Not running yet Coach Tom Thibodeau said Sunday that Anunoby had been doing "pool work" and hasn't started running yet as he rehabs a left hamstring injury he sustained in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It seems as though Anunoby has a ways to go before returning to the hardwood, putting his status for the rest of the series in serious jeopardy.
Good to go Nesmith was deemed questionable ahead of Sunday's contest with a sore right shoulder. However, he'll suit up for the contest and should have no restrictions. Nesmith is averaging 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during the series.
Available for Game 4 Haliburton will play through multiple injuries Sunday, as he's dealing with low back spasms, a right ankle sprain and a sacral contusion. Despite the injuries, Haliburton has played 35 or more minutes in each game this series and has topped 30 points in back-to-back contests.
Plays 17 minutes in return Wade returned to action having missed the entire postseason due to an injured knee, totaling five points in 17 minutes. While he does provide the Cavaliers with some much-needed depth, he is far from a difference-maker. Saturday's loss leaves Cleveland trailing 2-1 in the series with Game 4 scheduled for Monday.
Struggles in Game 3 loss Strus continues to deliver nothing but mediocrity, scoring fewer than 15 points for the eighth time in the past nine games, all during the playoffs. If the Cavaliers have any chance of beating the Celtics, they are going to need Strus to rediscover his form from earlier in the season. Based on what we have seen during the postseason, that might be wishful thinking.
Fails to score in 11 minutes Merrill missed his only shot attempt, failing to have an impact once again. Although he did have a couple of bright spots throughout the season, Merrill has been a non-factor in the playoffs.
Rare appearance in win Brissett played one minute of garbage time as the Celtics held on for a relatively comfortable victory Saturday. Barring another sizeable margin, Brissett is unlikely to leave the bench on most nights, especially as we get deeper into the playoffs.
Limited in Game 3 win Hauser connected on a pair of three-pointers, the highlight of what was another passive performance. Boston is generally running with a shallow rotation, with Payton Pritchard the only depth piece playing meaningful minutes. Having wrestled back home court advantage, Boston will be pushing for a 3-1 series lead when the two teams line up again Monday.
Strong offensive showing Holiday was aggressive from the get-go, looking to score from the opening tip. Although he ended with just 18 points, the bulk of those came in the first half, keeping the Celtics on the front foot. Now leading 2-1 in the series, Boston will look to repeat this performance Monday before heading home for Game 5.
Records 13/8/3 line in loss Holmgren has struggled a bit against Dallas' defensive front through three games after averaging 15.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots over four games against the Pelicans. The Mavericks have been able to stay fresh in the paint with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively platooning at the five, and Jaylin Williams hasn't offered the same kind of secondary support. Holmgren has also failed to keep Luka Doncic off the glass, and he'll need to improve in several areas to keep the Thunder in the series.
Scores 16 points after exit Although Williams headed to the locker room with an apparent ankle injury, he eventually returned to the court and finished as the team's second-highest scorer. Williams has been an invaluable piece of the Thunder's game plan on both sides of the ball, and his DFS salary has steadily risen throughout the playoffs. Josh Giddey's inconsistent play has forced Williams to produce with more frequency, and although Luguentz Dort has shown signs of life in the postseason, his defensive prowess doesn't always translate to favorable fantasy totals. Along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, Williams will continue to be one of the team's best fantasy values.
Delivers double-double in loss Gilgeous-Alexander continued his run of stellar production in the Game 3 loss. The All-Star averaged a stunning 28.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists over six playoff games heading into Saturday's contest, making him one of the league's most prolific postseason contributors. His most noticeable stat of the evening was a career-high five blocked shots. Prior to Saturday, the guard had only recorded four swats three times in his pro career.
Scores team-high 27 points Washington enjoyed another splendid shooting night beyond the arc after draining seven shots from downtown in Game 2. His 23 shot attempts matched a season high for Washington, who is averaging 13.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.3 assists and 1.0 blocks in the playoffs. He's also converting 52.9 percent of his shots during the postseason.
Plays through injuries for the win Doncic sealed the Game 3 win by winning a jump ball in the closing seconds and grabbing the loose ball before the buzzer. While Doncic's inspired play was a clear difference-maker in the victory, he left the court favoring his left ankle. His injury struggles were noticeable throughout the game, as his ankle and lingering knee issue limited his speed in transition. Still, Doncic played through the pain and delivered his best rebound total of the postseason. Although Doncic may find himself on the injury report for Monday evening's rematch, he'll carry a full load if his body can take the beating.
Bounces back with 22 points After a season-low nine points in Game 2, Irving came back with a diverse stat line, helping the Mavericks even the series. Irving complemented teammate Luka Doncic with a series of key plays in the closing minutes, draining all four of his shots in the final stanza. Irving led the team with seven assists, which marked the fourth time the All-Star exceeded his seasonal average in the category during the playoffs.
Ruled out for Game 3 Allen has yet to see the court in the series against the Celtics, and he'll aim to be available for the Game 4 matchup on Monday. This means Evan Mobley will remain at center while Isaac Okoro should also remain in the starting lineup.
Good to go Saturday Wade has been sidelined since March 8, but he made it through warmups without any setbacks and is officially good to go. Jarrett Allen (ribs) remains out, however. It will be interesting to see what type of role Wade plays after being sidelined so long.
