Player Notes

  • Anthony Edwards scores 18 but struggles on Tuesday
    Anthony Edwards shot 5-of-15 from the field and 7-of-8 from the foul line in Tuesday’s 112-97 loss to Denver, accounting for 18 points, four rebounds, nine assists, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 44 minutes.

    Advice: Minnesota played Game 5 without Mike Conley, who was sidelined by a sore right Achilles. That placed even more responsibility on Edwards’ shoulders, which may not have been a good thing. Ant-Man did dish out a team-high nine assists, but he was also responsible for four turnovers while shooting 33.3% from the field. Aggression is never an issue for Edwards, but shouldering the offensive workload is considerably easier when he has his reliable sidekick on the court. Game 6 is on Thursday night in Minneapolis. Rotoworld 26 minutes ago
  • Nickeil Alexander-Walker scores 14 points Tuesday
    Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished Tuesday’s 112-97 loss to Denver with 14 points (5-of-12 FGs), two rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and four 3-pointers in 39 minutes.

    Advice: Due to Mike Conley (Achilles) sitting out Game 5, Alexander-Walker was moved into the starting lineup. While he did finish with a minus-13, the overall stat line was solid. NAW made four of his eight 3-point attempts, and his five assists were countered by one turnover. Alexander-Walker’s place in the rotation for Thursday’s Game 6 depends on Conley’s availability; clearly, he will return to the bench if the Timberwolves’ starting point guard can play. Rotoworld 54 minutes ago
  • Jamal Murray finishes Game 5 win with 16 points
    Jamal Murray accumulated 16 points (7-of-14 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), one rebound, four assists, and one steal in 41 minutes in Tuesday’s 112-97 win over Minnesota.

    Advice: Murray has been considerably better since he scored 25 points on 9-of-32 shooting in the first two games of this series. While Tuesday’s point total was modest, he shot 50% from the field and did most of his damage in the paint. Murray shot 6-of-10 in the paint, with five of those makes occurring in the restricted area. With Nikola Jokic abusing the Timberwolves and tallying 40 points and 13 assists without any turnovers, the Nuggets did not need a high-scoring night from Murray. Game 6 is on Thursday in Minneapolis, with Denver aiming to close out the series. Rotoworld 57 minutes ago
  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hits four triples Tuesday
    Kentavious Caldwell-Pope logged 38 minutes in Tuesday’s win over Minnesota, amassing 16 points (6-of-8 FGs), five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and four 3-pointers.

    Advice: With Michael Porter Jr. (6/7/1/0/2 with two 3-pointers) shooting 2-of-10 from the field, the Nuggets needed additional production from Caldwell-Pope. The veteran guard stepped up, with the 16 points and four 3-pointers being series-highs for him. KCP entered the series at less than full strength, impacting his production early on. But he looked sharp in Game 5, and the Nuggets are now one win away from a return to the Western Conference Finals. Game 6 is on Thursday night in Minneapolis. Rotoworld Today, 10:18 pm
  • Records five assists in Game 5
    Haliburton tallied 13 points (5-9 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals in Tuesday's 121-91 loss to the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

    Advice: Haliburton's five assists tied with T.J. McConnell for most on the Pacers in Game 5 on Tuesday. Haliburton failed to reach 20 points after doing so over the past three games, though he managed to contribute on the defensive end of the floor, recording two blocks for the first time this postseason. Haliburton is averaging 18.5 points on 48.1 percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.3 steals across 35.3 minutes per game in the playoffs. Rotowire.com Today, 8:33 pm
  • Alec Burks hits five 3-pointers, scores 18 points
    Alec Burks finished Tuesday’s 121-91 win over the Pacers with 18 points (6-of-11 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), five rebounds, and five 3-pointers in 23 minutes.

    Advice: Injuries have thrust Burks into the Knicks’ rotation, and the veteran wing has taken advantage of his opportunity. He’s scored at least 14 points in each of the series’ last three games, giving New York much-needed production. While Burks scoring 20 points in Sunday’s Game 4 defeat did not matter much, that wasn’t the case in Game 5. The Knicks effectively run a seven-man rotation, so Burks won’t lack playing time or opportunities to shine. He’s shown that there’s still something left in the tank. Rotoworld Today, 8:14 pm
    Alec BurksNYK - PG,SG,SF
  • Josh Hart posts 18/11/3/1/1 line in Game 5 blowout
    Josh Hart accumulated 18 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 39 minutes in Tuesday’s 121-91 win over the Pacers.

    Advice: Following Sunday’s Game 4 defeat, Hart admitted he did not bring the usual energy to the court. That wasn’t an issue in Game 5, as the extra time spent on the bench during that blowout loss may have refreshed the Knicks’ legs. Hart finished the 30-point win with a full stat line and a double-double, his fourth of the series. And his defensive assignment changed, as the decision to move Miles McBride into the starting lineup pushed Hart onto Pascal Siakam. Expect more of the same in Game 6 on Friday, with the Knicks looking to end the series. Rotoworld Today, 8:10 pm
  • Scores 44 points in Game 5
    Brunson finished Tuesday's 121-91 win over the Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with 44 points (18-35 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), four rebounds and seven assists across 43 minutes.

    Advice: Brunson led the Knicks in scoring for the eighth time this postseason and the third time this series. After going 16-for-43 over the previous two games, Brunson was far more efficient with his 35 shot attempts in Game 5, his most of the playoffs. He's averaging 33.9 points on 45.1 percent shooting, 3.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists over 41.0 minutes per game in the postseason. Rotowire.com Today, 8:00 pm
  • Miles McBride starts, scores 17 points in Game 5
    Miles McBride played 40 minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Pacers, amassing 17 points (7-of-15 FGs), one rebound, four assists, and three 3-pointers.

    Advice: Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau decided to move McBride into the starting lineup for Game 5, and that shift helped New York regain momentum in the series. Deuce’s presence gave the Knicks another ball-handler to deal with the Pacers’ full-court pressure, and he also helped harass Tyrese Haliburton on the defensive end of the floor. McBride getting 15 shots was a bit surprising, but he took advantage of those opportunities well. Precious Achiuwa, who started Games 3 and 4, finished with four points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in 23 minutes off the bench. The Knicks hold a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 on Friday night in Indianapolis. Rotoworld Today, 7:58 pm