Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Jalen Suggs shoots poorly, scores 10 points Sunday
    Jalen Suggs finished Sunday’s Game 7 loss to Cleveland with 10 points (2-of-13 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 40 minutes.

    Advice: Despite opening the game making six of its first 11 3-pointers, the Magic received a harsh reminder of their most significant weakness in Game 7. Orlando would finish 10-of-31 from beyond the arc, with Suggs making two of his 10 attempts. The third-year guard reached double figures in six of the series’ seven games, but he shot below 40% from the field and 29% from three. While injury-related questions and limited production when healthy during his first two seasons negatively impacted Suggs’ ADP (141.9), he provided top 100 value in 8- and 9-cat formats. Whether or not this season gives his value a boost ahead of drafts in the fall depends on what changes Orlando makes to its perimeter rotation via the draft and free agency. Also, Suggs will be eligible for an extension this offseason. However, unlike Franz Wagner, the decision does not appear as clear-cut for the Magic front office, even with his improved 2023-24 campaign. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:43 pm
     
  • Craig Porter Jr. (ankle) out for Game 7 on Sunday
    Craig Porter Jr. (left ankle sprain) is out for Sunday’s game against the Magic.

    Advice: Porter’s continued absence will not impact the Cavaliers’ rotation, as he has not played since the regular season finale. Even if he were healthy, starters Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell will log heavy minutes as Cleveland looks to avoid another first-round exit. Rotoworld Saturday, 2:41 pm
     
  • Out again Sunday
    Porter (ankle) will not play in Sunday's Game 7 against the Magic.

    Advice: This will be the seventh game in a row on the shelf for Porter, and he remains without a timetable for a return. Rotowire.com Saturday, 2:36 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 Saturday, 1:33 pm
     
  • 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
     
  • Closes game Friday
    Anthony accumulated nine points (4-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal across 19 minutes during Friday's 103-96 win over the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Anthony closed the game Friday, providing the Magic with some much-needed floor spacing. With Gary Harris (hamstring) unavailable, Anthony slid into a larger role. That could stick for Game 7 should Harris remain sidelined. Rotowire.com Friday, 8:19 pm
     
  • Jalen Suggs hits six 3-pointers, scores 22 points
    Jalen Suggs accumulated 22 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, and six 3-pointers in 35 minutes in Friday’s 103-96 win over Cleveland.

    Advice: After missing all five of his attempts in Game 5, Suggs was responsible for six of Orlando’s 11 made 3-pointers in Game 6. His performance was a welcome development for a team that finished the regular season as one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. In the series’ first five games, Suggs shot 6-of-25 from deep. While those numbers can lead some to dismiss Game 6 as a fluke, Suggs’ confidence to continue taking those shots was vital for him and the Magic. On Sunday, they’ll look to do something neither team has done in this series: win on the road. Rotoworld Friday, 7:21 pm
     
  • T.J. McConnell records 20/2/9/4 line in Game 6 win
    T.J. McConnell made the most of his 23 minutes in Thursday’s 120-98 win over Milwaukee, accumulating 20 points (7-of-9 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), two rebounds, nine assists, four steals, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: Indiana is headed to the second round for the first time in ten years, and their bench is a significant reason why. McConnell and Obi Toppin combined to score 41 points in Game 6, with the former also racking up nine assists and four steals. While Tyrese Haliburton is the headliner, and rightfully so, the Pacers have three solid point guards in the rotation. In addition to McConnell, starter Andrew Nembhard (14/5/4/2/1 with one 3-pointer) had an efficient Game 6. Next up for the Pacers is either New York or Philadelphia, with Game 1 of the second round scheduled for Monday. Indiana would have home-court advantage if Philadelphia advances. Rotoworld Thursday, 6:49 pm
     
  • Stellar off bench in Game 6 win
    McConnell tallied 20 points (7-9 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), nine assists, four steals and two rebounds over 23 minutes in Thursday's 120-98 win over Milwaukee in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: McConnell was outstanding off the Pacers bench in the series-clinching victory, ending second on the team in scoring and assists while leading all players in steals and coming up one dime shy of a double-double to provide a much-needed spark on the second unit. McConnell put forth his best performance of the postseason thus far, scoring more than 10 points for the first time while handing out his highest assist total of the first round. Indiana will look for McConnell to continue to provide a spark off the bench in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Rotowire.com Thursday, 6:11 pm