NBA News

Franz Wagner • SF • Magic

Franz Wagner Won't Play Friday

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (calf) has been ruled out for Friday's Game 6 tilt against the Detroit Pistons. The German star sustained a right calf injury in Game 4 at the start of the week. Before sitting out Game 5, Wagner was listed as questionable on the injury report. Now, he has been ruled out immediately, which isn't a good sign. Jamal Cain filled Wagner's spot in the starting lineup in Game 5, amassing five points, four rebounds, and one assist in 25 minutes. Wagner's absence also benefited Anthony Black, who was much more productive. In 39 minutes off the bench, Black contributed 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. DFS managers should prioritize Black over Cain again on Friday.

4 hours ago

Brandon Ingram • SF • Raptors

Brandon Ingram Iffy for Friday's Action

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Brandon Ingram (heel) is considered questionable for Game 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. Due to right heel inflammation, Ingram couldn't complete Game 5 and might now miss additional action. A.J. Lawson started the second half in Ingram's place in Game 5 but logged only two minutes. It was actually Jamal Shead who benefited most from Ingram's injury, logging 34 minutes off the bench. He had a fine game as well, with 18 points, one rebound, seven assists, and two steals. Jamison Battle is also in a position to see more minutes without Ingram.

5 hours ago

Kevin Durant • PF • Rockets

Kevin Durant Listed as Doubtful for Game 6

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. This leaves open the possibility that Durant will return from a three-game absence, but ESPN's Shams Charania reported earlier Thursday that the former MVP won't play. Even with Durant sidelined, Houston has won back-to-back games and can extend the series to Game 7 on Friday. Sources have told Charania that Durant's injury typically requires at least two weeks to return to play. Durant hurt his ankle on April 21, meaning 12 days will have passed since his injury by the time a potential Game 7 takes place on Sunday. Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason have greater fantasy significance without Durant.

5 hours ago

Bones Hyland • PG • Timberwolves

Bones Hyland Cleared for Game 6

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (knee) will play in Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. Coming into Thursday, Hyland had a questionable tag on the injury report due to a sore left knee, but the team has since upgraded his status to available. With Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) sidelined, Hyland has an opportunity to play a more significant role for the Timberwolves. On Thursday, the team might also be without Ayo Dosunmu (calf), who was added to the injury report earlier in the day with a questionable designation. In Game 5, Hyland was among Minnesota's top scorers with 15 points, but he didn't do much else in 23 minutes off the bench.

5 hours ago

Josh Hart • SF • Knicks

Josh Hart Ready to Rock Thursday

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (back) will be available on Thursday in Game 6 against the Atlanta Hawks. The versatile veteran was tagged as questionable on the initial injury report due to a lower back contusion. Hart was quiet in Game 5, but he's had a decent series overall. Across 34.8 minutes per game, Hart has averaged 9.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. His scoring numbers have dropped in the postseason due to poor 37.0 percent field-goal efficiency. He has made only 15.8 percent of his attempts from behind the arc.

5 hours ago

James Harden • SG • Cavaliers

James Harden Contributes in All Areas Wednesday

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden posted 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in Wednesday's 125-120 Game 5 victory over the Toronto Raptors. The former MVP made half of his eight three-point attempts and finished 7-for-13 overall from the field. On the downside, Harden was responsible for six of Cleveland's 14 turnovers, yet he was the team's only starter with a positive plus/minus, finishing with a plus-10 in 40 minutes. Harden has struggled to handle the ball throughout the series, recording 6.0 turnovers per game. However, he's done a great job overall, averaging 22.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals, while shooting close to 50 percent. He's gone 41.0 percent from deep on nearly eight attempts per game.

16 hours ago

Dennis Schröder • PG • Cavaliers

Dennis Schroder Plays Key Role in Game 5 Win

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder was the X-factor in Wednesday's 125-120 win over the Toronto Raptors, scoring 19 points and dishing out two assists in 21 minutes off the bench. Schroder played the entire fourth quarter and scored 11 points as Cleveland turned a 103-100 deficit into a Game 5 victory. The German veteran was 7-for-11 from the field, including 3-for-6 from behind the arc. So far, Schroder's role has been quite limited in the first-round series, but he showed on Wednesday that he is ready to step up if called upon. Prior to Wednesday night, the 2023 World Cup MVP had averaged only 4.0 points per game against Toronto.

