Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Obi Toppin hits two 3-pointers, scores 12 points
    Obi Toppin logged 29 minutes in Monday’s 105-102 loss to Boston, recording a stat line of 12 points (5-of-9 FGs), seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: Toppin reached double figures in three of the four games in the Eastern Conference Finals, combining with T.J. McConnell to provide solid production off the bench. Game 3 of the Pacers’ first-round series against the Bucks is when the former lottery pick’s output picked up, and the timing was good with Toppin set to be a restricted free agent this summer. Re-signing Pascal Siakam will be Indiana’s top priority this offseason, so seeing where that leaves Toppin will be interesting. If he winds up in a spot where he can potentially start, that would boost his fantasy value. However, staying with the Pacers would be best in terms of the opportunity to win and potentially contend in the East. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:44 pm
     
  • T.J. McConnell records 15/5/4/1 line in Game 4
    T.J. McConnell finished Monday’s 105-102 loss to the Celtics with 15 points (7-of-16 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), five rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 25 minutes.

    Advice: As in Game 3, McConnell increased his production with Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) sidelined. The veteran backup point guard has been a critical contributor for the Pacers the past two seasons. While that may not mean much regarding consistent fantasy value, McConnell is a player the Pacers value immensely. He’s eligible for an extension this summer, but Indiana must also navigate Pascal Siakam’s unrestricted free agency. As for McConnell’s fantasy prospects, he’s a player who’s most valuable as a streamer if Haliburton or Andrew Nembhard is sidelined. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:38 pm
     
  • Myles Turner (back) struggles in Game 4 defeat
    Myles Turner (lower back soreness) shot 2-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line in Monday’s 105-102 loss to the Celtics, accumulating eight points, four rebounds, one assist, and two 3-pointers in 27 minutes.

    Advice: In addition to foul trouble, Turner had to deal with a lingering back issue that flared up after he took a shot during the first half of Monday’s game. He made multiple trips back to the locker room to receive treatment, and the Pacers center could not offer much help to his teammates in Game 4. Monday’s defeat is a brutal way for Turner’s season to end, as he reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in his career. The Pacers center finished the season ranked just outside the top 50, a bit disappointing given the Yahoo ADP (37.5). The 2023-24 campaign ended a run of three straight top-25 seasons for Turner, who’s capable of beginning a new streak next season. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:32 pm
     
  • Aaron Nesmith scores 14 points in series decider
    Aaron Nesmith finished Monday’s Game 4 loss to the Celtics with 14 points (4-of-11 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 35 minutes.

    Advice: Nesmith struggled from beyond the arc in Game 4, making just one of his six attempts. He reached double figures in two of the four games, but Nesmith’s growth as a defender has been one of the important storylines for the Pacers this season. The season-ending injury suffered by Bennedict Mathurin pushed the former Celtic into the Indiana starting lineup, and he proved to be a good fit. Nesmith finished the regular season ranked just outside the top 100 in 9-cat formats, and his value for the 2024-25 campaign will depend on where Mathurin falls within the rotation. If Rick Carlisle decides to prioritize defense in that spot, Nesmith could enter the season as a starter, boosting his fantasy value. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:26 pm
     
  • Battles through back issue
    Turner left Monday's Game 4 against the Celtics due to a back injury but was cleared to return for the second half, Tony East of SI.com reports. He finished with eight points (2-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds and one assist over 27 minutes in the loss.

    Advice: Turner's performance indicates that his back injury slowed him down, as he wasn't much of a factor in the 105-102 loss. The Texas product also contended with foul trouble, which limited his ability to be aggressive. Turner will now shift his attention to the offseason after his squad was swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:23 pm
     
  • Pascal Siakam finishes Game 4 with 19/10/3 line
    Pascal Siakam logged 39 minutes in Monday’s 105-102 loss to the Celtics, tallying 19 points (8-of-18 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), 10 rebounds, and three assists.

    Advice: Having scored at least 22 points in the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals, Siakam fell three points shy of that number in Game 4. Overall, Spicy P had a good series, averaging 23.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 55.3% from the foul line. Siakam being traded to Indiana rejuvenated him this season, with the former Raptor fitting in well with his new teammates. While he did finish ranked outside the top 75 in 9-cat formats, Siakam has proven in the past that he’s capable of more. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Pacers’ priority will be to re-sign Spicy P. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:21 pm
     
  • Andrew Nembhard produces 24 points, 10 assists
    Andrew Nembhard shot 10-of-18 from the field and 1-of-1 from the foul line in Monday’s 105-102 loss to the Celtics, finishing with 24 points, six rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, one block, and three 3-pointers in 39 minutes.

    Advice: The Pacers were again without Tyrese Haliburton, and Nembhard did his best to help make up for his absence. The second-year guard improved throughout the postseason and shined in Games 3 and 4. While there were some late-game turnovers that Nembhard will want back, his overall play should highly encourage the Pacers. He’s fit in well as a starter next to Haliburton, but that has not translated into reliable fantasy value. Nembhard finished the regular season ranked outside the top 200, but he’ll be worth selecting with a late-round pick in fantasy drafts next fall. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:12 pm
     
  • Derrick White racks up eight ‘stocks’ in Game 4
    Derrick White amassed 16 points (7-of-14 FGs), four rebounds, four assists, five steals, three blocks, and two 3-pointers in 42 minutes in Monday’s Game 4 win over Indiana.

    Advice: The Celtics completed their four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference Finals, once again being the team that executed better in crunch time. White’s 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining was the difference in Game 4, and he was highly productive across the board. Shooting 50% from the field, he was also responsible for a staggering eight “stocks” in the series clincher. Boston also got a good night from Jrue Holiday, who added 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two 3-pointers in 38 minutes. Boston has one of the best defensive backcourts in the NBA, and they’ll be tested in the NBA Finals, especially if Dallas takes care of its business in the West. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:03 pm
     
  • Jayson Tatum posts 26/13/8/1 line in Game 4 win
    Jayson Tatum played 44 minutes in Monday’s 105-102 win over the Pacers, accumulating 26 points (11-of-26 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), 13 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers.

    Advice: For the third time in four games, the Celtics made more plays than the Pacers in crunch time. Tatum’s biggest play was a floater with 2:40 remaining that tied the game at 102. That would be the last scoring until Derrick White hit a three with 45 seconds remaining, and the Celtics would go on to close out the sweep. Tatum didn’t have a great night shooting the basketball on Monday and committed five turnovers, but he was productive in the rebound and assist categories. Boston will get some welcome time off, as the NBA Finals will not begin until June 6. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:56 pm