2 days agoNew York Knicks guard
Jalen Brunson turned in a historic performance after posting a third-straight 40-point performance and his fourth game of at least 39 points and six assists. In Game 6, Brunson finished with 41 points, 12 assists, three rebounds, and two turnovers while shooting 13-for-27 from the floor and 3-for-8 from deep. The Villanova product hit multiple big shots down the stretch of the game to put it just out of reach for the 76ers and lead the Knicks to their second playoff series win since the 2012-13 season. Despite a rough start in the first two games of the series, he found his rhythm and carried the offense to the tune of 35.5 points per game and he's currently the leading scorer throughout the entire playoffs so far.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Basketball Reference
2 days agoMilwaukee Bucks forward
Khris Middleton had 14 points in Thursday's loss to the Pacers. He added four boards, three assists, and two steals. While the veteran did all he could, his efforts weren't enough to lead Milwaukee to a win, eliminating the team from the playoffs. Middleton finished the regular season by averaging 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. However, as usual, the 32-year-old was limited to 55 games due to injury. Middleton's play is never a concern. But his inability to stay healthy will negatively impact his fantasy stock heading into the 2024-25 campaign, no matter where he's playing.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 days agoMilwaukee Bucks guard
Damian Lillard (Achilles) was back in the lineup for Thursday's playoff meeting with Indiana after missing a few contests with an Achilles injury. He played well, scoring a game-high 28 points while shooting 7-for-16 from the field and 4-for-12 from deep. Unfortunately, Lillard's return didn't help, as the Pacers got the win to eliminate the Bucks from the postseason. Lillard has been one of the league's most potent scorers for years. However, the 33-year-old took a step backward in his first season with the Bucks, averaging 24.3 points, nearly eight fewer than he had in his final season in Portland. On a positive note, he logged 73 games during the regular season, his most since 2017-18. But it appears Lillard is starting to regress statistically, so his fantasy ranking for next season won't be as favorable.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 days agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (rib) is questionable for Friday's matchup with Orlando. The veteran is bothered by a right rib contusion, keeping him off the floor for Tuesday's win. He didn't practice on Thursday, although it appears he still has a chance to suit up for Game 6. However, if Allen misses another contest,
Isaac Okoro will likely remain in the starting lineup. On the other hand,
Marcus Morris Sr., coming off a 12-point effort in Game 5, would be the preferred DFS value option if Allen can't go.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoDallas Mavericks guard/forward
Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) remains out for Friday's matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. The sharpshooting veteran tweaked his right ankle in Game 2 of this series and hasn't been available since. Without him,
Maxi Kleber and
Josh Green have gotten more minutes, even though neither player has been able to take advantage of their extra time on the floor.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoLos Angeles Clippers guard
Terance Mann (leg) is questionable for Friday's postseason encounter with the Mavericks. As expected,
Kawhi Leonard (knee) remains out, so the team needs Mann to help fill the void in the lineup. The 27-year-old has posted double-digit scoring performances three times during the series. However, Mann is not a consistent fantasy producer, although the upside is there for the DFS managers willing to take a risk, assuming he plays. If he doesn't,
Norman Powell,
Amir Coffey, and
Russell Westbrook should absorb most of his minutes.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoLos Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (knee) won't play on Friday against the Mavericks. There isn't any new information concerning his ailment. However, the Clippers need to win the next two games to advance to the next round, although they will likely need to do it without Leonard in the lineup. As usual,
Paul George and
James Harden will do their best to lead the offense in Game 6. But
Norman Powell,
Russell Westbrook, and
Terance Mann should continue to get more minutes and shot opportunities. With that said, nobody on the Clippers' roster has been consistent from a fantasy standpoint throughout this series.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoNew York Knicks center
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) will be available for Game 6 against Philadelphia on Thursday. He has missed one game in the series with an ankle injury, but Robinson has been upgraded from questionable to available ahead of the Game 6 tip-off. Robinson has an important role to play behind starting center
Isaiah Hartenstein, as the Knicks' success depends a lot on how well they deal with
Joel Embiid.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) will be in the lineup for Thursday's Game 6 clash against the Knicks. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. Embiid has yet to miss any playoff action after returning from a left knee injury, and another big performance is expected from him in Thursday's elimination game. The 76ers superstar looked quite lethargic in Tuesday's survival battle but still produced a triple-double. He's averaging close to 32 points in the postseason with 10.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoIndiana Pacers point guard
Tyrese Haliburton (back) will be good to go for Thursday's Game 6 against Milwaukee. An issue with his lower back has kept Haliburton on the injury report for the past few games, but the team has upgraded him from questionable to available ahead of Thursday's action. The young Pacers star will aim to produce a big finish to the series. Through five games, he's gotten to the 20-point mark only once, averaging 15.8 points in the first-round matchup with 5.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Indiana Pacers
2 days agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard
Patrick Beverley (oblique) has been upgraded from probable to available for Thursday's Game 6 against Indiana. Beverley is set to make up Milwaukee's starting backcourt with the returning
Damian Lillard (Achilles). He will likely take a backseat offensively, but Beverley's tenacity on the defensive end is a big asset for the Bucks, and he should continue to get a healthy dose of action. Through the first five games in the series, Beverley has averaged 34.0 minutes a night, posting 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoMilwaukee Bucks forward
Khris Middleton (ankle) has been officially cleared to play in Thursday's Game 6 against the Pacers. The team has upgraded him from probable to available. Middleton has been huge in the series for Milwaukee, but he will likely play a slightly lesser role offensively on Thursday as
Damian Lillard (Achilles) returns to the lineup. With that said, the team needs another big performance from Middleton to survive in the series, with
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) still on the shelf.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days 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
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