NBA Player News

Back in action after sitting out Friday’s home loss to the Nuggets, Booker made up for lost time with a 34-point effort against Memphis. He didn’t have his best night from the field, but Book made up for it by knocking down all 13 free throws. Since returning to action on November 15, he’s scored 25 points or more in seven of nine games played. He’s providing top 15 per-game value in 9-cat formats this season, and he’s a top 10 player in 8-cat. Booker and the Suns visit the Lakers for an In-Season Tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday, with a win sending them to Las Vegas for the semifinals on Thursday.

While he finished with a respectable point total, most of Randle’s work was done after the outcome was no longer in doubt. Shooting 4-of-4 from the field, the Timberwolves forward scored nine points in the fourth quarter. The first three quarters are a concern, especially with Randle offering limited production since scoring 21 points in Game 1. With the Timberwolves’ season on the line in Friday’s Game 6, they’ll need more consistent energy and production from Randle.

McDaniels shot the ball better in Game 5 than he did in Games 3 and 4, when he combined to make 11 of 32 attempts. However, his performance on Tuesday wasn’t good enough, especially considering Victor Wembanyama’s return from his second-quarter ejection in Game 4. McDaniels won’t be Minnesota’s first or second scoring option, but the Timberwolves will need an aggressive version of the wing in Game 6 on Friday. Minnesota is looking to force a decisive Game 7 with a victory.

While he shot the ball better on Tuesday than he did in Game 4, Dosunmu’s efforts weren’t enough to help Minnesota take the series lead. He’s started the last two games and that will remain the case for Game 6, with the Timberwolves’ season on the line. Overall, Dosunmu’s play throughout the postseason should raise his profile going into free agency this summer. And with Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) set to miss significant time, re-signing Dosunmu may be a priority for the Timberwolves.

Edwards and the Timberwolves were seemingly knocked back on their heels from the start, as Victor Wembanyama took over during the first quarter. Minnesota did rally on multiple occasions, but the lack of consistent help for Edwards proved costly. Ant-Man clearly isn’t healthy, but he continues to log heavy minutes, playing 40 in Game 5. Given what will be on the line in Game 6 on Friday, with a loss meaning the end of the Timberwolves’ season, Edwards is going to log heavy minutes once again.

Having averaged 8.8 points per game in the first four games of the series, Johnson stepped up in a big way in Game 5. Aggressive from the start, the Spurs forward finished with a playoff career-high 21 points. Johnson wasn’t the only Spurs reserve to step up on Tuesday, as rookie Dylan Harper added a double-double with 12 points (5-of-10 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one blocked shot. A win in Game 6 on Friday would send the Spurs to the conference finals for the first time since 2017.

The lone negative for Castle in Game 5 was that he committed four turnovers, but the second-year guard still managed six assists in the 126-97 victory. He’s scored at least 17 points in seven of San Antonio’s ten games this postseason, providing consistent production to supplement Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. Castle and the Spurs will look to earn their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2017 with a win on Friday.

After shooting a combined 15-of-42 from the field in Games 3 and 4, Fox was slightly more efficient in Game 5. While the shooting wasn’t great, the good news for the Spurs was that their point guard committed just one turnover. Fox was one of many Spurs to step up and assist Victor Wembanyama, with six players finishing in double figures. The Spurs will look to close out the series with a win in Game 6 on Friday.

In the words of Carmelo Anthony, Wembanyama’s first six minutes of Game 5 were almost a “public apology” to the team after his second-quarter ejection in Game 4. The 7-foot-4 phenom was dominant in his first stint, putting up 16 points and five rebounds before heading to the bench. Wembanyama finished with his fourth double-double of the series and sixth of the postseason. He’s also the third-youngest player to record at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a playoff game, trailing Magic Johnson and Luka Dončić. Tuesday’s result puts the Spurs one win away from their first conference finals appearance since 2017, and Game 6 is on Friday.

Morey is out after six seasons in Philadelphia, two days after the 76ers were swept out of the playoffs by the New York Knicks. While the 76ers reached the postseason in five of the six seasons that Morey was calling the shots, they never advanced past the conference semifinals. This season’s run was doomed by a lack of depth, especially in the aftermath of Jared McCain being traded to the Thunder at the February deadline. According to Charania, head coach Nick Nurse will return for the 2026-27 season.

Added to the Spurs’ injury report early Tuesday afternoon, Harper is good to go for Game 5. He’ll take on his usual role as the first option off the bench for the Spurs, who are looking to take a 3-2 series lead.