NBA Player News

Leonard only played 30 minutes on Wednesday, with the blowout ending his night after just three quarters. His consistent excellence has made him one of the best players in fantasy basketball this season, with the Clippers’ star last failing to score at least 20 points in a game on November 20. The Clippers play two more games in Week 19, but it’s a back-to-back. With the Spurs being on the slate for Friday and the Grizzlies the following night, it would be unsurprising if Leonard sits out the latter for injury management reasons.

DiVincenzo went down with a potentially serious right lower leg injury early in the first quarter of Saturday’s game. The Timberwolves guard immediately called for the team trainers but did not require assistance to return to the locker room. However, there is concern that he may be out for an extended period. Ayo Dosunmu entered the lineup after DiVincenzo’s injury and would likely start moving forward.

Coming off of his most productive game of the series, Johnson struggled in Game 4. In addition to a 1-of-5 night from beyond the arc, the Hawks’ All-Star forward did not record any defensive stats. Give New York’s Josh Hart and OG Anunoby credit for their defensive work, but the Hawks need more from Johnson if they’re to win this series. Game 5 is on Tuesday in New York with the series tied at two games apiece.

As a team, the Hawks shot 10-of-41 from beyond the arc on Saturday, and Alexander-Walker was responsible for five of the makes. While he had a good night shooting the basketball, the NBA’s Most Improved Player did not provide much value overall. And the Knicks have done a good job of defending Alexander-Walker thus far, as he’s scored 17 points or less in all four games. With the series tied at two games apiece, the teams return to New York for Game 5 on Tuesday.

While McCollum once again led the Hawks in scoring, the Knicks did a much better job of defending him in Game 4. The veteran guard missed all four of his three-point attempts, and the Hawks were 10-of-41 as a team. And with the Knicks playing far better than they did in Game 3, this was the recipe for a 16-point New York victory. McCollum and the Hawks will look to regain home-court advantage with a win on Tuesday in New York.

After getting little production from Hart of Mikal Bridges in Game 3 on Thursday, the Knicks received better efforts from both in Game 4. Hart finished one rebound shy of a double-double, while Bridges (eight points, two rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes) hit a couple of shots early and was nowhere near the liability that he was in Game 3. The Knicks will look to take a 3-2 series lead on Tuesday in New York.

Improved defense and a group effort on the offensive end won the day for the Knicks, helping compensate for a mediocre showing from Brunson. In addition to the low field-goal percentage, the Knicks’ point guard recorded six turnovers. In the 114-98 victory, the Knicks were at their best when more of the action ran through Karl-Anthony Towns, taking some of the pressure off of Brunson. They’ll need to do more of the same in Game 5 on Tuesday.

After scoring 29 points in Thursday’s Game 3 defeat, Anunoby came through for the Knicks with another solid showing in Game 4. His 22 points led four Knicks starters in double figures, and he finished with his first double-double of these playoffs. Anunoby has corralled at least eight rebounds in all four games of the series, which heads back to New York for Game 5 on Tuesday.

The Knicks entered Game 4 needing a win to even the series, and they took care of business impressively. Towns led the way, as a greater effort was made to get him the ball early and often. KAT finished with the first triple-double of his playoff career, and his stat line only lacked a blocked shot. Due to Atlanta’s lack of size and depth in the frontcourt, Towns has a clear advantage, but only if he and the Knicks consistently look to exploit it. Game 5 is on Tuesday in New York.

McLaughlin has not appeared in a game this series, but his absence has not affected the Spurs’ rotation. If available, Sunday’s game will likely have to get out of hand for the veteran guard to play meaningful minutes.

Injured during Game 2, Wembanyama remained in the league’s concussion protocol for Friday’s Game 3 victory in Portland. The good news is that he was on the bench with his teammates, and there’s now a chance that the MVP finalist returns on Sunday. If Wembanyama plays, Luke Kornet will head to the bench.