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  • 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
     
  • Still sidelined for Game 5
    Prosper (ankle) has been ruled out for Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota on Thursday.

    Advice: Prosper continues to deal with an ankle injury and will be unavailable for a 16th consecutive game. It's unclear when he'll be able to return. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 1:51 pm
     
  • Making good progress
    Coach Joe Mazzulla said Wednesday on the Zo and Bertrand Show that Porzingis (calf) is "ramping up the intensity level" ahead of the NBA Finals, but the big man's status for Game 1 remains to be determined.

    Advice: The Celtics are waiting on the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Mavericks and Timberwolves, but it sounds like Porzingis has a shot to return early on in the NBA Finals. There are likely to be daily updates on Porzingis' status, but Boston fans have reason to be optimistic based on Muzzulla's update. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 10:10 am
     
  • Improves in Game 4
    Towns closed with 25 points (9-13 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), five rebounds and one assist in 30 minutes before fouling out of Tuesday's 105-100 victory over the Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

    Advice: Towns had been heavily criticized due to his shooting struggles throughout the series, but he bounced back in a big way Tuesday, missing just one of his five attempts from beyond the arc and just four of his 17 shots overall when including free throws. One game won't erase all his struggles, but this was certainly a step in the right direction. Towns will need to produce at this rate again if Minnesota is going to win Game 5 on Thursday to extend the series. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 7:57 am
     
  • Carries Minnesota in Game 4 victory
    Edwards posted 29 points (11-25 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 5-8 FT), 10 rebounds and nine assists across 40 minutes during Tuesday's 105-100 victory over the Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

    Advice: No Timberwolves player had more points, rebounds or assists in Game 4 on Tuesday, and the star shooting guard came through when his team needed him the most. The efficiency levels shown in previous rounds aren't there yet, but Minnesota needed Edwards to get the job done Tuesday, and he did. Edwards needs to carry the momentum into Game 5, as the Timberwolves remain down 1-3 in the series but will have home-court advantage Thursday. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 7:55 am
     
  • Takes on limited role in return
    Kleber (shoulder) played 13 minutes and finished with two points (1-3 FG, 0-2 3Pt), one rebound and one assist in Tuesday's 105-100 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

    Advice: The Mavericks were without backup center Dereck Lively (neck) for Game 4, but the return of Kleber from an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder -- which he suffered in Game 6 of the opening-round series against the Clippers -- helped restore some depth in the frontcourt. Kleber and Dwight Powell (three minutes) saw only light run behind Daniel Gafford (31 minutes) and P.J. Washington (42 minutes), and if Lively is back for Game 5 on Thursday, Kleber could see his playing time decline further. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 7:36 am
     
  • Daniel Gafford plays playoff-high 31 minutes
    Daniel Gafford shot 6-of-6 from the field in Tuesday’s Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves, scoring 12 points with eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and three blocked shots in 31 minutes.

    Advice: With Dereck Lively II out with a sprained neck, it was evident that Gafford’s minutes would increase. The 31 minutes he played on Tuesday are the most for DG this postseason, and he was productive as a finisher, rebounder, and rim protector. Maxi Kleber played 13 of the remaining minutes, finishing with two points, one rebound, and one assist in his first game back from a separated shoulder. His minutes in Game 5 will be impacted by the status of Lively, who is trending toward being available to play on Thursday. Rotoworld Tuesday, 9:09 pm
     
  • Karl-Anthony Towns bounces back, scores 25 points
    Karl-Anthony Towns amassed 25 points (9-of-13 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), five rebounds, one assist, and four 3-pointers in 30 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 4 win over Dallas.

    Advice: Towns still hasn’t shaken the penchant for committing silly fouls, but he was far more effective in Tuesday’s Game 4. Before fouling out with a little over one minute remaining, KAT was more aggressive offensively, refusing to settle for perimeter shots. Towns took seven shots from the field before attempting his first 3-pointer, and he shot 4-of-5 from deep on the night. With Towns scoring 20 of his 25 after halftime, this is the kind of performance Minnesota will need in Game 5 on Thursday if they’re to push the series to a sixth game. Rotoworld Tuesday, 8:19 pm