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  • Nikola Jokic records 16/16/8/0/1 line in Game 2
    Nikola Jokic finished Monday’s 106-80 loss to the Timberwolves with 16 points (5-of-13 FGs, 6-of-6 FTs), 16 rebounds, eight assists, and one blocked shot in 39 minutes.

    Advice: Jamal Murray (calf) isn’t playing at full strength, and Minnesota was playing without Rudy Gobert on Monday. With the Nuggets having dropped Game 1, they needed an elite performance from Jokic. While he did finish two assists shy of a triple-double, they did not get that from the Joker. He committed four turnovers, but the shooting (5-of-13 FGs) was especially concerning. Minnesota had some success during Game 1 using Karl-Anthony Towns or Naz Reid on Jokic, with Gobert serving as the “free safety.” The Timberwolves could not do that in Game 2, but they successfully defended Jokic straight up. He and the Nuggets have some things to address ahead of Friday’s Game 3. Rotoworld 24 minutes ago
     
  • Kyle Anderson records full line in spot start
    Kyle Anderson accounted for six points (3-of-8 FGs), nine rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one blocked shot in 26 minutes in Monday’s Game 2 win over Denver.

    Advice: With Rudy Gobert (personal) back in Minnesota, Anderson was the choice to fill the void in the starting lineup. SloMo was most impactful as a rebounder, with seven of his nine coming on the offensive end of the floor. Given how well the Timberwolves have played, those extra possessions seriously damaged the reigning champions. Add in eight assists and three “stocks,” and Anderson had a solid night at the office. Gobert should be available for Game 3 on Friday, which would bounce Anderson back to the bench. Rotoworld 29 minutes ago
     
  • Naz Reid blocks four shots, scores 14 in Game 2
    Naz Reid accumulated 14 points (5-of-14 FGs), five rebounds, one steal, four blocks, and four 3-pointers in 29 minutes in Monday’s 106-80 win over Denver.

    Advice: The Timberwolves are taking a 2-0 lead home to Minneapolis, winning Game 2 dominantly despite not having Rudy Gobert (personal). Reid wasn’t the choice to fill the void in the starting lineup (Kyle Anderson was), but that didn’t keep him from impacting the action defensively. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year blocked four shots while hitting four 3-pointers and tallying 14 points. And Reid wasn’t the only reserve to show off his shot-blocking abilities. Nickeil Alexander-Walker racked up three blocks while also tallying 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, and four 3-pointers in 30 minutes. Minnesota’s bench has been superior through two games, and that’s unlikely to change when the series shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Rotoworld 32 minutes ago
     
  • Anthony Edwards tallies 27 points, seven assists
    Anthony Edwards shot 11-of-17 from the field and 4-of-7 from the foul line in Monday’s Game 2 win over the Nuggets, accumulating 27 points, two rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 37 minutes.

    Advice: The Timberwolves were without Rudy Gobert on Monday, as he was back in Minnesota for the birth of his first child. And it didn’t matter because Denver still had no answer for Edwards. Ant-Man tied for the team lead in scoring, shooting well over 50% from the field. If there was an issue for him, it was the turnovers, with the star guard racking up four, but to cite that would be to split hairs. Denver has three days to figure out their approach to defending Edwards, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday night. Rotoworld 38 minutes ago
     
  • Karl-Anthony Towns records 27/12/1/1/2 line Monday
    Karl-Anthony Towns shot 10-of-15 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Monday’s 106-80 blowout of the Nuggets, tallying 27 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal, two blocks, and three 3-pointers in 36 minutes.

    Advice: Minnesota needed Towns to step up with Rudy Gobert (personal reasons) away from the team, and that’s what he did. KAT tied for the team lead in points, shooting 66.7% from the field while also grabbing 12 rebounds. He’s scored 20 points or more in three straight games, and not only was foul trouble not an issue for Towns, but he and the other starters were able to watch the end of Tuesday’s rout from the bench. Gobert should be available for Friday’s Game 3, but Minnesota needs Towns to play at this level consistently. Now 6-0 this postseason, the Timberwolves look like a team that can play into June. Rotoworld 39 minutes ago
     
  • Monte Morris (finger) will not return on Monday
    Monte Morris (right index finger sprain) will not return to Monday’s game against the Nuggets.

    Advice: Morris logged eight minutes before exiting Game 2, finishing with two points (1-of-4 FGs) and one steal. If he cannot play in Game 3 on Friday, Jordan McLaughlin could return to the rotation. However, neither will play enough to merit being added to DFS lineups. Rotoworld 49 minutes ago
     
  • Exits with finger injury
    Morris won't return to Monday's Game 2 against the Nuggets due to a right index finger sprain.

    Advice: Morris left the game in the second half and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the matchup. He logged eight minutes prior to departing, so his absence shouldn't impact Minnesota's rotation much. Rotowire.com 52 minutes ago
     
  • Helped to locker room
    Jackson exited Monday's Game 2 against the Timberwolves with an apparent left ankle injury, Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports reports.

    Advice: Jackson exited the contest with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and considering the deficit Denver faced when he left, it seems unlikely that he'll return. He'll be considered day-to-day until the team provides additional details on his status. Rotowire.com 59 minutes ago
     
  • T.J. McConnell chips in with 18 off the bench
    T.J. McConnell shot 9-of-16 from the field in Monday’s 121-117 loss to the Knicks, scoring 18 points with one rebound, three assists, and three steals in 22 minutes.

    Advice: With Tyrese Haliburton struggling in Monday’s series opener, McConnell stepped up to lead a bench unit that combined to score 46 points. The veteran point guard scored 20 points in Indiana’s Game 6 win over Milwaukee, so his ability to punish the Knicks is unsurprising. Also reaching double figures off the bench was former Knick Obi Toppin, who tallied 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block, and two 3-pointers in 19 minutes. Add Isaiah Jackson (8/5/1/0/3) and Ben Sheppard (8/2/2 with two 3-pointers), and the Pacers’ reserves played well enough to win Game 1. Unfortunately for them, the combination of New York’s Villanova trio and a few controversial calls was too much to overcome. Rotoworld Today, 7:55 pm