far and boasts some outstanding numbers. With two games played, Holmgren is averaging 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks with 41.7 percent shooting from deep.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoOklahoma 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 pair of steals and grabbed three rebounds while dishing out five assists. OKC's MVP candidate is averaging 30.5 points through the first couple of postseason games. The Pelicans need to find a way to slow him down if they want to advance to the next round.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoMinnesota Timberwolves forward/center
Naz Reid was named the Sixth Man of the Year for the 2023-24 season on Wednesday. Reid, who signed a three-year, $42 million extension with the club last offseason, averaged a career-high 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 41.4% from deep in 81 appearances. Without question, he will play a vital role in Minnesota's rotation for years to come, and his fantasy stock will be significantly higher heading into the 2024-25 campaign after capturing the award.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Communications
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