RADIO
Austin Reaves Starting Friday Night
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will return to the starting lineup on Friday in Game 6 against the Houston Rockets. Reaves returned from injury in a bench role in Game 5, though he replaced Luke Kennard in the first unit for the second half. On Friday, Kennard will come off the bench from the start, which will severely limit his fantasy prospects. Reaves did a decent job in his comeback game, but his field-goal efficiency was poor at 25.0 percent. In 34 minutes, he notched 22 points, four rebounds, six assists, and one block.
Source: Los Angeles Lakers
Source: Los Angeles Lakers
Lakers Hope to Retain Luke Kennard in Free Agency
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard is approaching unrestricted free agency, but the team wants to negotiate a new deal with him, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. "It is increasingly anticipated leaguewide that the Lakers will want to retain the recently acquired Luke Kennard after his strong first-round series against Houston," Fischer reported on Thursday. With the Lakers' backcourt hampered by injuries, Kennard has averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the first-round series against Houston. He's a major three-point threat and could be useful to the Lakers for years to come. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to sustain his current playoff production during the 2026-27 regular season.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Suns Want to Keep Dillon Brooks Long-Term
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Dillon Brooks will enter the final season of a four-year contract in 2026-27, but the team wants to keep him around with a new long-term deal. "I do expect to figure out a way to keep Dillon long term," team owner Mat Ishbia told The Burns & Gambo Show, adding he'll be part of a championship in the "next 3-4 years." Coming over from Houston as part of the Kevin Durant trade, Brooks had his first year with the Suns in 2025-26. He took major strides offensively, averaging a career-high 20.2 points per game. The 30-year-old also tallied 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals. Brooks benefited from Jalen Green's health issues this term and might struggle to replicate his offensive form next season, impacting his fantasy appeal.
Source: Arizona Sports
Source: Arizona Sports
Jamal Shead Joins Starting Lineup Friday
Toronto Raptors point guard Jamal Shead will start Game 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. He will take Brandon Ingram's (heel) place. Shead played well when Ingram exited Game 5 early and isn't a stranger to the first unit. During the regular season, he logged 12 starts, averaging 11.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. The Raptors would love to get similar numbers from Shead on Friday night to boost their chances in the elimination game.
Source: Toronto Raptors
Source: Toronto Raptors
Jayson Tatum OK for Game 7 Against 76ers
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (calf) will play in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night, Marc D'Amico of the Celtics' official site reports. Tatum sat out the fourth quarter of Game 6 due to apparent left calf discomfort. But the team has not listed him on the injury report for Saturday's game. "He'll play," Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters on Friday. The 28-year-old is averaging 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in the first-round series. He has logged a double-double in all but one game.
Source: Marc D'Amico
Source: Marc D'Amico
Joel Embiid Probable for Game 7 Against Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) is probable for Saturday's huge Game 7 matchup against the Boston Celtics. The star big man is expected to make his fourth consecutive appearance after recovering from an appendectomy. While Embiid's field-goal efficiency has been poor and he hasn't done much on the defensive end, his impact in the series has been noticeable. Across 35.7 minutes per game, he has averaged 26.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. Boston should see a lot of Embiid on Saturday night as the two teams jostle for survival.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jonathan Isaac Downgraded to Out
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) will remain on the shelf in Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons on Friday. His status has been downgraded from doubtful to out ahead of tip-off. Isaac has missed several weeks due to a left knee sprain, and it's unclear whether he will become an option in the postseason if Orlando takes down Detroit in the first round. Jamal Cain has benefited from Isaac's absence, but his production has been limited to 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kevin Huerter Misses Second Consecutive Game Friday
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (adductor) isn't available on Friday against the Orlando Magic. Due to a left adductor strain, he was tagged as questionable on the initial injury report, and the team has downgraded him to out ahead of tip-off. With Huerter out of commission, Caris LeVert and Daniss Jenkins will play leading roles off the bench. However, neither player has made a significant impact in the series and likely won't offer much value to DFS managers.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Brandon Ingram Out on Friday
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Brandon Ingram (heel) will miss Friday's elimination game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He sat out the second half of Game 5 due to right heel inflammation and won't be available Friday night, after initially being considered questionable for the contest. A.J. Lawson started the second half in Ingram's place in Game 5, but he was limited to just a couple of minutes. Ja'Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead are best positioned to benefit from Ingram's absence. There could also be additional playing time for Jamison Battle.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Tobias Harris Cleared to Play Friday
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (ankle) will be available on Friday night against the Orlando Magic. The team has upgraded the veteran from questionable to available. Harris is dealing with a left ankle sprain, which might slow him down a bit in Game 6. So far in the series, Harris has been one of Detroit's best players, averaging 19.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He has notched at least 20 points in three consecutive contests -- his longest such streak in the postseason since a seven-game run in 2021.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kevin Durant Officially Out for Game 6
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (ankle) has been officially ruled out for Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Initially, the team listed him as doubtful for the contest. However, media reports on Thursday already suggested that Durant won't be available on Friday night. His next chance to return will be on Sunday if Houston survives another elimination game. Reed Sheppard will continue to ride with the starters, while Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. have taken on extra work during Durant's absence.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Terrence Shannon Jr. Steps Up in Series Clincher
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Terrence Shannon Jr. recorded 24 points, six rebounds, two steals, and one three-pointer in 35 minutes during Thursday's Game 6 win over Denver, helping close out the series 4-2. He entered the starting lineup with Ayo Dosunmu (calf) sidelined and delivered steady scoring despite inefficient shooting from deep. Shannon's role is tied to the health of Dosunmu and Anthony Edwards (knee), making him a situational DFS option. Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle continue to lead usage, while Shannon provides secondary scoring when given minutes.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Jaden McDaniels Leads Timberwolves to Round 2
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels delivered 32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals, one block, and one three-pointer in 45 minutes during Thursday's Game 6 win over Denver, sealing a 4-2 series victory. He took on more offensive responsibility and responded with efficient shooting while contributing across categories. McDaniels' workload and two-way impact boost his DFS appeal heading into the next round. Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert continue to hold things down up front, while McDaniels picks up added usage with Anthony Edwards (knee) out.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Nikola Jokic Finishes Strong Despite Series Exit
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic finished with 28 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists, and one block in 43 minutes during Thursday's Game 6 loss to Minnesota, ending Denver's season. He remained efficient from the field and orchestrated the offense, narrowly missing another triple-double. Jokic closes the year with elite all-around production, reinforcing his case as a top fantasy pick again next season. Jamal Murray struggled with 12 points on 17 shots, while Cameron Johnson added 27 points, highlighting the inconsistent support around Jokic.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Mikal Bridges Breaks Out in Series Clincher
New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges posted 24 points, five rebounds, three assists, one block, and two three-pointers in 27 minutes during Thursday's Game 6 blowout win over Atlanta, helping New York close the series 4-2. He shot efficiently and finally broke out after multiple quiet scoring outings earlier in the series. While his peripherals remain modest, this scoring uptick is a positive sign entering the next round. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns continue to drive the offense, while Bridges' scoring consistency will be key for his DFS viability.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
