RADIO
Donovan Mitchell Logs 35-Point Double-Double
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the team defeated the Detroit Pistons 116-109 in Game 3 on Saturday. This was one of Mitchell's best postseason games of the year, as he added four assists in 38 minutes, going 13-for-24 from the field. He had a 2-for-8 record from deep and went 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. Mitchell is looking sharp, which is great news for the Cavaliers, who cut the series deficit to 2-1 on Saturday. The seven-time All-Star will have a chance to register his third consecutive 30-point outing in Monday's Game 4.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
James Harden Plays Late Hero Saturday
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden scored seven points in the final 1:29 of action in Saturday's Game 3 against the Detroit Pistons, helping his team to a 116-109 win. The former MVP was quiet for most of the game but made up for it with key baskets down the stretch. He had 19 points overall, finishing 8-for-14 from the field, including 3-for-7 from behind the arc. Harden grabbed two rebounds, dished out seven assists, and picked up one steal. With this effort, he became only the fourth player in NBA playoff history to record at least 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. Throughout the postseason, Harden's performance has been inconsistent, but he will now carry positive momentum into Monday's Game 4.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
OG Anunoby Could Miss Another Game Sunday
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The 2019 NBA champion injured his right hamstring late in Game 2 and missed Friday's Game 3 of the series. Miles McBride got a chance to start Friday, making the biggest impact on the defensive end with two blocks. On offense, he was limited to three points and two assists due to a 1-for-6 effort from the field. Landry Shamet was another player to benefit from Anunoby's absence and was a lot busier than McBride. In 26 minutes off the bench, Shamet tallied 15 points, three rebounds, and one steal. He finished as New York's third-highest scorer, behind Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Joel Embiid Considered Probable for Sunday's Elimination Game
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (hip) has been tagged as probable for Game 4 against the New York Knicks on Sunday. Philadelphia will fight to stay alive in the series and is expected to have Embiid available. In Game 2, Embiid returned to the lineup from a one-game absence, notching 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in 35 minutes. After a strong effort in Round 1, Embiid's production has been modest against the Knicks, with health issues once again affecting him at the most crucial stage of the season.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jarred Vanderbilt Active on Saturday Night
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) will suit up for Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. The 27-year-old suffered a nasty finger injury in the series opener but sat out only one game. Vanderbilt will bolster the Lakers' frontcourt depth, but it would be surprising to see him play a major role. So far in the playoffs, Vanderbilt has averaged 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game. He has been held to two or fewer points in three of six appearances.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Stephon Castle Overcomes Shooting Struggles Friday
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle posted 13 points, four rebounds, and 12 assists in Friday's 115-108 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3. The rookie guard struggled with his shot, going 3-for-11 from the field and 1-for-3 from deep, but he made up for it by setting the table and finishing with a team-high plus-17 rating. Castle also helped pressure Anthony Edwards late, as San Antonio limited Minnesota's star to five fourth-quarter points and grabbed a 2-1 series lead.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Anthony Edwards Carries Heavy Usage in Defeat
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and one block in Friday's 115-108 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3. The former No. 1 pick shot 12-for-26 from the field, 3-for-9 from three-point range, and 5-for-6 at the line across 41 minutes. Edwards carried Minnesota for long stretches, but San Antonio held him to five points in the fourth quarter as the Spurs moved ahead 2-1 in the series. His workload remains massive heading into Sunday's Game 4 in Minnesota.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Victor Wembanyama Joins Historic Playoff Company
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama poured in 39 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, five blocks, and one steal in Friday's 115-108 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3. The French superstar shot 13-for-18 from the field, 3-for-5 from three-point range, and 10-for-12 at the line across 37 minutes. San Antonio now leads the series 2-1, and Wembanyama became the fourth player in NBA history with at least 35 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a playoff game, joining Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Mikal Bridges Continues Postseason Surge with 23-Point Game
New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges contributed 23 points, three rebounds, one assist, and two steals in Friday's 108-94 Game 3 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Villanova product hit two three-pointers and finished 8-for-14 from the field, going a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. Bridges and Josh Hart made consecutive baskets that pushed the lead to 92-84 in the fourth quarter, helping close out Philadelphia on the road. He has turned his postseason around after averaging only 7.2 points across his first five postseason performances, and four straight productive outings have shifted the conversation around his Knicks tenure.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Kelly Oubre Jr. Keeps Scoring Role Alive
Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. recorded 22 points, eight rebounds, and one assist in Friday's 108-94 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3. The 30-year-old shot 7-for-16 from the field, 2-for-5 from three-point range, and 6-for-6 at the foul line while logging 36 minutes. Oubre led Philadelphia in scoring on a night when Joel Embiid returned but finished with 18 points, and Paul George went scoreless after the first quarter. He has scored 19 and 22 points in the last two games, keeping his offensive role useful as the Sixers face elimination Sunday.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Joel Embiid Held to 18 Points in 76ers Game 3 Loss
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid finished with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in 35 minutes during Friday's 108-94 Game 3 loss to the New York Knicks. Returning from a one-game absence due to a hip injury, the seven-time All-Star went 7-for-17 from the field, 0-for-4 from three-point range, and 4-for-6 at the free-throw line. Karl-Anthony Towns and Embiid were physical from the opening tip, and the Sixers big man couldn't get into rhythm against New York's frontcourt. Philadelphia now faces a 3-0 series deficit with Game 4 set for Sunday, and Embiid will need a much sharper effort to keep the series alive.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Jalen Brunson Tallies 33 Points to Take 3-0 Series Lead
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson recorded 33 points, five rebounds, and nine assists in 38 minutes during Friday's 108-94 Game 3 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The two-time All-NBA guard shook off a 2-for-8 start to finish 11-for-22 from the field, 3-for-8 from three-point range, and 8-for-9 at the free-throw line. Brunson buried a three from the top of the arc during a fourth-quarter 9-0 Knicks run that effectively closed the game. "I'm Linus. Jalen's my blanket," head coach Mike Brown said postgame. New York now sits one win from a second straight conference finals appearance after its sixth straight postseason victory.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Sam Merrill Iffy for Game 3 on Saturday
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill (hamstring) is considered questionable for Game 3 against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. The 29-year-old three-point specialist sustained a left hamstring strain in Game 1 against Detroit and didn't suit up for Game 2. Jaylon Tyson and Dennis Schroder saw their minutes increase in Game 2 and will likely continue to lead the second unit alongside Max Strus if Merrill can't return on Saturday. That said, Cleveland's reserves struggled in Game 2, combining for only 17 points.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Anthony Edwards Rejoins Starting Lineup Friday
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards will be back in the first unit in Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. He has come off the bench in the first two games of the series, allowing the team to better manage his workload after Edwards missed time due to a left knee injury. So far, he has averaged just 24.5 minutes per game against the Spurs. It's reasonable to assume Edwards will see more minutes on Friday night, which boosts his fantasy appeal. Terrence Shannon Jr. will make way for Edwards in the first unit.
Source: Minnesota Timberwolves
Source: Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Huerter Likely to Remain Out Saturday
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (adductor) will likely miss a sixth consecutive game on Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the team has listed him as doubtful on the injury report. Huerter was knocked out of the lineup during the first-round series against Orlando by a left adductor strain. Initially, the Pistons gave Caris LeVert an expanded role off the bench due to Huerter's absence, but Daniss Jenkins has been the main beneficiary in recent games. Across the last three contests, Jenkinks has posted 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in 28.0 minutes per game.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
