RADIO
Austin Reaves on Track to Return Wednesday
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) is "optimistic" about returning to action in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. He is nearing a return from an oblique strain and has been a game-time decision a couple of times in the series. Reaves hasn't played since April 2, so expecting him to have his usual workload in his first game back seems unrealistic. But his return will be a big boost for the Lakers, who will try to finish off Houston for the second time on Wednesday night. If Reaves returns, Luke Kennard will likely be pushed to the second unit, which would negatively affect his fantasy appeal.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Kevin Durant Unlikely to Play Wednesday
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (ankle) is unlikely to play in Wednesday's Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran star didn't practice on Tuesday after sitting out two games due to a sprained left ankle and a bone bruise. "We'll see," Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said when asked whether Durant would play in Wednesday's game. "It is day to day, game to game. But we'll have to get on the court and do some things, and he didn't participate in practice today. But he's doing the conditioning and other aspects to try to get back." Reed Sheppard has provided solid DFS production as Durant's replacement in the first unit, averaging 17.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals over the last two games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Joel Embiid Cleared for Game 5
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) will play in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. The team has upgraded his status from probable to available. After recovering from an appendectomy, Embiid was back in the lineup for Game 4 against the Celtics. He performed well, notching 26 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, one block, and one steal in 35 minutes. With Philadelphia facing elimination on Tuesday night, Embiid should once again carry a heavy workload.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Paolo Banchero's Efficiency Woes Continue in Game 4
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero made only four of 18 field-goal attempts in Monday's 94-88 win over the Detroit Pistons. He finished with 18 points, doing most of his scoring with a 10-for-13 effort at the line. For the second time in this series, Banchero failed to make a three-pointer, going 0-for-4 from behind the arc. The 2024 All-Star completed his line on Monday with eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. The Pistons have limited Banchero to 37.3 percent field-goal efficiency in the first-round matchup, but Orlando has still grabbed a 3-1 series lead. Banchero has made up for his efficiency woes with improved efforts in other areas. Through four games, he is averaging 21.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Julius Randle Leads Timberwolves With 27 Points Monday
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle scored a team-high 27 points in Monday's 125-113 Game 5 loss to the Denver Nuggets. He tied Nikola Jokic for the game-high, finishing 8-for-15 from the field and 9-for-11 at the line. Randle, who made two of his four attempts from deep, also led the Timberwolves with nine rebounds and matched a team high with six assists. The three-time All-Star stepped up his game, as was expected after Minnesota lost Anthony Edwards (knee). The Timberwolves need Randle to keep up his form to close out the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nikola Jokic Records Big Triple-Double as Nuggets Stay Alive
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic finished Monday's 125-113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 16 assists. He led his team in all categories as the Nuggets extended the first-round series. Jokic has struggled with efficiency this postseason, but the story was different on Monday night. He was 9-for-15 from the field and 8-for-10 at the charity stripe. However, the multi-time MVP still couldn't find his range from deep, going 1-for-4. Defensively, Jokic contributed two blocks. Jokic has posted two triple-doubles in the series, averaging 25.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 9.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. He will lead the way again when Denver faces another fight for survival in Game 6.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Chet Holmgren Posts Impressive Double-Double in Game 4 Win
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren had the strongest performance of this postseason on Monday, recording a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double in a 131-122 series-clinching win over the Phoenix Suns. He was 9-for-16 from the field, including 2-for-5 from downtown, and nailed all four attempts at the charity stripe. While Holmgren couldn't register any blocks, he helped out on the defensive end with two steals. The 23-year-old also had three assists in 34 minutes. The Thunder swept Phoenix, and Holmgren played a big role, posting averages of 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Notches Efficient 31 Points in Closeout Game
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led his squad to a series-clinching 131-122 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, scoring 31 points and dishing out eight assists. He grabbed two rebounds and blocked one shot, while finishing 10-for-17 from the field. Gilgeous-Alexander sank nine of 11 attempts at the free-throw line and was 2-for-4 with the three-ball. The Suns couldn't contain the reigning MVP throughout the series, as Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 33.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists. Over the last three games, he notched 36.7 points with a 63.3 percent field-goal efficiency. This will provide Gilgeous-Alexander with strong momentum heading into the next series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Franz Wagner Scheduled for MRI on Tuesday
