Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Russell Westbrook plays 9 minutes in Game 6 loss
    Russell Westbrook shot 2-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from the foul line in Friday’s loss to the Mavericks, scoring six points with one rebound, one assist, and one steal in nine minutes.

    Advice: In what could be his final game as a Clipper, Westbrook offered little value in Game 6. Tyronn Lue needed more scoring, especially with P.J. Tucker starting, which led to Los Angeles effectively going with a six-man rotation. Westbrook entered the season with a Yahoo ADP of 109.3, a generous placement for a veteran point guard whose role would be limited. Give Russ credit for willingly taking a step back after the Clippers added James Harden, but his days as a consistently relevant fantasy option may have ended. Westbrook has a player option for the 2024-25 season and will be, at best, a late-round pick in deep leagues. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:16 pm
  • James Harden drops 16 points, 13 assists Friday
    James Harden finished Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks with 16 points (5-of-16 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), seven rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and one blocked shot in 43 minutes.

    Advice: Harden may have dished out 13 assists while only committing one turnover in Game 6, but he struggled shooting the basketball in his final game of the season. The Beard did not play well in the series’ final two games, which was also the case for Paul George. Friday’s loss sends James into what could be another offseason of change. Harden’s season began with instability, as he made it clear that he wanted out of Philadelphia. The 76ers ultimately accommodated that desire, and after a slow start to his time with the Clippers, The Beard rounded into form. Harden’s Yahoo ADP (31.3) suffered due to the preseason questions, but he finished the year as a top 30 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Harden will be a free agent this summer, and the Clippers could also have to negotiate a new deal with George. Look for his ADP to improve by a few spots if the Clippers keep the roster intact. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:54 pm
  • Kyrie Irving scores 28 second-half points Friday
    Kyrie Irving finished Friday’s 114-101 win over the Clippers with 30 points (11-of-19 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks, and five 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Game 6 was a tale of two halves for Irving, whose increased focus on the defensive end of the floor may have limited his energy on offense. At various points in Friday’s win, he was responsible for guarding James Harden or Paul George. After missing both of his field goal attempts and scoring two points in the first half, Kyrie went off in the second. The 28 points tied a career playoff high for most in a half, and he combined with Luka Doncic to score 58 of Dallas’ 114 points. Irving must bring similar defensive energy to the table in the second round, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are up next. Game 1 of that series is on Tuesday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:34 pm
  • Luka Doncic tallies 28 points, 13 assists Friday
    Luka Doncic shot 9-of-26 from the field and 9-of-11 from the foul line in Friday’s Game 6 win over the Clippers, tallying 28 points, seven rebounds, 13 assists, one steal, one block, and one 3-pointer in 43 minutes.

    Advice: Doncic was 1-of-10 from three in Game 6, but that issue did not preclude the Mavericks from wrapping up the series in six games. Efficiency was an issue for the Mavericks’ star point guard, but that did not sap his overall effectiveness. He’ll need to clean that up, as the competition will only get stronger. Doncic and the Mavericks will face Oklahoma City in the second round, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday night. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:29 pm
  • Closes game Friday
    Anthony accumulated nine points (4-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal across 19 minutes during Friday's 103-96 win over the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Anthony closed the game Friday, providing the Magic with some much-needed floor spacing. With Gary Harris (hamstring) unavailable, Anthony slid into a larger role. That could stick for Game 7 should Harris remain sidelined. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:19 pm
  • Plays lone hand in loss
    Mitchell finished Friday's 103-96 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with 50 points (22-36 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 3-6 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one block in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Mitchell outscored the rest of the Cavaliers roster, dropping 50 points in the loss. He scored all of Cleveland's points in the final quarter. He is going to need more help on the offensive end should the Cavaliers hope to advance to the second round, where the Celtics await. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:02 pm
  • Darius Garland records 21/6/5/2 line in Game 6
    Darius Garland shot 10-of-16 from the field in Friday’s 103-96 loss to the Magic, tallying 21 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 43 minutes.

    Advice: Garland surpassed the 20-point mark for a second consecutive game, again shooting above 50% from the field. However, it’s difficult to win when players not named Garland or Donovan Mitchell combine to score 25 points. Max Strus was the only other Cavalier in double figures, and he scored 10 points while also tallying eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 39 minutes. The home team has won all six games in this series, which could bode well for Cleveland ahead of Sunday’s Game 7. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:33 pm
  • Jalen Suggs hits six 3-pointers, scores 22 points
    Jalen Suggs accumulated 22 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, and six 3-pointers in 35 minutes in Friday’s 103-96 win over Cleveland.

    Advice: After missing all five of his attempts in Game 5, Suggs was responsible for six of Orlando’s 11 made 3-pointers in Game 6. His performance was a welcome development for a team that finished the regular season as one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. In the series’ first five games, Suggs shot 6-of-25 from deep. While those numbers can lead some to dismiss Game 6 as a fluke, Suggs’ confidence to continue taking those shots was vital for him and the Magic. On Sunday, they’ll look to do something neither team has done in this series: win on the road. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:21 pm
  • Donovan Mitchell goes off for 50 in Game 6 loss
    Donovan Mitchell shot 22-of-36 from the field and 3-of-6 from the foul line in Friday’s 103-96 loss to Orlando, scoring 50 points with four rebounds, four assists, one block, and three 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Playing in a close-out game for the first time in his two seasons with the Cavaliers, Mitchell did his best to carry Cleveland across the finish line. He scored all 18 of the team’s points in the fourth quarter, finishing with a game-high 50. Mitchell has scored 50 or more in three postseason games in his career, with Friday’s effort being his first since Game 4 of a 2020 first-round series against the Nuggets (as a member of the Jazz). However, if Cleveland is to defend home court in Game 7 on Sunday, Mitchell will need more help from Evan Mobley (3/7/0/1/5 in 34 minutes), especially if Jarrett Allen (ribs) cannot play. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:01 pm