Fantasy Basketball

Porzingis (lower leg) is listed as questionable for Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday, Jared Weiss of The Athletic reports.

Porzingis is in danger of missing his second straight contest Friday after sitting out Game 3 with a left posterior tibialis dislocation. However, Porzingis was seen going through shootaround Thursday, and it is a good sign that Boston hasn't ruled him out for the series. If Porzingis remains sidelined, Al Horford and Xavier Tillman will likely continue to receive increased playing time.

Porzingis (lower leg) was seen shooting around during Thursday's practice, Jay King of The Athletic reports.

The Celtics have yet to release an official injury report for Game 4 on Friday after Porzingis missed Game 3 with a left posterior tibialis dislocation. While it's still unclear if the 28-year-old big man will be able to suit up, it seems as though he will have at least a chance of playing again in the NBA Finals. If Porzingis is ultimately deemed available, he will likely continue to serve as Boston's backup center behind Al Horford.

Coach Joe Mazzula said Thursday that Porzingis (lower leg) is getting better and "fighting hard" to play in Game 4 on Friday, Jay King of The Athletic reports.

Porzingis didn't play in Game 3 due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation and is in danger of missing the remainder of the NBA Finals. However, if Porzingis is able to suit up, he will provide a big boost to Boston's frontcourt, as he averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 22.0 minutes across the first two games of the series.

Lively finished with 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist and two steals in 30 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 loss to Boston in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Lively was limited to just two points in Games 1 and 2, respectively, but he bounced back in this one, and the rookie posted his first double-double since the team's May 18 win over the Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The rookie was able to make an impact without Kristaps Porzingis (lower leg) on the court, and Lively will aim to be a factor in Game 4 on Friday, where the Mavericks need a win to keep the series alive.

Horford registered eight points (3-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt), five rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals across 37 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 win over the Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Horford plays a secondary role in the Celtics' offensive scheme, though that's not surprising since he shares the court regularly with established superstars such as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. However, the veteran big man does all the little things contending teams need to win games consistently, and he regularly finds a way to contribute. Though he's not much of a reliable fantasy option at this point of his career, Horford is averaging 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game in the current NBA Finals.

Tillman closed with three points (1-1 FG, 1-1 3Pt), four rebounds and two blocks in 11 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 win over Dallas in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

It was Tillman, not Luke Kornet, who picked up the slack at center with Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out. Coach Joe Mazzulla clearly preferred Tillman switching on Mavericks star Luka Doncic on pick-and-rolls, and the move paid off. Tillman got multiple stops when forced to guard Doncic. Tillman also hit a clutch corner three during a key second-half Boston scoring run. His four boards and two blocks were just what the Celtics needed while managing 38-year-old Al Horford's workload. Tillman and his teammates will look to finish the Finals in Dallas on Friday.

Jovic was diagnosed with a minor left ankle sprain Thursday and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Jovic is still expected to compete for Serbia in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, which begin on July 28. Jovic made 38 starts for Miami this year and could start alongside Nikola Jokic in the frontcourt for Serbia.

Washington finished with 13 points (3-9 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds and two assists across 39 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 loss to the Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Washington finished just two rebounds shy of recording what would've been his first double-double since May 15, when he recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds in the Game 5 win over the Thunder. He's been surprisingly consistent in the Finals despite Dallas' three straight losses, scoring in double figures and grabbing at least seven boards in each outing. He'll aim to keep this streak going in Game 4 on Friday.

Tatum ended with 31 points (11-26 FG, 4-13 3Pt, 5-5 FT), six rebounds, five assists and one steal over 42 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 victory over the Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

After relatively poor scoring in Games 1 and 2, Tatum paced the Celtics with 31 points on what was still a poor shooting night for the All-NBA forward. The absence of Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) forced Tatum and Jaylen Brown (30 points) to shoulder more of the scoring load. Tatum was up for the challenge. He is still shooting a poor 35.9 from the field during the Finals, but a 3-0 lead is likely more important to the seven-year veteran. Tatum and the Celtics will look to finish the Finals in Dallas on Friday.

Washington notched 17 points (6-13 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, one assist and one block across 40 minutes during Sunday's 105-98 loss to Boston in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Despite going 1-for-5 from three, Washington put together an efficient performance, playing physical in the paint. His 17 points were his most since May 13, which was Game 4 against the Thunder. Now, for a critical Game 3, Dallas goes home, where Washington is averaging 14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the postseason.

