Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Jaylen Brown scores 21 points, wins NBA Finals MVP
    Jaylen Brown played 44 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas, accounting for 21 points (7-of-23 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: Brown didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball, but he was influential in other areas as the Celtics wrapped up their 18th title. After winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, he stood out again in the NBA Finals and was named series MVP. Brown wasn’t projected to be the Celtics player whose fantasy value would be impacted the most by the additions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, based on his Yahoo ADP of 35.8. However, decreased production in the points, rebounds, and free-throw percentage categories led to JB finishing the regular season ranked outside the top 75 in 9-cat formats and just inside the top 60 in 8-cat. Brown averaged 23.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 70.3% from the foul line this season. In 2022-23, he was responsible for 26.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, shooting 76.5% from the line. The scoring and rebounding could remain “low” by Brown’s standards, but getting back into the mid-70s from the charity stripe next season would give his value a welcome boost in category leagues. Rotoworld Monday, 8:16 pm
     
  • Jayson Tatum seals title with 31/8/11/2 stat line
    Jayson Tatum shot 11-of-24 from the field and 8-of-8 from the foul line in Monday’s 106-88 win over the Mavericks, tallying 31 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 45 minutes.

    Advice: The Celtics wrapped up their 18th NBA championship on Monday, with Tatum leading the way as a scorer and creator. He made some history, becoming the first Celtics player to account for at least 20 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds in an NBA Finals game since Larry Bird in 1986. The championship caps quite the journey for the Celtics star, who has been an elite fantasy option for most of his career. Tatum’s scoring average dropped by more than three points per game compared to his 2022-23 production, so he finished the regular season ranked 15th in 8- and 9-cat per-game value, according to Basketball Monster. That certainly isn’t “bad,” but most fantasy managers were hoping to get top 5 value out of the Celtics star. Tatum’s ceiling still makes him a player who should be selected in the first round of most drafts, but Boston’s depth slightly lowers his fantasy ceiling. Rotoworld Monday, 8:08 pm
     
  • Coming off bench in Game 5
    Porzingis (lower leg) will come off the bench for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Mavericks.

    Advice: Porzingis will again come off the bench for the Celtics, as he did in the first two NBA Finals games. In those two contests, Porzingis accumulated 32 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and an assist while shooting 12-for-20 from the field. Prior to Game 5, head coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis will not have any restrictions after sitting out the last two games due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation, but Al Horford will remain in the starting lineup Monday. Rotowire.com Monday, 5:09 pm
     
  • Expected to play in Game 5
    Coach Joe Mazzulla said to expect Porzingis (lower leg) to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Dallas on Monday, Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News reports.

    Advice: Porzingis was ruled out ahead of Game 3 after suffering a left posterior tibialis dislocation in the third quarter of Game 2. He got the green light for Game 4 but didn't see any playing time during the blowout loss. However, with the Celtics looking to close out the series at home, Porzingis won't have any restrictions, though it remains unclear if he'll be in the starting lineup. In Game 1, his first appearance after a 10-game absence due to a calf injury, Porzingis scored 20 points (8-13 FG) and blocked three shots in 21 minutes. Rotowire.com Monday, 3:50 pm
     
  • Kristaps Porzingis (leg) available for Game 5 Mon.
    Kristaps Porzingis (left posterior tibialis dislocation) is available for Monday’s game against the Mavericks.

    Advice: Porzingis is officially available for Game 5, but that does not mean he’s guaranteed to play. The Celtics cleared him for Friday’s Game 4, but Porzingis did not see action. Before that game, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said the 7-foot-3 big would only play in “very specific instances,” and the contest turned into a blowout by the end of the first quarter. Mazzulla did say before Game 5 that he “expects to see” Porzingis play, but DFS players should not expect too much from him production-wise. Rotoworld Monday, 3:33 pm
     
  • Available for Game 5
    Porzingis (lower leg) is available for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Mavericks.

    Advice: Porzingis suffered a left posterior tibialis dislocation in the third quarter of Game 2 and was ruled out for Game 3. He was listed as available ahead of Game 4 but didn't see playing time in the blowout loss. The 28-year-old went through warmups before Game 5 and looked comfortable during light workouts with the Celtics' coaches and training staff. It is unclear whether coach Joe Mazzulla will put the big man to use, especially after saying he is not near 100 percent and would only be used sparingly before Game 4. Porzingis is available for Game 5, but with the Celtics holding a 3-1 series advantage, the team could limit his minutes severely, if he plays at all. Rotowire.com Monday, 3:29 pm
     
  • Questionable for Game 5
    Porzingis (lower leg) is questionable for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Mavericks, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: Porzingis is in jeopardy of missing his third consecutive game with a left posterior tibialis dislocation. The big man played in the first two games of the NBA Finals, accumulating 32 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and an assist while shooting 12-for-20 from the field. Prior to Game 4, head coach Joe Mazzulla said that Porzingis is not 100 percent and he will only play if the Celtics desperately need him, which may not end up being the case with the team still holding a 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 at home. If Porzingis remains sidelined, Al Horford and Xavier Tillman will continue seeing increased playing time. Rotowire.com Sunday, 2:09 pm
     
  • Scores 14 points in Game 4 loss
    Hauser provided 14 points (5-7 FG, 4-6 3Pt) and four rebounds across 20 minutes during Friday's 122-84 loss to the Mavericks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: The fact that Hauser was among the Celtics' scoring leaders in a potential title-clinching game of the NBA Finals tells you all you need to know about Boston's offense in this loss. Boston was atrocious on offense and couldn't get things going throughout the contest, but Hauser at least provided a spark with his three-point shooting. Hauser is not expected to play a prominent role for Boston offensively in the rest of the series. Rotowire.com Friday, 9:08 pm
     
  • Struggles from field Friday
    Brown closed with 10 points (3-12 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 3-4 FT), one rebound and two assists across 27 minutes during Friday's 122-84 loss to the Mavericks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: The Celtics suffered one of the worst losses in NBA Finals history. Brown had a rough showing on both ends of the court and struggled massively from the floor, ending with more field-goal attempts than points scored. Brown is among the Boston players who will look to bounce back quickly, with Game 5 -- and a potential title-clinching win in front of the Celtics' fans at TD Garden -- awaiting Monday. Rotowire.com Friday, 9:08 pm