NBA Player News

Clayton will miss a second straight game. On Friday, Lucas Williamson and Jahmai Mashack each played 48 minutes. Expect more strange rotations for Memphis in this one, with Williamson and Mashack likely filling all the backcourt minutes. As for Clayton, the 2025 first-rounder came over to Memphis in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade and could figure in Memphis’ rotation in 2026-27 if Ja Morant is dealt this offseason. He has some conditional fantasy value, but he’s going to need to shoot better than 38.4 percent to be a major cog going forward.

Murray struggled on Thursday on both ends of the floor. On offense, the length of Jaden McDaniels sure had an impact, as the veteran point guard had more missed shots than total points. He was also attacked as a one-on-one defender repeatedly down the stretch, ultimately allowing some key Minnesota baskets to close the game. While Murray had a tough time finding his rhythm throughout the series, he had a phenomenal regular season, averaging 25.4 points, 7.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.3 three-pointers, which were all career bests. He turned in one of his better fantasy seasons and should be able to perform at a high level again next season.

Johnson rose to the occasion on Thursday, logging one of his best performances of the season. Despite the loss, he drained half of his 10 three-point attempts, nearly pulled down double-digit rebounds, and finished as one of Denver’s most reliable scoring options on the evening. Johnson came into the season with some expectations to serve as the missing piece for the Nuggets, who acquired him via trade during the offseason. His production fluctuated throughout the season, and he ultimately averaged just 12.2 points overall, his lowest since his sophomore season. A more effective season and better fantasy production should be expected in Year 2 with the Nuggets next season.

Jokić logged another impressive stat line in Thursday’s loss, impacting the game as a scorer, facilitator, and rebounder. He shot the ball efficiently overall despite not finding his touch from beyond the arc. Yet, his contributions weren’t enough to keep Denver from another early playoff exit. The Nuggets have not been back to the Western Conference Finals since their championship-winning 2021-22 season. Regardless of what roster construction occurs over the offseason, Jokić should be back and will have a chance to finish as one of the best fantasy players.

While Randle didn’t shoot efficiently, he consistently had the basketball in his hands down the stretch and helped lead Minnesota to the finish line and into the second round. He produced at all three levels as a scorer and was one of the team’s more productive passers throughout the game. Surely, Randle is capable of a greater stat line, but he was impactful in his 37 minutes on the floor. He’ll have a chance for stronger stats against the Spurs on Monday.

Shannon showed up and played exceptionally well in his first playoff start, delivering consistent, timely baskets throughout the game to help Minnesota advance past the first round. Arguably, the only knock on the second-year guard’s performance was his inability to knock down the three-point shot efficiently. Still, he finished as the team’s second-leading scorer in a game that they played without several key perimeter players. Shannon should have a role to begin the second-round series against San Antonio, regardless of which Timberwolves players are available.

McDaniels stepped up in a big way to help the Timberwolves advance to the second round. Offensively, he took on a significant role and responded by notching his first-ever 30-point playoff game. He battled on both the offensive and defensive glass, while being a major reason for Jamal Murray’s offensive struggles. McDaniels was massive all throughout Round 1, and his two-way ability will be relied on when Minnesota takes on San Antonio in the next round.

Similar to several other Celtics players, Prtichard struggled with his shot in Game 6. He was particularly cold from beyond the arc, which is where half of his field-goal attempts came from. Poor three-point shooting aside, he actually performed offensively, with his five assists being the most for Boston on the night. He’ll likely come off the bench on Saturday and look to provide a spark in Game 7.

Brown never really got going offensively in Game 6. His inconsistent shooting was followed by inefficient free-throw shooting in his trips to the stripe. Additionally, his five turnovers to just two assists help paint a picture of the challenges Philadelphia’s defense presented on Thursday. He’ll have a chance to bounce back on Saturday when the Celtics host the 76ers in a win-or-go-home Game 7.

Tatum put up a double-double in the loss, but didn’t log an overly impressive stat line. He took just 13 shots in his 29 minutes of game action, and although he shot fairly well, the limited volume led to his lowest-scoring total of the series. He’s remained strong on the glass throughout the series, but his team would likely benefit from additional contributions in other areas on Saturday when the Celtics host the Sixers in Game 7.

In his third game back on the floor, Embiid put forth another solid performance. He didn’t shoot the ball efficiently but still nearly found his way to the 20-point mark. The former league MVP made up for his inefficient scoring with good work on the glass and tremendous work as a facilitator. His balanced performance nearly led to a triple-double, which helped the Sixers force a Game 7.