4 days agoBoston Celtics guard
Jaylen Brown had 19 points in Thursday's loss to Cleveland. He added four rebounds and one assist. The 27-year-old erupted in Game 1 on Tuesday, finishing with 32 points. However, he cooled off in this one, shooting 7-for-17 from the field while missing all six attempts from behind the three-point line. In all fairness, most of the C's starting lineup struggled in Game 2. Fortunately, Brown should turn things around, meaning he remains a top DFS option for Game 3 on Saturday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoBoston Celtics forward
Jayson Tatum had a team-high 25 points in Thursday's loss to the Cavaliers. He added seven rebounds, six assists, and one steal. The former Duke Blue Devil had only 18 points in Game 1. While he played better in this one, his efforts weren't enough to lead Boston to a win. Nonetheless, Tatum should bounce back offensively sometime soon, so DFS managers should keep him on the radar for Game 3 on Saturday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoCleveland Cavaliers guard
Donovan Mitchell finished with a game-high 29 points in Thursday's win over the Celtics. He added eight assists and seven boards while shooting an efficient 5-for-7 from deep. The 2017 No. 13 overall pick had 33 points in the Game 1 loss to the C's on Tuesday. While he wasn't as productive in this one, fantasy managers were still happy with the outcome. Mitchell and company will return to Cleveland to host Boston for Game 3 on Saturday night. DFS participants should expect him to continue to log heavy minutes, assuming his nagging knee injury allows him.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoCleveland Cavaliers forward/center
Evan Mobley had a big game in Thursday's win over the Celtics. The 22-year-old has struggled offensively during the postseason. However, he finished with 21 points in Game 2, a postseason career-high, to help the Cavs knot the series at one game each. With
Jarrett Allen (rib) out of the lineup, Mobley continues to do all he can to keep things secure underneath the basket. Although he isn't a consistent scorer, he'll at least routinely accumulate blocks and rebounds for DFS managers for the remainder of the playoffs.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves guard
Reggie Jackson (calf) is questionable for Friday's playoff meeting with the Timberwolves. The veteran has a calf contusion. However, with
Jamal Murray (calf) also battling a calf issue of his own, Jackson should be out there for Game 3. With that said, he's averaged only four points in this series, so DFS managers should look for other options.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
4 days agoDenver Nuggets guard
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (abdomen) is questionable for Friday's matchup with Minnesota. The Nuggets are down two games in this series, so the abdominal contusion likely won't be enough to keep him out of the lineup. While KCP has logged heavy minutes during the playoffs, he averaged just 8.4 points in the previous series versus the Lakers. Caldwell-Pope has played worse against the Timberwolves, so he's not a recommended DFS option for Game 3 and beyond, although he can get hot whenever he's on the floor.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
4 days agoDenver Nuggets guard
Jamal Murray (calf) is back on the injury report for Friday's postseason matchup with the Timberwolves. He's been battling a left calf strain, although he has played through it during the postseason. However, it's clear the ailment continues to bother the 27-year-old, considering he's averaged only 12.5 points throughout the series with Minnesota. With that said, Murray will likely be out there for Game 3. Yet, the injury could continue to cause him to struggle, making him a risky DFS option..
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
4 days agoIndiana Pacers guard
Tyrese Haliburton (back) is questionable for Friday's meeting with the Knicks. He had just six points in the series opener on Monday. As a result, head coach Rick Carlisle addressed reporters heading into Game 2, indicating Haliburton's back injury was a cause of concern. However, the 24-year-old turned things around on Wednesday night, finishing with a team-high 34 points, adding nine assists, six boards, and three steals. He also shot an efficient 7-for-11 from behind the arc. With that in mind, Haliburton should be out there for Game 3. Unfortunately, he hasn't been a consistent DFS option during the postseason, so fantasy managers may look for other options.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
4 days agoNew York Knicks point guard
Jalen Brunson (foot) is considered questionable for Friday's Game 3 of the second-round series against the Pacers. The Knicks leader injured his right foot on Wednesday in Game 2. He was able to finish the game, but the questionable tag leaves his status iffy for Friday's contest. If he's out,
Miles McBride would get a big opportunity to impress as Brunson's replacement in the starting unit. The 23-year-old posted 17.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals as a starter during the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
4 days agoNew York Knicks forward
OG Anunoby (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday's Game 3 against the Pacers. He suffered a hamstring strain in Game 2 on Wednesday. Despite the injury, Anunoby managed to post his new playoff career high with 28 points in 28 minutes. He's also an outstanding defender, and Anunoby's injury is definitely a big blow for the Knicks, who have gone 26-5 with him in the lineup since acquiring the versatile forward from Toronto.
Precious Achiuwa and
Alec Burks should share Anunoby's minutes, with the rest of the Knicks squad already logging a massive amount of playing time in the playoffs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (rib) isn't ready to return to the lineup Thursday for Game 2 against Boston, with the team downgrading him from questionable to out. Allen hasn't featured since Game 4 of the team's first-round battle with Orlando, missing time with a rib contusion.
Isaac Okoro is poised for another start on Thursday in Allen's place. He's been quiet throughout the postseason, averaging 5.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 23.8 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Serena Winters
4 days agoThe Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Frank Vogel. The decision comes 11 days after the Minnesota Timberwolves swept the Suns in the first round of the playoffs. Vogel worked in Phoenix for just one year. He led the team to a 49-33 record in the regular season. Sources have told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that Mike Budenholzer, who won the NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, is Phoenix's top target to replace Vogel. The short stint with the Suns was Vogel's fourth head-coaching position in the Association. He has also guided the Pacers, Magic, and Lakers, winning the championship with the latter in 2020. His career record stands at 480-422.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard
Patrick Beverley has been suspended four games without pay by the NBA. During Game 6 of the first round against the Indiana Pacers, the 35-year-old was involved in an altercation, resulting in Beverely forcefully throwing a basketball into the stands toward fans. Additionally, after the game, he was involved in "an inappropriate interaction" with an ESPN reporter during media availability. His suspension will begin at the start of next season. Beverely heads into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoIndiana Pacers point guard
T.J. McConnell led the team with 12 assists and provided 10 points in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Knicks. The veteran guard logged a very productive 22 minutes off the bench, adding four rebounds to his tally and shooting 5-for-9 from the field. The Pacers were plus-10 with McConnell on the floor. That's now three straight games with double-digit scoring for McConnell, who has also averaged 8.0 dimes during the stretch. Indiana tends to play better with him on the court, and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle clearly needs to find more minutes for McConnell to turn things around in the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoIndiana Pacers forward
Obi Toppin had a prolific outing in Game 2 against the Knicks on Wednesday, finishing a 130-121 loss with 20 points. He scored a point per minute off the bench, shooting 7-for-10 from the field with a 2-for-4 effort from behind the arc. Toppin also notched three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. The Pacers are struggling in the series, but Toppin has enjoyed the battle against his former team. He has shot a very impressive 70.6 percent through the first two games, averaging 16.0 points with 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Game 3 gives Toppin a chance to make it three 20-point efforts in four games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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