NBA News

Jakob Poeltl • C • Raptors

Jakob Poeltl Expected to Bounce Back Thursday

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl still remains very much part of the team's plans this postseason. That was called into question after Monday's Game 2 loss to Cleveland, where Poeltl saw just nine minutes of action and sat out the entire second half. "He needs to be part of the solution for us," Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters on Wednesday, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN. "He needs to be more aggressive. He needs to dominate the glass. He's going to be a big part of Game 3 and I believe he's going to perform really well." While Rajakovic appears confident in a bounce-back performance from Poeltl, he didn't commit to a starting center for Thursday's game. Collin Murray-Boyles started the second half at the No. 5 spot on Monday night, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.

6 hours ago

Jordan Goodwin • PG • Suns |

Collin Gillespie • PG • Suns

Collin Gillespie Replaces Jordan Goodwin in Starting Unit for Game 2

Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie will join the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, filling in for Jordan Goodwin (calf). The Suns are forced to make a switch after Goodwin injured his left calf in the series opener. A starting role isn't new to Gillespie, who benefited from Jalen Green's health issues during the regular season and appeared as a starter in 58 contests. In those games, Gillespie averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals. The Suns will be hoping for similar production from him on Wednesday night as they try to even the series.

6 hours ago

Rob Dillingham • PG • Bulls

Rob Dillingham Undergoes Wrist Procedure

Chicago Bulls point guard Rob Dillingham recently underwent successful minor surgery to have a ganglion cyst removed from his right wrist, the team announced on Wednesday. Dillingham battled this issue late in the year, but he will have the entire offseason to get to 100 percent for the 2026-27 campaign. The 21-year-old had a strong finish to the season, averaging 13.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in April. However, this happened with Josh Giddey out of the lineup. Tre Jones is another option at point guard for the team. Giddey and Jones both have a contract with the Bulls for next season, making Dillingham's situation murky.

6 hours ago

Grayson Allen • SF • Suns

Grayson Allen Cleared to Play Wednesday

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (hamstring) will suit up on Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. Whether Allen will take the court is another matter. Recently, he has picked up a few DNP-CDs as Allen has been managing a hamstring injury. With Jordan Goodwin (calf) out on Wednesday, the Suns could really use him. Allen might be his replacement in the starting lineup, although even after Goodwin left Game 1 with a calf injury, Suns head coach Jordan Ott elected not to use Allen.

6 hours ago

Keldon Johnson • SF • Spurs

Keldon Johnson Lands Sixth Man of the Year Award

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson has become the second player in franchise history to win the Sixth Man of the Year award. Hall of Fame member Manu Ginobili was San Antonio's only previous winner of the award. Johnson set the Spurs' record for most bench points this season, finishing with 1,081. He appeared in all 82 games, averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 23.3 minutes. Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Denver's Tim Hardaway Jr. were the other finalists for the award. So far, Johnson's efforts to replicate his form in the playoffs haven't worked out, as he has been limited to 5.0 points per game against Portland.

6 hours ago

Jordan Goodwin • PG • Suns

Jordan Goodwin Won't Play Wednesday

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (calf) will miss Wednesday's Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After suffering a calf injury in Game 1, Goodwin was listed as questionable on the initial injury report. He has now been downgraded to out, leaving a starting spot open. Royce O'Neale is the likeliest candidate to fill it, while Ryan Dunn could also have an expanded role in Wednesday's game. The two would also benefit from the absence of Grayson Allen (hamstring), who is a game-time decision.

6 hours ago

Mark Williams • C • Suns

Mark Williams Misses Wednesday's Action

Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (foot) will sit out Wednesday's Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He will be unavailable for a third consecutive game after the team downgraded Williams' status from questionable to out. The big man has been battling a left foot injury since the Play-In Tournament. Due to Williams' absence, the Suns have been forced to lean more on Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach at the center position. Ighodaro had a mixed performance in Game 1, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds but going scoreless in 26 minutes. Maluach also failed to score in 15 minutes but contributed three rebounds. It's a very tough matchup for the youngsters against Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.

