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Offseason | NBA Week 26

NBA bans Jontay Porter for life for gambling violations

Wed Apr 17 1:13pm ET
Field Level Media

The NBA issued a lifetime ban to Jontay Porter following an investigation into his involvement in gambling on league games, it announced Wednesday.

An investigation directed by the league found that Porter "violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes and betting on NBA games," according to a league news release.

Porter, a center, was under a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors in the 2023-24 season.

"There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter's blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.


"While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game."

According to the league, Porter played only three minutes of the Raptors' home loss to the Sacramento Kings on March 20 before telling the team he didn't feel well. Prior to the game, he "disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor," the league said.

Additionally, per the NBA, another known better placed an $80,000 online wager that would have paid out $1.1 million if Porter underperformed the odds.

The prop bet was frozen and not paid after it was deemed suspicious.

The NBA also reported that between January and March as a member of the Raptors or their G League team, Raptors 905, Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games through an associate's account and won about $22,000.

Porter, 24, averaged 4.4 points through 26 games (five starts) for Toronto this season. He began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020-21, then didn't appear in the league the next two seasons.

He last played on March 22.

His older brother, Michael Porter Jr., started 81 games for the Denver Nuggets this season.

Player Notes
Tyrese Haliburton Thu May 2 6:00pm

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) will be good to go for Thursday's Game 6 against Milwaukee. An issue with his lower back has kept Haliburton on the injury report for the past few games, but the team has upgraded him from questionable to available ahead of Thursday's action. The young Pacers star will aim to produce a big finish to the series. Through five games, he's gotten to the 20-point mark only once, averaging 15.8 points in the first-round matchup with 5.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists.

Patrick Beverley Thu May 2 6:00pm

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Patrick Beverley (oblique) has been upgraded from probable to available for Thursday's Game 6 against Indiana. Beverley is set to make up Milwaukee's starting backcourt with the returning Damian Lillard (Achilles). He will likely take a backseat offensively, but Beverley's tenacity on the defensive end is a big asset for the Bucks, and he should continue to get a healthy dose of action. Through the first five games in the series, Beverley has averaged 34.0 minutes a night, posting 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals.

Khris Middleton Thu May 2 5:50pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) has been officially cleared to play in Thursday's Game 6 against the Pacers. The team has upgraded him from probable to available. Middleton has been huge in the series for Milwaukee, but he will likely play a slightly lesser role offensively on Thursday as Damian Lillard (Achilles) returns to the lineup. With that said, the team needs another big performance from Middleton to survive in the series, with Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) still on the shelf.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Thu May 2 5:50pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) isn't ready to return to the lineup on Thursday against Indiana. He was considered a game-time call for the contest along with Damian Lillard (Achilles), but while Lillard will be back in action, Antetokounmpo is still left to wait for his chance to return. It won't come in the 2024 playoffs if Milwaukee loses on Thursday. Bobby Portis was one of the stars in Milwaukee's Game 5 victory, recording 29 points with 10 rebounds, and he's set for another start in Antetokounmpo's place on Thursday.

Damian Lillard Thu May 2 5:30pm

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) will play in Game 6 against Indiana on Thursday. Milwaukee gets its superstar guard back after Lillard sat out two games with an Achilles injury. He's set to play a huge role on Thursday as the Bucks try to fight off elimination once again. Lillard is averaging 32.3 points and 5.3 assists in the series, shooting 44.4 percent from outside.

Gary Harris Thu May 2 5:20pm

Orlando Magic guard/forward Gary Harris (hamstring) is considered a game-time call for Friday's Game 6 against Cleveland. He suffered a right hamstring strain in Game 5, exiting the contest early. Harris has started all five games for the Magic in the playoffs, averaging 26.2 minutes. However, he hasn't been very productive, posting only 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony could get more playing opportunities on Friday, but the two haven't made any noise in the playoffs and would be risky choices for DFS managers.

Alex Caruso Thu May 2 3:50pm

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso was awarded the NBA's Hustle Award on Thursday afternoon. Always known for his effort and grit, the 30-year-old earned recognition for what he brings to the court consistently. For the season, Caruso averaged 10.1 points per game but made his biggest impact on the defensive end by averaging one block and 1.7 steals per game. He made the All-Defensive first team last season and now has been rewarded for his hustle in 2024. Finishing in second place in the voting was Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski came in third place.