16 hours ago

RJ Barrett • SG • Raptors

RJ Barrett Records First Double-Double of the Season

Toronto Raptors guard/forward RJ Barrett continued his fantastic series against the Cleveland Cavaliers with his first double-double of the season in Wednesday's 125-120 loss, posting game highs with 25 points and 12 rebounds. He also registered five assists in 38 minutes, going 9-for-19 from the field with a 2-for-5 record from three-point range. With Brandon Ingram (heel) struggling in the postseason, Barrett has really stepped up his game. He leads Toronto in scoring with 24.4 points per game and in rebounding with 7.2 per game. Additionally, Barrett has averaged 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals, making 46.2 percent of his three-point attempts. Ingram might be completely out of the lineup for Game 6 after exiting early on Wednesday, potentially allowing Barrett to have an even greater impact.

16 hours ago

Austin Reaves • SG • Lakers

Austin Reaves Contributes 22 Points Off the Bench in Game 5 Loss

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) returned to action in a bench role on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets and tallied 22 points in a 99-93 loss. This was Reaves' first game in four weeks. While the team elected not to start him, the 27-year-old was heavily involved in the action, logging 34 minutes. Reaves was rusty and scored most of his points at the free-throw line, going 12-for-13. He had a 4-for-16 record from the field and made only two of eight attempts from downtown. Although he had trouble scoring the basketball, Reaves did a good job as a playmaker, registering six assists. Additionally, he grabbed six rebounds and blocked one shot. Given that Reaves handled his normal workload in his comeback game, it appears likely he will return to the starting lineup in Game 6 on Friday.

16 hours ago

LeBron James • SF • Lakers

LeBron James Regains Scoring Touch Wednesday

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James scored a game-high 25 points on Wednesday night in a 99-93 Game 5 loss to the Houston Rockets. The veteran superstar rebounded well from his 10-point outing in Game 4, although James missed all six attempts from three-point land. Overall, he was 9-for-20 from the field and 7-for-10 at the charity stripe. The 22-time All-Star dished out a team-high seven assists, grabbed three rebounds, and snagged a pair of steals. In 39 minutes, James posted only two turnovers -- a major improvement from the previous two games, when he had eight turnovers in each. James is experiencing some efficiency issues in his 19th postseason campaign, but he has still improved upon his regular-season averages. Across 39.0 minutes per game, James has notched 22.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.6 steals.

16 hours ago

Paolo Banchero • PF • Magic

Paolo Banchero Scores 45 Points in Game 5 Loss

Orlando Magic power forward Paolo Banchero had a special night with 45 points on Wednesday, but he couldn't save his team from a 116-109 Game 5 loss against the Detroit Pistons. Only two players in franchise history -- Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady -- have been more prolific in a playoff game, sharing the Magic record with 46 points. Banchero did the damage with a 17-for-31 effort from the field. After averaging only one made three-pointer per game across the first four games of the season, Banchero was 6-for-11 from downtown. The 2024 All-Star also led his team with nine rebounds and seven assists, adding two steals. Having this version of Banchero on the court is a huge bonus for Orlando, especially if Franz Wagner's (calf) absence extends beyond a single game.

16 hours ago

Cade Cunningham • PG • Pistons

Cade Cunningham Helps Pistons Survive With 45-Point Effort

Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham scored a playoff career-high 45 points as the team staved off elimination with a 116-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Cunningham got rolling early and showcased his full offensive arsenal, finishing 13-for-23 from the field and 14-for-14 at the free-throw line. He made five of eight triples, capping off his line with four rebounds, five assists, and one steal. With six turnovers, Cunningham yet again struggled to handle the ball, but he more than made up for it with his massive offensive contribution. The Pistons will need a similar performance from him in Game 6.

