1 month agoAccording to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Boston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) will undergo an MRI on Tuesday. The veteran suffered what the team called right calf tightness before the end of the first half, so he'd finish the night with seven points in 14 minutes. Fortunately, medical personnel don't suspect an Achilles injury. However, the ailment could be enough to keep Porzingis off the floor for Game 5, although it's still too early to speculate. But if he can't go,
Al Horford should slide into the starting lineup, with
Luke Kornet getting minutes behind him from off the bench.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
1 month agoBoston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is doubtful to return to Monday's playoff matchup with the Heat. Porzingis was having another rough shooting performance, going 1-for-5 from the field. But even worse, he injured his right calf before the end of the first half. The C's have Game 4 under control, so there's no urgency to bring Porzingis back to the floor. However, the real question now is if he'll be healthy enough to suit up for Game 5. If he can't,
Al Horford will likely take over at the five, with
Luke Kornet coming in for relief.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Jay King
1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard
Patrick Beverley (oblique) is considered probable for Tuesday's Game 5 against Indiana. He's expected to play through a right oblique muscle strain. The veteran entered the starting unit late in the regular season and has played well in the playoffs. Beverley averages 7.5 points in the series with 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steals on 50 percent shooting from deep. However, the team needs even more from him offensively, with
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and
Damian Lillard (Achilles) likely to remain unavailable on Tuesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks forward
Khris Middleton (ankle) is listed as probable for Tuesday's Game 5 against Indiana. He injured his right ankle early in the series but has remained in the lineup and is expected to lead the charge again on Tuesday. Middleton is Milwaukee's top scoring option, with
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and
Damian Lillard (Achilles) sidelined, and he's had 51 efforts from the field across the last two games. Antetokounmpo and Lillard aren't expected to return on Tuesday, so another big effort is expected from Middleton, who's averaged 26.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard
Damian Lillard (Achilles) is considered doubtful for Tuesday's elimination game against the Pacers. He's set to miss a second consecutive contest after aggravating an Achilles injury in Game 3 of the first-round series.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is also doubtful, meaning the Bucks are in huge trouble.
Malik Beasley came into the starting unit for Lillard in Game 4 and produced a good 20-point performance with 4-for-7 shooting from deep, but the team was clearly beaten 126-113.
Khris Middleton (ankle) and
Brook Lopez also went for 20-plus points with Milwaukee's top guns sidelined.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks forward/center
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is doubtful for Tuesday's Game 5 against Indiana. The Greek superstar has yet to feature this postseason due to a calf injury, and the doubtful tag makes it unlikely that he will be able to play on Tuesday, even with the team desperately needing him. Sitting in a 3-1 deficit in the series, the Bucks face elimination on Tuesday, but head coach Doc Rivers has indicated that Antetokounmpo won't play until he's 100 percent. Having also lost
Damian Lillard (Achilles) to injury, the Bucks received a big 27-point effort from
Brook Lopez in Game 4.
Khris Middleton (ankle) also carries a heavy burden offensively.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoIndiana Pacers point guard
Tyrese Haliburton (back) is on the injury report as questionable ahead of Game 5 against Milwaukee on Tuesday. Indiana's breakout star is dealing with lower back spasms and also picked up a late questionable tag ahead of Game 4. Haliburton ended up having his highest-scoring game of the series with 24 points on Sunday, so it appears as though the issue isn't very serious.
T.J. McConnell would receive a larger workload if Haliburton needs to come out of the lineup. He's a nifty playmaker who averaged 10.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals in a starting role during the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoNew York Knicks guard/forward
Bojan Bogdanovic (ankle) won't be available for Tuesday's Game 5 against the 76ers. The veteran sniper was hurt in Sunday's Game 4 and has been ruled out with a left foot contusion. Bogdanovic averaged 16.7 minutes in the first three games of the series before lasting only 1:11 on Sunday. The second unit was led by
Precious Achiuwa and
Miles McBride in the contest, and the two should have a big part to play again on Tuesday after helping the Knicks grab a 3-1 series lead with effective performances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoNew York Knicks center
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's Game 5 against Philadelphia. He could be out for a second consecutive contest after skipping Sunday's Game 4 due to an ankle sprain. Robinson warmed up for the game with the intention of playing, but he was ruled out ahead of tip-off after being initially being questionable.
Precious Achiuwa saw extra action without Robinson and had a big role defensively in the game with four blocks. After playing him the entire fourth quarter in Game 4, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau could have an important role penciled in for Achiuwa again on Tuesday, even if Robinson is available.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoNew York Knicks point guard
Jalen Brunson (knee) is probable for Tuesday's Game 5 against Philadelphia. He's on the injury report with a right knee contusion. Brunson battled through knee pain in Game 4, but it didn't appear to affect his performance, as the Knicks star posted a new franchise record for most points in a playoff game with 47. After initially struggling in the series, Brunson has recorded two big double-doubles, and we should see another spectacle from him as the series returns to Madison Square Garden.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) has once again been listed as questionable on the injury report, with the team set to continue its first-round battle against the Knicks on Tuesday. Embiid, who continues to recover from a left knee injury, has so far played in all four games in the matchup, surpassing the 40-minute mark in back-to-back contests. He's posted 35.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals in the playoffs. The 2022-23 regular season MVP has previously struggled in elimination games in his career, notching only 22.0 points per game with 38.8 percent shooting.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoMiami Heat point guard
Delon Wright (personal) will be available on Monday against Boston. He's returning after missing Game 3 due to the birth of his daughter. Wright has logged 20-plus minutes in both of his two playoff appearances so far and should receive the same kind of workload in Game 4. The 32-year-old is more known for his defensive ability, but Wright also stood out offensively in the series opener with 17 points. He's averaged 11.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals this postseason.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 month agoPhoenix Suns forward
Kevin Durant scored a very efficient 33 points in Sunday's 122-116 loss to the Timberwolves, finishing with 12-for-17 shooting from the field. Durant averages the third-most points among active players in elimination games, and he produced another high-level performance, but Phoenix needed even more from him as Minnesota completed the first-round sweep on Sunday. Across 46 minutes of action, Durant also came up big defensively by swatting away four shots, and his tally included nine rebounds and five assists. This is the second sweep in four years Durant has suffered since leaving Golden State, and he can't be happy about how things have worked out in Phoenix with the team's Big Three.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoPhoenix Suns guard/forward
Devin Booker set a new playoff career high with 49 points in Sunday's Game 4 loss to Minnesota. The four-time All-Star shot 13-for-21 from the field with a 3-for-5 record from deep and hit 20 of his 21 free throws, but the Suns couldn't stay alive in the series despite Booker's monster effort. Booker, who also posted five rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block on Sunday, is now 0-4 for his career in elimination games. He had previously averaged only 14.0 points in elimination games, so Booker took a major step forward from a personal perspective, but the Suns as a team seem stuck in the same place. Since reaching the Finals in 2021, Phoenix has won only two playoff series, going 10-13 in the postseason.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoMinnesota Timberwolves forward/center
Karl-Anthony Towns played a big part in Sunday's Game 4 victory over Phoenix with 28 points and 10 rebounds. He was a major threat all over the place, nailing four of his six attempts from deep and shooting 11-for-17 overall. He also handed out three assists. Towns finished the series with back-to-back double-doubles, averaging 19.3 points and 9.5 rebounds overall. He hit a very impressive 9-for-17 from outside in four games and will be a massive headache for the next opponent if he keeps this up. The Timberwolves are the first team to qualify for the second round and will meet either Denver or the Lakers next.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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