1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks forward/center
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) isn't ready to return to the lineup on Thursday against Indiana. He was considered a game-time call for the contest along with
Damian Lillard (Achilles), but while Lillard will be back in action, Antetokounmpo is still left to wait for his chance to return. It won't come in the 2024 playoffs if Milwaukee loses on Thursday.
Bobby Portis was one of the stars in Milwaukee's Game 5 victory, recording 29 points with 10 rebounds, and he's set for another start in Antetokounmpo's place on Thursday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Chris Haynes
1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard
Damian Lillard (Achilles) will play in Game 6 against Indiana on Thursday. Milwaukee gets its superstar guard back after Lillard sat out two games with an Achilles injury. He's set to play a huge role on Thursday as the Bucks try to fight off elimination once again. Lillard is averaging 32.3 points and 5.3 assists in the series, shooting 44.4 percent from outside.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Chris Haynes
1 month agoOrlando Magic guard/forward
Gary Harris (hamstring) is considered a game-time call for Friday's Game 6 against Cleveland. He suffered a right hamstring strain in Game 5, exiting the contest early. Harris has started all five games for the Magic in the playoffs, averaging 26.2 minutes. However, he hasn't been very productive, posting only 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
Markelle Fultz and
Cole Anthony could get more playing opportunities on Friday, but the two haven't made any noise in the playoffs and would be risky choices for DFS managers.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Kendra Andrews
1 month agoChicago Bulls guard
Alex Caruso was awarded the NBA's Hustle Award on Thursday afternoon. Always known for his effort and grit, the 30-year-old earned recognition for what he brings to the court consistently. For the season, Caruso averaged 10.1 points per game but made his biggest impact on the defensive end by averaging one block and 1.7 steals per game. He made the All-Defensive first team last season and now has been rewarded for his hustle in 2024. Finishing in second place in the voting was Toronto Raptors forward
Scottie Barnes, and Golden State Warriors guard
Brandin Podziemski came in third place.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (ribs) did not participate in practice on Thursday as the team prepares for a pivotal Game 6 versus the Orlando Magic. The 26-year-old did not play in Game 5 and continues to suffer from a nagging rib injury. This is not encouraging news for the starting center, as Allen has been a difference-maker all season long. In this series, he has averaged 17 points over four contests while hauling in over 13 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers will attempt to close out the Magic on Friday, and if Allen can't recover in time, the team will likely rely on
Marcus Morris Sr. and
Tristan Thompson to take on more minutes in the frontcourt.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard
Damian Lillard (Achilles) is considered questionable to play in Thursday's game versus the Indiana Pacers. The star guard was originally listed as doubtful to play on Wednesday's injury report, but the latest news is certainly an intriguing storyline. Lillard has not suited up since he hurt his right Achilles in Game 3 of the series. With the Bucks facing elimination, his return to the court would be a huge lift for Game 6 in Indiana. His status is worth monitoring as we get closer to tip-off on Thursday.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoLos Angeles Clippers center
Ivica Zubac missed only one of his eight shots to produce a 15-point outing in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to Dallas. Across 26 minutes of action, he also recorded six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Zubac's performance was the lone bright spot for the Clippers in a 30-point loss, particularly his start. The Croatian big man scored eight points in the first six minutes. Zubac has been strong throughout the series and is probably the only player on the team who's not disappointed with his postseason production. He's netted 16.0 points per game with 61 percent shooting and is averaging 9.0 rebounds with 1.0 steals.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoLos Angeles Clippers point guard
Russell Westbrook had another miserable outing against the Mavericks in Game 5 on Wednesday, posting six points on 2-for-11 shooting in a 123-93 loss. He missed all three shots from deep and didn't register any assists in 16 minutes of action while grabbing five rebounds. Westbrook performed well in the series opener, but he's had a horrible four-game spell since. The former MVP has been limited to 6-for-35 shooting, notching just 19 total points. His performances have been a major letdown for the Clippers, who face elimination in Game 6 on Friday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoLos Angeles Clippers guard
James Harden finished with only seven points in Wednesday's beatdown by the Mavericks, shooting 2-for-12 from the field, including 1-for-7 from deep. The veteran star also had four rebounds and seven assists with four turnovers. Overall, Harden has played well in the series, and Game 4 was probably one of the best postseason performances of his career, but the Clippers came completely unstuck in front of their fans Wednesday night. Tyronn Lue's team now faces elimination in Game 6 on Friday. With
Kawhi Leonard (knee) on the shelf, Harden and
Paul George need to come up with something special for the Clippers to extend the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoLos Angeles Clippers guard/forward
Paul George shot only 4-for-13 from the field to finish with 15 points in Wednesday's 123-93 loss to Dallas. After going off for 33 points in Game 4, George struggled to get going offensively, although he managed to save his fantasy line a bit by getting a game-high 11 rebounds and handing out four assists. The Clippers star is shooting 41 percent from downtown in the series but has been wildly inconsistent with his performances. Sitting on a scoring average of 19.8 points per game, George is on track to have his least productive playoff campaign since 2013.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoDallas Mavericks forward/center
Maxi Kleber brought a flamethrower to Wednesday's Game 5 against the Clippers, finishing 5-for-7 from downtown during a 15-point effort. He had as many triples as the Clippers' starting five combined as Dallas dominated in Los Angeles and took a 3-2 series lead. Kleber bagged three rebounds and an assist as well in 19 minutes off the bench. This was by far his best performance of the 2024 playoffs, and it's unlikely Kleber will repeat it soon. However, his three-point shooting has been top-notch throughout the series. After going 0-for-3 in Game 1, Kleber has missed only three of his 12 attempts from deep.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoDallas Mavericks guard
Kyrie Irving had a tough time from behind the arc on Wednesday against the Clippers but played an effective game to help the team grab a 3-2 series lead with a blowout win. He finished 1-for-7 with his three-pointers. However, Irving registered a game-high plus-35 rating as he notched 14 points with 6-for-14 shooting, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals. The one-two punch of Irving and
Luka Doncic has been deadly in the series, and Dallas finds itself in a great position to grab a second-round ticket on Friday in Game 6.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoDallas Mavericks point guard
Luka Doncic eased his way to 35 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists in Wednesday's dominant 123-93 win over the Clippers. The Mavericks star might be battling a knee issue and an illness, but he pulled out some of his best moves in the game to push his scoring average in the series to 30.2 points. Doncic has also tallied 9.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the first-round matchup, with the Clippers incapable of doing anything to slow him down.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoBoston Celtics power forward/center
Al Horford replaced
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) in the starting lineup for Wednesday's Game 5 win over the Miami Heat. The dominant team performance putting the game out of hand early limited Horford's time on the court to 22 minutes. Boston's 37-year-old veteran still delivered eight points, six rebounds, and three assists to help build the lead. Horford will continue to start in the next round with Porzingis missing several more games. The Celtics must rely on Horford and reserve
Luke Kornet as their centers against a tougher Cleveland Cavaliers or Orlando Magic opponent.
--Joey Haverford - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoBoston Celtics guard
Jrue Holiday contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the team's Game 5 win versus the Miami Heat. The five-time All-Defensive Team guard closed a quiet offensive series by shooting 3-for-5 from the field on Wednesday. Holiday helped keep the opposing guards in check with his stellar defense, but he only averaged 7.8 points on eight shot attempts per game in the series.
Derrick White becoming a bigger offensive force in the backcourt limits Holiday's fantasy ceiling. However,
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) missing several more games in the next round could be a fantasy boost to improve Holiday's points and rebounds in a more challenging series.
--Joey Haverford - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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