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  • Anthony Edwards drops 40 in closeout win
    Anthony Edwards scored 40 points in Sunday’s closeout victory over Phoenix, adding nine rebounds, six assists, a steal, two blocks and seven three-pointers across 41 minutes.

    Advice: Ant-Man did it all in this one as his team completed the first-round sweep. Edwards led his team in the scoring department, and he punctuated his monster night with a poster on Kevin Durant late in the fourth quarter. Edwards’ 40-point game breaks a tie with Kevin Garnett for most playoff games with 30 or more in franchis history. Edwards owns that record outright with eight such games. Most incredibly, Edwards has only played 15 playoff games in his young career. He’ll look to keep the momentum going in the Western Conference semifinals, where the Wolves will face either the Lakers or Nuggets. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:11 pm
     
  • My next chapter: Durant scores 33, Suns get swept
    Kevin Durant finished with 33 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two triples across 46 minutes in Sunday’s 122-116 loss to Minnesota.

    Advice: Phoenix’s season came to a miserable end on Sunday night, but it wasn’t for lack of trying on Durant’s part. He did it all in this one, scoring at will, pulling down rebounds, facilitating teammates and swatting shots on defense. Unfortunately, Minnesota’s team was much better as a whole, getting needed contributions from multiple players. The Suns got strong efforts from Durant and Devin Booker (combined 82 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists), but the rest of the starting five and the notoriously short bench came up short. This is surely not the result that Durant and the rest of the Suns’ Big 3 expected. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:59 pm
     
  • Devin Booker’s 49 not enough to keep season alive
    Devin Booker amassed a game-high 49 points in Sunday’s loss to the Timberwolves, adding five rebounds, six assists, two steals, a blocked shot and three triples across 45 minutes.

    Advice: Booker was an efficient 13-of-21 from the floor and converted a ridiculous 20 of his 21 free throw attempts. Booker became just the 13th player in NBA history to hit at least 20 free throws in a playoff game, and Sunday’s performance was the first of its kind since Dirk Nowitzki hit 24 from the charity stripe back in 2011. Booker added an eighth 40-point playoff game to his resume, extending his own franchise record, but the scoring binge wasn’t enough to stave off elimination as most of the team struggled. Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 82 of Phoenix’s 116 points, and no other player had more than nine. He and the Suns will have some intense soul searching to do over the summer after such a quick playoff exit. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:48 pm
     
  • Khris Middleton goes 25/10/5/1 in Game 4 loss
    Khris Middleton supplied 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and a steal across 40 minutes Sunday in a 126-113 loss to the Pacers.

    Advice: Middleton dropped a ridiculous 42 points in Friday’s OT loss, and while he wasn’t able to reach that peak Sunday, he did all he could to keep Milwaukee competitive in a game it had no business being competitive in. Down Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis (ejected in the first quarter), Middleton carried the load as the team’s leading playmaker and rebounder. He couldn’t find much breathing room on offense, and his efficiency (9-of-22 FG) suffered, but Middleton gave everything he had in the tough loss. He limped off the court within the first minute of the third quarter but was able to return shortly thereafter and finish the contest. His status is worth monitoring ahead of Tuesday’s win-or-go-home Game 5 in Milwaukee. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:42 pm
     
  • Tallies 20 points in Game 4 start
    Beasley tallied 20 points (8-12 FG, 4-7 3Pt), three rebounds and two assists over 34 minutes in Sunday's 126-113 loss to the Pacers in Game 4 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Beasley entered the starting lineup Sunday with Damian Lillard (Achilles) being added to Milwaukee's inactive list, connecting on a team-high mark from three. Beasley reached double figures in scoring for the first time of the postseason, connecting on at least three threes in two straight outings. If Lillard is unable to return in a win-or-go-home Game 5, look for Beasley to remain in the starting lineup or at least have a large role in the rotation for the Bucks. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:38 pm
     
  • Balanced outing in Game 4 loss
    Middleton finished with 25 points (9-22 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 7-8 FT), 10 rebounds, five assists and one steal over 40 minutes in Sunday's 126-113 loss to the Pacers in Game 4 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Middleton once again tried to do all he could to help lead the shorthanded Bucks past the Pacers in Game 4, leading all players in Sunday's contest in rebounds while handing out a handful of assists and ending as one of three players with 20 or more points in a losing effort. He briefly exited the game due to an apparent leg injury but returned to the court shortly after, so it seems unlikely that his leg will be a concern moving forward. Assuming he's healthy, expect Middleton to continue to try and lead the Bucks in a win-or-go-home Game 5 in Milwaukee, especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) are unable to return for the elimination game. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:37 pm
     
  • Provides spark off bench in Game 4
    Powell racked up 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-5 3Pt) and one steal across 32 minutes during Sunday's 116-111 win over the Mavericks in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Powell provided Los Angeles with a spark off the bench while leading all bench players in Sunday's contest in scoring and threes made in a double-digit performance in Game 4. Powell has connected on at least three threes with 10 or more points in two postseason games thus far, something that will be valuable the rest of the series for the Clippers if he is able to replicate the performance he put forth in Game 4. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:18 pm
     
  • Lifts offensively in Game 4 victory
    George recorded 33 points (11-19 FG, 7-10 3Pt, 4-7 FT), six rebounds, eight assists, one block and four steals across 43 minutes during Sunday's 116-111 win over the Mavericks in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: George led all players in Sunday's contest in threes made while ending with a team-high-tying point total and leading all Clippers players in assists and steals to help Los Angeles get a much-needed win to even the series with Dallas entering Game 5. George's point and assist totals were his highest of the series thus far, and he's tallied at least 20 points in three straight games. George and James Harden will need to continue to lead the Clippers as they attempt to take a series lead in Game 5 in Los Angeles. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:16 pm
     
  • Balanced outing in Game 4 loss
    Jones posted 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 0-1 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 33 minutes during Sunday's 116-111 loss to the Clippers in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Jones responded from a scoreless outing in Game 3 by putting forth one of his best performances of the first-round series Sunday in Dallas' loss against Los Angeles. Although Jones briefly headed to the locker room Sunday, he ended second on the team in rebounds, matching his playoff high thus far, while ending as one of four Mavericks with a double-digit point total. Jones notched his highest scoring total of the series, surpassing the double-digit mark in three of his four postseason outings. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:09 pm