NBA Player News

Between the hamstring injury that sidelined him for the final three games of the first round and his inconsistent production when available, this was a disappointing postseason for Holiday. Friday’s performance was his worst, with the veteran guard shooting 12.5 percent from the field. Unfortunately, Holiday’s 2024-25 season was underwhelming regarding fantasy value, as he finished outside the top-100 for the first time since his rookie season (2009-10). Holiday’s fantasy prospects next season will be impacted by Jayson Tatum (Achilles) likely missing a significant amount of time, but that may also mean an expanded role for Payton Pritchard. Pritchard finished Friday’s loss with 11 points, two rebounds, four assists and one three-pointer in 28 minutes.

After going off for 34 points in a valiant Game 5 performance on Wednesday, White could not find his groove on Friday. He shot 2-of-8 from beyond the arc and provided limited value as a playmaker in Boston’s season finale. After a surprisingly elite fantasy season in the Celtics’ run to the championship last season, White was a top-50 player in 2024-25. That aligned with his Yahoo! ADP (48), which may be a bit higher next season due to Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles tendon.

After being unable to play during the second half of Game 5 due to having trouble breathing, Porzingis was used in a reserve role in Game 6. The Celtics forward/center could not provide much value in that role, and replacement Luke Kornet (5/5/1/0/1 in 21 minutes) also struggled on Friday. Most important for Porzingis this offseason is to address the illness that impacted him throughout the postseason. A healthy Porzingis can be an excellent fantasy asset, especially with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) likely missing most of the 2025-26 season.

While Horford shot the ball reasonably well in Game 6, the veteran center’s impact was muted as Boston lost by 38 points. Horford reached double figures in three of the series’ final four games, providing increased value with Kristaps Porzingis battling an unspecified illness. However, it wasn’t enough to give Boston a shot at winning the series, especially after losing Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Horford, who failed to crack the top-100 in fantasy value, will be a free agent this summer. How the front office views the roster after Tatum’s injury will be one of the major offseason storylines in the NBA.

As good as Brown was in Game 5, he could not drum up a similar performance in Friday’s series finale. He committed seven turnovers, and with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out, the Celtics could not afford to sit Brown despite his foul trouble. As a result, he was disqualified with about three minutes remaining in the third quarter. From a fantasy standpoint, Brown’s 2024-25 production did not align with his Yahoo! ADP (40), as he was only a top-75 player in eight-cat formats. Depending on what the Celtics’ front office does this offseason, with Tatum likely to miss most of the 2025-26 season, Brown’s ADP will likely be inflated next fall.

Hart, who recorded a double-double in Game 1, finished Friday’s victory with his first triple-double of these playoffs. While the Celtics were willing to live with him taking shots throughout the series, the Knicks wing was not consistently impactful as a secondary playmaker. That wasn’t the case in Game 6, with Hart hitting double digits in assists and committing just two turnovers. He’ll likely encounter a similar defensive approach in the conference finals, with the Knicks taking on the Pacers. Game 1 is on Wednesday.

After shooting 4-of-14 from the field in Wednesday’s Game 5 blowout defeat, Bridges needed to bounce back, as did many of his teammates. The Knicks wing got the job done in Game 6, shooting well over 50 percent from the field and recording a complete stat line. While there has been the occasional hiccup, Bridges has repeatedly reminded fans during this playoff run why the Knicks paid a high price to acquire him last summer. On Wednesday, the Knicks host the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Anunoby recorded a complete stat line in Friday’s series clincher, emblematic of his impact on both ends of the floor. The four “stocks” were the most he’s recorded in a game since Game 4, when the Knicks wing tallied four steals and one blocked shot. Offensively, Anunoby’s point total was his highest since Game 1, when he scored 29 in the Knicks’ comeback victory. Advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, New York will host Indiana in Game 1 on Wednesday.

While Towns only shot 40 percent from the field in Game 6, the shot volume was of greater importance to the Knicks. His 20 attempts were the most for KAT in a game this series, which helped open things up for New York’s other expected scorers. Towns was one of six Knicks to reach double figures, with four scoring at least 21 points. Towns will be matched with another face-up center in Indiana’s Myles Turner in the Eastern Conference Finals, which begin on Wednesday. That matchup will significantly impact the outcome of the series.

Limited to 7-of-17 shooting in New York’s blowout loss to the Celtics in Game 5, Brunson was far more efficient in Friday’s series clincher. Jaylen Brown did not defend Brunson as often as on Wednesday, with the Celtics’ wing’s foul trouble likely being a factor. New York began to extend its lead late in the first quarter and put the game out of reach in the second, outscoring the Celtics by a 38-17 margin. Next up for Brunson and the Knicks are the Pacers, with New York reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Game 1 is on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.