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  • Undergoing MRI on knee
    Butler will have an MRI on Thursday after sustaining a right knee injury during Wednesday's 105-104 Play-In Tournament loss to the 76ers, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. He played 40 minutes and generated 19 points (5-18 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 7-8 FT), five assists, four rebounds and five steals.

    Advice: Butler appeared to tweak his knee late in the first quarter after being fouled but remained in the game at less than 100 percent, sporting a noticeable limp at times. Butler was seen wearing a protective knee sleeve post-game and will have more testing done Thursday. The Heat will play in a win-or-go-home matchup Friday night, giving Butler very little time to heal. We should know more about the severity of the injury once the MRI results come back. Rotowire.com 5 minutes ago
     
  • Jimmy Butler (knee) finishes with 19/4/5/5 line
    Jimmy Butler posted a solid line on Wednesday with 19 points (5-of-18 FGs), four rebounds, five assists, five steals and two triples in a 105-104 loss to the 76ers.

    Advice: Butler appeared to injure his right knee right at the end of the first quarter after Kelly Oubre landed on it, but he was able to finish out the game. He logged 40 minutes, so there shouldn’t be any concern about his availability for Friday’s game, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he ended up on the injury report. He did mention that he plans to undergo an MRI on his knee, and he was seen wearing a protective sleeve after the game. He didn’t have an effective night shooting the ball, but he was able to come away with plenty of steals. They’ll host Friday’s game, where they’ll face off against the winner of the Bulls/Hawks matchup. The winner of that game will go on to play the Celtics. Rotoworld 42 minutes ago
     
  • Doesn't practice, unlikely to play
    Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Wade (knee) didn't practice Wednesday and is unlikely to play in Saturday's Game 1 against the Magic, Evan Dammarell of FearTheSword.com reports.

    Advice: Wade carved out a substantial role when the Cavaliers dealt with multiple injuries, mainly to Evan Mobley, earlier in the season, but he hasn't played since March 8 due to a knee injury. In Wade's likely absence, Georges Niang and Marcus Morris are candidates for a few extra minutes off the bench. Rotowire.com Today, 12:52 pm
     
  • Not cleared for 5-on-5
    Coach Tyronn Lue said Wednesday that Leonard (knee) is progressing but hasn't been cleared for 5-on-5 drills yet, Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.com reports.

    Advice: Leonard missed the final eight regular-season games due to right knee inflammation but returned to practice Monday, albeit in a limited fashion. His official status for Sunday's Game 1 against the Mavericks won't be known until Saturday afternoon, but Lue said he's preparing as if Leonard will be available to start the postseason. Rotowire.com Today, 12:37 pm
     
  • Out at least two weeks
    The Pelicans announced Wednesday that Williamson has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain following an MRI and will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.

    Advice: Williamson suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Play-In Tournament loss to the Lakers and was already ruled out for the win-or-go-home matchup versus the Kings on Friday. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick's career has been defined by injuries, but he showed off his unique skill set when healthy this season and was dominant before leaving Tuesday's game, posting 40 points (17-27 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-9 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block in 36 minutes. If Williamson is cleared right at the two-week mark, he could return late in a potential first-round series versus the Thunder, but the Pelicans must beat Sacramento first to keep their season alive. Rotowire.com Today, 11:37 am
     
  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) out Friday vs. Kings
    Zion Williamson (left hamstring) will miss Friday’s Play-In Tournament matchup with Sacramento.

    Advice: Williamson feasted in Tuesday’s loss to the Lakers, going off for a game-high 40 points to go with 11 rebounds. He got to the basket with ease all night and led New Orleans’ furious late-game rally. He limped off the court following a made bucket with three minutes left to play, and the Lakers came away with the victory. New Orleans is now faced with a do-or-die matchup against Sacramento on Friday. The winner will advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention. Williamson’s absence should open up extra minutes for Trey Murphy III and Naji Marshall. Rotoworld Today, 10:52 am
     
  • Won't play Friday
    Williamson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday's Play-In Game against the Kings, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

    Advice: Williamson suffered a left hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Play-In Tournament loss to the Lakers and won't be available for the win-or-go-home matchup versus Sacramento on Friday. This is a huge blow for Williamson, who shined during his first playoff exposure by posting 40 points (17-27 FG) and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes before leaving the contest. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick's career continues to be defined by injuries, but the extent of his latest one remains unclear. If the Pelicans defeat the Kings and advance to the opening-round series against the Thunder, Williamson's next chance to suit up would come Sunday night. Rotowire.com Today, 10:47 am
     
  • Jontay Porter receives lifetime ban for gambling
    The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that Jontay Porter has received a lifetime ban for disclosing confidential information to bettors.

    Advice: The investigation found that Porter provided health information to bettors that led them to place large wagers on his performances. The bets included successful wagers on the Raptors losing and Porter underperforming, which triggered the investigation. Rotoworld Today, 10:46 am
     
  • Receives lifetime ban
    The NBA announced Wednesday that Porter has received a lifetime ban for violating the league's gaming rules, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Commissioner Adam Silver suggested last week that a lifetime ban from the NBA was on the table for Porter, and the league officially confirmed the punishment Wednesday. Per a press release from the NBA, Porter "disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor" and limited his playing time to impact his prop bets in at least one Raptors game. Porter also placed at least 13 bets on NBA games between January and March of 2024, although none of the wagers involved a game in which Porter played. The league's investigation remains open, but Porter will be permanently barred from playing in the league. Rotowire.com Today, 9:26 am