Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Expected to play Saturday
    Denver coach Michael Malone said he expects Murray (calf) to play in Saturday's Game 1 versus Minnesota, but the point guard remains a game-time call, Brendan Vogt of TheDNVR.com reports.

    Advice: Murray will go through his usual warmup for Game 1, and if he gets through it without any setbacks, he should be set to take the court. Murray was terrific in the previous round against the Lakers, posting 23.6 points and 7.2 assists per game. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 2:25 pm
     
  • Jamal Murray (calf) expected to play in Game 1
    Nuggets coach Michael Malone said during his pregame availability that he expects Jamal Murray (left calf strain) to be available for Saturday’s game against the Timberwolves.

    Advice: Murray’s game-winner in Game 5 of Denver’s first-round series against the Lakers advanced the champs into the second round while also giving him valuable time off. The Nuggets have not played since Monday, and while their starting point guard remains questionable for Saturday, the expectation is that he will play. Should that not be the case, Reggie Jackson would move into the starting lineup. Rotoworld Yesterday, 2:24 pm
     
  • Picks up option for 2024-25
    Ball (knee) has picked up the $21.4 million player option in his contract for the 2024-25 season, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

    Advice: Ball continues to work toward a potential comeback before he hits the open market next summer, as he signed a four-year, $80 million free-agent deal in 2021, so it was a no-brainer for him to pick up this option. Ball hasn't logged minutes at the NBA level since Jan. 2022, but both the player and the organization are hopeful he'll be able to step on the hardwood at some point during the 2024-25 campaign. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:33 pm
     
  • Carries Mavericks to Game 6 win
    Irving provided 30 points (11-19 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 3-5 FT), six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals across 42 minutes during Friday's 114-101 victory over the Clippers in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Irving led the Mavericks on offense and was a consistent weapon alongside Luka Doncic, reaching the 30-point mark in three of the six outings in the first-round series against the Clippers. He should continue to play a prominent role on offense for Dallas ahead of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Thunder. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:42 am
     
  • Shines in series-clinching win
    Doncic accumulated 28 points (9-26 FG, 1-10 3Pt, 9-11 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and one steal in 43 minutes during Friday's 114-101 win over the Clippers in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Kyrie Irving led the way for the Mavericks on offense, and Doncic didn't have his most efficient display, but he filled the stat sheet admirably and finished just three rebounds away from a triple-double. The fact that he surpassed the 25-point mark in all but one of the six games in the series against the Clippers shows how dominant Doncic can be on offense, and he averaged 29.8 points, 9.5 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game in the first round, posting four double-doubles and one triple-double in the process. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:35 am
     
  • 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 have step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, but the veteran guard didn't come through. He was particularly woeful in the final two games of the series, during which he went 7-for-28 from the field, including 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, as the Clippers needed -- and expected -- more out of him, but he couldn't deliver when called upon. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:23 am
     
  • Russell Westbrook plays 9 minutes in Game 6 loss
    Russell Westbrook shot 2-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from the foul line in Friday’s loss to the Mavericks, scoring six points with one rebound, one assist, and one steal in nine minutes.

    Advice: In what could be his final game as a Clipper, Westbrook offered little value in Game 6. Tyronn Lue needed more scoring, especially with P.J. Tucker starting, which led to Los Angeles effectively going with a six-man rotation. Westbrook entered the season with a Yahoo ADP of 109.3, a generous placement for a veteran point guard whose role would be limited. Give Russ credit for willingly taking a step back after the Clippers added James Harden, but his days as a consistently relevant fantasy option may have ended. Westbrook has a player option for the 2024-25 season and will be, at best, a late-round pick in deep leagues. Rotoworld Friday, 10:16 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 Friday, 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 Friday, 9:34 pm