Yesterday

Jock Landale • C • Hawks

Jock Landale to Remain Unavailable in Game 6

Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale (ankle) will remain sidelined on Thursday in Game 6 against the New York Knicks. On April 16, the team announced Landale would be re-evaluated "in approximately two weeks." It looks like the Australian big man isn't close to returning from a high ankle sprain. Mouhamed Gueye and Tony Bradley have split backup center duties during Landale's absence, but the two have been anonymous in the first-round series. Starting center Onyeka Okongwu is likely to face a heavy workload in Thursday's elimination game.

Yesterday

Peyton Watson • SF • Nuggets

Peyton Watson to Remain Out Thursday

Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) will remain out on Thursday in Game 6 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 23-year-old suffered a right hamstring strain on April 1. There have been no updates on Watson, so it's unclear whether he will be able to return if the Nuggets survive the first-round series against Minnesota. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown have seen a lot of action off the bench during Watson's absence. However, Denver relied heavily on its first unit in Monday's elimination game and will likely do the same on Thursday night.

Yesterday

Austin Reaves • SG • Lakers

Austin Reaves Cleared to Return Wednesday

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) has been officially cleared to return to action in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Reaves has been nursing a Grade 2 left oblique strain since April 2. He joins a Lakers lineup that remains without Luka Doncic (hamstring), so Reaves will have a large role offensively, though he might not play his usual minutes after his multi-week absence. The fantasy outlook for Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart will suffer with Reaves rejoining the lineup.

Yesterday

Luka Dončić • PG • Lakers

Luka Doncic Remains Without Timetable for Return

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) remains without a timetable for his return, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. "There's still no clarity on the timetable for him," Charania said on Wednesday during an appearance on NBA Today. "He is starting some on-court movement. He's continuing to improve on that. There's still some ways to go, though, for him to have a full ramp-up of basketball activities." Charania added that Doncic is expected to remain sidelined at the start of the second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder if the Lakers advance past Houston. Doncic has been out since April 2 due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain.

Yesterday

Brandon Ingram • SF • Raptors

Brandon Ingram Won't Play in Second Half Wednesday

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Brandon Ingram (heel) will miss the remainder of Wednesday's Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team ruled him out for the rest of the night before halftime due to right heel inflammation. It's an issue Ingram has been dealing with late in the season. On Wednesday, he played only 11 minutes and scored one point. A.J. Lawson started the second half in Ingram's place. Jamal Shead and Jamison Battle could also see more action for the rest of the game, while the offense will revolve around Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Ja'Kobe Walter.

Yesterday

Aaron Gordon • PF • Nuggets

Aaron Gordon Questionable for Game 6

Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) is questionable for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 6 against Minnesota after missing multiple games and playing limited minutes in his last appearance. Even if he returns, his workload could be managed in a win-or-go-home setting. Spencer Jones stepped into a larger role in Game 5, producing 20 points with four three-pointers, three rebounds, and three steals in 37 minutes and would remain a strong DFS value if Gordon sits again. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray should continue handling the bulk of the offense.

Yesterday

Josh Hart • SF • Knicks

Josh Hart Iffy for Game 6

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (back) is questionable for Thursday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 6 against Atlanta due to a lower-back contusion, though he is still expected to push to play in a closeout spot. If he is limited or sits, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado could see more run after combining for 21 points in 28 minutes off the bench in Game 5. Hart's all-around role makes him valuable in DFS if active, while Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns should continue carrying the offense.

Yesterday

Joel Embiid • C • 76ers

Joel Embiid Likely to Play in Game 6

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) is probable for Thursday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 6 against Boston as he continues to play through recovery from a recent procedure. He logged 39 minutes in Game 5 after 34 minutes in his initial return, and a similar workload is expected in this elimination setting. In two appearances, Embiid has averaged 29.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, maintaining elite production. He remains a top DFS anchor, while Tyrese Maxey and Paul George continue to play key offensive roles.

Yesterday

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