6 hours ago

Ja'Kobe Walter • SG • Raptors

Ja'Kobe Walter Could Miss Pivotal Game 3

Toronto Raptors guard Ja'Kobe Walter (illness) is questionable for Thursday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 3 against Cleveland as the series shifts back to Toronto. He logged 28 minutes in each of the first two games with Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) sidelined, including 14 points and three three-pointers in Game 2. If Walter sits, Jamal Shead could again push toward 38 minutes after posting three points, four assists, and two steals, while A.J. Lawson may enter the rotation. Walter carries DFS appeal if active, though his role is sensitive to Quickley's status.

8 hours ago

Peyton Watson • SF • Nuggets

Peyton Watson Remains Out for Game 3

Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) is out for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 3 against Minnesota, extending his absence to eight straight games. He has yet to appear in this series and remains without a clear return timeline. Watson averaged 14.6 points and 1.5 three-pointers during the regular season, but Denver has adjusted without him. Christian Braun logged 16 points, five assists, and two steals in 35 minutes in Game 2, while Cameron Johnson added 13 points in 28 minutes. Both remain viable DFS options with stable roles.

8 hours ago

Aaron Gordon • PF • Nuggets

Aaron Gordon Likely to Play in Game 3

Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) is probable for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 3 against Minnesota and is expected to play through left calf tightness. He has averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 33.0 minutes this series, though he managed just eight points with seven rebounds and four assists across 37 minutes in Game 2. Gordon remains a secondary DFS option tied to peripheral stats, while Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray continue to dominate usage. Bruce Brown would see a slight bump only if Gordon is limited.

8 hours ago

Anthony Edwards • SG • Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards' Status Uncertain for Game 3

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (knee) is questionable for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 3 against Denver due to right knee injury maintenance after being listed with the same tag in the first two games. He still played 39.0 minutes per game in the series, averaging 26.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks, including a 30-point, 10-rebound effort in Game 2. If active, he remains a top DFS anchor. If not, Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland would see expanded roles, with Dosunmu offering safer minutes and Hyland bringing scoring upside.

8 hours ago

Thomas Bryant • C • Cavaliers

Thomas Bryant Iffy for Game 3

Cleveland Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant (calf) is questionable for Thursday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 3 against Toronto after missing the last six games. If active, he is expected to handle a limited bench role behind Jarrett Allen. His return should have minimal impact on Cleveland's rotation, with Allen and Evan Mobley continuing to log steady minutes in the frontcourt. Bryant is not a DFS target due to his uncertain workload, while Mobley remains the stronger DFS option given his broader stat profile.

8 hours ago

Immanuel Quickley • PG • Raptors

Immanuel Quickley Questionable for Game 3

Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) is questionable for Thursday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 3 against Cleveland after missing the first two games of the series. If he returns, it should help settle the backcourt and take some pressure off the other playmakers. Jamal Shead logged 38 minutes with three points and four assists in Game 2 but offers limited scoring upside, while Ja'Kobe Walter (illness) posted 14 points with three three-pointers in 28 minutes off the bench. Quickley's presence would likely cut into both roles and boost Brandon Ingram's efficiency, making him a strong DFS option if active.

9 hours ago

Jonathan Isaac • PF • Magic

Jonathan Isaac Ruled Out for Game 2

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) is out for Wednesday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 2 against Detroit and remains limited to light on-court work, putting his availability for this series in doubt. He has not played since mid-March, so Orlando's rotation is already settled without him. Paolo Banchero should continue leading with a 27.1 usage rate, while Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner hold steady roles. Tristan da Silva and Goga Bitadze remain low-cost DFS fillers, though their minutes are not guaranteed.

