RADIO
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
Evan Mobley Posts Versatile Double-Double in Game 7
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley accounted for 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks, and one three-pointer in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons. The 24-year-old shot 7-for-10 from the field and 6-for-11 at the line while delivering his first double-double of the series. Mobley averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists during the regular season, and his ability to pair interior scoring with defensive production keeps him firmly in the top tier of fantasy big men when Cleveland gives him this much two-way responsibility.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Donovan Mitchell Guides Cavaliers Into East Finals
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell finished Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons with 26 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one steal, one block, and two three-pointers. The 29-year-old shot 10-for-22 from the field and 4-for-6 at the line while collecting a game-high eight assists, helping Cleveland secure its first Eastern Conference finals berth since 2018. Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists during the regular season, and this balanced closeout line showed how much fantasy value he can carry even when the scoring stays below his usual ceiling. Cleveland opens the next round Tuesday in New York.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Jarrett Allen Scores 23 Points in Cavs' Game 7 Rout of Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen tallied 23 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 blowout win over the Detroit Pistons, punching Cleveland's ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. Going 8-for-14 from the field, Allen was efficient and physical in a performance that kept foul trouble off the ledger for most of the night. He joined Donovan Mitchell (26), Evan Mobley (21), and Sam Merrill (23) in a four-man 20-point effort, the fourth time since the 1976-77 merger any team has achieved that in a Game 7. Allen draws New York's interior next, a favorable matchup worth monitoring ahead of the ECF.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Kevin Huerter Active on Sunday Night
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (adductor) will be in the lineup on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He's been cleared for Game 7 after initially being considered questionable for the contest due to an adductor strain. Duncan Robinson (back) and Caris LeVert (heel) have also received the green light to play, meaning Huerter isn't expected to have a significant role on Sunday. He was also active in Game 6 but didn't leave the bench.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert Available Sunday
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Duncan Robinson (back) and guard/forward Caris LeVert (heel) have been cleared to play in Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Both players were listed as questionable on the initial injury report. Robinson and LeVert combined for 22 points and five assists off the bench in Game 6. Having filled significant roles in the rotation, they'll need to stay productive on Sunday if the Pistons are to reach their first Conference Finals since 2008.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Max Strus Replaces Dean Wade in Starting Lineup Sunday
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus will start Sunday's Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has decided to tweak his starting unit for this crucial clash, replacing Dean Wade with Strus. Wade has been very quiet throughout the series and finished scoreless in Games 4 and 5. Strus also started a pair of games during the first-round series against Toronto. He's averaging 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds with 38.2% three-point efficiency in the playoffs. A starting role makes Strus a more attractive DFS option on Sunday.
Source: Cleveland Cavaliers
Source: Cleveland Cavaliers
Luke Kornet Iffy for Monday
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (foot) is considered questionable for Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. The veteran big man has been added to the injury report due to left foot soreness. Kornet, who's reached the Conference Finals for the fourth time in five years, has done a good job as San Antonio's backup center. He's averaging 5.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 16.5 minutes per game this postseason. While losing Kornet from the rotation would be a blow to San Antonio, the team has ample depth at the center position behind Victor Wembanyama, with fellow veterans Mason Plumlee, Kelly Olynyk, and Bismack Biyombo.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Larry Nance Jr. Won't Play Sunday
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Larry Nance Jr. (illness) won't be in action on Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons. He will sit out a second consecutive contest due to illness. Nance Jr. has averaged just 2.5 minutes across two postseason games, so he's simply been a warm body on the bench. His absence won't affect Cleveland's rotation. The starting frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley should carry a heavy workload in Sunday's do-or-die matchup.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
De'Aaron Fox Listed as Questionable for Monday's Action
San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox (ankle) is listed as questionable for the Western Conference Finals opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. This isn't surprising, as Fox has recently dealt with soreness in his right ankle. It doesn't appear to be a big issue, but if Fox has to miss time, the Spurs will rely more on Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper in the backcourt. His absence could also increase the workload for Keldon Johnson, who has been limited to 18.5 minutes a night in the playoffs.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