Tatum notched 18 points (6-22 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 5-6 FT), nine rebounds, 12 assists and one steal across 45 minutes during Sunday's 105-98 win over the Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Tatum struggled massively from the field and needed 22 shots to score 18 points, but he compensated for the lack of efficiency with an elite showing on both ends of the court. He ended just one rebound shy of a triple-double, and he also became the third player in team history to record at least 18 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists in an NBA Finals game, joining two franchise legends in Larry Bird and Bob Cousy. His subpar shooting percentages could hurt fantasy managers a bit, but that won't matter much if he continues to put up these elite all-around numbers throughout the rest of the series.

Vezenkov has informed the Kings he does not plan on returning for the second year of his contract, Mihalis Stefanou of eurohoops.net reports.

Vezenkov has a guaranteed contract for the 2024-25 season without an option, so it is possible that the Kings could waive him in the offseason. It is unclear whether the 28-year-old will remain in the NBA or make a return to Europe. Vezenkov logged his first action in the NBA last season with Sacramento and averaged 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists across 12.2 minutes in 42 appearances.

Hauser ended Wednesday's 106-99 victory over the Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals with nine points (3-4 FG, 3-4 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist across 14 minutes.

Hauser led the Celtics with a plus-16 plus-minus ratio during the Game 3 win. In addition to hitting three of four attempts from beyond the arc, Hauser also delivered excellent defense. The reserve forward stopped Mavericks star Luka Doncic on a few drives. Hauser's 14 minutes of run led Boston's bench. The three-point sniper has now hit 1.2 triples per game throughout the playoffs. The Celtics will try to sweep the Finals on Friday in Dallas.

Brown finished Wednesday's 106-99 victory over Dallas in Game 3 of the NBA Finals with 30 points (12-22 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds, eight assists and one block over 41 minutes.

Brown continued his dominance on both sides of the court during Boston's Game 3 win. The star forward was quiet during the first half and posted only six points. But he exploded for another 24 in the second half, helping Boston stake a 3-0 Finals lead. He was also Boston's most efficient scorer while finishing two boards and two dimes short of a triple-double. His defensive effort also helped Boston keep Dallas under 100 points for the third consecutive game. Brown and his fellow Celtics now look to sweep the Finals in Dallas on Friday.

Watanabe agreed Wednesday to a contract with the Chiba Jets of the Japanese B.League, Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com reports.

The terms of Watanabe's deal aren't clear, but he should immediately become one of the B.League's top players after spending parts of the last six seasons in the NBA with the Grizzlies, Raptors, Nets and Suns. The 29-year-old forward appeared in 34 games for Phoenix in 2023-24 and averaged 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 three-pointers in 13.6 minutes but didn't make an appearance for Memphis after being sent to the Grizzlies in February on a deadline deal. Watanabe holds a $2.65 million player option for 2024-25, but he'll presumably decline that to facilitate his return to his home country of Japan. He's also expected to suit up for the Japanese national team during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Jones notched 11 points (4-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in 32 minutes during Sunday's 105-98 loss to the Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Jones improved on his five-point performance from Game 1, but he struggled from distance. He also didn't offer much defensive resistance despite managing a block and a steal. The forward will look to improve again in Game 3 at home, where he's averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks in the postseason.

Brown provided 21 points (8-15 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 42 minutes during Sunday's 105-98 victory over the Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Brown struggled a bit with his shot from three-point range, but other than that, he delivered his usual stat-filling performance while also operating as one of Boston's go-to players on offense. Brown has been on a tear of late, scoring 20-plus points in six straight playoff appearances while also contributing on the defensive end. Over that six-game stretch, Brown has averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals per contest.

Jones ended Thursday's 107-89 loss to Boston in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with five points (2-9 FG, 1-2 3Pt), six rebounds and one steal in 29 minutes.

Jones struggled inside the arc and wasn't able to catch any signature lob dunks, largely due to the interior presence of Kristaps Porzingis. Game 1 also marked the first time he's failed to record an assist since Game 4 against the Clippers.

White amassed 16 points (4-10 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 42 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 victory over the Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

White was ice-cold in the first half but hit some clutch second-half three-pointers to help Boston take a 3-0 Finals lead. His two blocks highlighted a Celtics defensive effort that once again held Dallas under 100 points. The veteran guard was one of four Boston starters to see over 40 minutes of run. White and his teammates will try to close out the Finals on Friday in Dallas.

White finished Sunday's 105-98 win over the Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals with 18 points (6-15 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals in 38 minutes.

White will grab most of the headlines following this Game 2 win due to a game-saving block in the dying stages of the fourth quarter when the Mavericks were inching closer to mounting a comeback, and he also made some clutch buckets in the second half every time Dallas posed a threat. White will rarely carry the Celtics on offense, but the little things he does on both ends of the court are essential for the Celtics to be two games away from winning the NBA title. White's versatility and excellent three-point stroke make him a strong fantasy play across all formats.

