Guest of the League
Basketball Jones
Slam Dunk - $50.00 - Contest Completed | NBA Week 26

NBA roundup: Sixers trip Knicks behind Joel Embiid's 50

Fri Apr 26 1:25am ET
Field Level Media

Joel Embiid set a playoff career high with 50 points to lift host Philadelphia past the New York Knicks 125-114 on Thursday, cutting the 76ers' deficit in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series to 2-1.

Embiid shot 13 of 19 from the field and 19 of 21 from the free-throw line.

Tyrese Maxey added 25 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 15 and Cameron Payne had 11 for the Sixers, who dropped two close games in New York to start the best-of-seven series.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 39 points and 13 assists. Josh Hart added 20 points and OG Anunoby had 17. Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in with 14.


Magic 121, Cavaliers 83

Paolo Banchero collected 31 points and 14 rebounds to fuel host Orlando past Cleveland in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Banchero sank four 3-pointers and had seven rebounds on the offensive glass for the fifth-seeded Magic, who trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. After scoring just 83 and 86 points in the first two games of the series, the Magic had 96 at the end of three quarters.

Jarrett Allen collected 15 points and eight rebounds and Caris LeVert added 15 points off the bench for Cleveland, whose 38-point loss is the worst in the club's postseason history.

Nuggets 112, Lakers 105

Nikola Jokic compiled 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists as Denver moved one win away from the Western Conference semifinals with a victory at Los Angeles.

Aaron Gordon added 29 points with 15 rebounds as the Nuggets grabbed a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Jamal Murray scored 22 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points and 10 rebounds to help the Nuggets extend their winning streak over the Lakers to 11 games.

Los Angeles' Anthony Davis logged 33 points and 15 rebounds, while LeBron James produced 26 points and nine assists. The Lakers are on their first losing streak of at least three games since the start of the new year, when they were in the midst of a four-game skid.

Player Notes
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Thu May 16 9:10am

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had another 30-point effort in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to Dallas, reaching the plateau for the fourth consecutive game with 12-for-22 shooting. He was 2-for-4 with the three-ball and continued to make an impact all over the court. Gilgeous-Alexander's stat line included six rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block. He's been highly productive at both ends in the series, but it looks like the Thunder need even more from Gilgeous-Alexander as the team faces elimination in Game 6 on Saturday.

Derrick White Thu May 16 8:50am

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White was back in form in Game 5 against Cleveland on Wednesday, recording 18 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals in a 113-98 win. After being limited to only five points in Game 4, White had twice as many points in the first quarter alone on Wednesday. He was quiet for the rest of the game but still ended up with a good stat line, shooting 4-for-9 from deep and 7-for-17 overall. For some reason, White has struggled to post defensive stats in the postseason, but he continues to play a significant part in Boston's success. The 29-year-old averages 18.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists with 43.5 percent three-point shooting in the playoffs.

Luka Doncic Thu May 16 8:50am

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic registered a 30-point triple-double as the team moved one win away from a Conference Finals spot with a 104-92 road victory against the Thunder Wednesday night. Doncic has been held back by multiple injuries in these playoffs, but it was smooth sailing for him on Wednesday, as the Mavericks superstar shot 12-for-22 from the field en route to a game-high 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. He had five three-point makes with 11 attempts and also registered one block. Doncic will go after his first career three-game postseason triple-double streak when Dallas tries to close out the series in Game 6 on Saturday.

Jayson Tatum Thu May 16 8:40am

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum came very close to his second postseason triple-double as the C's closed out the Cavaliers on Wednesday with a 113-98 win. Tatum played his part on offense with a team-high 25 points and nine assists while grabbing 10 rebounds. He had a major impact at the other end as well, recording four of Boston's six steals. This was a pretty rough series for Tatum shooting-wise, but he finally got things to click in Game 5, hitting 9-for-16 from the field with a 3-for-7 effort from deep. He can now start preparing for already his fifth Conference Finals series in seven years.

Al Horford Thu May 16 8:40am

Boston Celtics forward/center Al Horford got his fingerprints all over Wednesday's 113-98 win over Cleveland, notching 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and three blocks with six makes from downtown. At 37 years old, Horford became the oldest player in league history to finish a playoff game with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five triples His efforts in the postseason tend to be inconsistent, but Horford was certainly a man on a mission Wednesday night. He can now get his body some rest as Boston awaits its Conference Finals opponent from the Knicks-Pacers matchup. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is expected to return in the next series, pushing Horford back to the bench, but the savvy veteran should still find ways to impact games.

