NBA News

Jaylen Brown • SG • Celtics

Jaylen Brown Leads All Scorers With 36 Points in Game 2

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown put up a game-high 36 points in Tuesday's 111-97 Game 2 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston had a chance to take a 2-0 series lead on home court, but everyone on the team except Brown struggled to score. The 2024 Finals MVP went 11-for-24 from the field, including 5-for-12 from three-point range. He took 12 of the Celtics' 18 free-throw attempts, making nine of them. Brown completed his line with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. Tuesday's loss was a setback for the Celtics, but they can still feel confident about advancing to Round 2, with Brown in top form. He has led his team in scoring in both of the first two games of the matchup, averaging 31.0 points.

5 hours ago

VJ Edgecombe • SG • 76ers

VJ Edgecombe Has Historic Outing in Game 2 Win

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe scored a team-high 30 points in Tuesday's 111-97 Game 2 victory over the Boston Celtics. The 20-year-old also notched 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a playoff double-double with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. After finishing 0-for-5 from downtown in Game 1, Edgecombe made six of his 10 attempts from deep. He had a 12-for-20 record overall from the field. This was a hugely impressive performance from Edgecombe, particularly since he was hurt on a fall early in the game and went to the locker room twice.

6 hours ago

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander • PG • Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins Clutch Player of the Year Award

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added another individual award to his growing collection on Tuesday, having been named the 2025-26 NBA Clutch Player of the Year. The reigning MVP led the league with 175 points in clutch times and helped his team to a 20-7 record in clutch games this season. In these games, the Thunder outscored the opposition by 93 points in clutch situations with Gilgeous-Alexander on the court. The NBA introduced the Clutch Player of the Year award in 2023, and past winners include De'Aaron Fox, Stephen Curry, and Jalen Brunson. Gilgeous-Alexander also hopes to win his second MVP trophy this year.

6 hours ago

Austin Reaves • SG • Lakers

Austin Reaves Begins Return-to-Play Protocol

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) has begun a return-to-play protocol on the practice court, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports. Lakers head coach JJ Redick provided this update ahead of Tuesday's Game 2 against the Houston Rockets. Redick reiterated that there is no change to Reaves' initial return timeline. The Lakers ruled Reaves out for 4-6 weeks on April 4 due to a Grade 2 oblique strain. Earlier Tuesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Reaves is on track to return late in the first-round series. He is reportedly further along in his rehab than Luka Doncic (hamstring). Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart have more responsibilities in the backcourt until Reaves and Doncic return.

6 hours ago

Luka Dončić • PG • Lakers

Luka Doncic Not Expected to Play in First-Round Series

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is not expected to play in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Ahead of Tuesday's Game 2, Charania provided an update on both Doncic and Austin Reaves (oblique). "The sense around the Lakers is that Austin Reaves is actually the one that's further along than Luka Doncic in their respective rehab processes," Charania said. "I am told Austin Reaves has started 1 on 1 on court work. The Lakers are not expecting Luka Doncic to be back in this series. He is out indefinitely." With Doncic sidelined, LeBron James and Luke Kennard have taken on larger offensive roles. When he returns, Reaves is also expected to benefit from the situation.

6 hours ago

Kevin Durant • PF • Rockets

Kevin Durant Good to Go Tuesday

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (knee) will return to action on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The veteran star sat out the series opener due to a right knee contusion but has been cleared to make his comeback. As a result of Durant's return, Reed Sheppard will move to the second unit. Getting Durant back is a major boost for the Rockets, who will try to avoid a 2-0 series deficit. In three regular-season meetings, Durant's offensive contribution was limited to 20.3 points per game against the Lakers. However, he was highly efficient in his scoring, making 42.9 percent of his three-point attempts and 56.1 percent of his attempts overall.

6 hours ago

Victor Wembanyama • PF • Spurs

Victor Wembanyama Lands in Concussion Protocol, Won't Return Tuesday

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama has entered concussion protocol and won't return to Tuesday's Game 2 against Portland, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year took a hard fall in the first quarter, landing face-first on the court. Before his early exit, Wembanyama managed five points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block in 12 minutes. Luke Kornet is set for a heavier workload in the second half and could also play a more important role in future games if Wembanyama misses time.

