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Player Notes

  • Dominates in Game 5 victory
    Portis racked up 29 points (14-24 FG, 1-3 3Pt), 10 rebounds, one assist and one steal over 39 minutes during Tuesday's 115-92 victory over the Pacers in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Portis atoned for his ejection in Game 4, leading the Bucks to an emphatic victory. He led all scorers with 29 points, having his way on the interior against a Pacers team that looked totally out-enthused. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) still on the sideline, Portis has been the primary beneficiary. Milwaukee will need for him to replicate this performance should they hope to force a Game 7. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:37 pm
  • Rare appearance Tuesday
    Walker notched one assist over five minutes during Tuesday's 115-92 loss to Milwaukee in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Walker played a handful of minutes as the Pacers were blown out by the Bucks in Game 5 of their playoff series. Despite flashes throughout the season, Walker has basically been an afterthought when it comes to meaningful minutes. The two teams will line up again Thursday, as the Pacers try to wrap things up on their home court. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:31 pm
  • Passive performance in loss
    Nesmith registered seven points (3-9 FG, 1-5 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist, three blocks and one steal across 27 minutes during Tuesday's 115-92 loss to the Bucks in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Nesmith salvaged a rough shooting night with modest across-the-board production. Despite playing a significant role, he has been unable to rediscover his form from earlier in the season. While the loss was far from ideal, the Pacers will now head home for Game 6, where they will attempt to wrap up the series. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:29 pm
  • Ben Sheppard logs 24 minutes off bench in Game 5
    Ben Sheppard logged 24 minutes off the bench and finished with seven points (2-of-4 FGs, all 3PTs), three rebounds and one steal against the Bucks on Tuesday.

    Advice: Sheppard has played a pretty consistent role off the bench since January, and it has grown since March. Often times, teams will tighten their rotations for the playoffs, but Sheppard has still played a decent-sized role. He hasn’t done much other than hit a couple of 3-pointers, but Rick Carlisle clearly trusts him, which bodes well for his value long-term. The rookie likely wouldn’t be seeing as many minutes if Bennedict Mathurin was healthy, but it has been a great opportunity for him to prove that he belongs. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:28 pm
  • Obi Toppin chips in 12/6/4 line off bench
    Obi Toppin provided a boost off the bench with 12 points (3-of-7 FGs), six rebounds, four assists and two triples against Milwaukee on Tuesday.

    Advice: Toppin was once again a solid scoring option off the bench as he scored in double figures for the third straight game. However, his most notable moment from this game was getting into a scuffle with Patrick Beverley that resulted in a technical foul for Toppin. The Bucks had started the second quarter on a 12-2 run, and they were in complete control after the technical. Toppin will look to provide some buckets off the bench once again in Game 6 on Thursday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:24 pm
  • Khris Middleton posts 29/12/5 line in Game 5 win
    Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 29 points (9-of-20 FGs), 12 rebounds, five assists and four triples in a 115-92 win over the Pacers on Tuesday in Game 5.

    Advice: With the Bucks playing without their top two scorers, Khris Middleton stepped up as one of the heroes of Game 5. He and Bobby Portis each scored 29 points to lead the team in scoring and force a Game 6 on Thursday. It is unclear if Damian Lillard and/or Giannis Antetokounmpo will be back, but if they aren’t, Middleton will be the primary scoring option once again. He is continuing to deal with a right ankle sprain, but he should continue to keep the Bucks in the fight. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:13 pm
  • Jonathan Isaac logs 22 minutes off bench Tuesday
    Jonathan Isaac logged 22 minutes off the bench on Tuesday and finished with seven points (3-of-5 FGs), five rebounds and one triple against the Cavaliers.

    Advice: Isaac was part of Orlando’s closing lineup for this game after Gary Harris exited with a hamstring injury. Since Harris was ruled out at the end of the third quarter, it is unclear who will start in Game 6 if he remains sidelined. However, it is a safe bet that Isaac will take on extra minutes and be part of their closing lineup once again. He is one of the most impactful defensive players in the league, and if Harris isn’t out there to guard Donovan Mitchell, they’ll need Isaac on the floor. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:54 pm
  • Franz Wagner turns in 14/5/6/1/1 line in Game 5
    Franz Wagner posted a full line on Tuesday with 14 points (3-of-11 FGs), five rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block and one triple against the Cavaliers in Game 5.

    Advice: After being a hero in the Game 4 blowout win, Wagner wasn’t quite as effective in Game 5. However, he was still able to turn in a well-rounded stat line, which partially made up for the lack of scoring in DFS formats. Unfortunately, this type of performance isn’t going to be enough for them to win the series, and Wagner will have to get back on track in Game 6 in Orlando on Friday in order to force a Game 7 on Sunday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:43 pm
  • Paolo Banchero pours in 39 points in Game 5 loss
    Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 39 points (14-of-24 FGs), eight rebounds, four assists, four triples and five turnovers in a 104-103 loss to Cleveland in Game 5 on Tuesday.

    Advice: It may not have resulted in a win, but Banchero was fantastic in this game. He became the third-youngest player to score at least 39 points in a playoff game, with only LeBron James and Magic Johnson in front of him. That isn’t a bad list to be on, and they’ll need him to continue to play at this level if they want to win their next two games. They’ll head back to Orlando for Game 6 on Friday, where Banchero only scored nine points in the blowout win in Game 4. He’ll look to bring some of this scoring down to Florida. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:37 pm