RADIO
Alex Caruso Erupts for 31 Points in Game 1 Loss to Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso led his team with a season-high 31 points in a 122-115 double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. The veteran, who scored 25 total points in the second-round series against the Lakers, looked incredible in the Western Conference Finals opener, going 11-for-19 from the field with an 8-for-14 record from downtown. Additionally, he was busy on the defensive end with two blocks and two steals. In 32 minutes off the bench, Caruso also contributed a pair of rebounds and one assist. In the previous eight playoff games, Caruso finished with double-digit points just twice, so he is unlikely to match his Game 1 effort on Wednesday night. But he's a valuable member of the rotation and generally does a little bit of everything.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Williams Productive in Comeback Game
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams made an all-around impact in Monday's Game 1 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. In his first game in nearly four weeks, Williams had 26 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. He finished 11-for-25 from the field, including 1-for-3 at the free-throw line. Williams logged 37 minutes, proving he's fully healthy after overcoming a left hamstring injury. While the Thunder did well without Williams, his return may prove essential in the Western Conference Finals after the Spurs' impressive performance on Monday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Records First Double-Double of Postseason
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander logged his first double-double of the postseason with 24 points and 12 assists in Monday's Game 1 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. After picking up his second MVP award ahead of the game, Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to meet his usual high standards. He came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 points to help the Thunder extend the game. Yet Gilgeous-Alexander cooled off again in overtime, posting only two points. The Canadian star went only 7-for-23 from the field and collected eight points from the free-throw line with nine attempts. His line included three rebounds, five steals, one block, and four turnovers. Oklahoma City needs Gilgeous-Alexander to be much sharper to avoid a 2-0 hole in the series on Wednesday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Stephon Castle Opens Conference Finals With Double-Double
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle produced a double-double in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, posting 17 points and 11 assists in a 122-117 double-overtime victory. He grabbed six rebounds and had one steal, but Castle also committed 11 turnovers, which marred his line. After losing De'Aaron Fox (ankle) from the lineup, the Spurs needed more playmaking from Castle, and things didn't go smoothly for him. Castle's field-goal efficiency also left a lot to be desired, as he finished 5-for-14 from the field and 1-for-6 from three-point range. Even after opening the Conference Finals with a double-double, Castle has plenty of room for improvement in Game 2.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dylan Harper Makes Outstanding Two-Way Impact in Game 1 Win
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper was one of the stars of the show in Monday's double-overtime victory in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, making a big impact at both ends of the floor. He notched 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and seven steals in 47 minutes as a starter. Harper, who went 8-for-20 from the field (1-for-7 from deep) and 7-for-7 at the charity stripe, moved into the first unit after De'Aaron Fox (ankle) was surprisingly scratched for the contest. If Fox returns for Game 2, we won't see Harper as influential in the game, but he will remain a viable DFS option even in a bench role. The 20-year-old has averaged 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals during his first career playoff run.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Wembanyama Dominates Game 1 Against Thunder
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama kicked off the Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a huge performance on Monday, amassing 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three blocks in a 122-115 double-overtime win. The 22-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to record a 40-point, 20-rebound performance in the playoffs, and the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to have a 40-20 game in his Conference Finals debut. Wembanyama went 14-for-25 from the field and 12-for-13 at the line, making one of his two attempts from deep. A big shock could be on the cards in this series if Wembanyama keeps up this level of play for the rest of the way.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Larry Nance Jr. is Questionable for Game 1 on Tuesday
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. (illness) is listed as questionable ahead of Tuesday's Game 1 against the New York Knicks. Nance was forced to miss Games 6 and 7 of the previous series against the Detroit Pistons due to an illness. There's a chance that Nance misses the beginning of this series as well. He played a total of five minutes during the series against the Toronto Raptors and didn't play at all versus the Pistons. The status of Nance isn't crucial unless Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen pick up an injury. He won't be a viable DFS option even if he does suit up on Tuesday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
OG Anunoby is Probable for Tuesday's Game 1
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) is listed as probable ahead of Game 1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Anunoby is expected to return to the court after missing Games 3 and 4 of the previous series against the Philadelphia 76ers. He was a full participant in practice last week and appears to be ready to go for the beginning of this series. Assuming he plays, Miles McBride should take a backseat after starting each of the last two games. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of tip-off on Tuesday for another update on his status.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Luke Kornet is Cleared for Game 1
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (foot) is available to play ahead of Monday's Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kornet was questionable coming into this game due to a foot issue. He'll shed that tag and suit up for Monday's first game of the Western Conference Finals. Kornet is a solid backup center, but he won't see much playing time with Victor Wembanyama healthy and playing most of the minutes at center. DFS managers should look elsewhere for help as Kornet doesn't offer a ton of upside.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jamahl Mosley Agrees to Become Pelicans Next Head Coach
The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed on a five-year deal with Jamahl Mosley to become the next head coach of the organization. It didn't take Mosley long to find a new team, as he was let go by the Orlando Magic roughly two weeks ago. Mosley took the Magic to the playoffs three times during his five years with the organization. He took what was a rebuilding roster and turned it into a legitimate contender by his third season. The Magic decided to go in another direction after his most recent playoff exit, but Mosley appears to be a solid option for the Pelicans. He is an experienced coach who could quickly turn around the Pelicans as he did in Orlando.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
De'Aaron Fox is Ruled Out for Game 1 on Monday
San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (ankle) has been downgraded to out ahead of Monday's Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wow, this is a huge blow to the Spurs as they head into the Western Conference Finals. Fox was listed as probable on the injury report all day until getting downgraded to out just an hour before tip-off. The expectation is that the Spurs will turn to rookie Dylan Harper with Fox on the sideline. Stephon Castle should take on more playmaking responsibility, so his fantasy value is on the rise. Victor Wembanyama will be asked to take on a heavy workload offensively without Fox in the mix.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Tobias Harris Goes Cold in Game 7 Loss
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris recorded five points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He missed all six of his field-goal attempts but went 5-for-6 at the line, finishing the night without a made shot from the floor. Harris averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists during the regular season, so the empty shooting line was a costly finish to his postseason run. With Detroit's offense sputtering badly in the closeout game, Harris offered only modest fantasy value through the peripheral stats.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Jalen Duren Finishes Game 7 with Quiet Line
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren produced seven points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 22-year-old went 3-for-7 from the field and 1-for-2 at the line as Detroit's season ended in the second round. Duren had posted 15 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal in Game 6, so the muted closeout line was a frustrating fantasy finish after a strong campaign. He averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists during the regular season, keeping his long-term value pointed up despite the postseason exit.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Cade Cunningham Endures Cold Shooting Night Sunday
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham amassed 13 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 24-year-old shot 5-for-16 from the field and 3-for-3 at the free-throw line while missing all seven of his attempts from beyond the arc. It was a rough finish to a strong campaign after Cunningham averaged 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9.9 assists during the regular season. His playmaking floor remains excellent, but the cold perimeter shooting left Detroit without enough offense in the closeout loss.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Sam Merrill Catches Fire in Game 7 Win
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill recorded 23 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons. He shot 7-for-10 from the field, 5-for-8 from deep, and 4-for-4 at the line in 25 minutes while scoring 15 points before halftime. Merrill had totaled 29 points across the previous four games of the series, so this was a timely eruption. His fantasy appeal remains tied to three-point production, but nights like this show how quickly he can swing a matchup when the shooting volume spikes.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
