1 day agoMinnesota Timberwolves forward/center
Karl-Anthony Towns had another night to forget in the Western Conference Finals on Sunday, finishing a 116-107 loss to Dallas with 14 points on 5-for-18 shooting. His ugly shooting performance included a 0-for-8 effort from three-point range. Towns has been very active from deep in the series, but he's nailed only three shots, with his 13.6 percent efficiency the worst in Conference Finals history among players with at least five attempts. Overall, Towns has shot 27.8 percent in the series to average 15 points. On Sunday, the Timberwolves big man at least managed to salvage some of his line with a game-high 11 rebounds, which gave him his seventh postseason double-double of the year. The Timberwolves need a massive improvement from Towns to extend their season beyond Tuesday's Game 4.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoMinnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards posted a team-high 26 points in Sunday's Game 3 loss against Dallas, shooting 11-for-24 from the field with no makes from downtown. It was another inefficient scoring performance from the Timberwolves star, although Edwards played better compared to the previous games and was even close to triple-double numbers. The 22-year-old picked up nine rebounds with nine assists and two turnovers. Edwards has been limited to only 38.6 percent shooting in the Western Conference Finals, and the Timberwolves are in big trouble following three losses.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoMinnesota Timberwolves point guard
Mike Conley had a 16-point outing with 4-for-7 shooting from deep in Sunday's 116-107 loss to Dallas. Conley scored each of the team's first five points and had a good shooting night with a 6-for-11 effort from the field despite an early trip to the locker room. The veteran continues to play through a calf problem, which forced him to miss one game in the previous series. Across 31 minutes of action, Conley added one rebound, four assists, and one steal to his line while committing only one turnover, although he had a game-worst minus-16 rating. Following a six-point dud in Game 1, Conley has enjoyed two productive outings, but the team needs even more from him, as
Anthony Edwards and
Karl-Anthony Towns are slumping.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoDallas Mavericks forward
Derrick Jones Jr. demonstrated perfect three-point shooting in Sunday's Game 3 win over the Timberwolves, hitting 3-for-3 from deep to finish with 11 points. These are his first made threes in the series after Jones Jr. went 0-for-5 in the first two games. On Sunday, he also recorded a pair of rebounds and assists while producing a game-best plus-15 rating in 33 minutes on the floor. Jones Jr. has been a solid two-way contributor for the Mavericks during their playoff run, but he's been quiet in the matchup against Minnesota as
Kyrie Irving and
Luka Doncic have taken over. Through three games, Jones Jr. has averaged 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoDallas Mavericks point guard
Luka Doncic had his third consecutive 30-point game against Minnesota in the Western Conference Finals on Sunday, contributing 33 points on 10-for-20 shooting in a 116-107 win. Half of his makes came with 11 attempts from three-point range, while Doncic was 8-for-10 with his free throws. He put together a full line, finishing with seven rebounds, five assists, five steals, and one block.
Khris Middleton was previously the only player in NBA playoffs history to record at least 30 points with five made triples, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Doncic reportedly continues to carry several health issues, but you wouldn't say so based on his performances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoDallas Mavericks guard
Kyrie Irving scored a very efficient 33 points as the team grabbed a 3-0 lead against Minnesota in the Western Conference Finals with a 116-107 victory on Sunday. After enjoying a strong finish in Game 2, Irving got off to a good start and ran the show for Dallas alongside
Luka Doncic, who also posted 33 points. Irving shot 12-for-20 from the field with a 3-for-6 record from deep and recorded three rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 42 minutes. With him shooting well over 50 percent and averaging 27.7 points in the series, the Mavericks are well-placed to close out the Timberwolves quickly.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 days agoDallas Mavericks center
Dereck Lively II (neck) won't return to Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals versus Minnesota. The 20-year-old has been huge for Dallas during this series, averaging 11.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists heading into Sunday night. But he left early in the contest after taking a knee from
Karl-Anthony Towns to the back of his head, so he'll finish the night having logged only nine minutes. Lively's presence in the middle is needed for a Dallas team that has to deal with Towns and
Rudy Gobert. With that said, the neck sprain Lively suffered will likely put him on the injury report for Game 4. If he can't go,
Daniel Gafford could see more minutes in the middle, although
P.J. Washington and
Dwight Powell could also get work at the five.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Grant Afseth
2 days agoIndiana Pacers guard
Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) is questionable for Monday's postseason showdown with the Celtics. He tweaked his left hamstring in Game 2 and didn't return. Haliburton also carried the same injury designation heading into Game 3. However, the 24-year-old wasn't out there. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Indiana will "err on the side of caution" regarding Haliburton's health while adding that there is a growing possibility he won't return for the rest of this series. If that's the case,
Andrew Nembhard, coming off a 32-point, nine-assist showing in Game 3, will continue to see plenty of interest from DFS managers. The same applies to
Pascal Siakam,
T.J. McConnell, and
Myles Turner.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoDallas Mavericks guard
Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) will play on Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He had a triple-double in Game 2, doing so despite battling lingering knee and ankle soreness. While Doncic's shooting numbers haven't been the best throughout the postseason, he remains a top DFS option for Game 3.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Melissa Rohlin
2 days agoBoston Celtics center
Luke Kornet (wrist) is questionable for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Indiana Pacers. He injured his wrist in Game 2 and wasn't available for Saturday's comeback win. However, with the Celtics just one win away from the NBA Finals, the team could play it safe by keeping him off the floor. With
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) already ruled out,
Al Horford would continue operating as the starting center, with
Xavier Tillman Sr. in line to get more work. Unfortunately, Tillman hasn't done much this postseason, so DFS managers shouldn't consider him for their lineups.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoBoston Celtics guard
Jrue Holiday (illness) is questionable for Monday's playoff meeting with the Pacers. He's battling a non-COVID-related illness and held the same designation heading into Game 3 on Saturday night. However, the veteran was active and finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three steals in 38 minutes of work. With that said, the C's are up three games, so the team could give him a night off if needed. If that's the case,
Payton Pritchard and
Sam Hauser would presumably pick up extra minutes.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoBoston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is out for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Pacers. There were reports that the veteran could return for this contest after missing nearly a month because of a right Soleus strain. But truth be told, the Celtics likely won't need him during the series, meaning the team could keep Porzingis resting until the NBA Finals, assuming the club advances. At any rate, there's still a chance his injury designation could change heading into Monday night. Yet, if Porzingis doesn't return,
Al Horford will remain the No. 1 option in the middle. In addition,
Xavier Tillman Sr. might get a few minutes in Game 4 if
Luke Kornet (wrist) can't suit up after sitting out on Saturday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoAccording to Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports, the Phoenix Suns "are hoping to pursue"
LeBron James this offseason. While the multi-time MVP still needs to decline his $51.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, it appears more likely that he will test the open market over the summer. Of course, the Suns don't have the cash to offer James a lucrative deal, meaning he would need to consider taking significantly less if he hopes to team with
Kevin Durant,
Devin Booker, and
Bradley Beal. But he has made plenty of money throughout his career, so adding another championship to his resume could be a selling point. The Suns reportedly view Bronny James as "a very serious draft option," which could help Phoenix in their quest to add the NBA's All-Time leading scorer.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Evan Sidery
2 days agoAccording to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is still not a lock to return for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus Indiana. There were reports the veteran could be back on Monday night. However, Mazzulla has repeatedly denied these reports. Porzingis hasn't played in nearly a month because of a Soleus strain. But with Boston up three games in the series and one win away from advancing to the NBA Finals, the team may keep Porzingis on the shelf for a little longer. At any rate, with
Luke Kornet (wrist) missing Game 3 on Saturday night,
Al Horford could continue to absorb most of the minutes in the middle in Game 4, with
Xavier Tillman Sr. getting a few minutes from off the bench.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Brian Robb
2 days agoAccording to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Indiana Pacers guard
Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) isn't expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus Boston. Not only that but there's "real doubt" regarding his availability for the remainder of the series. Of course, that could mean Haliburton won't play again until the start of the 2024-25 campaign, especially since the Pacers are down three games and one loss away from elimination. But while Haliburton is on the shelf,
Andrew Nembhard, coming off a 32-point, nine-assist performance in Game 3, will be a favorite of DFS managers. At the same time,
Myles Turner,
Pascal Siakam, and
T.J. McConnell could continue to see an increase in fantasy production.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
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