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  • All-around outing in Game 5 defeat
    Strus ended Wednesday's 113-98 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with 12 points (3-10 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 3-3 FT), seven rebounds and nine assists in 45 minutes.

    Advice: Strus put up a well-rounded stat line, handing out a team-high-tying assist total to go along with a team-high-tying rebound mark in a near double-double outing. Strus reached double figures in scoring in three of the five games against Boston, adding at least seven rebounds and seven assists in the final two games of the series. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 6:54 pm
     
  • Shines off bench in Game 5 loss
    Morris finished with 25 points (10-13 FG, 5-6 3Pt, 0-1 FT), three rebounds and two steals over 33 minutes during Wednesday's 113-98 loss to Boston in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

    Advice: Morris provided the shorthanded Cavaliers with a much-needed boost off the bench in Game 5, leading all bench players in scoring while connecting on a team-high handful of threes in a bench-leading minute total. Morris recorded his best outing of the postseason Wednesday, surpassing double figures in scoring for the second time in these playoffs. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 6:52 pm
     
  • Al Horford makes history with stellar Game 5
    Al Horford finished Wednesday’s 113-98 win over Cleveland with 22 points (8-of-15 FGs), 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal, three blocks, and six 3-pointers in 35 minutes.

    Advice: While Cleveland may have attempted to target Horford in the two-man game this series, the 37-year-old pivot made them pay in Game 5. He became the oldest player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five 3-pointers in a playoff game, passing LeBron James. Horford has been influential this season, especially with Kristaps Porzingis (calf) sidelined. That will remain the case in the conference finals, whether the Celtics draw New York or Indiana. Rotoworld Wednesday, 6:41 pm
     
  • CLE starting Garland, Strus, Okoro, Wade, Mobley
    Darius Garland, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, and Evan Mobley will start Wednesday’s Game 5 against the Celtics.

    Advice: Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert are all out for Game 5, which could be Cleveland’s final game of the season. Due to those absences, Okoro and Wade will start, which also puts more pressure on Garland, Strus, and Mobley to produce on offense. Rotoworld Wednesday, 3:25 pm
     
  • Starting Wednesday
    Wade will move into the starting lineup for Wednesday's Game 5 in Boston, Serena Winters of Bally Sports Cleveland reports.

    Advice: Wade should get all the run he can handle with the Cavaliers' backcourt depleted, and he'll be joined in the first unit by Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Max Strus and Evan Mobley. Sam Merrill should also see an uptick in minutes due to Caris LeVert (knee) joining Donovan Mitchell (calf) and Jarrett Allen (ribs) on the sidelines for Game 5. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 3:23 pm
     
  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) scores team-high 23 PTS
    Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee soreness) amassed 23 points (10-of-19 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two 3-pointers in 38 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets.

    Advice: Already playing without Mike Conley (Achilles), the Timberwolves experienced an injury scare with Towns during the first half of Tuesday’s game. He appeared to bang his knee on the leg of Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who lost his balance while closing out on the Timberwolves big. Towns did have to exit the game, but only briefly, as he returned after spending a few minutes on the exercise bike. The 23 points are the most KAT has scored in a game since Game 2 (27 points). However, his minus-17 rating was the worst among the Timberwolves who saw action on Tuesday. Towns will need to be better in Game 6 on Thursday if Minnesota is to force a Game 7. Rotoworld Tuesday, 10:46 pm
     
  • Alec Burks hits five 3-pointers, scores 18 points
    Alec Burks finished Tuesday’s 121-91 win over the Pacers with 18 points (6-of-11 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), five rebounds, and five 3-pointers in 23 minutes.

    Advice: Injuries have thrust Burks into the Knicks’ rotation, and the veteran wing has taken advantage of his opportunity. He’s scored at least 14 points in each of the series’ last three games, giving New York much-needed production. While Burks scoring 20 points in Sunday’s Game 4 defeat did not matter much, that wasn’t the case in Game 5. The Knicks effectively run a seven-man rotation, so Burks won’t lack playing time or opportunities to shine. He’s shown that there’s still something left in the tank. Rotoworld Tuesday, 8:14 pm
     
  • Briefly exits Tuesday
    Towns left Tuesday's game versus the Nuggets with 2:14 remaining in the first quarter due to an apparent left knee injury but checked back in with 1:23 left in the first quarter.

    Advice: Towns appeared to aggravate the left knee that he had surgically repaired in March after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope inadvertently tripped him, Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reports. However, Towns missed less than a minute of game action and should be available to finish Tuesday's contest. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 8:11 pm
     
  • Out for Game 5
    Prosper (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's Game 5 against the Thunder.

    Advice: Prosper has missed ten straight games with a sprained left ankle. His next chance to suit up will be Saturday, but even if he gets the green light, the rookie is unlikely to feature in Dallas' postseason rotation. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 3:40 pm