• Franz Wagner endures brutal Game 7 performance
    Franz Wagner shot 1-of-13 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Sunday’s 106-94 loss to the Cavaliers, scoring six points with six rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one blocked shot in 34 minutes.

    Advice: Playing in the biggest game of his brief NBA career, as were many of his Magic teammates, Wagner struggled mightily on Sunday afternoon. He could not make anything happen offensively, missing all five of his 3-point attempts while shooting 1-of-8 from two. Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro certainly deserves some credit for that, but this performance was a severe departure from the norm for Wagner. Based on the Yahoo ADP (66.6), 2023-24 went as expected for Franz, who finished the regular season as a 6th-round player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Sunday wasn’t a good way for him to go out, but Wagner will be one of Orlando’s solid building blocks moving forward. He’s eligible for a contract extension this offseason; it would be surprising if the front office did not make that happen. Rotoworld 58 minutes ago
  • Evan Mobley records 16 boards, five blocked shots
    Evan Mobley accounted for 11 points (5-of-8 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), 16 rebounds, one assist, and five blocked shots in 41 minutes in Sunday’s 106-94 win over the Magic.

    Advice: Cleveland is headed to the second round, with their series against Boston beginning on Tuesday. While Mobley struggled with turnovers in Sunday’s Game 7, committing six, he was excellent as a rebounder and defender. He rejected five shots, moving his total to 12 in the series’ final three games. And those were games the Cavaliers played without Jarrett Allen, who is dealing with a rib injury. Both teams could be without an essential big man for Tuesday’s Game 1 in Boston, as the Celtics will not have Kristaps Porzingis (calf). If Allen cannot play, Mobley will continue to take on more responsibilities as the Cavaliers’ defensive anchor. Rotoworld Today, 1:25 pm
  • Paolo Banchero records 38/16/2/3/1 line in Game 7
    Paolo Banchero logged 41 minutes in Sunday’s 106-94 loss to Cleveland, amassing 38 points (10-of-28 FGs, 15-of-18 FTs), 16 rebounds, two assists, three steals, one block, and three 3-pointers.

    Advice: Between the field goal percentage and his five turnovers, Banchero did not have the most efficient Sunday afternoon. However, his overall play was the primary reason why Orlando had a chance to win Game 7. The lack of consistent help from others factored into Banchero’s efficiency issues. Still, he gained a significant amount of respect from mainstream followers of the NBA with his play throughout the series. Orlando lost all four games its standout forward committed at least five turnovers. And that category significantly impacted his fantasy value during the regular season. While a top 100 player in 8-cat formats, Banchero finished the regular season outside the top 150 in 9-cat. How Orlando handles its needs on the perimeter (consistent shooting and playmaking) will impact whether Banchero comes off in the fifth round of most drafts (as he did last fall) or slightly higher. Rotoworld Today, 1:05 pm
  • Won't start Game 7
    Isaac won't start Sunday's Game 7 against the Cavaliers, Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com reports.

    Advice: With Gary Harris (hamstring) returning to the starting lineup after missing Game 6, Isaac will revert to a reserve role. Across three appearances off the bench during the opening-round series, Isaac has averaged 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 19.3 minutes per game. Rotowire.com Today, 9:39 am
  • Back to bench
    Morris won't start Sunday's Game 7 against the Magic, Serena Winters of Bally Sports Cleveland reports.

    Advice: With Jarrett Allen (hip) sidelined, Morris got a chance in the starting unit during Game 6 but finished with just two points (1-7 FG) and eight rebounds in 27 minutes during a disappointing loss. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has reinserted Isaac Okoro into the starting lineup in place of Morris for the decisive Game 7. In Game 5, Morris came off the bench and posted 12 points (4-9 FG) in 26 minutes. Rotowire.com Today, 9:36 am
  • Maxi Kleber to be re-evaluated in three weeks
    Maxi Kleber (right shoulder AC joint separation) will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

    Advice: There were reports on Saturday that Kleber would miss “a significant amount of time”, but if Dallas makes it to the Conference Finals, he could return during that series. Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II will fill out the center minutes. Rotoworld Today, 9:07 am
  • Out at least three weeks
    The Mavericks announced Sunday that Kleber (shoulder) has been diagnosed with a right shoulder AC joint separation and will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

    Advice: As expected, Kleber will miss significant time after a scary fall during the Mavericks' series-clinching Game 6 win over the Clippers on Friday. Given the timetable, Kleber will miss all of the second-round series against Oklahoma City and would likely remain sidelined for at least the first few games of the Western Conference Finals if Dallas can advance past the top-seeded Thunder. Rotowire.com Today, 9:05 am
  • Leads from deep in 20-point Game 1
    Porter finished with 20 points (6-13 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 4-6 FT), six rebounds, one assist, one block and three steals across 40 minutes during Saturday's 106-99 loss to Minnesota in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

    Advice: Porter led all players in Saturday's contest in threes made while ending as one of two Nuggets with 20 or more points and adding a half-dozen rebounds in a losing effort. Porter has surpassed the 20-point mark in five straight playoff contests, connecting on four or more threes in three straight games. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:22 pm
  • Big fourth quarter in Game 1
    Reid ended Saturday's 106-99 win over Denver in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals with 16 points (7-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 0-1 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 23 minutes.

    Advice: Reid struggled over the first three quarters of Saturday's contest but showed up in a big way in the fourth frame, scoring 14 of his 16 points and giving the Timberwolves a boost off the bench in a winning effort. The Sixth Man of the Year ended as one of four Minnesota players with 10 or more points in the road victory, notching his third game of the postseason in double figures in scoring. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:17 pm