Fantasy Basketball

Lively supplied 10 points (3-3 FG, 4-8 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and one steal across 24 minutes during Friday's 114-101 victory over the Clippers in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Lively was perfect from the field, active on the glass and efficient in limited minutes out there. The rookie has shown he can be a valuable contributor on both ends of the court when called upon duty, but his fantasy upside won't be high if he continues to play off the bench.

Zubac produced 17 points (6-11 FG, 5-8 FT), 11 rebounds and one assist in 37 minutes during Friday's 114-101 loss to the Mavericks in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The Clippers needed someone to step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined in Game 6, and Ivica Zubac did what he could on both ends of the court. He finished the series with three double-doubles in six outings and scored in double digits each time while shooting a robust 60 percent from the field. Zubac isn't flashy and is not one of the most athletic big men in the league, but he gets the job done. He also averaged 11.7 points and 9.2 boards per contest during the regular season.

Thompson posted two points (1-3 FG), two rebounds and one block across 12 minutes during Friday's 103-96 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Thompson played as the primary backup behind Evan Mobley, something that Cleveland fans may be hoping will not happen again. Other than providing additional size, Thompson rarely has much of an impact on the court in the late stages of his career. Jarrett Allen (ribs) will almost certainly be doing everything possible to make it back for Game 7.

Kleber is doubtful to return to Friday's Game 6 against the Clippers due to a right shoulder sprain, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports.

Barring a quick, surprising turnaround, Kleber is unlikely to return to Friday's contest. Given the nature of the injury, a return for a potential Game 7 on Sunday could be up in the air as well. In Kleber's absence, Derrick Jones could see some extra minutes providing depth at power forward.

Allen (ribs) is out for Friday's Game 6 against the Magic.

Allen has been downgraded from questionable to out due to a right rib contusion, marking his second consecutive absence. Isaac Okoro started Game 5, but Marcus Morris will enter the starting lineup Friday.

Embiid provided 39 points (12-25 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 13-13 FT), 13 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal over 40 minutes before fouling out of Thursday's 118-115 loss to the Knicks in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Embiid was clearly not 100 percent healthy throughout the series, and the limitations were more noticeable as the series progressed but still posted outstanding stat lines, scoring 29 or more points in four of the six contests. He also recorded three double-doubles and a triple-double, but he couldn't do the heavy lifting on his own in the games where Tyrese Maxey struggled. Between the Play-In win over the Heat and the first-round series against the Knicks, Embiid averaged 31.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 blocks across 41.0 minutes per game.

Wagner amassed 26 points (7-16 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 11-11 FT), five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 42 minutes during Friday's 103-96 win over the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Wagner went a perfect 11-of-11 from the line, helping the Magic to an impressive Game 6 victory. It was another strong performance by Wagner, who continues to develop into a key piece for Orlando. Game 7 will take place Sunday, with both teams vying for a second-round berth against the high-flying Celtics.

Morris registered two points (1-7 FG, 0-4 3Pt), eight rebounds and two assists across 27 minutes during Friday's 103-96 loss to Orlando in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Morris played 27 minutes as the starting power forward in the Game 6 loss. The Cavaliers will be hoping Jarrett Allen can overcome his rib injury and get back on the floor for a must-win Game 7 on Sunday.

Tucker will move into the starting lineup for Friday's Game 6 versus Dallas, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reports.

The Clippers are opting for more of a defensive presence as they are facing an elimination game. Amir Coffey will head to the bench with this move.

Isaac will start Friday's Game 6 against the Cavaliers, Cody Taylor of USA Today reports.

Isaac started the first two games of the opening-round series at center but returned to the bench with Orlando facing an 0-2 hole. He'll move back into the starting lineup Friday in place of Gary Harris (hamstring). Isaac has averaged 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.0 steals in 21.4 minutes over the first five games of the series.

Morris is in the starting five for Friday's Game 6 against the Magic.

