Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Plays well in Game 1
    Horford totaled 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-5 3Pt), seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 30 minutes during Thursday's 107-89 victory over the Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: With the benches emptying near the end of the fourth quarter and Kristaps Porzingis making his return, Boston needed just 30 minutes out of Horford. In the seven games leading up to Thursday, Horford had averaged 34.6 minutes with only one day of rest between in-series games. Now, the Celtics and Mavericks don't face off again until Sunday, and then Wednesday. That gives the 38-year-old more rest than he's been used to lately, which could help him stay more effective when he's needed the most. Rotowire.com Today, 9:39 am
     
  • Al Horford to start NBA Finals opener Thursday
    Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford will start Thursday’s game against the Mavericks.

    Advice: Horford will remain in the starting lineup for Game 1 in a move that may surprise some. Kristaps Porzingis, who has been sidelined since injuring his calf during Game 3 of Boston’s first-round series against Miami, will come off the bench in his first game back. The last time Porzingis came off the bench in a game, regular season or playoffs: , as a member of the Knicks. Rotoworld Yesterday, 5:11 pm
     
  • Impresses in award-winning season
    Reid averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 blocks and 0.5 steals across 22.6 minutes in 16 playoff appearances.

    Advice: The Sixth Man of the Year award winner did not fully live up to his regular-season standards in the playoffs. However, he did have a few great games against Denver and Dallas in the postseason as the Timberwolves put together an impressive run. The 24-year-old averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals across 24.2 minutes while appearing in 81 regular-season games. Reid will likely be a key part of the rotation next season as the Timberwolves aim for another strong playoff push in a stacked Western Conference. Rotowire.com Sunday, 8:12 am
     
  • Productive in return
    Lively posted nine points (3-3 FG, 3-6 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks over 25 minutes during Thursday's 124-103 win over Minnesota in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

    Advice: Lively returned to action Thursday after missing Game 4 due to a neck injury. The rookie big man returned to his role of coming off the bench but splitting minutes at the center position with Daniel Gafford as a platoon. Lively averaged 9.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks in 22.0 minutes across his four appearances in the Western Conference Finals. Rotowire.com Friday, 1:06 pm
     
  • Naz Reid struggles in Game 5 blowout loss to Mavs
    Naz Reid shot 2-of-10 from the field and 1-of-1 from the foul line in Thursday’s loss to the Mavericks, tallying five points, four rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot in 27 minutes.

    Advice: Reid’s production tailed off considerably after scoring 14 points or more in the first three games of the Western Conference Finals. He only attempted six shots in Game 4, but Game 5 was arguably his most disappointing effort of the postseason. The five points were the fewest in a game for Reid since Minnesota’s Game 2 win over Phoenix in the first round, and he missed all four of his 3-point attempts. While Reid finished the regular season ranked outside the top 100 in fantasy, he was a dependable option despite coming off the bench. Minnesota would likely have to move Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert for his ceiling to be raised. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:45 pm
     
  • Dereck Lively II plays 25 MIN in return to action
    Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) finished Thursday’s win over the Timberwolves with nine points (3-of-3 FGs, 3-of-6 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots in 25 minutes.

    Advice: Lively was back in the rotation after sitting out Tuesday’s Game 4 defeat, and the rookie was impactful on both ends of the floor. He didn’t miss a shot from the field and was also effective as a playmaker in the short roll. Add in eight rebounds and three blocked shots, and Lively was one of the other difference-makers in Game 5. Starting center Daniel Gafford was also 3-of-3 from the field, tallying 11 points, nine rebounds, and one blocked shot in 20 minutes. Next up for Dallas are the Celtics in the NBA Finals, which begin on June 6. Rotoworld Thursday, 8:11 pm
     
  • Dereck Lively II (neck) available for Game 5 Thur.
    Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) is available for Thursday’s game against the Timberwolves.

    Advice: Lively is back after sitting out Tuesday’s Game 4 defeat, meaning Dallas will have both of its preferred centers available. Daniel Gafford remains the starter, while Lively’s return means fewer minutes for Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell. One of those two veterans is likely to fall out of the rotation entirely. Rotoworld Thursday, 4:39 pm
     
  • Available to play Thursday
    Lively (neck) is available for Thursday's Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves.

    Advice: Lively participated in the Mavericks' morning shootaround and underwent his routine in pre-game warmups, so it's unsurprising to see him available, as he looked active and had no apparent limitations in his movements. He'll likely see regular minutes off the bench, as he's logged 21.0 minutes per game in the current series while averaging 9.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest. Rotowire.com Thursday, 4:30 pm
     
  • Present at shootaround
    Lively (neck) was present at the Mavericks' morning shootaround but remains questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Grant Afseth of SI.com reports.

    Advice: After sitting out the Mavericks' Game 4 loss, Lively is viewed as a game-time decision ahead of Thursday's 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff, but it was encouraging to see him on the court for the team's morning shootaround. The Mavericks will likely monitor how his neck sprain feels leading up to the opening tip, while starting center Daniel Gafford should continue to see increased playing time if Lively is unavailable. Rotowire.com Thursday, 8:35 am