Nears 20 points in Game 1 defeat Murray wasn't as strong as we've seen him in the past in Friday's contest, but still managed to end three points shy of the 20-point mark while ending as one of three Nuggets with 15 or more points in a losing effort. It will be key to see how Murray, who has been dealing with calf discomfort as of late, is able to perform throughout the semifinals and if his injury limits him to any extend against a talented Timberwolves squad.
Leads from deep in 20-point Game 1 Porter led all players in Friday's contest in threes made while ending as one of two Nuggets with 20 or more points and adding a half-dozen rebounds in a losing effort. Porter has surpassed the 20-point mark in five straight playoff contests, connecting on four or more threes in three straight games.
Nears triple-double in Game 1 loss Jokic led all Nuggets players in scoring, rebounds and assists to go along with a team-high-tying trio of steals in a well-rounded performance that nearly resulted in a triple-double in Friday's Game 1. Jokic struggled a bit from the field, but still finished north of 30 points for the third time this postseason and concluded one assist and two board shy of a triple-double. Jokic has a tough matchup against Minnesota's big men, so it will be key to keep an eye on how he is able to perform against a strong defense in the semifinals.
Big fourth quarter in Game 1 Reid struggled over the first three quarters of Friday's contest, but showed up in a big way in the fourth frame while scoring 14 of his 16 points and giving the Timberwolves a boost off the bench in a winning effort. The Sixth Man of the Year ended as one of four players with 10 or more points in the road victory, notching his third game of the postseason in double figures in scoring.
Top distributor in double-double Conley led all players in Friday's Game 1 in assists while ending as one of four Timberwolves in double figures in scoring and as the lone player with a double-double in a winning effort. Conley, who connected on a team-high-tying trio of threes, reached double digits in assists for the first time this postseason, having recorded at least 10 points and seven dimes in three playoff outings.
Career high in Game 1 victory Edwards did it all to lead Minnesota to a Game 1 win on the road, posting a new playoff career high in scoring while leading all players in Friday's contest in points scored in an offensive showcase. Edwards, who scored 16 points in the first quarter alone and capped the game with 12 points in the final quarter, became the first Timberwolves player to post two consecutive 40-point playoff games. If Edwards can continue to pace Minnesota the way he did in Game 1, the Timberwolves will be in a good position to steal another game on the road in Game 2.
Will play in Game 1 Murray went through his usual warmup for Game 1 and completed it with no setbacks, so the star floor general will be available to handle his regular workload in the series opener against Minnesota. Murray was stellar in the first round against the Lakers, hitting two game-winning shots and averaging 23.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.
Out again Sunday This will be the seventh game in a row on the shelf for Porter, and he remains without a timetable for a return.
Questionable for Game 7 Allen has missed the last two games of the series while dealing with a rib injury, and the questionable tag doesn't shed a lot of light regarding his potential availability for the series finale. The Cavaliers need Allen to be at his best, though, as he's an influential piece of the team on both ends of the court. Allen is averaging 17.0 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in the first-round series against Orlando through four appearances.
Questionable for Game 7 After suffering his hamstring injury in Game 5, Harris missed his first game of the series on Friday in Game 6. If the veteran is unable to suit up Sunday, Jonathan Isaac could potentially make another start due to his defensive versatility.
Expected to play Saturday Murray will go through his usual warmup for Game 1, and if he gets through it without any setbacks, he should be all set to take the court. Murray was terrific in the previous round against the Lakers, posting 23.6 points and 7.2 assists per game.
Picks up option for 2024-25 Ball continues to work toward a potential comeback before he hits the open market next summer, as he signed an original four-year, $80 million free agent deal in 2021, so it was a no-brainer for him to pick up this option. Ball hasn't logged minutes at the NBA level since Jan. 2022, but both the player and the organization are hopeful he'll be able to step on the hardwood at some point during the 2024-25 campaign.
Likely out for postseason Kleber suffered the injury in Friday's Game 6 victory over the Clippers. Barring a quick turnaround, it looks like Dallas will need to start planning to be without him going forward. As a result, Derrick Jones and Josh Green are candidates to see increased roles providing depth behind P.J. Washington at power forward.
Carries Mavericks to Game 6 win 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.
Close to double-double in Game 6 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.
Shines in series-clinching win 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.
Double-doubles in playoff exit 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.
Scores 18 points in Game 6 defeat 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.
Poor shooting in season-ending loss 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.
