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Offseason | NBA Week 26

Stephen Curry named NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year

Thu Apr 25 7:46pm ET
Field Level Media

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is the second recipient of the NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award, the league announced Thursday.

Introduced last year, when Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox took home the Jerry West Trophy, the award honors the player "who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch," according to the NBA.

Curry edged out Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan for the honor. Curry received 45 first-place votes (five points each), 18 second-place votes (three points) and 19 third-place votes (one point) for a total of 298 total points from a media voting panel. DeRozan finished with 272 points, including 34 first-place votes.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came in third with 160 points, including 11 first-place votes.


Curry led the league with 189 points in "clutch situations," defined by the league as possessions in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the margin is five points or fewer. Curry shot 49.6 percent overall, 45.7 percent from 3-point range and 95.1 percent from the free-throw line in clutch situations.

The future Hall of Famer and two-time league MVP just completed his 15th NBA season having averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 40.8 percent from deep. But the Warriors did not manage to advance out of the Western Conference play-in round.

Player Notes
Mitchell Robinson Mon May 13 10:30pm

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) underwent a procedure on his left ankle on Monday. He will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks. This is Mitchell's second ankle procedure since he injured it back in December, and while nothing has changed regarding his current timetable, the update means he is done for the rest of the playoffs. The 26-year-old is coming off a down season, averaging 5.6 points with 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks. While he could turn things around during the 2024-25 campaign, his inability to remain healthy will negatively impact his fantasy stock moving ahead.

Caris LeVert Mon May 13 10:10pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert finished with 19 points in Monday's loss to Boston. He added seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Donovan Mitchell (calf) didn't suit up for this contest, so LeVert got the start. While he struggled shooting from deep, going 1-for-8, he still had one of his best performances of the playoffs. With Mitchell and Jarrett Allen (rib) uncertain for Game 5 on Wednesday evening, LeVert could be in line for more scoring opportunities, no matter his role, meaning he'll see plenty of interest from the DFS community.

Evan Mobley Mon May 13 10:10pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley finished with 19 points and nine rebounds in Monday's loss to Boston. With Donovan Mitchell (calf) and Jarrett Allen (rib) out for this one, Mobley and company did all they could to tie the series at two games. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, with the Cavs now one loss away from elimination. With that said, if Allen and Mitchell remain out for Game 5, Mobley will be a lock for all DFS lineups.

Max Strus Mon May 13 10:00pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Max Strus had 15 points in Monday's loss to the Celtics. He added seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Donovan Mitchell (calf) wasn't available, so the 28-year-old did his best to fill the void by delivering his best performance of the series. With Mitchell uncertain for Game 5 on Wednesday night, Strus could continue to see more scoring chances, making him an ideal DFS option for any contest. However, after his efficient showing in Game 4, his rostering cost could rise significantly.

Darius Garland Mon May 13 10:00pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland scored a team-high 30 points in Monday's loss to the Celtics. He also had seven assists and two steals. Donovan Mitchell (calf) wasn't available for this one. While Garland struggled shooting, going 12-for-27 from the field and 4-for-13 from deep, he still had his best showing of the playoffs. With the Cavs one loss away from elimination, Mitchell could be back for Game 5 even if he's not fully healthy. But Mitchell could be limited physically, so Garland could continue to see more opportunities on the scoring end.

Derrick White Mon May 13 10:00pm

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White didn't have his best showing in Monday's win over the Cavs. He scored just five points, going 1-for-6 from the field and 1-for-4 from deep. Fortunately, the veteran at least had seven boards, three assists, and one steal, so DFS managers didn't get left out in the cold. White had 25 points in Game 1. However, he has only 27 in the last three games. With that said, the 29-year-old could easily bounce back in Game 5 on Wednesday evening, with the Celtics looking to close out the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Jrue Holiday Mon May 13 9:50pm

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday had 16 points in Monday's win over Cleveland. He also had seven boards, five assists, three steals, and one block. The 33-year-old has been on a roll, amassing 34 points and shooting 7-for-12 from behind the arc in the last two games. While Holiday has been difficult to trust from a DFS standpoint, especially after his subpar play in the Conference quarterfinals versus Miami, he deserves attention for Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Jaylen Brown Mon May 13 9:40pm

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown scored 27 points in Monday's victory over the Cavs. He also amassed eight rebounds and one assist. The 27-year-old wasn't as productive as Jayson Tatum, who had a game-high 33 points. He also had five turnovers. However, Brown had another potent postseason showing, with the 2016 No. 3 overall pick shooting 66.7% from deep in three of the four games in this series. The Celtics look to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals by finishing off Cleveland on Wednesday night. DFS managers need to keep Brown in their lineups, considering he should continue to log heavy minutes and take plenty of shots.

