Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Limited at Friday's practice
    Coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis (calf) participated in a couple of drills during Friday's practice and is pleased with where the big man is at in his rehab progress, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: Porzingis was still mostly limited to individual shooting drills during the media portion of Friday's practice, but he looked to be moving well. He hasn't played since Game 4 of the Celtics' opening-round series versus Miami on April 29, so Porzingis will likely need to get at least a few days of 5-on-5 work in before getting full clearance for game action. The Celtics face the Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals next Thursday, June 6, giving Porzingis ample time to increase his activity. Rotowire.com Friday, 12:11 pm
     
  • Fischer: Nic Claxton expected to remain with Nets
    Nic Claxton is expected to remain with the Nets on a four-year deal, per Yahoo’s Jake Fischer.

    Advice: Claxton will be a coveted free agent, but Brooklyn is expected to retain him on a deal that will cost them anywhere from $80-100 million over four years. He has been an excellent fantasy option the last two years, and that won’t change if he remains with the Nets. However, that will likely prevent Noah Clowney from moving into a prominent role in his second season with the team. They can legally begin negotiations with Claxton as soon as the NBA Finals conclude, so he may have a new deal in place within the next few weeks. Rotoworld Friday, 12:10 pm
     
  • Naz Reid struggles in Game 5 blowout loss to Mavs
    Naz Reid shot 2-of-10 from the field and 1-of-1 from the foul line in Thursday’s loss to the Mavericks, tallying five points, four rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot in 27 minutes.

    Advice: Reid’s production tailed off considerably after scoring 14 points or more in the first three games of the Western Conference Finals. He only attempted six shots in Game 4, but Game 5 was arguably his most disappointing effort of the postseason. The five points were the fewest in a game for Reid since Minnesota’s Game 2 win over Phoenix in the first round, and he missed all four of his 3-point attempts. While Reid finished the regular season ranked outside the top 100 in fantasy, he was a dependable option despite coming off the bench. Minnesota would likely have to move Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert for his ceiling to be raised. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:45 pm
     
  • Rudy Gobert limited to five rebounds on Thursday
    Rudy Gobert shot 4-of-8 from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line in Thursday’s loss to the Mavericks, amassing nine points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 26 minutes.

    Advice: Gobert was relatively quiet on Thursday night after recording a double-double in Minnesota’s Game 4 victory. He averaged 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the series but could not significantly impact the action as a rim-protector. Gobert’s 2023-24 season was an improvement on 2022-23, his first after being traded to Minnesota. The chemistry between him and Karl-Anthony Towns improved, but the partnership lowered the fantasy ceilings of both players. Gobert has top-50 potential, but this represents his ceiling rather than his floor. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:37 pm
     
  • Anthony Edwards finishes Game 5 loss with 28 PTS
    Anthony Edwards logged 43 minutes in Thursday’s 124-103 loss to the Mavericks, accumulating 28 points (10-of-18 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), nine rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, and four 3-pointers.

    Advice: Edwards did what he could to extend the Western Conference Finals, but the lack of production from Minnesota’s supporting cast was too much to overcome. Already accepted as one of the NBA’s top young talents, Ant-Man took things to another level this season. He played well enough during the run to the conference finals to be the focus of some “future face of the NBA” chatter, which should only intensify in the years to come. Edwards’ fantasy value moving forward will depend on how much of the playmaking responsibilities he’s asked to shoulder. Mike Conley isn’t getting any younger, and there could come a point where Edwards shifts to the point. That could be what makes him a first-round player in standard leagues. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:31 pm
     
  • Karl-Anthony Towns posts 28/12/2/1 line in Game 5
    Karl-Anthony Towns shot 9-of-20 from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line in Thursday’s 124-103 loss to Dallas, tallying 28 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 38 minutes.

    Advice: Towns may have tied for the team lead in scoring, but he had another rough night from three in Minnesota’s final game. After shooting 4-of-5 from three in Game 4, KAT was 1-of-6 on Thursday night. He shot 24.2% from three for the series and 37.9% from the field overall. A player many expected to approach top 25 fantasy value before the season began, Towns was a 4th-round player in 9-cat formats. While the chemistry between KAT and Rudy Gobert improved, the continued emergence of Anthony Edwards factored into the former’s fantasy production. As long as Minnesota keeps Towns and Gobert together, the former will have a lower fantasy ceiling than he did pre-trade. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:16 pm
     
  • Kyrie Irving records 36/4/5 line in Game 5 rout
    Kyrie Irving played 40 minutes in Thursday’s 124-103 win over the Timberwolves, amassing 36 points (14-of-27 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, five assists, and four 3-pointers.

    Advice: While backcourt partner Luka Doncic was the one who got things rolling in Game 5, Irving wasn’t far off. Notching his third 30-point game of the series, Kyrie scored 17 points in the first half and kept rolling after halftime. In helping the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011, Irving will face one of his former teams with a championship on the line. The NBA Finals open on June 6 in Boston, with the Celtics having the league’s best regular season record. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:03 pm
     
  • Luka Doncic comes out hot, finishes with 36 points
    Luka Doncic shot 14-of-22 from the field and 2-of-3 from the foul line in Thursday’s 124-103 win over the Timberwolves, tallying 36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and six 3-pointers in 37 minutes.

    Advice: After failing to close out Minnesota in Game 4, Doncic and the Mavericks left no doubt in Game 5 on Thursday. He outscored the Timberwolves by himself in the first quarter, dropping 20 points to Minnesota’s 19. After that start, the outcome was not in doubt, and Doncic will make his first NBA Finals appearance next Thursday in Boston. The Celtics’ perimeter defenders can offer more defensive resistance, but Luka should benefit from the time off before the Finals begin. Rotoworld Thursday, 7:59 pm
     
  • Luka Doncic (ankle, knee) will play in Game 5
    Luka Doncic (left ankle soreness, right knee sprain) is available for Thursday’s game against the Timberwolves.

    Advice: There is no surprise here, as the Mavericks have consistently listed Doncic as questionable before clearing him to play. DFS players should set their lineups accordingly; it would take a blowout in either direction for Doncic not to play at least 40 minutes. Rotoworld Thursday, 4:41 pm