NBA Player News

Bridges was one of several Knicks players to perform well offensively on Thursday. He missed only two shots in his 27 minutes on the floor, and went perfect from beyond the arc before finishing as one of two New York players with at least 20 points. The scoring outburst was a welcome one, as Bridges had not reached double figures in points since Game 2. The Knicks will hope he can remain hot when they open up the second round against either the Celtics or the 76ers.

Sunday’s series decider will be the third game that Huerter has missed due to a strained left adductor. Given what’s on the line, the Pistons will continue to lean heavily on Cade Cunningham, who has played 44 and 42 minutes in the two games that Huerter has missed.

Sidelined since March 12, Isaac will miss Sunday’s series decider due to a sprained left knee. His continued absence does not affect the Magic rotation.

Ingram, who sat out Friday’s Game 6 victory with an inflamed right heel, was seen at pregame shootaround with his foot in a walking boot. He’s now on track to miss a second consecutive game and has since been downgraded to doubtful. Jamal Shead moved into the starting lineup on Friday and should remain in that role as the Raptors look to become the first team to win a road game in this series.

Added to the 76ers’ injury report early Saturday afternoon due to an illness, George logged 42 minutes in Game 7. While the final stat line wasn’t elite, his two-way abilities were a factor in the Game 7 victory that should not be overlooked. Solid defensively throughout, George shot 22-of-40 from three in the series. Philadelphia will need steady production from George on both ends of the floor in their second-round series againt the Knicks, which begins on Monday.

With Neemias Queta being removed from the starting lineup for Game 7, this appeared to be a spot in which Vučević would have an opportunity to start on Saturday. However, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla decided to go with Luka Garza, who played nine minutes and recorded just one blocked shot. Vučević’s production was limited throughout the series, which led to him not playing at all in Game 7. When allowed to start and log heavy minutes, as he did in Chicago, Vučević has been a positive fantasy asset in recent seasons. However, the limited production after being traded to Boston may affect his market in free agency this summer. Vooch has top-50 potential as a starter, but that kind of role may not be available to him at this stage. At least for a team with championship aspirations.

Removed from the starting lineup for Game 7, Queta had his most productive game of the series on Saturday. The Celtics’ center’s 17 points were a playoff career high, and he hit double digits in rebounds for the third consecutive game. Thrust into a more prominent role this season following the departures of Kristaps Porziņǵis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet, Queta rewarded fantasy managers with a top-100 regular season. He has a team option for next season worth just under $2.7 million, so it feels as if the chances of Queta remaining in Boston are high. However, the inconsistent offensive production may prompt the Celtics also to look to upgrade at center via free agency or the trade market.

Even with Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla making three changes to his starting lineup for Game 7, Pritchard remained in his usual reserve role. A 2-of-7 night from beyond the arc prevented him from being as impactful as he can be, especially when the three-pointers are falling. Saturday night was a disappointing conclusion to what was, overall, an excellent season for Pritchard. His production picked up once he moved back into the sixth-man role, and that should be Pritchard’s responsibility for 2026-27 with a healthy Jayson Tatum in the fold. Pritchard offers a top-75 fantasy floor, but the ceiling is somewhat limited.

With no Jayson Tatum (knee), it was clear that Brown was going to have to shoulder a far heavier workload in Game 7. He did his best to deliver the victory in Game 7, but the Celtics’ wing appeared to run out of steam late. Brown’s shot selection wasn’t the best, as the 76ers were able to close driving lanes better than they did as Boston made its charge early in the fourth quarter. Brown’s production during the regular season should land him a first-team All-NBA spot, but percentages and turnovers limited his fantasy ceiling. In theory, having Tatum back for a full season should boost Brown’s efficiency, but it may also lower his scoring output.

White got his Game 7 off to an excellent start, scoring 19 points in the first half. However, the 76ers, specifically VJ Edgecombe, did a much better job of defending him in the second half. White made some history, joining Kevin Durant (2018) and Robert Covington (2020) as the only players to record at least five three-pointers and three blocks in a Game 7, but it wasn’t enough to get the shorthanded Celtics over the finish line. Shooting was an issue for the Celtics’ guard throughout the season, but the ability to fill a stat line preserved his fantasy value. Managers should expect more of the same from White in 2026-27, hopefully with a more accurate jump shot.

Edgecombe gave the 76ers vital contributions on both ends of the floor to help get the team into the second round. The rookie knocked down five three-pointers on Saturday, and his third-quarter defense on Boston’s Derrick White was also critical. After scoring 19 points in the first half, White was limited to two points in the third quarter, with Edgecombe taking on that assignment. His ability on both ends of the floor will also be important in the 76ers’ second-round series against the Knicks, which opens on Monday.