NBA Player News

Koponen had previously expressed interest in playing in the NBA, but the 28-year-old will stays overseas for at least one more season. While the Finnish point guard could make the move across the pond for the 2017-2018 season, he’s firmly off the fantasy radar for now.

Hachimura led the Lakers in minutes in Tuesday’s loss. He finished as a team-worst minus-21 in his 37 minutes, but was their best shot-maker on the evening, not named LeBron James. He tied a team-high in three-pointers and nearly reached the 20-point mark, as well, but didn’t make much noise beyond his scoring. He’ll want to figure out how to have more of a positive impact in Game 2.

Reaves really had a tough time generating points on Tuesday. Without a three-point make and through poor shooting inside the arc, he logged his first single-digit scoring performance of the season. The fifth-year pro also struggled with turnovers, but his six assists helped to somewhat overshadow the giveaways. Especially with Luka Dončić still sidelined, the Lakers will need Reaves to play at a much higher level in Game 2 and moving forward against the NBA’s defending champions.

James logged 36 minutes on Tuesday and was by far the most productive Laker to take the floor. He only missed five total shots on the night, showcasing his touch both inside and outside the arc, while also making his usual contributions as a facilitator. The accomplished veteran didn’t get much help from his teammates on the offensive end, something that would greatly benefit the Lakers on Thursday. Whether the others get going offensively or not, James will more than likely need to put forth another strong performance in Game 2.

Mitchell continues to play well as a starter in place of the injured Jalen Williams. He scored in double figures for a fourth straight game before finishing as one of the Thunder’s top scorers on the evening. Mitchell was also a willing facilitator in the victory, which helped him finish among OKC’s most impactful players by plus-minus. He’ll likely remain in the starting unit for as long as Williams is sidelined, allowing him more opportunities to log strong performances.

Holgren was OKC’s standout performer on both ends of the floor in Game 1. Offensively, he shot the ball well overall and drained both of his three-point attempts, while doing a decent job on the offensive glass. Additionally, he led all players in blocks for the game and added a steal to further highlight his defensive dominance on Tuesday. Holmgren provided plenty of issues for Los Angeles and will have a chance to do so again in Game 2 on Thursday.

It was a relatively quiet night for the reigning Finals MVP, who did not reach the 20-point mark on Tuesday. He also failed to convert a three-pointer in the win, and his unspectacular night was underscored by a seven-turnover performance. SGA never truly found a rhythm on the offensive end, but still finished as OKC’s leader in assists on the evening. He’ll have another crack at this Lakers defense on Thursday when the Thunder try to take a 2-0 series lead.

Vanderbilt was ruled out after injuring his finger during the first half in Game 1 vs. OKC. He had logged just six minutes off the bench, tallying two points and one rebound. Jake LaRavia could potentially see more minutes while Vanderbilt is unavailable.

Allen played just 18 minutes in Tuesday’s loss, failing to reach double figures in points or rebounds during his time on the floor. The lack of production was surprising, given his success just two days earlier in Game 7 of the first-round win over the Magic. He finished as the only starter with a positive plus-minus. Still, the Cavaliers will likely need the veteran center to perform at a higher level in Game 2 if they hope to avoid falling behind two games to none.

It took a while for Harden to get going on Tuesday. He entered the fourth quarter with nine points and five turnovers on 2-of-8 shooting, before finally coming alive with a 13-point final frame. He ultimately finished with a decent line in terms of counting stats. However, the former MVP struggled most of the way throughout Tuesday’s loss and will likely need to be better in Game 2 for Cleveland to earn a win.

Mitchell got off to a quick start and scored 14 points over the first two quarters, but cooled off after halftime in Tuesday’s loss. He managed only nine second-half points but still finished as the team’s scoring leader on the evening. Mitchell didn’t have a great impact as either a rebounder or a passer. Yet, his four three-pointers are something that he hopes can translate to Game 2, while upping his production elsewhere.