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (calf) is set to have an MRI on Tuesday. The German star, who missed 48 games with an ankle sprain during the regular season, suffered another injury blow in Monday's win over the Detroit Pistons, exiting the game due to right calf soreness. Before he was forced to leave, Wagner was enjoying his best performance of the playoffs. He scored 19 points with a 7-for-15 effort from the field, adding five rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 24 minutes. Jamal Cain stands to see increased minutes in the rotation if Wagner misses more time. He was close to a double-double in Monday's win, scoring eight points and grabbing nine rebounds.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Nikola Jovic Remains Highly Rated by Heat
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic had a tough season in 2025-26, but the team still sees him as a big part of the franchise's future, Wes Goldberg of the Locked On Heat podcast reports. "We still look at [Niko] as one of our young, building guys," Heat president Pat Riley said on Monday at his annual end-of-the-season news conference. This season, Jovic managed only 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 17.2 minutes per game. He was limited to 47 appearances, starting once. Riley noted that he had projected Jovic as a starter before the season began. Although Jovic's campaign was disappointing, he still has time to develop, as he turns only 23 in July. The Serbian native signed a four-year, $62.4 million rookie contract extension with Miami in October.
Source: Wes Goldberg
Source: Wes Goldberg
Aaron Gordon Won't Play Monday Night
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) won't suit up for Monday's Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is not ready to play due to a left calf issue and is sitting out the action after being labeled a game-time decision. Gordon will miss his second game of the series and won't get a chance to return to the lineup this season if Denver doesn't win on Monday. Spencer Jones has previously filled in for Gordon in the starting unit and is likely to get the nod again. The team will also look to get more production from Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Tyler Herro to Undergo "Preemptive Procedure" on Foot
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro will undergo a "preemptive procedure" on his foot, team president Pat Riley announced Monday at his annual end-of-the-season news conference. Health issues limited Herro to a career-low 33 appearances this season. "It's unfortunate what happened with Tyler this year," Riley said. "He's having a procedure done, preemptive procedure done, which is good. He'll be ready to go, I think, by July. So he's got more than enough time ahead of training camp." During his seventh season with the Heat, Herro averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 31.3 minutes per game. On track to recover in time for next season, the 2025 All-Star will also hope to agree on a contract extension with his team before then.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bam Adebayo Remains Untouchable for Heat
Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo is untouchable and won't be traded in the offseason, team president Pat Riley announced on Monday. At his annual end-of-the-season news conference, Riley joked he would consider trading Adebayo only if offered eight draft picks and Victor Wembanyama. The team plans to continue building around Adebayo, who has spent his entire nine-year NBA career in Miami. In 2025-26, Adebayo averaged a double-double for the fourth time, posting 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. On March 10, the three-time All-Star recorded the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, notching 83 points in a 150-129 victory over the Washington Wizards. Adebayo won't turn 30 until 2027 and should remain a top fantasy contributor for several more years.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Anthony Edwards Officially Listed as Week-to-Week
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) was officially listed as week-to-week by the team ahead of Monday's Game 5 against the Denver Nuggets. He was already expected to miss multiple weeks after injuring his left knee in Game 4 on Saturday. The team is optimistic about Edwards returning in these playoffs. "We do know that if we keep extending this playoff series, he is going to come back," Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said Monday morning. "And he generally comes back ahead of the timeline." With Edwards sidelined, Julius Randle and Ayo Dosunmu are set to lead the offense. His absence also boosts Mike Conley's and Bones Hyland's fantasy appeal.
Source: Minnesota Timberwolves
Source: Minnesota Timberwolves
Jordan Goodwin Still Out Monday
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Jordan Goodwin (calf) will remain sidelined in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. The team initially listed him as questionable, and Goodwin was considered a game-time call. Since Phoenix lost Goodwin to a calf injury, Collin Gillespie has started back-to-back games. He has made an all-around impact, averaging 7.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale also have greater fantasy appeal without Goodwin, though the Suns will likely lean heavily on the starting unit as they face elimination on Monday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