6 hours ago

Jonathan Isaac • PF • Magic

Jonathan Isaac Unlikely to Play in Game 2

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) is doubtful for Wednesday's Game 2 against Detroit as he continues working back from a left knee sprain. He has not played in over a month and remains limited in practice, making a return in this series unlikely. Isaac's absence does not significantly alter Orlando's rotation, with Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. continuing to handle frontcourt minutes. Jamal Cain could stay in the mix for depth minutes, though his role remains small. Fantasy impact is negligible, with no clear shift in usage across the core group.

8 hours ago

Mark Williams • C • Suns

Mark Williams Could Sit Again in Game 2

Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (foot) is questionable for Wednesday's Game 2 against Oklahoma City after missing Game 1 due to a sore left foot. His absence left Phoenix thin inside, with Oso Ighodaro starting and recording nine rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes, while Khaman Maluach added three rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. Ighodaro would likely start again if Williams sits and should help on the glass, though his production outside of that is limited. Devin Booker and Jalen Green should continue to lead the offense, while the center spot is mostly a low-usage, role-based position.

8 hours ago

Grayson Allen • SF • Suns

Grayson Allen Questionable for Game 2

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (hamstring) is questionable for Wednesday's Game 2 against Oklahoma City after being listed on the injury report in recent games but not seeing the floor. He was available for Game 1 but logged a DNP-CD, leaving his role unclear even if cleared. With Jordan Goodwin (calf) also questionable, Phoenix could lean on Royce O'Neale, who posted four points, one three-pointer, three rebounds, three assists, and one block in 23 minutes, while Ryan Dunn added five rebounds in 25 minutes. Both are candidates for larger roles and carry DFS appeal if Allen remains limited. Devin Booker and Jalen Green should continue to anchor usage.

8 hours ago

Jordan Goodwin • PG • Suns

Jordan Goodwin Iffy for Game 2

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (calf) is questionable for Wednesday's Game 2 against Oklahoma City after exiting early in Game 1 with left calf soreness. He logged just five minutes before leaving, opening the door for rotation shifts. Royce O'Neale played 23 minutes off the bench and finished with four points, one three-pointer, three rebounds, three assists, and one block, while Ryan Dunn added five rebounds in 25 minutes. O'Neale is a strong candidate to start, with Dunn and Haywood Highsmith in line for larger roles and DFS appeal if Goodwin sits. Devin Booker and Jalen Green should continue to handle primary usage.

9 hours ago

Ron Harper Jr. • SF • Celtics

Ron Harper Jr. Available for Game 2 Against 76ers

Boston Celtics forward Ron Harper Jr. (ankle) is available for Tuesday's Game 2 against Philadelphia after being listed probable. He saw just four minutes in Game 1, finishing with five points and one three-pointer in garbage time, and remains outside the playoff rotation. With Boston at full strength, Harper is unlikely to carve out meaningful minutes, limiting any fantasy relevance to the deepest formats. Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Payton Pritchard should continue to absorb backcourt run, while Harper is essentially a depth option who would likely only see minutes if the game turns into a blowout.

9 hours ago

CJ McCollum • PG • Hawks

CJ McCollum Shines at MSG in Game 2

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum put up a game-high 32 points as the team shocked the New York Knicks with a 107-106 victory at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Facing a 2-0 deficit on the road, McCollum delivered one of the best postseason performances of his career, though it was nearly ruined by a pair of missed free throws with 5.6 seconds left on the clock. Those were his only misses with seven attempts at the line. McCollum finished 12-for-22 from the floor and had a 3-for-10 record from downtown. The 34-year-old also made a significant contribution on defense, snagging two steals and blocking one shot. He collected three rebounds and dished out six assists. The Knicks have struggled to guard McCollum in the series, as he is averaging 29.0 points on nearly 55 percent efficiency. His performance has been a big boost for the team, especially with Jalen Johnson's production being only modest so far.

19 hours ago

Donovan Mitchell • SG • Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell Extends 30-Point Streak

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 30 points in Monday's 115-105 Game 2 victory over the Toronto Raptors. In 37 minutes, he also contributed seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal. It was a highly efficient performance from Mitchell, as he nailed four of his 10 three-point attempts and finished 13-for-23 overall from the field. Combined with the regular season, Mitchell has now scored 30-plus points in four consecutive appearances. The seven-time All-Star has always stood out in the playoffs, averaging the sixth-most points all-time (28.4), and he appears set for another prolific postseason campaign. Across the first two games against Toronto, Mitchell has tallied 31.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals, hitting 57.1 percent from deep.