Hardy closed with 13 points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds and one assist over 11 minutes during Thursday's 107-89 loss to the Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Hardy scored 11 points in about five minutes of fourth-quarter garbage time. Considering the defensive presences of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, it may be difficult for Hardy to make an impact, though he'll likely continue to see light minutes to spell Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

White amassed 15 points (5-11 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, five assists and one steal in 35 minutes during Thursday's 107-89 victory over the Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

White did what we've come to expect from him in Game 1. The performance marked White's sixth consecutive with at least 13 points and four assists, and he's committed only four total turnovers during this stretch compared to nine steals and 11 blocks. He's also hit at least one three-pointer in every playoff game this season.

Beal underwent a minor procedure to realign his septum shortly after the Suns were eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.

Beal broke his nose after taking an elbow from Myles Turner during the second half of a Jan. 26 loss to the Pacers and had to wear a mask for several games. He eventually ditched the mask but still had trouble breathing out of his right nostril during the final months of the campaign. After dropping 36 points on the Timberwolves in the regular-season finale, Beal averaged just 16.5 points during the opening-round series as Minnesota swept Phoenix. Beal is expected to play a key role for the Suns next season, but things are subject to change, as Phoenix fired Frank Vogel early in the offseason and quickly hired Mike Budenholzer.

Edwards logged 28 points (10-18 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 4-6 FT), nine rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal over 43 minutes during Thursday's 124-103 loss to the Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

Edwards recorded his second-highest scoring output of the Western Conference Finals in Game 5 but wasn't able to avoid elimination. After struggling with his efficiency to begin the series, the star guard managed to post 43.0/40.6/75.0 shooting splits over the five games. Against Dallas, Edwards averaged 24.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 41.4 minutes.

Doncic (thoracic contusion) is probable for Friday's Game 4 matchup with the Celtics.

Doncic is a bit banged up at the moment, but there's almost no way that he'll be sitting out a potential elimination game in the Finals. Expect to get official confirmation on his status closer to Friday's tip.

Irving supplied 35 points (13-28 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds and two assists across 45 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 loss to Boston in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Luka Doncic was disqualified in the fourth after picking up his sixth foul, meaning Irving had to step his game up, and the veteran floor general was Dallas' most reliable scoring alternative throughout the entire contest. Irving bounced back from two subpar outings in the first two games of the series, but not even his highest scoring mark of the current postseason run was enough to lift Dallas to victory. Irving will aim to keep the momentum going ahead of Game 4 on Friday, as the Mavericks will have their backs against the wall for the remainder of the series due to their 0-3 deficit.

Doncic closed with 27 points (11-27 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six rebounds, six assists and one steal over 38 minutes before fouling out of Wednesday's 106-99 loss to Boston in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Doncic entered the fourth quarter with only two fouls to his name, but he was called for four fouls in the final 12 minutes of action, sending him off and erasing any possibility of a potential comeback. At that point, the Mavericks had reduced the deficit to just three points, and not having Doncic down the stretch certainly limited them. The Mavericks certainly expected more from their superstar guard, who'll now have his back against the wall as Dallas attempts to avoid getting swept in Game 4 on Friday.

Holiday amassed nine points (4-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt), four rebounds, five assists and one steal across 42 minutes during Wednesday's 106-99 win over Dallas in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Holiday was coming off an impressive 26-point performance in the Game 2 victory, but he couldn't reach double-digit figures in this one -- something that hadn't happened since a 118-94 loss to the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 9. However, the veteran floor general has shown his experience throughout the series against Dallas, and he remains valuable even when he's not scoring at a high rate. Perhaps even more impressive is that he's yet to commit a turnover in the series while handing out 13 assists.

Doncic (chest) is available for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Celtics on Wednesday.

As expected, Doncic has been upgraded from probable to available for the first matchup in Dallas after Boston took the first two games at home. Doncic needed a pain-killing injection before Game 2 and might require something similar for Game 3, but no specifics were released ahead of tipoff. Doncic posted 32 points (12-21 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-8 FT), 11 rebounds, 11 assists and four steals in 42 minutes during Game 2.

Doncic (chest) is probable for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Celtics on Wednesday but said Tuesday during media availability that he "feels good" ahead of Game 3, Jay King of The Athletic reports.

Doncic has been a mainstay on the injury report but has not missed a postseason game yet, averaging 29.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.8 steals across 19 playoff games. The All-Star has dealt with a right knee sprain, left ankle soreness, and most recently, a thoracic contusion that required a pain-killing injection before Game 2. Doncic was stellar in Sunday's 105-98 Game 2 loss to Boston, racking up 32 points (12-21 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-8 FT), 11 rebounds, 11 assists and four steals across 42 minutes. The 25-year-old will look to lead the Mavericks to their first win of the series in Dallas after dropping the first two games on the road.