Fantasy Basketball

Hartenstein contributed 14 points (5-7 FG, 4-4 FT), 12 rebounds, eight assists and one block over 39 minutes during Wednesday's 130-121 victory over the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Hartenstein continues to impress for the Knicks, falling two assists short of a triple-double. With Mitchell Robinson (ankle) likely out for the remainder of the postseason, Hartenstein should be in line for heavy minutes moving forward. It's been a breakout season for Hartenstein, one that should have him well-placed to receive a sizeable upgrade when it comes time to discuss his future contract.

Allen (ribs) is questionable for Thursday's Game 2 against the Celtics.

Despite a negative in-game report from TNT's broadcast saying Allen wasn't able to do much in recent practices and was having trouble sleeping due to the rib injury, coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the Game 1 loss that the Cavaliers' starting center is showing signs of progress, per Bobby Manning of the CLNS Media Network. Allen has missed four straight games and was listed as questionable ahead of each contest, so his current status doesn't provide much optimism.

Holmgren totaled 19 points (8-16 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-1 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, three blocks and two steals over 31 minutes during Tuesday's 117-95 victory over the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Holmgren produced on both ends of the floor, scoring 19 points with five combined steals and blocks. After a stellar rookie season, Holmgren is looking to cement himself as an elite center despite his age. The Thunder will be hoping for a repeat performance Thursday before heading to Dallas for Games 3 and 4.

Gafford totaled 16 points (5-12 FG, 6-8 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist and five blocks across 27 minutes during Tuesday's 117-95 loss to the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Gafford recorded a double-double in the loss, adding five blocks. It was arguably his best performance of the postseason and something the Mavericks are going to need more of should they hope to advance to the Conference Finals. Despite the loss, the scoreline does not reflect that the Mavericks kept this close for three quarters.

The Knicks announced Tuesday that Robinson sustained a stress injury to his surgically repaired left ankle last week during the team's first-round series victory over the 76ers and will be re-evaluated in 6-to-8 weeks.

Robinson won't need an additional surgery and is expected to make a full recovery before training camp, but the setback with the ankle rules him out for the rest of the Knicks' playoff run. In Robinson's absence, Precious Achiuwa is expected to re-enter the rotation as the primary backup to starting center Isaiah Hartenstein during the Knicks' second-round series versus the Pacers. Robinson made just 31 appearances during the regular season, posting averages of 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks and 0.6 assists in 24.8 minutes.

The NBA announced Tuesday that Gobert (personal) has been named the 2023-24 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Gobert has now tied Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most DPOY awards in NBA history with four. Gobert was the anchor Minnesota's defense, which boasted a league-best 108.4 defensive rating. The defensive stalwart's 2.1 blocks per game ranked sixth in the NBA while his 12.9 rebounds per contest ranked second.

Antetokounmpo recently sustained a torn Achilles' tendon and is set to undergo surgery in the near future, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Antetokounmpo has a long road ahead of him, with the recovery timeline from Achilles surgery for basketball players typically ranging from 9-to-12 months before a return to game action. His upcoming Achilles procedure will prevent him from competing alongside younger brother Giannis with the Greek national team in July in the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament, and he'll likely be in line to miss most, if not all, of the 2024-25 NBA season. The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, averaged 4.6 minutes per game over 34 appearances in 2023-24.

Wade (knee) won't suit up for Thursday's Game 2 matchup with Boston.

Wade has been out of commission for two months now, and with no positive updates to speak of, it's safe to assume he's still not close.

Tatum totaled 18 points (7-19 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks over 35 minutes during Tuesday's 120-95 victory over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Celtics cruised to a 25-point win in the series opener, but Tatum's shooting struggles can't be overlooked, as he had a rough outing and struggled to get things going offensively. The fact that he still came close to reaching the 20-point mark while also posting a double-double goes to show just how immensely talented he is, as he can post above-average numbers even when he has a down night by his standards. Tatum will aim to deliver a bounce-back performance in Game 2 on Thursday.

Mobley accumulated 17 points (8-12 FG, 1-2 FT), 13 rebounds, three assists and one block in 32 minutes during Tuesday's 120-95 loss to the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Mobley continues to play as Cleveland's starting center due to Jarrett Allen (ribs) being sidelined, but his numbers have not suffered. Mobley recorded his third double-double across his last four appearances Tuesday, and he should continue to operate as a reliable two-way threat in Game 2 on Thursday, especially if Allen can't suit up again.