Darius Garland Wed May 15 9:30pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland struggled in Wednesday's loss to Boston. Donovan Mitchell (calf) and Jarrett Allen (rib) weren't available for Game 4 on Monday, resulting in Garland dropping 30 points. However, despite the pair being out again, he took a step back in Game 5, amassing 11 points and shooting 4-for-17 from the field. While Garland added nine assists and two steals, DFS participants expected more. The 24-year-old finished the regular season by averaging 18.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.7 boards, a drop from the 2022-23 campaign. Nonetheless, with Mitchell potentially on the move, Garland may become the No. 1 option for the offense next season. Of course, he'll need to stay healthy for a potential increase in production to make a difference for fantasy managers.

Evan Mobley Wed May 15 9:20pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley finished with a game-high 33 points in Wednesday's loss to the Boston Celtics. He added seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal. With Jarrett Allen (rib) and Donovan Mitchell (calf) both sidelined, Mobley stepped up to deliver his best game of the postseason. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, as the Cavs' loss on Wednesday meant an end to their playoff run. The 22-year-old ended the regular season by averaging 15.7 points, 1.4 blocks, and a career-high 9.4 rebounds. However, he was limited to just 50 games due to various injuries. Without question, Mobley has plenty of untapped potential, so he'll remain a hot commodity for fantasy managers heading into the 2024-25 campaign. He needs to get more consistent on the scoring end. But that should come in time.

Mike Conley Wed May 15 9:10pm

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (calf) is questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Nuggets. Like others around the National Basketball Association, the veteran is battling a Soleus Strain. He wasn't available for Game 5, resulting in Nickeil Alexander-Walker entering the starting lineup and finishing with 14 points, five assists, and two steals. The Timberwolves are a loss away from elimination, so Conley will do all he can to get out there. However, if he does suit up, he likely won't be fully healthy, which isn't ideal for his DFS potential. But if Conley isn't out there, Alexander-Walker has value potential for DFS participants.

Jamal Murray Wed May 15 8:50pm

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (calf) is questionable for Thursday's postseason contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Murray has been dealing with a strained left calf for weeks but has played through it, so he'll likely be on the court for Game 6. He got off to a rough start in the series with the Timberwolves. But he's turned things around, recently amassing 16 points in Tuesday's win. Although others have played better in this series, DFS managers can't ignore Murray's upside.

Jarrett Allen Wed May 15 5:50pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (rib) will not make his comeback in Game 5 against the Celtics on Wednesday. The big guy has been downgraded from questionable to out. Allen will be absent for an eighth consecutive game. His injury has given Isaac Okoro an opportunity to run with the starters, but he's been very unproductive fantasy-wise. Okoro has had back-to-back two-point outings. Tristan Thompson and Marcus Morris Sr. have also benefited from Allen's absence, but they haven't been great for fantasy production either.

Donovan Mitchell Wed May 15 5:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (calf) has been officially ruled out for Wednesday's clash with the Celtics. The Cleveland star misses a second consecutive game, and the team finds itself in a very tough situation on Wednesday, with Caris LeVert (knee) also joining Jarrett Allen on the sidelines. Dean Wade will move to the starting lineup, which will boost his fantasy value. However, the 27-year-old hasn't been a very productive per-minute performer in his career.

Caris LeVert Wed May 15 5:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Caris LeVert (knee) will not play against Boston on Wednesday. The team has downgraded him from questionable to out ahead of tip-off. LeVert was Donovan Mitchell's (calf) replacement in the starting lineup in Game 5. Dean Wade, who averaged 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 32 stars during the regular season, will be the next man up. Sam Merrill should also play a much larger role in the rotation.

Donovan Mitchell Wed May 15 2:10pm

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (calf) is expected to miss Game 5 versus the Boston Celtics. The star guard sat out Game 4 because of a calf strain, and the latest news is not encouraging for Cavaliers fans. The team travels to Boston and faces elimination against a talented Celtics lineup. Without Mitchell, everyone in the rotation will be forced to take on much larger roles again. Darius Garland was the primary playmaker in Game 4, scoring 30 points and dishing out seven assists. Final confirmation of Mitchell's status will come later today before tip-off.

