Fantasy News

Out again Sunday This will be the seventh game in a row on the shelf for Porter, and he remains without a timetable for a return.

Questionable for Game 7 Allen has missed the last two games of the series while dealing with a rib injury, and the questionable tag doesn't shed a lot of light regarding his potential availability for the series finale. The Cavaliers need Allen to be at his best, though, as he's an influential piece of the team on both ends of the court. Allen is averaging 17.0 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in the first-round series against Orlando through four appearances.

Questionable for Game 7 After suffering his hamstring injury in Game 5, Harris missed his first game of the series on Friday in Game 6. If the veteran is unable to suit up Sunday, Jonathan Isaac could potentially make another start due to his defensive versatility.

Expected to play Saturday Murray will go through his usual warmup for Game 1, and if he gets through it without any setbacks, he should be all set to take the court. Murray was terrific in the previous round against the Lakers, posting 23.6 points and 7.2 assists per game.

Picks up option for 2024-25 Ball continues to work toward a potential comeback before he hits the open market next summer, as he signed an original four-year, $80 million free agent deal in 2021, so it was a no-brainer for him to pick up this option. Ball hasn't logged minutes at the NBA level since Jan. 2022, but both the player and the organization are hopeful he'll be able to step on the hardwood at some point during the 2024-25 campaign.

Likely out for postseason Kleber suffered the injury in Friday's Game 6 victory over the Clippers. Barring a quick turnaround, it looks like Dallas will need to start planning to be without him going forward. As a result, Derrick Jones and Josh Green are candidates to see increased roles providing depth behind P.J. Washington at power forward.

Carries Mavericks to Game 6 win Irving led the Mavericks on offense and was a consistent weapon alongside Luka Doncic, reaching the 30-point mark in three of the six outings in the first-round series against the Clippers. He should continue to play a prominent role on offense for Dallas ahead of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Thunder.

Close to double-double in Game 6 Lively was perfect from the field, active on the glass and efficient in limited minutes out there. The rookie has shown he can be a valuable contributor on both ends of the court when called upon duty, but his fantasy upside won't be high if he continues to play off the bench.

Shines in series-clinching win Kyrie Irving led the way for the Mavericks on offense, and Doncic didn't have his most efficient display, but he filled the stat sheet admirably and finished just three rebounds away from a triple-double. The fact that he surpassed the 25-point mark in all but one of the six games in the series against the Clippers shows how dominant Doncic can be on offense, and the numbers don't lie, as he averaged 29.8 points, 9.5 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game in the first round, posting four double-doubles and one triple-double in the process.

Double-doubles in playoff exit The Clippers needed someone to step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined in Game 6, and Ivica Zubac did what he could on both ends of the court. He finished the series with three double-doubles in six outings and scored in double digits each time while shooting a robust 60 percent from the field. Zubac isn't flashy and is not one of the most athletic big men in the league, but he gets the job done. He also averaged 11.7 points and 9.2 boards per contest during the regular season.

Scores 18 points in Game 6 defeat George was asked to carry the Clippers offensively in the absence of Kawhi Leonard (knee), but he ended the series on a sour note, as he couldn't reach the 20-point mark in three of his last four appearances. In fact, George surpassed the 22-point mark just once in the six contests against the Mavericks, and his numbers throughout the series were disappointing. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range. Those were a clear decline compared to his regular-season figures, and it might be fair to wonder if the Clippers are going to bring him back for 2024-25, or if they might look at potential trade options during the offseason.

Poor shooting in season-ending loss Harden was one of the players the Clippers needed to step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, and the veteran guard couldn't come through when the team needed him the most. He was particularly woeful in the final two games of the series, where he went 7-for-28 from the field and 1-for-13 from three-point range. He averaged 21.2 points and 8.0 assists per game in the series, but the numbers don't tell the whole story here, as the Clippers needed -- and expected -- more out of him, but he couldn't deliver when called upon duty.

Perfect from line in victory Wagner went a perfect 11-of-11 from the line, helping the Magic to an impressive Game 6 victory. It was another impressive performance by Wagner, who continues to develop into a key piece for Orlando. Game 7 will take place Sunday, with both teams vying for a second-round berth against the high-flying Celtics.

Closes game Friday Anthony closed the game Friday, providing the Magic with some much-needed floor spacing. With Gary Harris (hamstring), Anthony slid into a larger role, something that could stick for Game 7 should Harris remain sidelined.

Limited in Game 6 victory Ingles played just eight minutes in the win, serving more as a cheerleader than an actual player. Now in the twilight of his career, Ingles provides the team with a much-needed veteran presence. Win or lose, the Magic have managed to turn some heads this season and the future is certainly bright in Orlando.

Given starting nod, for some reason Morris played 27 minutes as the starting power forward in the Game 6 loss. Any time he spends on the floor feels like too much, highlighted by his lack of production. The Cavaliers will be hoping Jarrett Allen can overcome his rib injury and get back on the floor for what is a must-win game Sunday.

Logs 12 minutes Friday Thompson played as the primary backup behind Evan Mobley, something that Cleveland fans are hoping will not happen again. Other than providing additional size, Thompson has no place on an NBA court anymore. Jarrett Allen (ribs) will almost certainly be doing everything possible to make it back for Game 7.

Plays lone hand in loss Mitchell outscored the rest of the Cavaliers roster, dropping 50 points in the loss. He scored all of the Cleveland points in the final quarter, a fact that may or may not have contributed to the end result. He is going to need more help on the offensive end should they hope to advance to the second round where the Celtics await.

Doubtful to return Barring a quick, surprising turnaround, Kleber is unlikely to return to Friday's contest. Given the nature of the injury, a potential Game 7 on Sunday could be up in the air as well. In his absence, Derrick Jones could see some extra minutes providing depth at power forward.