Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley had a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in the opening game of the Eastern Conference semi-finals versus Indiana. He added two steals. Unfortunately, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year had trouble taking care of the ball, committing a game-high four turnovers on the night. Still, Mobley was at least efficient from the field, going 9-for-13, while draining two of his five attempts from deep. With the Pacers taking Game 1, both clubs will go at it again on Tuesday night. While head coach Kenny Atkinson will surely make some adjustments, Mobley will likely see between 30-35 minutes of work.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 33 points in the Game 1 Eastern Conference semi-final meeting with Indiana. He added five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. While Mitchell was productive, he struggled shooting the ball, going 13-for-30 from the field and 1-for-11 from behind the three-point line. He did have a strong run in the third quarter. Still, his efforts weren't good enough to lead the Cavs to a victory. With Cleveland dropping the first game of the series, both clubs will do it again on Tuesday night. Mitchell should remain heavily involved on the offensive end even if Darius Garland (toe) is back in the mix.

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski will start in Sunday's postseason meeting with the Rockets. Gary Payton II (illness) was ruled out, so head coach Steve Kerr made the call to move Podziemski back into the starting lineup. He logged 29 minutes off the bench in Friday's loss to Houston, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal. However, those marks fall in line with what Podziemski has averaged throughout the series, meaning the move back to the starting lineup won't increase or decrease his DFS ceiling.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (toe) won't play on Sunday against the Pacers. NBA TV's Jared Greenberg indicated Garland has been battling a left toe sprain, an injury that's been causing him a great deal of pain. Greenberg also added that had this injury occurred during the regular season, he likely would have been shut down for "a week to two weeks." But now it appears Donovan Mitchell will continue to handle most of the play making duties, at least for Game 1, with Ty Jerome and De'Andre Hunter both expected to benefit from a fantasy standpoint.

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (illness) won't play on Sunday night versus the Rockets. He popped up on the injury report earlier in the day. Unfortunately, Payton's illness will keep him on the floor for the series finale. Although he hasn't done much on the offensive end during the series, his absence will be felt on the defensive side of the ball. At any rate, DFS managers should expect more involvement from Moses Moody, Quinten Post, and Buddy Hield. There is also a chance Jonathan Kuminga works his way back into the rotation for Game 7.

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (hamstring) isn't listed on the injury report heading into Monday's Eastern Conference semi-final clash with the Knicks. The 34-year-old missed the last three games of the C's series versus the Orlando Magic. As a result, Al Horford had been getting the start, most recently amassing nine points, six boards, one block, and one steal in Game 5. While Horford will presumably head back to the bench, he should still remain involved enough to continue receiving lineup consideration from DFS managers.

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (knee) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Monday's series-opening matchup versus the Knicks. He had routinely carried questionable designations because of a nagging knee issue during the previous series against the Orlando Magic. However, the 28-year-old didn't miss any time. He recently indicated he's feeling better, which is great news. Unfortunately, Brown averaged only 16.3 points in four regular season meetings with New York, making him hard to trust from a DFS standpoint.

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (illness) is questionable for Sunday's postseason clash with the Rockets. He has averaged only 6.3 points during the series against Houston. Still, the 32-year-old, who got the start in Game 6, is certainly valued for his abilities on the defensive side of the ball. It's unknown if Steve Kerr will keep Payton with the first-five in Game 7. But with Kerr keeping his rotation tight to the vest, it appears the door is open for more work for Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, and Quinten Post, regardless of Payton's status for Game 7.

According to Law Murray of The Athletic, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden is expected to remain with the team. Harden has a $36 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign, although it's realistic both sides will work on a new contact over the summer. The 35-year-old had only seven points in the series-clinching, Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. Still, he is coming off another quality year, averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 1.5 steals in 79 games while being named an All-Star for the seventh time of his career. Without question, Harden should continue to receive attention from fantasy managers heading into next season, and he should remain a top fantasy option, regardless of how the Clippers do in the standings, assuming he stays in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac had a double-double in Saturday's loss to the Nuggets, ending the night with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Still, it wasn't good enough, with the Clippers losing a decisive Game 7 and failing to advance to the Western Conference semi-finals to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. From a statistical standpoint, Zubac had a stellar 2024-25 campaign, amassing career-highs in points (16.8), rebounds (12.6), assists (2.7), and games (80). With that said, his stock is higher than ever, and it's possible he earns serious consideration for an All-Star selection next season.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points in Saturday's playoff loss to the Nuggets. He added five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. The two-time NBA Champion had a fantastic series. Unfortunately, his efforts weren't enough, with the Clippers falling short of advancing to the Western Conference semi-finals to meet OKC. Statistically speaking, Leonard played as well as expected during the regular season, averaging 21.5 points, 5.9 boards, and 1.6 steals while shooting 41.1% from behind the arc. However, he was limited to only 37 games because of a knee injury. Leonard is one of the best players in the NBA. But the question moving ahead is if he can stay healthy in 2025-26. If he does, he should re-enter the All-Star conversation.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic had 16 points in Saturday's series-clinching win over the Clippers. He added 10 boards, eight assists, three steals, and one block. The three-time MVP accumulated five fouls through the first three quarters, resulting in more time spent on the bench. However, with Denver building a decisive lead, Jokic wasn't needed much in the fourth quarter. With the Nuggets dispatching the Clippers in seven games, the team will hit the road for a meeting with OKC on Monday night to begin the Western Conference semi-finals. In four meetings with the Thunder this season, Jokic averaged 24.5 points, 15.8 rebounds, 11.5 dimes, 1.8 blocks, and 1.5 steals. He also shot 52.6% from the field, one of his worst averages against any club during the year.