Jayson Tatum Mon May 13 9:40pm

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum had a game-high 33 points in Monday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He added 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. While Tatum struggled shooting the ball, going 11-for-25 from the field and 2-for-8 from deep, he still had one of his best showings of the postseason. The 26-year-old has now scored 66 points in the last two games, so DFS managers should keep him on the radar for Game 5 on Wednesday evening, with the C's looking to finish the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Isaiah Hartenstein Mon May 13 6:30pm

New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein (shoulder) isn't on the injury report for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Pacers. He hurt his shoulder in Game 4 on Sunday, logging only 22 minutes. However, the Knicks will be delighted to know that Hartenstein won't have to sit out Tuesday's action. The 26-year-old has played a vital role for the team in the playoffs due to Mitchell Robinson's (ankle) injury. Through 10 playoff appearances, Hartenstein has averaged 9.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 29.4 minutes.

OG Anunoby Mon May 13 6:20pm

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) will remain sidelined for Game 5 against Indiana on Tuesday. He injured his left hamstring in Game 2 of the series, and it was reported at the weekend that Anunoby has yet to resume running. It looks like it could take quite a bit of time until he's good to go again. Anunoby's absence has opened the door for Alec Burks to enter the rotation, with Precious Achiuwa also benefitting.

Tyrese Haliburton Mon May 13 6:20pm

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back, ankle) has picked up another questionable tag ahead of Game 5 against the Knicks on Tuesday. He is troubled by lower back spasms, a sacral contusion, and a right ankle sprain, but Haliburton is expected to remain in the lineup. The issues didn't keep him from producing 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 28 minutes on Sunday as the Pacers tied the second-round series with a big home win. The two teams now meet up in New York again, with Haliburton averaging 23.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2.3 steals in the matchup.

Jamal Murray Mon May 13 6:10pm

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (calf) is considered questionable for Tuesday's Game 5 against Minnesota. He continues to nurse a left calf strain, which has kept Murray a regular on the injury report lately. However, he's played through the injury, averaging 17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in 36.8 minutes in the second round. Murray has been back to his best in the last couple of games and should be full of confidence entering Game 5.

DeMar DeRozan Mon May 13 6:00pm

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, there is "belief around the league" that the Chicago Bulls will re-sign DeMar DeRozan in the offseason. The six-time All-Star is heading to unrestricted free agency, but it looks like he won't leave the Windy City, with the Bulls reportedly ready to offer a big contract to DeRozan. He is finishing off a three-year, $81.9 million deal. The Bulls have gotten plenty of value for their money with DeRozan, who has continued to perform at a high level despite turning 34 last summer. He averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals while playing a league-high 37.8 minutes this season. It was the 11th straight year for DeRozan to average at least 20 points per game.

Luke Kornet Mon May 13 5:50pm

Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (calf) has been cleared to play on Monday against Cleveland. He was initially a slight question mark for the contest after the team listed Kornet as probable on the injury report with right calf tightness. The seven-footer has provided quality backup minutes to Al Horford against the Cavaliers, with Kristaps Porzingis (calf) still on the mend. Kornet is averaging 3.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 13.7 minutes in the series.

Jarrett Allen Mon May 13 5:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (rib) will remain in street clothes on Monday against Boston. He's forced to skip a seventh straight game with a rib contusion. Allen's injury has been really unfortunate for the Cavaliers, as the big guy was having a great postseason campaign with averages of 17.0 points and 13.8 rebounds through four games. With Allen out again, Isaac Okoro keeps his place in the starting unit. He will aim to put together a bounce-back performance on Monday after finishing with only two points on 1-for-7 shooting in Game 3.

Donovan Mitchell Mon May 13 5:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (calf) will miss Monday's Game 4 against the Celtics. The Cavaliers superstar initially picked up a questionable tag ahead of the contest due to a left calf strain. But it appears as though the injury is quite severe, and it won't let Mitchell play on Monday. Caris LeVert will enter the starting lineup in Mitchell's place. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in 10 starts during the regular season. Mitchell's absence also means Darius Garland has to step up on Cleveland's backcourt.

Mike Conley Mon May 13 9:10am

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley was very close to his second postseason double-double of the year as the team went 115-107 down to the Nuggets on Sunday. The veteran scored 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting, hitting three of seven attempts from downtown, and handed out a game-high nine assists. Conley also extended his streak with at least one steal to seven games and grabbed a pair of rebounds. It's been a good postseason campaign for Conley, who's averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.1 steals in 31.8 minutes in the playoffs.

Anthony Edwards Mon May 13 9:00am

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards scored 44 points on 16-for-25 shooting in Sunday's Game 4 loss to Denver, setting a new career playoff high and a franchise record. In fact, Edwards now boasts the top three postseason-scoring performances in Timberwolves history. On Sunday, he was also able to notch five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block while shooting 5-for-8 from deep. The 22-year-old has looked incredible this postseason, averaging 32.1 points, and something even more special could be coming up from him as Minnesota tries to shift the momentum of the series in the next couple of games.

Jamal Murray Mon May 13 9:00am

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray notched 19 points with five rebounds, eight assists, and two steals as the team tied the second-round series against Minnesota with a 115-107 win on Sunday. Murray was once again questionable for the contest with a calf strain, but he logged 39 minutes despite the ailment and performed just fine, even hitting a half-court shot at the buzzer to close out the first half. He finished with 8-for-17 shooting, going 3-for-7 with the three-ball. Murray had a bad start to the series, but he's now shot at least 40 percent from deep in back-to-back games, picking up good momentum ahead of Tuesday's Game 5.