9 hours ago

Scoot Henderson • PG • Trail Blazers

Scoot Henderson Erupts for 31 Points in Series-Tying Victory

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson played a leading role in Tuesday's 106-103 Game 2 win over the San Antonio Spurs, leading all scorers with 31 points. Henderson scored very efficiently in Game 1 and hadn't lost his touch on Tuesday night, finishing 11-for-17 from the field. He was 5-for-9 from outside and 4-for-6 at the line. At 22, Henderson became Portland's youngest-ever 30-point scorer in the playoffs. Yet there were also some shortcomings in his performance, as Henderson didn't register a single assist and collected only one rebound. Defensively, he managed one steal and one block. Henderson has made a superb start to his first career postseason campaign, but with his field-goal percentage at a lofty 64.3 percent, it may be hard for him to sustain his current scoring rate.

18 hours ago

Alperen Sengün • C • Rockets

Alperen Sengun Fills Stat Sheet in Losing Effort

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun finished Tuesday's 101-94 Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with 20 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals, and two blocks. The Turkish star left his fingerprints all over this game, yet the Rockets were held to 100 points again and suffered another loss. While Houston has been beaten by the Lakers in back-to-back games, Sengun has been productive in the series. Still, he is capable of making a bigger impact, having made only 38.5 percent of his field-goal attempts so far. The Rockets will attempt to spark a comeback on home court, starting with Game 3 on Friday night.

18 hours ago

Kevin Durant • PF • Rockets

Kevin Durant Commits Nine Turnovers in Game 2 Loss

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant led his team with 23 points in Tuesday's 101-94 loss to the Lakers, but he also committed a game-high nine turnovers. The rest of the Rockets had only six turnovers combined. Returning from a knee injury, which kept him sidelined for the series opener, Durant logged 41 minutes. He made only one of four outside attempts but was efficient overall, going 7-for-12 from the field and 8-for-9 at the free-throw line. The two-time Finals MVP capped off his line with six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. Houston now heads home with a 2-0 series deficit, but the team can still turn the series around if they get the best out of Durant.

18 hours ago

Marcus Smart • PG • Lakers

Marcus Smart Catches Fire in Game 2

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart made five of his seven attempts from outside and contributed 25 points in Tuesday's 101-94 Game 2 win over the Houston Rockets. Only LeBron James (28) had a higher points tally in the contest, with Smart finishing 8-for-13 from the field and 4-for-5 at the line. As usual, Smart also made his presence felt on the defensive end, snagging five steals and blocking one shot. His line also included two rebounds and seven assists. The Lakers are missing Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) to start the postseason, but you wouldn't know it from how well Smart and Luke Kennard have played. So far, the duo is averaging a combined 45.0 points per game in the first-round series.

19 hours ago

LeBron James • SF • Lakers

LeBron James Leads Lakers to Victory With Game-High 28 Points

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James posted a game-high 28 points as the team grabbed a 2-0 series lead against the Houston Rockets with a 101-94 win on Tuesday night. The legendary forward also tallied eight rebounds, seven assists, and one steal, finishing 8-for-20 from the field and 10-for-14 at the charity stripe. James' work on the offensive end included a jaw-dropping reverse dunk in the third quarter. Even with Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) on the shelf, Houston has struggled to match the Lakers, largely because of James's all-out effort. The four-time Finals MVP may be 41, but he's playing with the vigor of a 21-year-old embarking on his first postseason, averaging 23.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists, and 1.5 steals through the opening games of the first round.

19 hours ago

Jake LaRavia • PF • Lakers

Jake LaRavia Exits Early Tuesday

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (leg) missed the end of Tuesday's Game 2 win over Houston, Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet reports. The 24-year-old exited the action due to an apparent right leg injury with 5:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. LaRavia finished Tuesday's win scoreless in 16 minutes off the bench but grabbed two rebounds and had one block. The Lakers have been badly stung by injuries late in the season, and it's possible LaRavia will also have to miss time. In that case, Jarred Vanderbilt must be ready for a heavier workload in the second unit.

19 hours ago

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