Wood exercised his $3 million player option for the 2024-25 season Tuesday, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.

Wood was a sporadic part of the rotation in Los Angeles this season, appearing in 50 games with averages of 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17.4 minutes. There could potentially be a lot of changes for the Lakers this offseason depending on whether or not LeBron James picks up his player option, so it's difficult to project Wood's role for next season at the moment.

Gordon registered 20 points (8-14 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 33 minutes during Monday's 106-80 loss to Minnesota in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Gordon played with tons of energy and tried to spark the rest of the team throughout the game, but his efforts were unsuccessful. This game snapped a three-game streak of Gordon not being able to reach double-digit figures in the scoring column, and Gordon needs to remain a valuable offensive alternative for the Nuggets if they want to have a shot at turning the series around, especially given the struggles of both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter.

Nesmith totaled six points (2-7 FG, 2-6 3Pt), one rebound, two assists and one steal over 34 minutes during Wednesday's 130-121 loss to the Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Nesmith managed just six points in the loss, continuing his disappointing postseason. While he does provide the Pacers with a reliable defensive asset, his inability to score on a consistent basis remains a concern. The series will now head to Indiana, where the Pacers will look to secure their first win.

Anunoby has been ruled ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday's Game 2 against the Pacers with left hamstring soreness. He finished with 28 points (10-19 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 4-6 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one block in 28 minutes prior to departing.

Anunoby went straight to the locker room and was grabbing at his left hamstring after a shot attempt late in the third period. He'll be unable to return to the contest, and given the nature of his injury, his availability for Friday's Game 3 in Indiana would seem to be in jeopardy. The Knicks have already been running a thin rotation with the likes of Mitchell Robinson (ankle), Bojan Bogdanovic (foot) and Julius Randle (shoulder) having been ruled out for the season, so head coach Tom Thibodeau may need to call upon reserves such as Precious Achiuwa, Miles McBride and Alec Burks to take on more minutes if Anunoby can't play in Game 3.

Anunoby limped to the locker room holding his left hamstring during Wednesday's Game 2 against Indiana, Fred Katz of The Athletic reports.

After being without Jalen Brunson for portions of the first half, the Knicks could be down Anunoby after he came up limping during the third quarter with what appears to be a left hamstring injury. Until we get an official update from the Knicks, Anunoby should be considered questionable to return. While he's out, Alec Burks, Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa are the likely candidates for more minutes

Brown notched 32 points (12-18 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one block across 34 minutes during Tuesday's 120-95 win over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Jayson Tatum had a rough shooting performance in the series opener, but Brown was there to pick him up, and the latter led the Celtics in scoring with an impressive, efficient display on the offensive end of the court. Brown has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five playoff appearances, and he'll aim to keep that streak alive in Game 2 on Thursday.

Alexander-Walker accumulated 14 points (5-9 FG, 4-7 3Pt), six rebounds, one assist and three blocks in 30 minutes during Monday's 106-80 win over the Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

As has been the case throughout the entire playoff run, Alexander-Walker was impressive and provided a scoring punch off the bench, unsettling the Nuggets with his long-range shooting and energy. Alexander-Walker averaged just 8.0 points per game during the regular season, but he's taken his play to another level in the playoffs, scoring in double digits in four of his six appearances while upping his scoring average to 11.3 points per game.

Hart tallied 24 points (9-13 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 5-8 FT), 13 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and one block over 48 minutes in Monday's 121-117 win over Indiana in Game 1 of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Hart did a little bit of everything for New York to boost the team to a Game 1 victory, leading all players in Monday's contest in rebounds and assists to go along with a team-high trio of steals and coming up two dimes shy of a triple-double. Hart has seen a heavy amount of playing time so far this postseason, resulting in tallying a double-double in four of his seven playoff contests. Hart, who posted his highest point total of the playoffs, has surpassed the 20-point mark on four occasions.

Sheppard chipped in 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 3Pt) and one assist over 20 minutes during Wednesday's 130-121 loss to New York in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Sheppard continues to play meaningful minutes for the Pacers, connecting on three triples en route to 11 points. While the Pacers ended with six players logging double-digit scoring, it was still not enough to get over the hump in front of a vocal New York crowd. Sheppard should continue to serve as a three-point threat off the bench.

Jerome (ankle) has been ruled out for Game 2 versus the Celtics on Thursday.

Jerome has not logged a single minute this postseason as he continues to recover from ankle surgery, and there aren't any indications that that'll change anytime soon.

