5 days agoDenver Nuggets power forward
Aaron Gordon picked up two early fouls against Minnesota on Tuesday night but still put together a strong performance in a big win. He recorded his third double-double of the 2024 playoffs with 18 points and 10 rebounds on 7-for-14 shooting while delivering five assists and collecting one steal. Gordon's high-energy efforts included multiple dunks. The 28-year-old has quietly been Denver's second-best player in the series, posting 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals with 66 percent shooting from the field.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoDenver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic dominated Game 5 against Minnesota on Tuesday, finishing a 112-97 win with 40 points on 15-for-22 shooting. He went 2-for-3 from downtown and added seven rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and one block to his tally, becoming only the second player after
Chris Paul to record a playoff game with 40-plus points, 10-plus assists, and zero turnovers. This also marks Jokic's highest-scoring game of the 2024 playoffs. Jokic, who received his third MVP trophy ahead of Tuesday's contest, has looked back to his best in the last couple of games, and it spells doom for the Timberwolves, who are now 3-2 down in the series after leading 2-0.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoIndiana Pacers forward/center
Pascal Siakam scored a team-high 22 points on 7-for-15 shooting in Tuesday's heavy 121-81 defeat against the Knicks. After tying the series at two, Indiana struggled to cope with the occasion at Madison Square Garden, but Siakam produced a solid performance. He also led the team in rebounding with eight boards, notching two assists and one steal with 2-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc. The 2019 NBA champion has now posted 20-plus points twice in three games. Another productive performance will be expected from Siakam on Thursday as the Pacers face elimination on home court.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoNew York Knicks center
Isaiah Hartenstein had a historic outing in Tuesday's 121-91 win over the Pacers. He tied Charles Oakley's franchise record and became only the ninth player in NBA playoffs history to record 12-plus offensive rebounds in a game. Hartenstein added five boards on the defensive end, finishing with a big 17-rebound outing in just 31 minutes. He scored seven points on 2-for-3 shooting and recorded five assists with one block. The seven-footer has taken major steps as a playmaker in the series against Indiana, notching five-plus assists in three of the last four games. Hartenstein has done a good job this postseason as
Mitchell Robinson's (ankle) replacement in the starting unit, averaging 9.6 points and 7.9 rebounds in 29.5 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoNew York Knicks point guard
Jalen Brunson continued to shine in the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, leading his squad to a 121-91 victory against Indiana with a 44-point effort on 18-for-35 shooting. He became the 11th player in history to record 40 points in at least five different games of a postseason. Only five players have had more such efforts in a single year, with
LeBron James and Jerry West sharing the league record with eight. Brunson's night included seven assists and four rebounds with two made triples. He has been limited to 29 percent shooting from deep by the Pacers, but the Knicks star still averages 32.0 points per game in the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoCleveland Cavaliers point guard
Craig Porter Jr. (ankle) has been listed as doubtful on the injury report ahead of Game 5 against the Celtics on Wednesday. The 24-year-old injured his left ankle in the team's regular-season finale and hasn't yet played in the playoffs. However, it looks like Porter Jr. could be available again for Cleveland on Wednesday. The Cavaliers will need all the warm bodies they can get if
Donovan Mitchell (calf),
Caris LeVert (knee), and
Jarrett Allen (rib) can't shake off questionable tags.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoNew York Knicks guard
Miles McBride will join the starting lineup for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Pacers. After grabbing a 2-0 lead in the series, the Knicks have dropped back-to-back games, and head coach Tom Thibodeau has decided to switch things up. McBride will take
Precious Achiuwa's spot in the first unit. The 23-year-old has been in fine form this postseason, recording 9.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 23.2 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ian Begley
6 days agoIndiana Pacers point guard
Tyrese Haliburton (back, ankle) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Game 5 against the Knicks on Tuesday. This is great news for the Pacers, who have started to turn the tide in the series with back-to-back wins. Haliburton has had a very productive three-game stretch, averaging 29.7 points while nailing 17 attempts from downtown. On Tuesday, the Pacers star will hope to record his first run with four consecutive 20-point efforts since January.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (rib) remains on the injury report as questionable ahead of Game 5 against Boston on Wednesday. He's had the designation ahead of each game in the series due to a rib contusion but hasn't seen any action. Allen last played in Game 4 of the opening-round series against Orlando and has missed seven contests.
Dean Wade's recent return to the lineup has given Cleveland's frontcourt a boost, but the team relies heavily on
Evan Mobley with Allen out.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoCleveland Cavaliers guard/forward
Caris LeVert (knee) has been listed as questionable for Game 5 against Boston on Wednesday. After replacing
Donovan Mitchell (calf) in the starting lineup on Monday, LeVert has suffered a bone bruise on his left knee. Mitchell has a chance to return on Wednesday, but
Sam Merrill might be the next man in line to step up if both Mitchell and LeVert are out on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoCleveland Cavaliers guard
Donovan Mitchell (calf) is considered questionable for Wednesday's clash with Boston. He's in danger of missing a second consecutive contest. Mitchell has gotten hurt at the worst possible time for the Cavaliers, who face elimination in Wednesday's Game 5.
Caris LeVert (knee) had a 19-point outing in Game 4 as Mitchell's replacement in the starting lineup. However, LeVert himself is also questionable ahead of Wednesday's matchup, meaning Cleveland could be very shorthanded in Game 5.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoDallas Mavericks point guard
Luka Doncic (ankle, knee) has been listed as probable for Wednesday's Game 5 against the Thunder. He's previously carried a questionable tag ahead of each game in the series. Injuries and Oklahoma City's tough defense have made life difficult for Doncic in the second-round series. He has pushed his rebounding numbers to 10.8 per game in the matchup, but his scoring average has dropped to 22.0 points. Doncic has also been limited to 7.8 assists, with barely 30 percent shooting from downtown.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoOn Tuesday, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard
Mike Conley (Achilles) is listed as questionable for Game 5 versus the Denver Nuggets. Due to right Achilles soreness, Conley is a late addition to the team's injury report. The 36-year-old veteran point guard is averaging 11.9 points, 6.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 31.2 minutes during the playoffs. If he is absent,
Jordan McLaughlin,
Monte Morris, and
Nickeil Alexander-Walker could see an uptick in minutes during the contest.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Timberwolves PR
6 days agoDallas Mavericks forward/center
P.J. Washington continued his successful series against the Thunder on Monday with a 21-point, 12-rebound effort in a 100-96 loss. Like many of his teammates, Washington struggled for efficiency, shooting 7-for-19, but he was outstanding with a 5-for-11 effort from three-point range. Washington's night also included one block. The 25-year-old started off the series with a fairly quiet performance in Game 1, but he has since then hit top gear to average 21.8 points and 8.8 rebounds with a fantastic 51.4 percent shooting from deep. Dallas will need more of the same from him as the series heads back to Oklahoma City tied through four games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoDallas Mavericks guard
Kyrie Irving contributed only nine points as the team was beaten 100-96 on home court by the Thunder on Monday. He finished with 4-for-11 shooting, missing both attempts from downtown. Irving's stat line also included one rebound and nine assists with one turnover and five fouls. It's been an up-and-down series for Irving, as he now boasts two nine-point duds but has gone for 20-plus points in the other two games. If the trend continues, we should see Irving bounce back in Game 5 on Wednesday. Overall, he's averaging 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in the matchup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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