Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Lazarus-like Buddy Hield scores 20 points Thursday
    Buddy Hield played 21 minutes off the bench in Philadelphia’s Game 6 loss to the Knicks, accumulating 20 points (6-of-10 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, one assist, and six 3-pointers.

    Advice: Needing a spark after falling behind by a 33-11 margin, 76ers coach Nick Nurse called on Hield for the first time since Game 3. Give the veteran sharpshooter credit for staying ready, as he came out hot and finished with 20 points off the bench after scoring two in Games 1 through 3. Nicolas Batum also had a good night off the bench, accounting for 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and three 3-pointers in 28 minutes. Hield and Batum are in a similar spot heading into the offseason, as they will be unrestricted free agents. The former offers a higher fantasy ceiling, but that would likely require him to land a starting role with a non-contender. As for Batum, he’ll spark interest among playoff-caliber teams needing a 3-and-D wing. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:50 pm
     
  • Glorified cardio: Tobias Harris goes scoreless
    Tobias Harris was 0-of-2 from the foul in Thursday’s Game 6 loss to the Knicks, going scoreless with four rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes.

    Advice: After performing well in the 76ers’ Game 5 overtime victory, Harris was brutal in Game 6. He only attempted two shots, finishing with a team-worst minus-10 rating. Harris will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and his nearly $46 million coming off the books gives Philadelphia room to strengthen the roster around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey (who’s a restricted free agent). While Harris can offer top-60 fantasy value, he falls in a place where managers tend to reach for players with higher upsides. His ceiling next season will depend on where he lands; joining a non-contender where he can be a marquee option would boost his value. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:45 pm
     
  • Kelly Oubre Jr. drops in 17 points in Game 6 loss
    Kelly Oubre Jr. amassed 17 points (7-of-14 FGs), five rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, and three 3-pointers in 43 minutes in Thursday’s 118-115 loss to the Knicks.

    Advice: After scoring 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in the series’ first two games, Oubre was solid on both ends of the floor for the 76ers. He scored 14 or more in the final four games while accounting for six steals and three blocked shots. Oubre will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and his production in this series should have preserved his stock. As for his fantasy value, the Tsunami Papi is likely to be a late-round option, at best, unless he lands in a spot where he’s guaranteed a place in the starting lineup. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:40 pm
     
  • OG Anunoby tallies 19 points, four ‘stocks’ Thurs.
    OG Anunoby accounted for 19 points (8-of-17 FGs, 1-of-3 FTs), nine rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and two 3-pointers in 45 minutes in Thursday’s Game 6 win over the 76ers.

    Advice: All five Knicks starters scored in double figures in Game 6, with Anunoby being one of four to log at least 44 minutes. He was impactful on both ends of the floor as New York closed out Philadelphia, and OG scored 16 points or more in each of the final four games of the series. The second round brings a matchup with Indiana, and Anunoby will be asked to defend former Raptors teammate Pascal Siakam. Game 1 is on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:17 pm
     
  • Josh Hart records 16/14/7 stat line in Game 6 win
    Josh Hart accounted for 16 points (5-of-11 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), 14 rebounds, seven assists, and three 3-pointers in 46 minutes in Thursday’s 118-115 win over Philadelphia.

    Advice: The Knicks are headed to the second round, the first time since 2000 that they’ve won a series in two consecutive postseasons. Hart was one of the reasons, as he hit a crucial 3-pointer with 25.1 seconds remaining to give the Knicks the lead for good. From that point onward, the Knicks hit four straight free throws, an issue in their Game 5 collapse, to lock up the series. Hart was one of four Knicks starters to log at least 44 minutes, so the second-round series against the Pacers not starting until Monday is a big deal. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:10 pm
     
  • Donte DiVincenzo bounces back, scores 23 points
    Donte DiVincenzo played all 48 minutes in Thursday’s Game 6 victory over the 76ers, finishing with 23 points (8-of-18 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, seven assists, two steals, three blocks, and five 3-pointers.

    Advice: Having struggled for most of the series, DiVincenzo saved his best for last as the Knicks advanced to the second round in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2000. He hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and the 23 points were one more than the Big Ragu’s total in Games 3 through 5. Miles McBride, who took some of DiVincenzo’s minutes during that three-game dry spell, only played nine minutes in Game 6 and finished with three points (1-of-4 3-pointers). The Knicks advance to take on the Pacers, with Game 1 set for Monday night in New York. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:05 pm
     
  • Held in check in Game 6 defeat
    Middleton recorded 14 points (6-15 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals over 38 minutes in Thursday's 120-98 loss to Indiana in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Middleton led Milwaukee seemingly on a nightly basis over the course of the first-round series against Indiana, but he was held in check in the series-ending contest Thursday while failing to record 15 points for the only time in the series. Middleton, who dealt with some foul trouble that seemed to impact his performance and aggressiveness in the first half, put together a strong opening-round series, scoring 20 or more points in four of the six contests. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:24 pm
     
  • Khris Middleton limited to 14 points in defeat
    Khris Middleton finished Thursday’s Game 6 loss to the Pacers with 14 points (6-of-16 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 37 minutes.

    Advice: While Damian Lillard did return from an Achilles injury, the Bucks were still without Giannis Antetokounmpo. That meant they needed another virtuoso performance from Middleton to keep their season alive, and that didn’t happen. The veteran wing finished with a series-low 14 points as the Pacers sent Milwaukee fishing. As in 2022-23, the inability to remain healthy sapped most of Middleton’s fantasy value this season. Managers expected this, based on Khash Money’s Yahoo ADP of 82.3. While his regular season fantasy value wasn’t terrible, the availability issues proved costly. Middleton finished the year ranked outside the top 100 in 9-cat formats, albeit by a few spots. How much managers should trust him in the fall will depend on the Bucks’ roster, but Middleton’s days as a top 60 fantasy player may be in the rear-view mirror. Rotoworld Yesterday, 6:03 pm
     
  • Won't start Thursday
    Beasley is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's Game 6 against the Pacers, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

    Advice: Beasley will head to the bench with the return of Damian Lillard to the starting lineup. Beasley averaged 19.0 points per game in the two starts he has made in the series against the Pacers. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:14 pm