NBA Player News

The Clippers will need the Kings to beat the Trail Blazers to have a chance a the No. 8 seed in the West, so they’ll prioritize extra rest for Leonard. John Collins should take on extra minutes with Leonard sidelined. This puts them on track to play the Warriors again on Wednesday in a win-or-go-home matchup.

Injured during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 2 victory, Anunoby did not play in Friday’s win that gave New York a 3-0 series lead. Miles McBride moved into the starting lineup, and Anunoby’s absence also meant more opportunities for Landry Shamet, who scored 15 points off the bench. Look for those two to continue in those roles for Game 4 if Anunoby remains out.

Huerter suffered an adductor injury during Game 4 of the Pistons’ first round series against the Magic and hasn’t played since. He was initially listed as doubtful before being ruled out Saturday, so his absence isn’t a surprise. Daniss Jenkins and Caris LeVert will continue to have added importance off the bench with Huerter sidelined.

Merrill missed Game 2 with a hamstring injury, but is available for Game 3 on Saturday. The 29-year-old shooting guard was held scoreless in seven minutes off the bench in Game 1. Max Strus will remain the Cavaliers’ preferred wing option off the bench.

Reid has reached double figures in six consecutive playoff games, with Friday’s 18 points being the most in a game for him this postseason. Add in the rebounds, assists and blocks, and the Timberwolves’ forward/center was solid in his 32 minutes. However, given the opponent, the Timberwolves may need a little more from Reid if they’re to win this series, especially if Julius Randle continues to struggle as he has the last two games. Game 4 is on Sunday night in Minneapolis.

McDaniels shot 3-of-8 from beyond the arc in Game 3, but he had a brutal night from two. The Timberwolves’ forward made two of his 14 two-point attempts in one of the worst performances of his postseason career. McDaniels did record a complete stat line, but with Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) out and Julius Randle (12 points, six rebounds and one steal) also struggling, the Timberwolves don’t have much margin for error against the Spurs.

Limited to 25 minutes in Games 1 and 2, Edwards was under no restrictions for Game 3. He still isn’t playing at full strength, but the Timberwolves star managed to log 41 minutes on Friday. And Edwards was highly productive, becoming the second player in franchise history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a playoff game. Terrence Shannon Jr., who started the first two games for Edwards, played 28 minutes in Game 3, finishing with five points, two rebounds, two assists and one three-pointer. The Timberwolves will look to even the series at two games apiece on Sunday night.

After fouling out of Game 1 and picking up five fouls in Game 2, Castle did a better job of defending without fouling in Game 3. The second-year guard was whistled for three fouls on Friday, which factored into his playing 40 minutes. As a result, Castle was more impactful, hitting double digits in assists in a playoff game for the first time. He didn’t have a great night shooting the basketball, but the Spurs can withstand that as long as Castle stays out of foul trouble.

While Victor Wembanyama was the star of San Antonio’s Game 3 victory, he received help from the backcourt tandem of Fox and Stephon Castle. The Spurs’ guards combined to dish out 17 of the team’s 26 assists, helping compensate for a 10-of-30 night from the field. After recording six turnovers in Game 1, Fox totaled three in Games 2 and 3, with improved ball control a factor in San Antonio’s wins in both. The Spurs will look to take a 3-1 series lead when the teams meet again on Sunday night.

Wembanyama delivered a historic performance, helping give the Spurs a 2-1 series lead on Friday. While credited for five blocked shots, he changed many others as Minnesota shot 40.7 percent from inside the arc. In addition to joining Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a playoff game since the league began recording blocks in 1973-74, Wemby joined Olajuwon as the only players with a 35/15/5 line. The Spurs will look to strengthen their grip on the series when they face the Timberwolves in Game 4 on Sunday night.

While Maxey shot the ball well on Friday, he was far too deferential on offense in a game the 76ers needed to win. There were too many moments in which the point guard continued to swing the ball instead of attacking the closeout and getting downhill. While that may have been the “right play,” the 76ers need a more aggressive Maxey on offense to have any chance, especially when considering the team’s lack of depth. To force a Game 5, Philadelphia needs Maxey to be in “takeover mode” from the start of Sunday’s Game 4.