Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Mike Conley posts 7/4/2/2 line in Game 5 loss
    Mike Conley recorded a stat line of seven points (2-of-5 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 21 minutes in Thursday’s 124-103 loss to the Mavericks.

    Advice: Dealing with a strained right soleus muscle throughout the conference finals, Conley only played 21 minutes on Thursday. The nature of Game 5 had much to do with that, as Dallas blew things wide open during the first quarter and did not look back. This was a rough end for a veteran point guard who played in 76 games after injuries limited him to 24 the season prior. Conley’s scoring average decreased by over two points but still provided top 75 per-game value in 9-cat formats. Expecting that level of production from him would be unrealistic, especially since he’ll turn 37 in October, but Conley is undoubtedly capable. Rotoworld Thursday, 9:01 pm
     
  • Jaden McDaniels scores eight points in Game 5 loss
    Jaden McDaniels logged 21 minutes in Thursday’s 124-103 loss to the Mavericks, amassing eight points (3-of-6 FGs), one rebound, two blocks, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: McDaniels struggled with fouls in Game 5, playing a series-low 21 minutes as a result. After scoring 24 points in the series opener, the Timberwolves wing struggled in Games 2 and 5 while producing solid all-around efforts in Games 3 and 4. McDaniels is one of the top wing defenders in the NBA, but his fantasy value is capped due to his being no higher than fourth in the offensive pecking order on most nights. While his status as a starter led many fantasy managers to select Jaden with a late-round pick (Yahoo ADP: 114), he finished just inside the top 200 in 9-cat formats. McDaniels should be selected in most drafts, but managers must keep their expectations in check. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:53 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
     
  • 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
     
  • Dereck Lively II plays 25 MIN in return to action
    Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) finished Thursday’s win over the Timberwolves with nine points (3-of-3 FGs, 3-of-6 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots in 25 minutes.

    Advice: Lively was back in the rotation after sitting out Tuesday’s Game 4 defeat, and the rookie was impactful on both ends of the floor. He didn’t miss a shot from the field and was also effective as a playmaker in the short roll. Add in eight rebounds and three blocked shots, and Lively was one of the other difference-makers in Game 5. Starting center Daniel Gafford was also 3-of-3 from the field, tallying 11 points, nine rebounds, and one blocked shot in 20 minutes. Next up for Dallas are the Celtics in the NBA Finals, which begin on June 6. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:11 pm
     
  • Good to go for Game 5
    Conley (Achilles) will play in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against Dallas on Thursday.

    Advice: For the seventh game in a row, Conley will play through his right soleus strain. With Minnesota facing elimination with a loss, it's not a surprise to see Conley power through his injury again. Rotowire.com Thursday, 4:53 pm
     
  • Mike Conley (calf) available for Game 5 Thursday
    Mike Conley (right soleus strain) is available for Thursday’s game against the Mavericks.

    Advice: As expected, Conley is all set to play on Thursday night. Look for the veteran point guard to play a little over 30 minutes, as this has been the case throughout the series. Rotoworld Thursday, 4:44 pm
     
  • Dereck Lively II (neck) available for Game 5 Thur.
    Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) is available for Thursday’s game against the Timberwolves.

    Advice: Lively is back after sitting out Tuesday’s Game 4 defeat, meaning Dallas will have both of its preferred centers available. Daniel Gafford remains the starter, while Lively’s return means fewer minutes for Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell. One of those two veterans is likely to fall out of the rotation entirely. Rotoworld Thursday, 4:39 pm
     
  • Available to play Thursday
    Lively (neck) is available for Thursday's Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves.

    Advice: Lively participated in the Mavericks' morning shootaround and underwent his routine in pre-game warmups, so it's unsurprising to see him available, as he looked active and had no apparent limitations in his movements. He'll likely see regular minutes off the bench, as he's logged 21.0 minutes per game in the current series while averaging 9.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest. Rotowire.com Thursday, 4:30 pm