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  • Jalen Williams tallies 20 points, full stat line
    Jalen Williams finished Thursday’s Game 2 loss to the Mavericks with 20 points (7-of-17 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 39 minutes.

    Advice: After shooting nearly 53% from the field in Oklahoma City’s four-game sweep of the Pelicans, Williams’ shooting has taken a hit against the Mavericks. Between Derrick Jones Jr. and PJ Washington, Dallas is far better equipped to defend JDub than New Orleans was, which explains why he shot 40.6% from the field in Games 1 and 2. The good news for DFS players is that he’s kept the turnovers in check, committing one in each game. Williams will look to put forth a better effort in Game 3 on Saturday afternoon. Rotoworld Today, 9:45 pm
     
  • Josh Giddey limited to 11 minutes in Game 2 loss
    Josh Giddey played 11 minutes in Thursday’s loss to the Mavericks, accounting for eight points (3-of-6 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs) and two rebounds.

    Advice: If the first two games of this series are any indication, this may not be the series for Giddey. After logging 17 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 1 victory, he played 11 in Game 2, with Aaron Wiggins starting the third quarter. Wiggins, who finished with nine points, two rebounds, one block, and one 3-pointer, can serve as another floor spacer to open up driving lanes for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Giddey, whom Mavericks center Daniel Gafford sometimes defended, does not possess that ability. Don’t be surprised if Giddey continues to lose minutes to Wiggins and Cason Wallace (six points, three rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 21 minutes) moving forward. Rotoworld Today, 9:38 pm
     
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. chips in with 17 points in Game 2
    Tim Hardaway Jr. amassed 17 points (6-of-10 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), two rebounds, one assist, and two 3-pointers in 19 minutes in Thursday’s 119-110 win over Oklahoma City.

    Advice: After missing the last four games of Dallas’ first-round series against the Clippers with a sprained ankle, Hardaway offered little production in Tuesday’s second-round opener against Oklahoma City. He stepped up when needed in Game 2, scoring 17 points on a night when Kyrie Irving shot 2-of-8 from the field. Hardaway and PJ Washington combined to score 46 points, so Dallas heads home for Game 3 in a tie series instead of sitting in a 0-2 hole. The Mavericks host Game 3 on Saturday afternoon. Rotoworld Today, 9:29 pm
     
  • Leading scorer in Game 2 defeat
    Tatum tallied 25 points (7-17 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 9-11 FT), seven rebounds, six assists and one steal over 38 minutes in Thursday's 118-94 loss to the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

    Advice: Tatum once again led Boston offensively in Game 2, pacing all Celtics in scoring while handing out a team-high half-dozen assists to go along with a team-best rebound total in a well-rounded outing. Tatum, who also connected on a team-leading total from the free-throw line, has surpassed the 20-point mark in five of his seven games this postseason, adding at least six rebounds and six assists in three outings. Rotowire.com Today, 7:08 pm
     
  • Nears 20 points in Game 2 loss
    Brown posted 19 points (7-17 FG, 0-6 3pt, 5-5 FT), four rebounds and one assist over 31 minutes in Thursday's 118-94 loss to the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

    Advice: Brown struggled from deep in Thursday's contest, not connecting on a three but still ending second on the team in scoring in a near 20-point outing in a Game 2 defeat. Brown had a down game in comparison to Tuesday's 32-point showing in Game 1 and Boston will need the star guard to contribute more in order to steal a game on the road in Game 3 and break a series tie with Cleveland. Rotowire.com Today, 7:08 pm
     
  • Jaylen Brown goes cold from three in Game 2 loss
    Jaylen Brown logged 31 minutes in Thursday’s loss to the Cavaliers, accumulating 19 points (7-of-17 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs), four rebounds, and one assist.

    Advice: By his standards, Brown’s effort in Game 2 was pedestrian as the Cavaliers ran the Celtics out of their own arena. While he did shoot 7-of-11 from two, JB missed all six of his attempts from beyond the arc. If anything, Brown’s 4-of-6 effort in Game 1 was a departure from the norm, as he shot 31.1% from three on 5.6 attempts per game in the Miami series. If there’s a positive to take away from the first two games of the Cleveland series, it’s that Brown has gone 9-of-9 from the foul line. By comparison, he shot 45% in the first round. He and the Celtics will attempt to regain control of the series when it shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday. Rotoworld Today, 6:56 pm
     
  • Reaches 20 points off bench in win
    LeVert ended with 21 points (9-17 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds and three assists over 27 minutes in Thursday's 118-94 win over the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

    Advice: LeVert made the most of his time off the bench in Game 2, ending as one of three Cavaliers with 20 or more points while helping Cleveland claim a much-needed victory to even the series against Boston. LeVert didn't connect on a three but still ended tied for second on the team in scoring to go along with a half-dozen rebounds and a trio of assists. LeVert had a bounce-back game after recording just four points in Tuesday's Game 1, playing a big part in Cleveland being able to steal a game on the road as it now returns home to try and take a lead in the series. Rotowire.com Today, 6:54 pm
     
  • Jayson Tatum leads Celtics with 25 points Thursday
    Jayson Tatum shot 7-of-17 from the field and 9-of-11 from the foul line in Thursday’s 118-94 loss to the Cavaliers, accounting for 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 38 minutes.

    Advice: After shooting 7-of-19 from the field in Boston’s Game 1 victory, Tatum was slightly more accurate in Game 2. Unfortunately for him, that did not result in the win, as Cleveland’s “others” showed up while most of Boston’s did not. Even with Boston running three Miami in five games in the first round, efficiency has been an issue for Tatum this postseason. He shot 41.6% from the field against the Heat and has gone 14-of-36 in Games 1 and 2 of the Cleveland series. Even if Boston’s supporting cast steps up in Game 3 on Saturday, Tatum has to be better offensively. Rotoworld Today, 6:47 pm
     
  • Caris LeVert contributes 21 points in Game 2 win
    Caris LeVert amassed 21 points (9-of-17 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), six rebounds, and three assists in 27 minutes in Thursday’s 118-94 win over the Celtics.

    Advice: Cleveland returns home tied at one game apiece, thanks partially to the “others” stepping up their production. After shooting 2-of-6 from the field and scoring four points in Game 1, LeVert was a huge factor off the bench on Thursday. He remains cold from beyond the arc (0-of-3 in Game 2, 1-of-12 over his last six games), but the Cavaliers sixth man was 9-of-14 from two. Boston played poorly on Thursday, but LeVert and the Cavaliers had much to do with that. Game 2 was the formula for Cleveland regarding their ability to win this series; the question is whether they can do this three more times. Game 3 is on Saturday night. Rotoworld Today, 6:38 pm