• Goes for 25 points in Game 5 win
    Brown finished Wednesday's 118-84 victory over Miami in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with 25 points (11-19 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 2-5 FT), six rebounds and two assists over 26 minutes.

    Advice: Brown was one of two Boston players who reached the 25-point mark Wednesday, with Derrick White being the other, but he didn't do much outside of scoring. Brown scored 20-plus points in three of the five outings in the series against the Heat, and he should continue to play a prominent role on offense in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, regardless of the opponent, especially if Kristaps Porzingis (calf) remains sidelined for a prolonged stretch. Rotowire.com Today, 6:10 am
  • Another double-double
    Tatum totaled 16 points (4-9 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 6-9 FT), 12 rebounds, three assists and one block in 32 minutes during Wednesday's 118-84 victory over the Heat in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: There's no doubt that Tatum is the undisputed go-to player on offense for the Celtics, and the star forward can take over a game if needed every time the team needs him to do so. He was active on both ends of the court in the series against the Heat, however, recording four double-doubles in five games while also reaching the 20-point plateau four times. He averaged 21.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game against the Heat and will now aim to lead Boston in the Conference Semifinals, where the Celtics will take on either the Cavaliers or the Magic. Rotowire.com Today, 6:08 am
  • Decent output in playoff exit
    Jovic ended with eight points (3-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds and four assists over 28 minutes during Wednesday's 118-84 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Jovic was forced to embrace a bigger role in the second half of the season and was a permanent fixture in the starting unit since mid-February. While he had some strong performances here and there, he lacked consistency on a game-to-game basis, and he was unable to become a reliable offensive alternative when the Heat needed him, especially in games where they were shorthanded. It remains to be seen if Jovic will remain a regular starter for the Heat next season. but it's worth noting he averaged 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game across 33 starts since the beginning of February, counting both the regular season and the playoffs. Rotowire.com Today, 5:57 am
  • Scores 23 points in playoff exit
    Adebayo supplied 23 points (10-26 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, six assists and two steals in 36 minutes during Wednesday's 118-84 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Adebayo had to shoulder a bigger load on offense due to the absences of Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck), and for the most part, the star big man delivered. He scored 20 or more points in each game of the series while posting two double-doubles. Adebayo averaged 19.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest between the Play-In Tournament and the series against the Celtics (seven games). Rotowire.com Today, 5:53 am
  • Ends season plagued by struggles
    Herro ended Wednesday's 118-84 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with 15 points (6-19 FG, 1-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and three assists across 35 minutes.

    Advice: Herro was forced to embrace a more prominent role on offense due to the absences of Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck) in the series against the Celtics. While the numbers were decent across the board, he struggled badly in terms of efficiency and shooting percentages. Over the five games of the series, Herro made just 38.5 percent of his shots from the field and 34.9 percent of his three-pointers. He averaged 16.8 points per game, but that was not enough to lift Miami to victory against the team with the best record in the NBA. Rotowire.com Today, 5:51 am
  • Limited impact in Game 5 loss
    Harden amassed seven points (2-12 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds and seven assists over 33 minutes during Wednesday's 123-93 loss to the Mavericks in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Harden was a non-factor in the loss, a far cry from what he has been able to deliver thus far in the series. Both he and Paul George had off nights, much to the joy of Mavericks fans. The Clippers are now one loss away from elimination, a result that would leave the future of the current squad in some doubt. If they are to force a Game 7, Harden is going to need to rediscover his early-series form. Rotowire.com Today, 2:58 am
  • Pops for 11 points Wednesday
    Hyland contributed 11 points (3-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), one rebound and three assists over seven minutes during Wednesday's 123-93 loss to the Mavericks in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Hyland popped for 11 points in seven minutes as the Clippers were soundly beaten by an impressive Dallas outfit. Now trailing 3-2 in the series, Los Angeles will need to turn things around in a hurry should they hope to extend it to a seventh game. Rotowire.com Today, 2:55 am
  • Rare appearance Wednesday
    Brown contributed no counting stats over six minutes during Wednesday's 123-93 loss to Dallas in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Brown logged six minutes in the loss, a rare appearance and one that should not be happening at this time of the year. The Clippers were blown out by the Mavericks in front of their home fans and are now on the brink of elimination. Rotowire.com Today, 2:53 am
  • Perfect from field Wednesday
    Lively racked up 12 points (5-5 FG, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, one assist and one block over 25 minutes during Wednesday's 123-93 win over the Clippers in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Lively was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, outplaying Daniel Gafford despite coming off the bench. The Mavericks have the luxury of being able to lean on both players equally, providing them flexibility when one is outplaying the other. Lively and Gafford will once again be front and center when the two teams line up again Friday. Rotowire.com Today, 2:52 am