RADIO
Aaron Gordon Uncertain for Monday
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) is considered questionable for Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. The 30-year-old is dealing with a calf injury and didn't play in Game 3. He returned to the lineup for Game 4, but logged only 23 minutes and sat out most of the fourth quarter. The injury appears to be affecting Gordon's effectiveness, as he has managed only 11.3 points per game in the series, making 40 percent of his field-goal attempts. In Game 4, Spencer Jones started in Gordon's place and is likely to get the nod again if Gordon can't play on Monday. Nevertheless, Jones won't have much DFS appeal due to his limited production.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jordan Goodwin Considered Questionable for Monday's Elimination Game
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Jordan Goodwin (calf) will likely be listed as questionable for Monday's must-win Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports. Goodwin injured his left calf in the series opener, and his absence opened the door for Collin Gillespie to start. Grayson Allen's return to action also helped cover for Goodwin's absence in Game 3. In an ideal world, the Suns would want everyone available as they face playoff elimination on Monday night.
Source: Duane Rankin
Source: Duane Rankin
Joel Embiid Ready to Return Sunday
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) will make his 2026 postseason debut in Sunday's Game 4 against the Boston Celtics. He has been named a starter for the matchup after being upgraded from doubtful to questionable earlier on Sunday. Embiid hasn't played since April 6 and underwent an appendectomy three days later, so he might be a bit rusty as Philadelphia attempts to tie the first-round series. But it will be great to see him back in action. Adem Bona and Andre Drummond must settle for smaller roles now that Embiid is back in the lineup.
Source: Philadelphia 76ers
Source: Philadelphia 76ers
Mark Williams to Remain Out Monday
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (foot) will remain sidelined on Monday in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports. He hasn't been part of the playoff action so far due to a foot injury. Phoenix might be eliminated on Monday, so it's possible Williams won't get another chance to return this season. In his absence, Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach will continue to share the duties at the center position. Ighodaro had his best performance of the series in Game 3, notching 15 points, three rebounds, four assists, and one block in 39 minutes. Maluach has only averaged 13.3 minutes per game and doesn't warrant attention from DFS managers.
Source: Duane Rankin
Source: Duane Rankin
Kevin Huerter Listed as Questionable for Monday
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (hip) is listed as questionable for Game 4 against the Orlando Magic on Monday. He might have to sit out this one after injuring his left hip in Saturday's Game 3 loss. Huerter has been limited to 2.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 13.3 minutes per game this postseason. His absence on Monday might boost Caris LeVert's playing time. He has so far logged just 7.3 minutes per game in the first-round series. It's also possible the Pistons will reinsert Ron Holland II into the rotation.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kelly Oubre Jr. Cleared to Play Sunday
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (adductor) will be active for Sunday's Game 4 against the Boston Celtics. Following his 40-minute outing in Game 3, Oubre Jr. landed on the injury report with a sore right adductor. But the team has upgraded his status from questionable to available ahead of tip-off. Oubre Jr. has been Philadelphia's fourth-leading scorer in the playoffs and one of the team's best rebounders. He has averaged 13.0 points and 6.0 boards in 34.3 minutes per game.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Anthony Edwards Faces Multi-Week Absence
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) will be out of action for multiple weeks, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The Timberwolves lost their star man to a knee injury in Saturday's win over Denver. He has been diagnosed with a bone bruise and hyperextension of his left knee. Tests on Edwards' knee revealed no ligament damage, which will be a relief for the player and team. However, Edwards must still sit out some action. He is expected to miss the rest of the first round and probably will be sidelined at the start of the second-round series as well, should Minnesota get past the Nuggets. Following Edwards' injury on Saturday night, Ayo Dosunmu erupted for a career-high 43 points and will continue to have additional offensive duties until Edwards returns. The team will also look to Julius Randle to be more of an offensive leader.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Kevin Durant Remains Out Sunday
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (ankle) won't play in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. His status has been downgraded from questionable to out. The two-time Finals MVP will miss a second consecutive game due to an ankle injury and won't be part of Houston's lineup for the third time in this series. Durant's absence will allow Reed Sheppard to retain his spot in the starting unit. Meanwhile, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason will be counted on to be more productive in the frontcourt as the Rockets try to stave off elimination on Sunday night.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Desmond Bane Nails Seven Triples En Route to 25 Points
