NBA Player News

Fox has exhibited a tremendous amount of poise on both ends of the floor. In Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers, he led all scorers with 40 points and fought valiantly to keep his team in the game. In the end, the Clippers proved to be too much for Sacramento. Domantas Sabonis struggled from the field shooting 3-of-12 and only managed to chip in 11 points. Fox turned the ball over four times but shouldered the scoring load and carried the Kings offensively. He’s in the top 25 and averaging a career-high 29.8 points per game. Fox is primed to continue his ascension, so managers should hold on to him and enjoy the ride.

The Spurs get their regular starting lineup back for Game 4, as Victor Wembanyama is returning from injury (concussion). Wemby, the Defensive Player of the Year, provides San Antonio with a major difference-maker on both ends of the floor. The Spurs will look to take a 3-1 series lead.

The Spurs will get back the NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Sunday following a one-game injury absence. Wembanyama has not taken the floor since exiting Game 2’s loss early after a scary fall to the floor. He’ll reclaim his starting spot from Luke Kornet as San Antonio looks to take a 3-1 series lead.

Lawson’s availability will provide Toronto with perimeter depth. He’s played in all three games thus far in the playoffs, totaling 21 minutes and one made field goal.

Edwards suffered a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee in the second quarter of Game 4 and is expected to miss multiple weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The loss is a big one for the Timberwolves, who have a 3-1 series lead over the Nuggets in the opening round. Minnesota also lost starting guard Donte DiVincenzo to a season-ending torn Achilles in Game 4. Without Edwards and DiVincenzo, Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu should see the bulk of the backcourt minutes going forward.

Like Nikola Jokić, Game 4 was a tale of two halves for Murray. He shot 5-of-14 from the field in the second half, and the Nuggets were outscored 62-42. Due to Saturday’s defeat, the Nuggets’ season will be on the line when they host Game 5 on Monday. Given how shorthanded the Timberwolves will be, that sets up to be a big night for Murray. That said, many likely assumed Murray would go off in the second half after the Timberwolves lost Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo on Saturday.

While Jokić finished Game 4 with a solid stat line, he did most of his damage before halftime. In the second half, the three-time league MVP shot 1-of-10 from the field as the Nuggets fell to a Timberwolves team that did not have Anthony Edwards or Donte DiVincenzo. And things would get worse for Jokić, as he was ejected in the final seconds for sparking an altercation due to his displeasure with Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels converting a layup instead of running out the clock. No punches were thrown, and the Nuggets will hope that bodes well for Jokić’s availability for Game 5 on Monday.

Back in action after a one-game absence, Gordon was placed in the starting lineup immediately. While he did play 23 minutes, the veteran forward did not appear to be himself. While the Nuggets said Gordon was available to return after a trip to the locker room during the third quarter, he did not. After the game, Nuggets head coach David Adelman said he believed it would be “unfair” to leave Gordon in. The Nuggets host Game 5 on Monday, and Spencer Jones (four rebounds, one steal and two blocks) may have to return to the starting lineup if Gordon can’t go.

After totaling 21 points in the first three games of the series, Reid stepped up on Saturday to help the Timberwolves compensate for the losses of Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles). The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner contributed a complete stat line on good percentages, playing 28 minutes off the bench. While his playing time may not increase much moving forward, the Timberwolves losing DiVincenzo and Edwards means that they’ll need more production from Reid.

Randle didn’t have a great game, but it didn’t matter much on a night when Ayo Dosunmu scored 43 points and Naz Reid added 17. Of greater concern for the Timberwolves was how Game 4 ended, with Nikola Jokić’s reaction to a Jaden McDaniels (12 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block) layup sparking a shoving match that led to Jokić and Randle being ejected. No punches were thrown, so the two ejected players may be fine for Monday’s Game 5, but that isn’t guaranteed.

On a night when starters Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) suffered significant injuries, Dosunmu had the best game of his NBA career. The 43 points were a career-high for the guard, who became the fourth in NBA postseason history to have a 40-point game off the bench. Dosunmu was highly efficient, missing just four shots from the field and shooting a perfect 12-of-12 from the foul line. He’ll likely be in the starting lineup for Game 5 in Denver on Monday night.