Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Misses out on double-double
    Gafford amassed 11 points (3-3 FG, 5-6 FT), nine rebounds and one block across 20 minutes during Thursday's 124-103 win over the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

    Advice: With the return of Dereck Lively, Gafford saw his playing time decrease from 31 minutes in Game 4 to 20 in Game 5. Regardless, Gafford was able to maintain his productivity, recording at least one block for the 11th straight contest. The 24-year-old big averaged 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 24.4 minutes across the five games in the Western Conference Finals. Rotowire.com Today, 1:04 pm
     
  • Explodes for 36 points in Game 5
    Irving ended with 36 points (14-27 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes during Thursday's 124-103 victory over Minnesota in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

    Advice: Irving's 36 points tied Luka Doncic for a game-high mark and was his second-highest scoring tally of the playoffs so far. Irving's masterful performance helped clinch the series over Minnesota in which he averaged 27.0 points, 4.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds on 49.0/37.5/80.8 shooting splits across the five games. The 31-year-old guard will now face the Celtics in his fourth career NBA Finals appearance. Rotowire.com Today, 12:45 pm
     
  • Naz Reid struggles in Game 5 blowout loss to Mavs
    Naz Reid shot 2-of-10 from the field and 1-of-1 from the foul line in Thursday’s loss to the Mavericks, tallying five points, four rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot in 27 minutes.

    Advice: Reid’s production tailed off considerably after scoring 14 points or more in the first three games of the Western Conference Finals. He only attempted six shots in Game 4, but Game 5 was arguably his most disappointing effort of the postseason. The five points were the fewest in a game for Reid since Minnesota’s Game 2 win over Phoenix in the first round, and he missed all four of his 3-point attempts. While Reid finished the regular season ranked outside the top 100 in fantasy, he was a dependable option despite coming off the bench. Minnesota would likely have to move Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert for his ceiling to be raised. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:45 pm
     
  • Kyrie Irving records 36/4/5 line in Game 5 rout
    Kyrie Irving played 40 minutes in Thursday’s 124-103 win over the Timberwolves, amassing 36 points (14-of-27 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, five assists, and four 3-pointers.

    Advice: While backcourt partner Luka Doncic was the one who got things rolling in Game 5, Irving wasn’t far off. Notching his third 30-point game of the series, Kyrie scored 17 points in the first half and kept rolling after halftime. In helping the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011, Irving will face one of his former teams with a championship on the line. The NBA Finals open on June 6 in Boston, with the Celtics having the league’s best regular season record. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:03 pm
     
  • Struggles from field Tuesday
    Irving accumulated 16 points (6-18 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two rebounds, four assists and one steal over 42 minutes during Tuesday's 105-100 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

    Advice: Irving was on the losing end of a closeout game in the playoffs for the first time in his career, and there's no doubt this was his worst performance of the series, particularly due to his shooting woes. Despite the struggles in this one, the star floor general remains an elite offensive weapon, and he should play a prominent role for Dallas in Game 5 of the series Thursday. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 8:04 am
     
  • Daniel Gafford plays playoff-high 31 minutes
    Daniel Gafford shot 6-of-6 from the field in Tuesday’s Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves, scoring 12 points with eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and three blocked shots in 31 minutes.

    Advice: With Dereck Lively II out with a sprained neck, it was evident that Gafford’s minutes would increase. The 31 minutes he played on Tuesday are the most for DG this postseason, and he was productive as a finisher, rebounder, and rim protector. Maxi Kleber played 13 of the remaining minutes, finishing with two points, one rebound, and one assist in his first game back from a separated shoulder. His minutes in Game 5 will be impacted by the status of Lively, who is trending toward being available to play on Thursday. Rotoworld Tuesday, 9:09 pm
     
  • Kyrie Irving struggles, finishes with 16 points
    Kyrie Irving played 42 minutes in Tuesday’s loss to the Timberwolves, accounting for 16 points (6-of-18 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), two rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one 3-pointer.

    Advice: Throughout the postseason, Irving has made a habit of flipping the switch after halftime. He scored ten of his 16 points in the second half, but the overall inefficiency was an issue for Irving and the Mavericks. Tuesday’s loss drops his record in close-out games to 14-1, which is still remarkable. Kyrie and the Mavericks now have to head north for Game 5 on Thursday, where they’ll have another opportunity to seal their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011. Rotoworld Tuesday, 8:58 pm
     
  • Thrives in fourth quarter Sunday
    Irving logged 33 points (12-20 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 6-8 FT), three rebounds, four assists and one steal across 42 minutes during Sunday's 116-107 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

    Advice: There's a reason why people around the NBA call Irving "Mr. Fourth Quarter," and the star floor general has lived up to that nickname in Dallas' last two playoff wins. He scored 14 points in the final frame in Game 2 of the series, and he added 13 points while going 4-for-5 from the field in the final 12 minutes of Sunday's contest. Luka Doncic continues to lead the Mavericks offensively, but Irving is thriving when the team needs him the most and has been an outstanding second option on offense so far in these playoffs. Rotowire.com Monday, 7:53 am
     
  • Kyrie Irving scores 33 points in Game 3 triumph
    Kyrie Irving played 42 minutes in Sunday’s 116-107 win over Minnesota, tallying 33 points (12-of-20 FGs, 6-of-8 FTs), three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers.

    Advice: Dallas has the proven “closers” in this series, while Minnesota doesn’t. Irving scored 14 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, combining with Luka Doncic to lead the Mavericks to a 3-0 series lead. Teams that have won the first three games of a best-of-7 series are 154-0 all-time, so it may be a matter of “when” the Mavericks reach the finals for the first time since 2011 instead of “if.” Also, Irving is 14-0 in his NBA postseason career in close-out games. Rotoworld Sunday, 7:50 pm