Orlando Magic guard/forward Desmond Bane came alive in Saturday's 113-105 Game 3 win over the Detroit Pistons, scoring 25 points with a 7-for-9 effort from deep. He finished 9-for-18 overall from the field, nearly scoring more points than he had managed across the first two games of the series (27). On Saturday, Bane was also active on the glass, collecting seven rebounds, but he finished with zero assists. Defensively, the 27-year-old recorded one steal. Paolo Banchero once again struggled to score efficiently, which made Bane's contribution crucial on Saturday. He will look to replicate this effort in Monday's Game 4.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cade Cunningham Finishes Loss With Nine Turnovers
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham struggled to handle the ball in Saturday's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic, committing nine turnovers in a 113-105 loss. The rest of the Pistons gave up the ball just seven times. It was a frustrating outing for Cunningham, whose scoring efficiency also left a lot to be desired. En route to a game-high 27 points, the two-time All-Star went 8-for-23 from the field, including 3-for-10 from behind the arc. Cunningham missed a second consecutive double-double by one assist and grabbed five rebounds. Despite his efforts, the Pistons are now trailing 2-1 in the series and clearly need to get more out of Jalen Duren, who has been limited to 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Drops 42 Points on Suns in Game 3
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored at will in Saturday's Game 3 win over the Phoenix Suns, finishing with 42 points. He had the same amount of points as Devin Booker and Jalen Green combined, going an incredible 15-for-18 from the field and 11-for-12 at the foul line. The reigning MVP also played his part on offense with eight assists and tallied four rebounds and one steal. Even after losing Jalen Williams (hamstring), the defending champions look like a no-match for the Suns and will have a chance to sweep the series on Monday. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 34.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.0 assists this postseason.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Karl-Anthony Towns Joins Exclusive List With Triple-Double
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 20-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in Saturday's 114-98 Game 4 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Previously, only three players in Knicks history had finished a playoff game with a triple-double. Toews needed just 29 minutes of action to get there, making six of his 10 field-goal attempts and going 7-for-9 at the charity stripe. His offensive efforts included one make from downtown with two attempts. On the defensive end, Toews came up with two steals. The Knicks big man has been very effective in the first-round series, making an impact on both ends of the floor. He has averaged 21.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.3 steals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Julius Randle Tossed From Game 4
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle was ejected with 1.3 seconds remaining in Saturday's Game 4 victory over the Denver Nuggets. He was involved in a shoving match after Jaden McDaniels scored an uncontested layup when everyone had already stopped playing. This irked Nikola Jokic, who was also ejected for his role in the incident. Both players may face further disciplinary action, but a suspension is unlikely because no punches were thrown. Randle finished the night with 15 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in 32 minutes. The Nuggets limited him to a 6-for-16 effort from the field. Following injuries to Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), Randle could be asked to carry a heavier offensive load in Game 5 and beyond.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nikola Jokic Ejected in Game 4 Loss
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic wasn't on the floor during the final buzzer in Saturday's Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he was ejected from the contest. The three-time MVP was involved in an altercation after Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels scored an uncontested transition layup with 1.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter. By then, the game was already decided, with Minnesota securing a 3-1 series lead with a big home win. "I don't regret it," Jokic said postgame. "Because he scored after everybody stopped playing." Jokic once again stuffed the stat sheet, but he called his performance in the series "average." He finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and one block on Saturday. Minnesota has limited the star big man to below 40 percent efficiency from the field, but Jokic has still averaged 25.0 points per game, along with 14.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Donte DiVincenzo Diagnosed With Torn Right Achilles
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo tore his right Achilles tendon in Saturday's win over the Denver Nuggets, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Only 1:19 minutes into the game, DiVincenzo grabbed his lower leg area and went to the locker room. He didn't need assistance to leave the floor, which was an encouraging sign. But the truth of the matter is that he suffered a serious injury, and the postseason is over for DiVincenzo. He will also have to miss most, if not all, of the 2026-27 campaign. Anthony Edwards (knee) was also injured in Game 4, so Minnesota's rotation and offense could look very different going forward. Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Hyland, and Mike Conley must all chip in more.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