20 hours ago

Jakob Poeltl • C • Raptors

Jakob Poeltl Gets Benched in Second Half

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl didn't play in the second half of Monday's 115-105 Game 2 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had a limited role in the first half as well, logging only nine minutes. Poeltl finished the game with two points, four rebounds, one assist, and two turnovers, making one of his two field-goal attempts. The Austrian big man also had a tough time in Game 1, giving him averages of 3.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in the series. Collin Murray-Boyles started the second half at center and was among Toronto's best performers, with 17 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Sandro Mamukelashvili, who tallied a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double Monday night, is also set for an expanded role if Toronto decides to go forward without Poeltl.

20 hours ago

Brandon Ingram • SF • Raptors

Brandon Ingram Continues to Struggle

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Brandon Ingram had another disappointing outing in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In Game 1, Ingram took just one field-goal attempt after halftime, and he couldn't find his rhythm in Game 2 either. After a scoreless first half, Ingram finished with seven points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. He had a 3-for-15 success rate from the field and committed a team-high five turnovers in 36 minutes. Ingram appears to struggle under postseason pressure. The last time he played in the playoffs, in 2024 with New Orleans, his productivity also fell off a cliff. With two games played in this postseason campaign, the first-year All-Star has notched just 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, going 33.3 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from outside.

20 hours ago

Al Horford • C • Warriors

Al Horford Undecided on Future

Golden State Warriors forward/center Al Horford is undecided about whether he will wrap up his NBA career after finishing his 19th campaign, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area & California reports. "It has to do with not rushing to anything or not let emotions or heat of the moment determine anything," Horford said during Monday's exit interview. "I've done this the last few years, and it's just kind of taken time to step back and have a clear picture, look at the outlook of the team, looking at the future of the team, how things look, and also seeing kind of where I'm at and how I'm feeling." Horford, who will turn 40 in early June, has a $6 million player option for next season. In 2025-26, Horford's fantasy stock hit another low. He averaged career-low numbers in scoring (8.3) and rebounding (4.9) and struggled to stay on the floor, making only 45 appearances.

20 hours ago

Brandin Podziemski • SG • Warriors

Brandin Podziemski Wants to Stay With Warriors Long-Term

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski wants to remain with the franchise for the foreseeable future, Danny Emerman of The San Francisco Standard reports. Having finished his third NBA campaign, Podziemski will be eligible to sign a rookie-scale contract extension this offseason. "I want to be here for the long term," said Podziemski. "It's always special having the team that drafted you, so hopefully we can get something done." The 23-year-old has developed well over his three seasons in the league, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in 2025-26. Podziemski was one of only 18 players in the Association to play in all 82 regular-season games. But he came off the bench in nearly half of his appearances (43). While Podziemski has performed well, his fantasy potential is capped unless he earns a regular starting role.

20 hours ago

Jordan McLaughlin • PG • Spurs

Jordan McLaughlin Ruled Out for Game 2

San Antonio Spurs guard Jordan McLaughlin (ankle) has been ruled out for Tuesday's tilt against the Portland Trail Blazers. He sat out the series opener due to a left ankle sprain and hasn't been cleared to return. McLaughlin hasn't played a significant role for the Spurs this season, so his absence isn't a big deal for the team. Across 44 regular-season appearances, McLaughlin averaged only 6.4 minutes per game. De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle will continue to lead the backcourt, with Dylan Harper providing support off the bench.

Yesterday

Ron Harper Jr. • SF • Celtics

Ron Harper Jr. Probable for Game 2

Boston Celtics guard/forward Ron Harper Jr. (ankle) is on the injury report ahead of Tuesday's Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers, carrying a probable designation. The 26-year-old has injured his right ankle, but he is expected to be in the lineup on Tuesday night. That said, Harper Jr. saw only four minutes of garbage time in Boston's dominant 123-91 Game 1 victory, and it wouldn't be surprising if he didn't hit the court on Tuesday night, even if he's active. Payton Pritchard, Nikola Vucevic, and Baylor Scheierman will remain the primary contributors off the bench.

Yesterday

NBA News

LEGEND