Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Poor shooting in season-ending loss
    Harden finished with 16 points (5-16 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and two steals over 43 minutes during Friday's 114-101 loss to Dallas in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Harden was one of the players the Clippers needed to step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, and the veteran guard couldn't come through when the team needed him the most. He was particularly woeful in the final two games of the series, where he went 7-for-28 from the field and 1-for-13 from three-point range. He averaged 21.2 points and 8.0 assists per game in the series, but the numbers don't tell the whole story here, as the Clippers needed -- and expected -- more out of him, but he couldn't deliver when called upon duty. Rotowire.com Today, 6:23 am
     
  • Norman Powell scores team-high 20 points in Game 6
    Norman Powell finished Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks with 20 points (6-of-14 FGs, 6-of-8 FTs), four rebounds, and two 3-pointers in 36 minutes.

    Advice: Powell played a series-high 36 minutes in Game 6, hitting the 20-point mark for the first time since he scored 21 in Game 3. The Clippers playing without Kawhi Leonard resulted in more opportunities for Norm, even if he remained in a reserve role. Powell was once again one of the NBA’s most productive bench scorers, but his fantasy value will remain capped as long as the Clippers have Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on the wings. Powell is under contract for two more seasons, and unless George were to opt out and leave, his place within the Clippers’ rotation is unlikely to change in 2024-25. He’s worth selecting with a late-round pick, but Powell is most valuable on nights when the Clippers are shorthanded on the perimeter. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:13 pm
     
  • Paul George scores 18 points in Game 6 defeat
    Paul George shot 6-of-18 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks, amassing 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Facing elimination, the Clippers needed elite production from George and James Harden, and neither could come through. They also struggled in Game 5, making for a disappointing end to the season. Neither health nor production was an issue for George this season, as he appeared in 79 regular season games and provided top 20 per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats. The production exceeded PG-13’s Yahoo ADP (31.4) by a considerable margin, but there are questions heading into the summer. George still can opt out of the final season of his deal, and even with the expectation that he’ll remain with the Clippers, there’s no shortage of potential suitors. Regardless of where he plays in 2024-25, George’s 2023-24 season should renew the faith of fantasy managers. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:58 pm
     
  • James Harden drops 16 points, 13 assists Friday
    James Harden finished Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks with 16 points (5-of-16 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), seven rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and one blocked shot in 43 minutes.

    Advice: Harden may have dished out 13 assists while only committing one turnover in Game 6, but he struggled shooting the basketball in his final game of the season. The Beard did not play well in the series’ final two games, which was also the case for Paul George. Friday’s loss sends James into what could be another offseason of change. Harden’s season began with instability, as he made it clear that he wanted out of Philadelphia. The 76ers ultimately accommodated that desire, and after a slow start to his time with the Clippers, The Beard rounded into form. Harden’s Yahoo ADP (31.3) suffered due to the preseason questions, but he finished the year as a top 30 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Harden will be a free agent this summer, and the Clippers could also have to negotiate a new deal with George. Look for his ADP to improve by a few spots if the Clippers keep the roster intact. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:54 pm
     
  • Kyrie Irving scores 28 second-half points Friday
    Kyrie Irving finished Friday’s 114-101 win over the Clippers with 30 points (11-of-19 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks, and five 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Game 6 was a tale of two halves for Irving, whose increased focus on the defensive end of the floor may have limited his energy on offense. At various points in Friday’s win, he was responsible for guarding James Harden or Paul George. After missing both of his field goal attempts and scoring two points in the first half, Kyrie went off in the second. The 28 points tied a career playoff high for most in a half, and he combined with Luka Doncic to score 58 of Dallas’ 114 points. Irving must bring similar defensive energy to the table in the second round, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are up next. Game 1 of that series is on Tuesday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:34 pm
     
  • Perfect from line in victory
    Wagner amassed 26 points (7-16 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 11-11 FT), five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 42 minutes during Friday's 103-96 win over the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Wagner went a perfect 11-of-11 from the line, helping the Magic to an impressive Game 6 victory. It was another strong performance by Wagner, who continues to develop into a key piece for Orlando. Game 7 will take place Sunday, with both teams vying for a second-round berth against the high-flying Celtics. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:21 pm
     
  • Plays lone hand in loss
    Mitchell finished Friday's 103-96 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with 50 points (22-36 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 3-6 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one block in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Mitchell outscored the rest of the Cavaliers roster, dropping 50 points in the loss. He scored all of Cleveland's points in the final quarter. He is going to need more help on the offensive end should the Cavaliers hope to advance to the second round, where the Celtics await. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:02 pm
     
  • Jalen Suggs hits six 3-pointers, scores 22 points
    Jalen Suggs accumulated 22 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, and six 3-pointers in 35 minutes in Friday’s 103-96 win over Cleveland.

    Advice: After missing all five of his attempts in Game 5, Suggs was responsible for six of Orlando’s 11 made 3-pointers in Game 6. His performance was a welcome development for a team that finished the regular season as one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. In the series’ first five games, Suggs shot 6-of-25 from deep. While those numbers can lead some to dismiss Game 6 as a fluke, Suggs’ confidence to continue taking those shots was vital for him and the Magic. On Sunday, they’ll look to do something neither team has done in this series: win on the road. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:21 pm
     
  • Franz Wagner tallies 26 points, full stat line
    Franz Wagner finished Friday’s 103-96 win over Cleveland with 26 points (7-of-16 FGs, 11-of-11 FTs), five rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks, and one 3-pointer in 41 minutes.

    Advice: The home team has not lost a game in this series, which remained the case in Game 6 on Friday. Wagner was one of three Magic starters to score at least 20 points, and the stat line shows that he was impactful on both ends of the floor. Game 6 was the second in which the third-year forward surpassed the 20-point mark, with the first being Orlando’s Game 4 triumph (34). If the Magic are to win Game 7 in Cleveland on Sunday, they will need another complete performance from Wagner. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:06 pm