NBA Player News

Jokic and the Nuggets ran out of gas against one of the NBA’s deepest teams, with things turning in the second quarter. Leading by five entering the period, Denver was outscored by a 39-20 margin, thanks partially to Oklahoma City’s strategy adjustment. They went small, using Alex Caruso on Jokic, and the move worked. While some may argue that the Thunder guard was allowed to be a bit more physical than usual, it’s on the three-time MVP to adjust. It was a disappointing end for The Joker, who remained the top option in fantasy basketball this season. While Victor Wembanyama (if healthy) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will also deserve consideration for the top pick in redraft leagues, Jokic should be the preferred option for many fantasy managers.

As usual, Brunson was one of the main contributors on the offensive end for the Knicks. He led the team in field-goal attempts by a large margin and finished as New York’s second leading scorer. The veteran point guard failed to convert any of his three-point attempts on Thursday and nearly had as many turnovers as assists. It wasn’t a flawless game by Brunson, but he was still effective. He can be even better on Saturday in Game 4.

The Hawks’ most efficient scorer came off the bench on Thursday. Kuminga, acquired by Atlanta ahead of February’s trade deadline, showcased his big-game experience, finishing as one of three Hawks players to score 20 or more points in Game 3. Kuminga is averaging 20.0 points on 16-of-26 shooting in Atlanta’s two wins this series, compared to 8.0 points on 3-of-7 shooting in losses. He’ll have a chance to remain impactful in Saturday’s fourth game of the series.

Johnson had his most productive game of the series in Game 3. While he left some points at the free-throw line and wasn’t very efficient from the field, he still found a way to lead Atlanta in scoring in his 38 minutes. But the fifth-year forward did more than just score points on Thursday; he led all players in assists and was one of two Hawks players to pull down double-digit rebounds. Much like throughout the regular season, Johnson stuffed the stat sheet and was a major contributor for the Hawks. They’ll hope to receive similar production from the first-time All-Star in Game 4.

McCollum came up big in the clutch for Atlanta on Thursday. Trailing by one point with under 20.0 seconds remaining, the veteran combo guard broke free on an inbounds play, possessed the ball, and calmly dribbled right into a mid-range pull-up jumper, which ended up being the go-ahead bucket. The final basket was only his second after halftime. Nonetheless, McCollum finished with at least 20 points for the third time this series. He’ll have a chance to extend his streak to four games and help Atlanta take a 3-1 series lead on Saturday.

Gordon’s absence on Thursday leaves a big hole in Denver’s starting lineup. The Nuggets will go with Jones in the frontcourt, who started over half of his 64 regular-season games for the Nuggets. He’s seen limited minutes and provided minimal production off the bench in the first two games of the opening-round series against Minnesota.

Edwards has been upgraded from questionable to available on Thursday for the third time in as many games. He continues to manage a knee injury up until game time, but has gone on to log 78 minutes in the series, posting averages of 26.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks. He’ll take the floor in Game 3 on the heels of a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Wembanyama’s upgrade to questionable is an encouraging sign for the Defensive Player of the Year, who fell hard on his face in the Spurs’ Game 2 loss to the Blazers. If unable to play on Friday, Luke Kornet will likely be the starting center.

Walter gets the start in Game 3, replacing Jamal Shead, who had filled in for the injured Immanuel Quickley. Walter is averaging 10.5 points in 28.0 minutes per game in the playoffs.

Bryant’s return from a six-game absence will give the Cavaliers another depth option in the frontcourt. The veteran center averaged 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game during the regular season.

Neither Shannon nor Clark has seen the court yet through two games against the Nuggets. Their absences on Thursday shouldn’t have more than a minimal impact on Minnesota’s depth.