• Undergoes minor nose procedure
    Beal underwent a minor procedure to realign his septum shortly after the Suns were eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.

    Advice: Beal broke his nose after taking an elbow from Myles Turner during the second half of a Jan. 26 loss to the Pacers and had to wear a mask for several games. He eventually ditched the mask but still had trouble breathing out of his right nostril during the final months of the campaign. After dropping 36 points on the Timberwolves in the regular-season finale, Beal averaged just 16.5 points during the opening-round series as Minnesota swept Phoenix. Beal is expected to play a key role for the Suns next season, but things are subject to change, as Phoenix fired Frank Vogel early in the offseason and quickly hired Mike Budenholzer. Rotowire.com Today, 8:11 am
  • Double-double not enough in Game 1
    Doncic registered 30 points (12-26 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 2-5 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist and two steals across 38 minutes during Thursday's 107-89 loss to Boston in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Doncic was the Mavericks' best player by a wide margin in the Game 1 loss, but his efforts were not enough, and at times, he looked extremely isolated on offense, as if he was the only player trying to create something out of nothing. The Celtics suffocated him with intense marking and pressure all over the court every time he had the ball, and the rest of the Mavericks didn't do enough to warrant attention from the defense when Doncic managed to find an open teammate. Expect Doncic to continue having a high usage rate in Game 2 on Sunday, but his teammates will likely need to be more impactful if Dallas is to steal that game on Boston's homecourt. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:51 pm
  • Struggles from field in Game 1
    Irving finished with 12 points (6-19 FG, 0-5 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists and two steals across 36 minutes during Thursday's 107-89 loss to the Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Irving was welcomed by loud boos from the crowd, and that continued every time he touched the ball. The veteran point guard didn't look like himself and had a rough outing, missing all five of his three-point attempts and struggling badly from the field. He'll aim to bounce back in Game 2 on Sunday. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:49 pm
  • Fills stat sheet in Thursday's win
    Brown accumulated 22 points (7-12 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 6-11 FT), six rebounds, two assists, three blocks and three steals over 37 minutes during Thursday's 107-89 victory over the Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Brown led the Celtics in scoring in the comfortable win, but he did more than just that, as he also left his mark on the defensive end and grabbed headlines with a posterizing dunk during the second quarter. Brown has been alternating with Jayson Tatum in the role of Boston's go-to player on offense, with the Celtics riding whoever has the hottest hand, and that was certainly the case with Brown in the series opener. He's now scored at least 20 points in five straight playoff appearances, representing his longest streak in the current postseason run. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:46 pm
  • Derrick White hits three 3-pointers, scores 15
    Derrick White amassed 15 points (5-of-11 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), two rebounds, five assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers in 35 minutes in Thursday’s win over the Mavericks.

    Advice: Boston opened the 2024 NBA Finals on a high note, as they blitzed the Mavericks early and kept the visitors at a safe distance throughout. White was one of six Celtics in double figures and one of two players (Jayson Tatum) to make three 3-pointers on the night. The Celtics shot 16-of-42 from deep as a team, outscoring Dallas by a 48-21 margin. Backcourt sidekick Jrue Holiday also had a good night, as he finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 35 minutes. Boston will look to take a 2-0 series lead when the teams meet again on Sunday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:22 pm
  • Jaylen Brown posts 22/6/2/3/3 line in Game 1 rout
    Jaylen Brown played 37 minutes in Thursday’s 107-89 win over Dallas, accumulating 22 points (7-of-12 FGs, 6-of-11 FTs), six rebounds, two assists, three steals, three blocks, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: DFS players who slotted Brown into their lineups were rewarded handsomely on Thursday, as he produced a full stat line while leading the Celtics in scoring, steals, and blocks (tied with Kristaps Porzingis). The Eastern Conference Finals MVP did not skip a beat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which was good for Boston, as Jayson Tatum struggled with his shot and turnovers. Brown has been on a roll recently, and the lower price tag could make him a better pick to lead your DFS squad than Tatum moving forward. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:18 pm
  • Kyrie Irving goes cold from deep, scores 12 points
    Kyrie Irving played 37 minutes in Thursday’s Game 1 loss to the Celtics, tallying 12 points (6-of-19 FGs), three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

    Advice: Playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since his last season with the Cavaliers (2016-17), Irving struggled mightily in Game 1. Not only did he fail to make a 3-pointer, missing all five attempts, but he did not attempt a free throw. Boston outscored Dallas by a 48-21 margin from three, and the Mavericks also struggled from inside the arc. While Dallas needs to be better, beating a team as good as the Celtics with Irving struggling is challenging. He’ll look to bounce back in Game 2 on Sunday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:03 pm
  • Luka Doncic scores game-high 30 in Game 1 defeat
    Luka Doncic shot 12-of-26 from the field and 2-of-5 from the foul line in Thursday’s loss to the Celtics, scoring 30 points with 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals, and four 3-pointers in 38 minutes.

    Advice: Doncic was relatively effective as a scorer, but he could not do much playmaking for others in his NBA Finals debut. Boston did its best to avoid committing too many bodies to defending Doncic, resulting in a postseason-low one assist. Also, Luka was responsible for four of Dallas’ ten turnovers on the night. It would be wise to avoid overreacting to Game 1, as the Mavericks dropped their series openers against the Clippers and Thunder. But Doncic’s assist tally will be something to track moving forward. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:56 pm
  • Available for Game 1
    Doncic (knee) will be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals versus Boston on Thursday, as expected.

    Advice: Doncic was listed as probable on the initial injury report, just like he has been throughout the playoffs, and that trend will likely continue throughout the Finals. He shouldn't have any minutes restrictions and should be ready to shoulder a heavy load on offense. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 4:36 pm