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  • Dereck Lively II struggles in Game 5 defeat
    Dereck Lively II finished Monday’s 106-88 loss to the Celtics with two points (1-of-2 FGs), four rebounds, and one blocked shot in 24 minutes.

    Advice: After recording double-doubles in Games 3 and 4, Lively had a rough Game 5 in Boston. The rookie center still played over twice as many minutes as starting center Daniel Gafford, as his skill set appeared to be a better fit for this matchup. The ending to the season wasn’t good, but this was a rookie year that Lively can build upon. Lively, the 12th overall pick in last summer’s draft, landed in an excellent spot regarding his career path. He’s played well off of star guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, showing signs of being able to take on the “Tyson Chandler role” the Mavericks envisioned when they acquired his draft rights from Oklahoma City. Lively finished the season as a 10th-round player in 9-cat formats, with injuries and the passing of his mother limiting the rookie to 55 games. Another offseason to strengthen his skill set should boost Lively’s value, even if he continues to share the center responsibilities with Daniel Gafford. Rotoworld Jun 17, 9:13 pm
     
  • Derrick Jones Jr. scores 10 PTS in Finals finale
    Derrick Jones Jr. shot 4-of-8 from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line in Monday’s 106-88 loss to Boston, amassing 10 points, one blocked shot, and one 3-pointer in 22 minutes.

    Advice: Despite hitting double figures for the second time in the series, Jones’ performance on Monday was not impactful. Besides the points, he only supplied one blocked shot and failed to grab a rebound in Game 5. Jones entered the season competing for a place in the Mavericks starting lineup but remained off the radar in most fantasy drafts. While “Airplane Mode” started 66 of the 76 regular season games he appeared in, he did not offer consistent fantasy value. Jones finished the year ranked well outside the top 200 in 8- and 9-cat formats, which surprised no one. He’ll be a free agent this summer, and regardless of where he lands, Jones is likely to be more valuable to his team than to fantasy managers. Rotoworld Jun 17, 8:52 pm
     
  • Luka Doncic posts 28/12/5/3 line in Game 5 loss
    Luka Doncic accounted for 28 points (12-of-25 FGs, 2-of-5 FTs), 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two 3-pointers in 43 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 loss to the Celtics.

    Advice: While Doncic recorded his second double-double of the NBA Finals on Monday, efficiency was a concern for the Mavericks star. He struggled at the foul line and also committed a game-high seven turnovers. Luka’s play wasn’t the only reason Dallas fell in Game 5, but Dallas’ margin for error is slim when one of its stars struggles. However, he made history, becoming the first player in the NBA to lead all players in postseason points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Expected by fantasy managers to be a top 5 player based upon his Yahoo ADP (2.7), Doncic lived up to that in 2023-24. Appearing in 70 regular season games, he was a top 5 player in 8- and 9-cat per-game value and totals. While Doncic wasn’t fully healthy when the season began due to a lingering leg injury, playing at the FIBA World Cup last summer ensured he joined the Mavericks in better shape than in previous seasons. A final decision has not been made regarding Luka’s availability for the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Greece that Slovenia will participate in; his health will dictate the decision. Regardless of his status, fantasy managers should expect another elite season from Doncic in 2024-25. Rotoworld Jun 17, 8:45 pm
     
  • Kristaps Porzingis plays 16 minutes in Game 5 win
    Kristaps Porzingis tallied five points (2-of-4 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs) and one rebound in 16 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas.

    Advice: Having picked up a DNP-CD in Game 4 despite being cleared to play, Porzingis logged 16 minutes off the bench on Monday. He wasn’t under any specific restrictions, but it was clear that the Celtics wouldn’t push him too far. The result was Boston’s 18th title in franchise history and the first for the “Unicorn.” After a stellar 2022-23 season in Washington, Porzingis being traded to Boston may have led to his being undervalued in fantasy basketball. Boasting a Yahoo ADP of 43.1, he provided top-15 per-game value in 9-cat formats and top-25 in 8-cat. The lone negative was availability. Porzingis only appeared in 57 games due to injury, with his absence boosting backup Al Horford’s fantasy value. Injuries were also an issue for Porzingis during the Celtics’ run through the playoffs, and he’s only appeared in at least 60 regular season games once (2022-23) since the 2016-17 campaign. KP is immensely valuable to fantasy managers when healthy, but that’s why his ADP is likely to take a hit. Rotoworld Jun 17, 8:36 pm
     
  • Coming off bench in Game 5
    Porzingis (lower leg) will come off the bench for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Mavericks.

    Advice: Porzingis will again come off the bench for the Celtics, as he did in the first two NBA Finals games. In those two contests, Porzingis accumulated 32 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and an assist while shooting 12-for-20 from the field. Prior to Game 5, head coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis will not have any restrictions after sitting out the last two games due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation, but Al Horford will remain in the starting lineup Monday. Rotowire.com Jun 17, 5:09 pm
     
  • Luka Doncic (chest) available for Game 5 Monday
    Luka Doncic (thoracic contusion) is available for Monday’s game against the Celtics.

    Advice: This status upgrade was expected, with Doncic considered probable on the initial injury report. With Dallas looking to extend the NBA Finals to a Game 6, he’ll play at least 40 minutes unless the game turns into a blowout. Rotoworld Jun 17, 4:25 pm
     
  • Gets green light for Game 5
    Doncic (thoracic contusion) is available for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Celtics.

    Advice: Doncic is dealing with a thoracic contusion, but he has been upgraded from probable to available ahead of Monday's Game 5. The All-Star will lead the Mavericks into Boston as Dallas looks to cut the series deficit to 3-2 and come back from down 3-0, a feat that has never been accomplished in NBA Finals history. Doncic has been solid throughout the series, averaging 29.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.5 steals across 37.8 minutes while shooting 47.0 percent from the field. Rotowire.com Jun 17, 4:20 pm
     
  • Poole: Klay Thompson looking for a 3-year deal
    According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, league sources believe Klay Thompson is seeking at least a three-year deal.

    Advice: The Warriors’ “big three” era of Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green may end this summer, as the former is set to hit unrestricted free agency. While a max contract is undoubtedly off the table, the veteran shooting guard is reportedly looking for at least a three-year deal. Thompson is another year removed from a stretch in which he missed two consecutive seasons due to knee and Achilles tendon injuries, but his production dropped considerably in 2023-24. Landing with a team that needs to add 3-point shooting to its starting lineup would boost Thompson’s fantasy value, but the trick is finding that spot. Remaining with the Warriors may include Klay being asked to come off the bench, which would lower his fantasy ceiling. Rotoworld Jun 17, 3:56 pm
     
  • Expected to play in Game 5
    Coach Joe Mazzulla said to expect Porzingis (lower leg) to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Dallas on Monday, Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News reports.

    Advice: Porzingis was ruled out ahead of Game 3 after suffering a left posterior tibialis dislocation in the third quarter of Game 2. He got the green light for Game 4 but didn't see any playing time during the blowout loss. However, with the Celtics looking to close out the series at home, Porzingis won't have any restrictions, though it remains unclear if he'll be in the starting lineup. In Game 1, his first appearance after a 10-game absence due to a calf injury, Porzingis scored 20 points (8-13 FG) and blocked three shots in 21 minutes. Rotowire.com Jun 17, 3:50 pm