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden had only seven points in Saturday's postseason loss to Denver. However, he made up for it by amassing 13 assists, two steals, and one block. Although Los Angeles couldn't advance to the Western Conference semi-finals to face Oklahoma City, Harden can look back on another quality year, averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 dimes, and 1.5 steals. He also appeared in 79 games and was named an All-Star for the seventh time of his career. The 35-year-old will next need to decide if he will exercise his $36 million player option heading into the 2025-26 campaign. But one thing is for sure, Harden should see plenty of interest from clubs around the National Basketball Association this summer if he doesn't. Either way, he is expected to remain a top fantasy option, although he may only have a few more productive years left in the tank.

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (hamstring) was a full participant in Saturday's practice. "He was able to do everything that we worked on. He is getting better every day," Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. This is a very encouraging development regarding Holiday's potential return to action for Game 1 versus the New York Knicks on Monday. He missed the final three games of Boston's first-round series against the Orlando Magic due to a hamstring strain. Before getting hurt, Holiday notched 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game at the start of the postseason. His return to the lineup is set to send Al Horford back to the bench, although the veteran big man should remain an important part of the rotation.

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers. The Cavaliers lost their starting point guard for the final two games of the first-round series against the Miami Heat and may still be without him as the second round begins. Garland, who has averaged 24.0 points and 7.0 assists in the playoffs, is trying to shake off a left great toe sprain. Sam Merrill has started in Garland's absence, while Ty Jerome has seen increased usage off the bench. Despite the starting role, Merrill has not made a positive impact for DFS managers, averaging 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds since Garland went down.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) underwent surgery on Friday to repair a torn left Achilles sustained during a postseason loss to the Indiana Pacers. There is no timetable for his return. The multi-time All-Star averaged 24.9 points in his second season with the Bucks, up from the 2023-24 campaign. Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly as close to the career-high 32.2 points he averaged in his final year in Portland. It's unknown how the Milwaukee roster will look moving ahead. It's also not clear if Lillard has already played his final game with the Bucks. With that in mind, his redraft value can't get any lower heading into next season. However, dynasty managers should avoid any low-ball offers, especially since Lillard could have at least a few more productive years left in the tank once he's cleared to get back on the floor.

New York's G Jalen Brunson scored 40 points on 15-of-33 shooting in a 116-113 win over Detroit on Thursday, May. 1.

Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's Game 6 against the New York Knicks. He will miss a fifth consecutive game after being labeled questionable on the initial injury report. The Pistons must win on Thursday for Stewart to have a chance to return to action this season. He has played an important role as a reserve, averaging 6.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks during the regular season. In the series opener against the Knicks, when Stewart was in the lineup, he recorded two points, five rebounds, and two blocks in 19 minutes.

Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson has his fingerprints all over Wednesday's Game 5 victory over the Golden State Warriors, racking up 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, five steals, and three blocks. Thompson, who finished with 8-for-12 shooting, played a key role in limiting the Warriors to 49 first-half points. The visitors improved in the second half, but Houston still picked up a comfortable 131-116 win. This was without a doubt Thompson's best performance of the series, and it's sure to be a confidence booster for him ahead of another elimination game on Friday night. The 22-year-old has averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.6 steals in his first career postseason campaign.

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry produced only 13 points as the team failed to finish off the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, losing Game 5 131-116 on the road. Curry and Jimmy Butler III both had zero points after the first quarter, as the Warriors struggled to cope with Houston's high-intensity defense. The two superstars ended up combining for 21 points in the game, with Curry shooting 4-for-12 from the field and 3-for-9 from behind the arc. He had seven assists with three turnovers and grabbed three rebounds in 23 minutes. Golden State's starters were embarrassed on Wednesday night, and we should see a reaction from them in Game 6 on home court Friday night.