NBA Player News

  • Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell: Unlikely to play Wednesday

    Mitchell (calf) is officially listed as questionable for Wednesday's Game 5 against the Celtics, but he's not expected to play, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

    Mitchell has been spectacular in the playoffs and averaged 35.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 41.0 minutes over his last six appearances. However, he picked up a left calf strain during Game 3 and was sidelined for Cleveland's Game 4 loss. If Mitchell is unavailable again, Caris LeVert (knee) would likely start next to Darius Garland in the backcourt, while Sam Merrill may see an increased role off the bench.

  • OG Anunoby SF | NY

    Knicks' OG Anunoby: Likely out for Game 6

    Anunoby is expected to remain out Friday for the Knicks' Game 6 matchup with the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals but may return to the lineup thereafter, Brian Windhorst reported Wednesday on ESPN's "Get Up" program. "He's out of the pool and doing some court work for the Knicks," Windhorst said of Anunoby. "If the Knicks advance, the fact that he's already out there on the court and doing some light work makes it a possibility that the Knicks could see him in the Eastern Conference Finals should they get one more victory."

    Anunoby sounds unlikely to return to action for a potential Game 7 on Sunday if the Pacers were to extend the series with a win Friday, but the 26-year-old looks like he could be ready to go for the start of a conference final series with the Celtics or Cavaliers if his hamstring responds well to on-court work. After Precious Achiuwa had started in place of Anunoby in Games 3 and 4, Miles McBride entered the starting five for the Knicks' Game 5 win as part of a small-ball lineup.

  • Nuggets' Michael Porter: Quiet night Tuesday

    Porter had six points (2-10 FG, 2-7 3Pt), seven rebounds, one assist and two blocks over 36 minutes during Tuesday's 112-97 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

    Porter managed just six points in the victory, continuing his recent offensive struggles. He has scored fewer than 10 points in three of the past four games, a very different story compared to how he opened the playoffs. Despite his poor shooting, the Nuggets now sit just one win away from another trip to the Western Conference Finals. Look for Porter to turn things around in the near future.

  • Nikola Jokic C | DEN

    Nuggets' Nikola Jokic: Masterful performance in win

    Jokic supplied 40 points (15-22 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 8-9 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and two steals over 41 minutes during Tuesday's 112-97 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

    Jokic took over during Game 5, leading the Nuggets to a third consecutive victory over the Timberwolves. Despite going up against the Defensive Player of the Year, Jokic had no issues getting what he wanted around the basket and finished with a playoff-high 40 points. The series will head back to Minnesota where Jokic and the Nuggets will look to wrap things up Thursday.

  • Nuggets' Christian Braun: Logs 28 minutes in victory

    Braun closed Tuesday's 112-97 victory over Minnesota in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals with 10 points (4-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-3 FT), five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal over 28 minutes.

    Braun continues to play meaningful minutes for the Nuggets, scoring double-digits for the second straight game. After failing to play more than 19 minutes during the first eight postseason games, he has now played 25 and 28 minutes respectively in each of the past two games. After reeling off three straight victories, the Nuggets now sit one win away from a trip to the Conference Finals.

  • Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards: Underwhelming in Tuesday's loss

    Edwards provided 18 points (5-15 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 7-8 FT), four rebounds, nine assists and one steal in 44 minutes during Tuesday's 112-97 loss to the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

    Coming off a 44-point explosion in Game 4, Edwards struggled from the field in Game 5. He salvaged his production by dishing out a playoff-high nine dimes, but it wasn't enough as Minnesota dropped a third straight game. Edwards scored less than 20 points in two of the three losses, but overall, he has been stellar in the playoffs and is averaging 28.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks in 10 appearances.

  • Timberwolves' Nickeil Alexander-Walker: Serviceable in spot start

    Alexander-Walker amassed 14 points (5-12 FG, 4-8 3Pt), two rebounds, five assists and two blocks across 39 minutes during Tuesday's 112-97 loss to the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

    Alexander-Walker moved into the starting lineup Tuesday, replacing Mike Conley who was ruled out due to an Achilles issue. While he was far from spectacular, Alexander-Walker cobbled together a serviceable performance, contributing on both ends of the floor. Now trailing 3-2 in the series, Minnesota will hope Conley is cleared to return for Game 6. If that's not the case, expect to see Alexander-Walker running with the starters again.

  • Naz Reid C | MIN

    Timberwolves' Naz Reid: Struggles in Game 5 loss

    Reid contributed seven points (3-8 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds and one block in 20 minutes during Tuesday's 112-97 loss to the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

    Reid was a non-factor in the loss, continuing his recent struggles. Coming off a career-best regular season, Reid has been unable to produce consistently during the postseason. He has scored fewer than 15 points in eight of the Timberwolves' nine playoff games. Now facing a must-win matchup, Reid will look to turn things around in front of his home fans.

  • Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton: Records five assists in Game 5

    Haliburton tallied 13 points (5-9 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals in Tuesday's 121-91 loss to the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

    Haliburton's five assists tied T.J. McConnell for most on the Pacers in Game 5. Haliburton failed to reach 20 points after doing so over the past three games, though he managed to contribute on the defensive end of the floor, recording two blocks for the first time this postseason. Haliburton is averaging 18.5 points on 48.1 percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.3 steals across 35.3 minutes per game in the playoffs.

  • Pascal Siakam PF | IND

    Pacers' Pascal Siakam: Scores 22 points in Game 5

    Siakam notched 22 points (7-for-15 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 6-7 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one steal over 33 minutes in Tuesday's 121-91 loss to the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

    Siakam was the only Pacer to score 20-plus points in Game 5, and he was the second-leading scorer for the game behind Jalen Brunson. Siakam managed to reach 20-plus points for the second time in three games, and he got some of those from the charity stripe after not attempting a single free throw in Game 4. Siakam is averaging 19.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

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