4 weeks agoNew York Knicks guard
Jalen Brunson finished with a team-high 39 points in Thursday's loss to Philadelphia. He added 13 assists and two rebounds. However, Brunson's potent performance wasn't enough, with the Sixers earning a much-needed win. With another stellar showing in the books, the 27-year-old is now averaging 28.3 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in this series. His shooting numbers need to improve. But Brunson should remain one of the top DFS options for Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers guard
Tyrese Maxey finished with 25 points in Thursday's much-needed victory over the Knicks. He added seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals. With
Joel Embiid dropping a game-high 50 points, Maxey still got his scoring chances. Granted, it was his worst game of the series. However, his efforts were still good enough for DFS managers. With the Sixers hoping to tie up the series on Sunday, fantasy participants should expect the 23-year-old to see plenty of minutes and remain heavily involved on both sides of the floor.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) led his team to a win over the Knicks on Thursday evening. Embiid logged 41 minutes and finished with a game-high 50 points, adding eight rebounds, four assists, and one block. He also went 13-for-19 from the field and 5-for-7 from behind the arc, a significant improvement from the series' first two games. The MVP of the 2022-23 campaign came into this contest listed as questionable because of his ailing left knee, although that's nothing new. However, Embiid came back to life in Thursday's victory, so he'll receive even more attention from DFS managers for Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoDallas Mavericks forward
Olivier-Maxence Prosper (ankle) won't play on Friday against the Clippers. The rookie tweaked his ankle during practice on Thursday. However, he hasn't seen much action this postseason, logging just one minute in Game 1, meaning he wouldn't have garnered any attention from DFS managers even if he was available.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (knee) is questionable for Friday's postseason meeting with the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran battled knee inflammation, forcing him to miss time toward the end of the 2023-24 campaign. He also wasn't available for Game 1, although he was back on the floor for Tuesday's loss. Despite struggling shooting the ball, Leonard still finished with 15 points, seven boards, four steals, and one block. Nonetheless, with the series tied at one game each, the 32-year-old should be cleared to suit up and see a full workload.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
RADIO