Morris will replace Isaac Okoro in the starting lineup Friday, while Jarrett Allen (hip) misses his second consecutive contest. Morris will make his first start of the season for Cleveland but averaged 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.6 minutes across seven starts in 2023-24 for Philadelphia.

Portis ended with 20 points (8-17 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 3-7 FT), 15 rebounds and two assists over 36 minutes in Thursday's 120-98 loss to Indiana in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Portis once again dominated the glass for Milwaukee in a season-ending loss Thursday, leading all players in the contest in rebounds while ending as one of three Bucks with 20 or more points in a double-double outing. Portis stepped up nicely in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) in the first-round series, posting a double-double in five of the six contests while surpassing the 20-point mark in the final two games against Indiana.

George amassed 18 points (6-18 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal over 42 minutes during Friday's 114-101 loss to the Mavericks in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

George was asked to carry the Clippers offensively in the absence of Kawhi Leonard (knee), but he ended the series on a sour note, as he couldn't reach the 20-point mark in three of his last four appearances. In fact, George surpassed the 22-point mark just once in the six contests against the Mavericks, and his numbers throughout the series were disappointing. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range. Those were a clear decline compared to his regular-season figures, and it might be fair to wonder if the Clippers are going to bring him back for 2024-25, or if they might look at potential trade options during the offseason.

Coffey will come off the bench for Friday's Game 6 versus the Mavericks, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reports.

P.J. Tucker is getting the nod with the first unit, and it's not a huge surprise. Coffey has been struggling in this series, posting averages of 3.0 points on 28.6 percent shooting from the field.

Okoro isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's Game 6 against the Magic.

Okoro will be replaced by Marcus Morris in the starting five, while Jarrett Allen (hip) misses a second consecutive contest. Okoro has averaged 3.5 points, 2.0 steals, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 20.3 minutes across his previous four appearances coming off the bench in Cleveland's first-round series against Orlando.

Hield amassed 20 points (6-10 FG, 6-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds and one assist over 21 minutes during Thursday's 118-115 loss to the Knicks in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Hield went scoreless in two of the first three games of the series and was a DNP-CD in Games 4 and 5, but he provided a lift with his scoring off the bench in Game 6, particularly when the Sixers were in a complicated spot during the second and third quarters. Hield struggled in the series, but this 20-point effort will be a reminder of what he can do when he's given a consistent role on offense, regardless of his role.

Hart closed with 16 points (5-11 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 14 rebounds and seven assists over 46 minutes during Thursday's 118-115 win over the 76ers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Hart finished just three assists away from recording a triple-double as the Knicks clinched a 4-2 series win over the 76ers, and the small forward played a prominent role on both ends of the court throughout the first round. Hart recorded three double-doubles in the series but grabbed double-digit rebounds four times and scored 15-plus points in all but one of the six contests. Hart should have a tougher matchup in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up being matched up against Pascal Siakam for stretches.

Middleton recorded 14 points (6-15 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals over 38 minutes in Thursday's 120-98 loss to Indiana in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Middleton led Milwaukee seemingly on a nightly basis over the course of the first-round series against Indiana, but he was held in check in the series-ending contest Thursday while failing to record 15 points for the only time in the series. Middleton, who dealt with some foul trouble that seemed to impact his performance and aggressiveness in the first half, put together a strong opening-round series, scoring 20 or more points in four of the six contests.

Ingles accumulated two assists over eight minutes during Friday's 103-96 win over the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Ingles played just eight minutes in the win, serving as more of a cheerleader than a player. Now in the twilight of his career, Ingles provides the team with a much-needed veteran presence.

Mitchell finished Friday's 103-96 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with 50 points (22-36 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 3-6 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one block in 42 minutes.

Mitchell outscored the rest of the Cavaliers roster, dropping 50 points in the loss. He scored all of Cleveland's points in the final quarter. He is going to need more help on the offensive end should the Cavaliers hope to advance to the second round, where the Celtics await.

