Player Notes

  • Nears 20 points in Game 1 defeat
    Murray racked up 17 points (6-14 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-3 FT), one rebound and four assists over 34 minutes during Saturday's 106-99 loss to Minnesota in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

    Advice: Murray wasn't as strong as we've seen him in the past in Saturday's contest, but he still managed to end three points shy of the 20-point mark while ending as one of three Nuggets with 15 or more points in a losing effort. It will be key to see how Murray, who has been dealing with calf discomfort of late, is able to perform throughout the semifinals and to monitor whether his injury limits him to any extent against a talented Timberwolves squad. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:24 pm
  • Top distributor in double-double
    Conley had 14 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds, 10 assists and one steal across 31 minutes during Saturday's 106-99 win over the Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

    Advice: Conley led all players in Saturday's Game 1 in assists while ending as one of four Timberwolves in double figures in scoring and as the lone player with a double-double in a winning effort. Conley, who connected on a team-high-tying trio of threes, reached double digits in assists for the first time this postseason, and he has recorded at least 10 points and seven dimes in three playoff outings. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:13 pm
  • Craig Porter Jr. (ankle) out for Game 7 on Sunday
    Craig Porter Jr. (left ankle sprain) is out for Sunday’s game against the Magic.

    Advice: Porter’s continued absence will not impact the Cavaliers’ rotation, as he has not played since the regular season finale. Even if he were healthy, starters Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell will log heavy minutes as Cleveland looks to avoid another first-round exit. Rotoworld Yesterday, 2:41 pm
  • Picks up option for 2024-25
    Ball (knee) has picked up the $21.4 million player option in his contract for the 2024-25 season, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

    Advice: Ball continues to work toward a potential comeback before he hits the open market next summer, as he signed a four-year, $80 million free-agent deal in 2021, so it was a no-brainer for him to pick up this option. Ball hasn't logged minutes at the NBA level since Jan. 2022, but both the player and the organization are hopeful he'll be able to step on the hardwood at some point during the 2024-25 campaign. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:33 pm
  • Carries Mavericks to Game 6 win
    Irving provided 30 points (11-19 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 3-5 FT), six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals across 42 minutes during Friday's 114-101 victory over the Clippers in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Irving led the Mavericks on offense and was a consistent weapon alongside Luka Doncic, reaching the 30-point mark in three of the six outings in the first-round series against the Clippers. He should continue to play a prominent role on offense for Dallas ahead of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Thunder. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:42 am
  • Shines in series-clinching win
    Doncic accumulated 28 points (9-26 FG, 1-10 3Pt, 9-11 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and one steal in 43 minutes during Friday's 114-101 win over the Clippers in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Kyrie Irving led the way for the Mavericks on offense, and Doncic didn't have his most efficient display, but he filled the stat sheet admirably and finished just three rebounds away from a triple-double. The fact that he surpassed the 25-point mark in all but one of the six games in the series against the Clippers shows how dominant Doncic can be on offense, and he averaged 29.8 points, 9.5 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game in the first round, posting four double-doubles and one triple-double in the process. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:35 am
  • Poor shooting in season-ending loss
    Harden finished with 16 points (5-16 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and two steals over 43 minutes during Friday's 114-101 loss to Dallas in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Harden was one of the players the Clippers needed to have step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, but the veteran guard didn't come through. He was particularly woeful in the final two games of the series, during which he went 7-for-28 from the field, including 1-for-13 from three-point range. He averaged 21.2 points and 8.0 assists per game in the series, but the numbers don't tell the whole story, as the Clippers needed -- and expected -- more out of him, but he couldn't deliver when called upon. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:23 am
  • 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 Friday, 10:16 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 Friday, 8:19 pm