NBA Player News

Jones contributed zero points (0-2 FG, 0-2 3Pt), four rebounds, two blocks and one steal in 25 minutes during Saturday's 112-96 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Jones performed clean-up duty and also stepped in for Aaron Gordon briefly. His poor total mimicked below-average results from the first-unit wings, and Jones could be called upon for more production if Gordon's calf injury crops up on the injury report. Although Jones started for Gordon in Game 3, he's generated only 11 total points over the four-game series against the Timberwolves.

Johnson logged nine points (3-6 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-4 FT), two rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 27 minutes during Saturday's 112-96 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Johnson's production has slowed in the first round, averaging only 10.0 points, 1.5 assists, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.8 steals over four games against the Timberwolves. Although Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are propping up the team with sufficient totals, the two superstars need more help from the supporting cast. Right now, Johnson isn't holding up his end of the bargain. The Nuggets will face elimination Monday night, and the pressure will be on for Johnson, Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon to deliver better results.

Braun ended Saturday's 112-96 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with eight points (2-4 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal across 34 minutes.

Braun only took four shot attempts in the loss, ceding most of the backcourt output to Jamal Murray in the Game 4 defeat. Now facing an elimination game, the Nuggets desperately need more output from the supporting cast, and Braun could be set up for an easier task with Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Anthony Edwards (knee) shelved.

Gordon closed Saturday's 112-96 loss to Minnesota in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with nine points (4-11 FG, 1-5 3Pt), one rebound and one block in 23 minutes.

Gordon briefly headed to the locker room with a calf injury but made it back to the bench before the end of the contest. It seemed obvious that Gordon was struggling during a few possessions, and he may not be ready for Monday's elimination game against the Timberwolves. More news should emerge after Monday morning.

Gobert finished with four points (2-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt), 15 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals over 36 minutes during Saturday's 112-96 victory over the Nuggets in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Although Goberr didn't do much in the scoring column, he matched Nikola Jokic's rebound total with a team-high 15 boards in the contest. With Anthony Edwards (knee) and Dontie DiVincenzo (Achilles) out of action, Gobert, Julius Randle and Ayo Dosunmu will be called upon to increase their production to offset the missing output. A bigger spotlight will be on Gobert, who will be tasked with keeping Jokic in check for at least one more game.

McDaniels logged 12 points (4-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and one block over 33 minutes during Saturday's 112-96 victory over Denver in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

McDaniels didn't have the most productive box score during Saturday's win, but he certainly made his presence felt with his layup in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter, drawing the ire of Nikola Jokic that resulted in a scuffle between both teams. It's unclear whether there will be any disciplinary action for Game 5 on Monday for the parties involved, but the Timberwolves can't afford to lose any more players for the rest of the playoffs, as they'll be without Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Anthony Edwards (knee) going forward. McDaniels has averaged 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists over 36.0 minutes per game through the first four games of the series.

Reid recorded 17 points (7-13 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in 28 minutes during Saturday's 112-96 win over the Nuggets in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Ayo Dosunmu stole the show during Saturday's win, but Reid chipped in with quality minutes off the bench, finishing one rebound shy of a double-double. The Timberwolves find themselves up 3-1 in the series heading into Game 5 in Denver on Monday, but Reid and the rest of the role players will need to step up even more now that they will be without Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Anthony Edwards (knee) moving forward.

Edwards has been diagnosed with a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee and is expected to miss multiple weeks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports Sunday.

Edwards went to the locker room during the second quarter of Saturday's Game 4 against the Nuggets with an apparent left knee injury and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game, which Minnesota surprisingly won on the back of a career-high performance from Ayo Dosunmu. Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles during Saturday's win as well, so Mike Conley and Bones Hyland will be thrust into expanded roles for the remainder of the first-round series. If the Timberwolves win one of their next three games without their budding superstar, it's possible Edwards could return to action during the Western Conference Semifinals.

Murray contributed 30 points (10-25 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 7-7 FT), five rebounds, five assists and one block across 42 minutes during Saturday's 112-96 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Murray scored 11 of his team-high 30 points in the fourth quarter, but his scoring efforts were not enough for the Nuggets to mount a comeback. Murray has scored exactly 30 points in three of four games of the series while also recording at least five rebounds and five assists. The series will return to Denver on Monday, when Murray and the Nuggets will look to embark on coming back from 3-1 against a Timberwolves team that will be without Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Anthony Edwards (knee) moving forward.

Okongwu chipped in 12 points (4-7 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, one assist and four steals in 28 minutes during Saturday's 114-98 loss to New York in Game 4 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Okongwu turned in an improved performance, albeit still somewhat underwhelming. In his four playoff appearances, Okongwu has averaged 13.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 three-pointers and 1.9 combined steals and blocks, all down on his season numbers. With the two teams now locked at 2-2, Atlanta will head to New York looking for another road victory.