Mann (leg) will be available for Friday's Game 6 against the Mavericks, Mirjam Swanson of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Mann was carrying a questionable tag earlier in the day, but he made it through shootaround and warmups without any setbacks. Mann is not expected to have any restrictions with the Clippers facing an elimination game.

Harris (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday's Game 6 against the Cavaliers, Kendra Andrews of ESPN.com reports.

Harris will miss his first game of the series due to a right hamstring strain he suffered during Game 5. Jonathan Isaac will start in Harris' absence, but Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony are also candidates for increased roles.

Mann (leg) was seen at shootaround ahead of Friday's Game 6 against the Mavericks, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.

Mann is officially deemed questionable for Friday's contest due to a right lower leg contusion. However, Mann's presence at shootaround is a good sign he will suit up for the Clippers' win-or-go-home playoff game.

DiVincenzo racked up 23 points (8-18 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals across 48 minutes during Thursday's 118-115 victory over Philadelphia in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Jalen Brunson carried the Knicks to victory in this series-clinching win, but DiVincenzo deserves credit for stepping up when the team needed him the most. He was coming off a few subpar performances, as he had shot 8-for-28 from the field in the previous three games of the series, but he reached the 20-point mark for the first time in the current playoff run while also filling out the stat sheet as he normally does. The Knicks need DiVincenzo at his best if they also want to get past the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. He averaged only 12.0 points while shooting 36.4 percent from the field in the first round.

Irving provided 30 points (11-19 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 3-5 FT), six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals across 42 minutes during Friday's 114-101 victory over the Clippers in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Irving led the Mavericks on offense and was a consistent weapon alongside Luka Doncic, reaching the 30-point mark in three of the six outings in the first-round series against the Clippers. He should continue to play a prominent role on offense for Dallas ahead of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Thunder.

Doncic accumulated 28 points (9-26 FG, 1-10 3Pt, 9-11 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and one steal in 43 minutes during Friday's 114-101 win over the Clippers in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Kyrie Irving led the way for the Mavericks on offense, and Doncic didn't have his most efficient display, but he filled the stat sheet admirably and finished just three rebounds away from a triple-double. The fact that he surpassed the 25-point mark in all but one of the six games in the series against the Clippers shows how dominant Doncic can be on offense, and the numbers don't lie, as he averaged 29.8 points, 9.5 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game in the first round, posting four double-doubles and one triple-double in the process.

Harden finished with 16 points (5-16 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and two steals over 43 minutes during Friday's 114-101 loss to Dallas in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Harden was one of the players the Clippers needed to step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, and the veteran guard couldn't come through when the team needed him the most. He was particularly woeful in the final two games of the series, where he went 7-for-28 from the field and 1-for-13 from three-point range. He averaged 21.2 points and 8.0 assists per game in the series, but the numbers don't tell the whole story here, as the Clippers needed -- and expected -- more out of him, but he couldn't deliver when called upon duty.

Anthony accumulated nine points (4-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal across 19 minutes during Friday's 103-96 win over the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Anthony closed the game Friday, providing the Magic with some much-needed floor spacing. With Gary Harris (hamstring) unavailable, Anthony slid into a larger role. That could stick for Game 7 should Harris remain sidelined.

Murray (calf) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Timberwolves.

Murray has been in and out of Denver's practices this week but was able to play in all five of Denver's first-round games against the Lakers. Murray averaged 39.8 minutes per contest against Los Angeles, and his calf is feeling even better heading into Saturday's matchup, Harrison Wind of TheDNVR.com reports.

Maxey recorded 17 points (6-18 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds, five assists and two steals over 43 minutes during Thursday's 118-115 loss to the Knicks in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Maxey was coming off a heroic performance in Game 5, scoring 46 points and making some clutch buckets to keep the 76ers alive in the series. However, he wasn't able to deliver in Game 6 and finished with more field-goal attempts than points scored. Maxey posted her lowest-scoring tally of the series in Thursday's loss, but he still averaged 29.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game in the first round of the playoffs.