White registered 25 points (9-16 FG, 7-12 3Pt), one rebound and five assists in 33 minutes during Tuesday's 120-95 victory over Cleveland in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

White embraced a bigger role on offense on a night when Jayson Tatum struggled (7-19 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), and the former responded by delivering his third consecutive game with 25 or more points. White has taken a step forward due to Kristaps Porzingis (calf) being sidelined, and it'd be fair to consider him Boston's third-best offensive weapon under the current lineup construction. White will aim to keep the streak alive in Game 2 on Thursday, as the Celtics have gone 20-3 this season when he's scored 20 or more points between the regular season and the playoffs.

Mitchell produced 33 points (12-25 FG, 4-11 3Pt, 5-5 FT), six rebounds, five assists and one steal across 37 minutes during Tuesday's 120-95 loss to the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Mitchell carried the momentum he had from his epic Game 7 performance against the Magic on Sunday and surpassed the 30-point mark for the third straight game. However, the rest of his teammates didn't step up, and the Cavaliers suffered a devastating 25-point loss in the series opener. Mitchell should continue to post excellent numbers as the Cavaliers' go-to player on offense -- by a wide margin -- but there's a chance his mighty performances might not translate into wins as happened against the Magic in the previous round.

Wiggins logged 16 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 23 minutes during Tuesday's 117-95 victory over the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Wiggins had his best game of the playoffs, scoring 16 points including three triples. Given he scored a combined 23 points in the first-round series against the Pelicans, outbursts like this shouldn't be expected moving forward. With that said, he should continue to play a meaningful role off the bench, starting with Game 2 which will take place Thursday.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 29 points (8-19 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 11-13 FT), nine rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and one steal over 37 minutes during Tuesday's 117-95 win over Dallas in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Gilgeous-Alexander fell agonizingly short of his first career playoff triple-double, guiding the Thunder to an emphatic Game 1 victory. While this was a close contest for the first three quarters, Oklahoma City took over late, led by the MVP candidate. He will look to build on this performance when the two teams clash again Thursday.

McBride amassed four points (1-4 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and one assist across 20 minutes during Wednesday's 130-121 victory over the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

McBride managed just four points in the win, struggling to find any real rhythm on the offensive end. Although his role has been somewhat limited to this point, OG Anunoby (hamstring) going down could open up an interesting opportunity. Should Anunoby be forced to miss time, look for McBride to potentially slide into the starting lineup for Game 3.

Burks closed Wednesday's 130-121 victory over the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with zero points (0-1 FG) in one minute.

Burks dusted himself off Wednesday, leaving the bench for the first time this postseason. Jalen Brunson was forced to the locker room during the second quarter, affording one minute of playing time to Burks. Given Brunson was able to return to the game, it is unlikely we see Burks again anytime soon.

Haliburton totaled 34 points (11-19 FG, 7-11 3Pt, 5-6 FT), six rebounds, nine assists and three steals in 35 minutes during Wednesday's 130-121 loss to New York in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Haliburton finally found some rhythm on the offensive end, putting up a game-high 34 points, including seven triples. Although the Pacers managed to put up a respectable total, their defense simply wasn't up to the task of slowing down the Knicks. With the series now shifting to Indiana, Haliburton will look to build on this performance in the hopes of keeping the series alive.

Brunson (foot) has returned for the second half of Wednesday's Game 2 matchup with the Pacers, Fred Katz of The Athletic reports.

Brunson tweaked his foot during the first half and took an early trip to the locker room, but he started the second half for New York. However, the injury is clearly hampering him, as he's sporting a bit of a limp and struggling to guard his position on defense. It'll be interesting to see how he finishes the game.

Brunson is questionable to return to Wednesday's Game 2 against the Pacers with a sore right foot.

Brunson went to the locker room late in the first quarter and stayed there to start the second. The Knicks have given an update on his status, listing him as questionable to return with soreness in his right foot. Miles McBride should man the point guard spot for as long as Brunson is sidelined.

Brunson stayed in the locker room following the first quarter of Wednesday's Game 2 against Indiana for unspecified reasons, Steve Popper of Newsday reports.

Brunson exited the contest late in the first period and went back to the locker room with an undisclosed injury and didn't return to the bench to start the second quarter. Until clarification is provided, Brunson should be considered questionable to return. Miles McBride should handle most of the point guard duties in Brunson's stead, while Shake Milton could see his first action of the playoffs.