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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
     
  • Karl-Anthony Towns turns in 28/10/3 in Game 4 win
    Karl-Anthony Towns turned in 28 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and four triples across 39 minutes in Sunday’s win over the Suns.

    Advice: Towns had his best game of the series, and the timing was perfect for Minnesota. Anthony Edwards led the way with 40 points, but KAT was the Wolves’ next highest scorer, and he chipped in his second straight double-double. Towns averaged just 25 minutes in Games 1-3, but he saw increased playing time, while Rudy Gobert played only 25 minutes. Minnesota will face the winner of the Nuggets-Lakers series in the Western Conference semifinals. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:04 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
     
  • Pascal Siakam scores 13 on 14 FG, but Pacers win
    Pascal Siakam finished Sunday’s win over Milwaukee with 13 points (6-of-14 FG, 0-of-4 3-Pointers), nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block across 40 minutes.

    Advice: Siakam was monstrous on offense in Games 1 and 2, combining for 73 points on 31-of-48 shooting. In Games 3 and 4, however, his scoring regressed, and he totaled just 30 points on 13-of-31 shooting. Siakam’s poor showing on offense was buoyed by the duo of Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton, who combined for 53 points and 12 triples on 18-of-33 shooting. Despite his woes as a shooter, Spicy P was still able to make an impact thanks to his rebounding, playmaking and defense. He’ll look to get back on track with his efficiency in a close-out Game 5 on the road Tuesday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:35 pm
     
  • Well-rounded showing in Game 4
    Siakam notched 13 points (6-14 FG< 0-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block over 40 minutes in Sunday's 126-113 win over the Bucks in Game 4 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Siakam has been outstanding for Indiana all series against Milwaukee, posting a well-rounded performance in Sunday's Game 4 while helping the Pacers take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Siakam struggled shooting a bit from the field, but he still reached double figures in scoring while ending one rebound and three assists short of a triple-double. Siakam has tallied at least 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists in two games this series, and we should expect him to continue to shine for Indiana in a potential series-clinching Game 5 in Milwaukee. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:53 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