Lonzo Ball Wed May 15 10:20am

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) gave an update on his injury status on his new podcast, "What an Experience." "It's coming along, man. Week by week," Ball said. "It's improving, so that's all I can ask for. Still not where I want it to be. Out of 100 (percent), I'd say I'm about 70 (percent). Good enough to play, but it could still get better. I still got a long summer ahead of me. But definitely looking forward to the future." The talented playmaker hasn't played in an NBA game since January 2022 due to a left knee injury. Ball, who will turn 27 in October, recently picked up a $21.4 million option on his contract for the 2024-25 season.

Karl-Anthony Towns Wed May 15 10:10am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns posted a team-high 23 points in Tuesday's 112-97 loss to the Nuggets despite hurting his left knee early in the game. In an unfortunate incident, Towns banged knees with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and had to briefly exit the game near the end of the first quarter. He moved gingerly after returning, but the Timberwolves trainers apparently worked wonders during the halftime break, as Towns looked completely fine in the second half. Towns, who had meniscus surgery on the same knee during the regular season, added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals to his line, shooting 10-for-19 from the field, including 2-for-5 from deep. It looks like the Timberwolves star escaped serious injury, but he could still pop up on the injury report ahead of Thursday's Game 6.

Nikola Jokic Wed May 15 10:00am

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic dominated Game 5 against Minnesota on Tuesday, finishing a 112-97 win with 40 points on 15-for-22 shooting. He went 2-for-3 from downtown and added seven rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and one block to his tally, becoming only the second player after Chris Paul to record a playoff game with 40-plus points, 10-plus assists, and zero turnovers. This also marks Jokic's highest-scoring game of the 2024 playoffs. Jokic, who received his third MVP trophy ahead of Tuesday's contest, has looked back to his best in the last couple of games, and it spells doom for the Timberwolves, who are now 3-2 down in the series after leading 2-0.

Aaron Gordon Wed May 15 10:00am

Denver Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon picked up two early fouls against Minnesota on Tuesday night but still put together a strong performance in a big win. He recorded his third double-double of the 2024 playoffs with 18 points and 10 rebounds on 7-for-14 shooting while delivering five assists and collecting one steal. Gordon's high-energy efforts included multiple dunks. The 28-year-old has quietly been Denver's second-best player in the series, posting 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals with 66 percent shooting from the field.

Isaiah Hartenstein Wed May 15 9:50am

New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein had a historic outing in Tuesday's 121-91 win over the Pacers. He tied Charles Oakley's franchise record and became only the ninth player in NBA playoffs history to record 12-plus offensive rebounds in a game. Hartenstein added five boards on the defensive end, finishing with a big 17-rebound outing in just 31 minutes. He scored seven points on 2-for-3 shooting and recorded five assists with one block. The seven-footer has taken major steps as a playmaker in the series against Indiana, notching five-plus assists in three of the last four games. Hartenstein has done a good job this postseason as Mitchell Robinson's (ankle) replacement in the starting unit, averaging 9.6 points and 7.9 rebounds in 29.5 minutes.

Pascal Siakam Wed May 15 9:50am

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam scored a team-high 22 points on 7-for-15 shooting in Tuesday's heavy 121-81 defeat against the Knicks. After tying the series at two, Indiana struggled to cope with the occasion at Madison Square Garden, but Siakam produced a solid performance. He also led the team in rebounding with eight boards, notching two assists and one steal with 2-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc. The 2019 NBA champion has now posted 20-plus points twice in three games. Another productive performance will be expected from Siakam on Thursday as the Pacers face elimination on home court.

Jalen Brunson Wed May 15 9:40am

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson continued to shine in the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, leading his squad to a 121-91 victory against Indiana with a 44-point effort on 18-for-35 shooting. He became the 11th player in history to record 40 points in at least five different games of a postseason. Only five players have had more such efforts in a single year, with LeBron James and Jerry West sharing the league record with eight. Brunson's night included seven assists and four rebounds with two made triples. He has been limited to 29 percent shooting from deep by the Pacers, but the Knicks star still averages 32.0 points per game in the series.