NBA Player News

Due to Zion Williamson (hamstring) sitting, Murphy was back in the starting lineup for Friday’s “winner-take-all” matchup with the Kings. He was productive, with the turnover count (four) being the most significant issue. During the regular season, Murphy averaged 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 3.3 3-pointers per game in 23 starts. At a minimum, the Pelicans will need similar production in their first-round series against the Thunder, which will begin on Sunday.

Dieng has not appeared in a game since March 15, when he strained his left calf against the Pistons. His availability will not impact the Thunder rotation, as he was not logging consistent minutes before the calf injury.

Brooks crashed back to earth after scoring 24 points in Game 5, totaling 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting. He’s been more valuable to the Rockets as a defender and veteran presence, hence his low Yahoo! ADP of 139. At best, Brooks will likely remain a late-round pick in standard leagues, while managers in 10-team formats can afford to leave him alone in drafts next fall.

Outside of Game 2, Green’s first postseason experience was a disappointment. Remove that 38-point effort, and the Rockets guard totaled 47 points on 16-of-53 shooting in the other six games. Green has long been a better option for points leagues than category leagues, but he has been worthy of a top-100 pick. Whether that remains the case ahead of the 2025-26 season depends on what the Rockets’ front office does this offseason. There’s a clear need for consistent perimeter shooting, especially with two starters (Green and Fred VanVleet) who shot below 43 percent from the field during the regular season.

While VanVleet did cool off after an excellent two-game run to help force a Game 7, he remained solid on Sunday. The veteran point guard finished a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line and was third in scoring behind Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun. VanVleet has a team option for next season, and both sides have expressed interest in continuing the partnership. The question is what the final price tag will be. Despite his poor field goal percentage, VanVleet can be incredibly valuable as a fantasy asset.

Sengun finished Sunday’s defeat with his fifth double-double in seven games, grabbing nine rebounds in the two exceptions. Sengun’s efficiency in Game 7 wasn’t up to standard, but the Warriors did an excellent job of making him work for his looks after he shot 11-of-18 from the field in Game 1. Result aside, this was a promising first playoff series for Sengun. From a fantasy standpoint, he did not reach his Yahoo! ADP (27) in eight- or nine-cat formats this season. However, the skill set is such that Sengun will not slip outside the first 50 picks in fantasy drafts next fall.

A double-digit scorer in each of the final six games of the series, Thompson surpassed 20 points in Games 5 and 7. On Sunday, the second-year wing recorded a complete stat line while shooting over 50 percent from the field. While he does not offer much as a perimeter shooter, Thompson’s versatility, athleticism and defensive ability make him an attractive building block for the future. His fantasy value took off once he moved into the starting lineup, and Thompson should begin next season as a starter. After entering this season with a Yahoo! ADP of 116, a case can be made for Amen being a top-50 pick in three-point punt builds next fall.

Before Sunday’s Game 7, few likely expected Hield to be the Warriors’ leading scorer. After scoring 32 points in Games 3 and 4, he totaled four points on 2-of-10 shooting in the two losses that forced a decisive seventh game. To say Hield redeemed himself would be an understatement; he established a playoff career-high with nine three-pointers and shot 80 percent from the field. While the Warriors won’t expect performances of this caliber in the second round, they’ll need a consistent Hield to knock off the Timberwolves. Game 1 is on Tuesday.

Nights like Sunday are why the Warriors added Butler just before the trade deadline. Stephen Curry did not have to shoulder a hefty workload, as the veteran forward provided value on both ends of the floor in the Game 7 victory. With the Warriors now headed to Minnesota for the second round, Butler’s departure from the Timberwolves will be the major storyline of that series. Game 1 is on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

For those who expected Curry to come out “guns blazing” in Sunday’s Game 7, they were surprised. He essentially took a back seat in the first three quarters, scoring 14 points in the final frame to help put away the Rockets. It helps when you have Jimmy Butler on the roster, and Buddy Hield goes off for a playoff career-high nine three-pointers. Next up for Curry and the Warriors are the Timberwolves, with Game 1 on Tuesday in Minneapolis.

Jerome was one of the best sixth men in the NBA this season, and the continued absence of Darius Garland (toe) means the Cavaliers need more production from him. However, he was inefficient in Game 1, shooting 40 percent from the field on 20 attempts. Among the Cavaliers who saw action, only Donovan Mitchell (30) had more attempts from Jerome. While Jerome’s ability to provide production off the bench will be critical in this series, the Cavaliers must share the wealth better than they did in Game 1.