Jarrett Allen Thu May 2 3:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (ribs) did not participate in practice on Thursday as the team prepares for a pivotal Game 6 versus the Orlando Magic. The 26-year-old did not play in Game 5 and continues to suffer from a nagging rib injury. This is not encouraging news for the starting center, as Allen has been a difference-maker all season long. In this series, he has averaged 17 points over four contests while hauling in over 13 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers will attempt to close out the Magic on Friday, and if Allen can't recover in time, the team will likely rely on Marcus Morris Sr. and Tristan Thompson to take on more minutes in the frontcourt.

Damian Lillard Thu May 2 3:40pm

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) is considered questionable to play in Thursday's game versus the Indiana Pacers. The star guard was originally listed as doubtful to play on Wednesday's injury report, but the latest news is certainly an intriguing storyline. Lillard has not suited up since he hurt his right Achilles in Game 3 of the series. With the Bucks facing elimination, his return to the court would be a huge lift for Game 6 in Indiana. His status is worth monitoring as we get closer to tip-off on Thursday.

Al Horford Thu May 2 11:00am

Boston Celtics power forward/center Al Horford replaced Kristaps Porzingis (calf) in the starting lineup for Wednesday's Game 5 win over the Miami Heat. The dominant team performance putting the game out of hand early limited Horford's time on the court to 22 minutes. Boston's 37-year-old veteran still delivered eight points, six rebounds, and three assists to help build the lead. Horford will continue to start in the next round with Porzingis missing several more games. The Celtics must rely on Horford and reserve Luke Kornet as their centers against a tougher Cleveland Cavaliers or Orlando Magic opponent.

Jrue Holiday Thu May 2 11:00am

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the team's Game 5 win versus the Miami Heat. The five-time All-Defensive Team guard closed a quiet offensive series by shooting 3-for-5 from the field on Wednesday. Holiday helped keep the opposing guards in check with his stellar defense, but he only averaged 7.8 points on eight shot attempts per game in the series. Derrick White becoming a bigger offensive force in the backcourt limits Holiday's fantasy ceiling. However, Kristaps Porzingis (calf) missing several more games in the next round could be a fantasy boost to improve Holiday's points and rebounds in a more challenging series.

Derrick White Thu May 2 11:00am

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White had a great game with 25 points, five rebounds, and two assists in Game 5's win over the Miami Heat. The 29-year-old tied Jaylen Brown for the most points scored as Boston dominated the game from start to finish. White has stepped up the whole series by averaging 22.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in the five games. The Celtics treat White as their third offensive option behind Jayson Tatum and Brown in most games without Kristaps Porzingis. White's stock continuing to rise, and he'll be a strong fantasy option in the next round due to Porzingis (calf) missing more games.

Ivica Zubac Thu May 2 10:20am

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac missed only one of his eight shots to produce a 15-point outing in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to Dallas. Across 26 minutes of action, he also recorded six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Zubac's performance was the lone bright spot for the Clippers in a 30-point loss, particularly his start. The Croatian big man scored eight points in the first six minutes. Zubac has been strong throughout the series and is probably the only player on the team who's not disappointed with his postseason production. He's netted 16.0 points per game with 61 percent shooting and is averaging 9.0 rebounds with 1.0 steals.

Russell Westbrook Thu May 2 10:10am

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook had another miserable outing against the Mavericks in Game 5 on Wednesday, posting six points on 2-for-11 shooting in a 123-93 loss. He missed all three shots from deep and didn't register any assists in 16 minutes of action while grabbing five rebounds. Westbrook performed well in the series opener, but he's had a horrible four-game spell since. The former MVP has been limited to 6-for-35 shooting, notching just 19 total points. His performances have been a major letdown for the Clippers, who face elimination in Game 6 on Friday.

James Harden Thu May 2 10:00am

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden finished with only seven points in Wednesday's beatdown by the Mavericks, shooting 2-for-12 from the field, including 1-for-7 from deep. The veteran star also had four rebounds and seven assists with four turnovers. Overall, Harden has played well in the series, and Game 4 was probably one of the best postseason performances of his career, but the Clippers came completely unstuck in front of their fans Wednesday night. Tyronn Lue's team now faces elimination in Game 6 on Friday. With Kawhi Leonard (knee) on the shelf, Harden and Paul George need to come up with something special for the Clippers to extend the series.

Paul George Thu May 2 9:50am

Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Paul George shot only 4-for-13 from the field to finish with 15 points in Wednesday's 123-93 loss to Dallas. After going off for 33 points in Game 4, George struggled to get going offensively, although he managed to save his fantasy line a bit by getting a game-high 11 rebounds and handing out four assists. The Clippers star is shooting 41 percent from downtown in the series but has been wildly inconsistent with his performances. Sitting on a scoring average of 19.8 points per game, George is on track to have his least productive playoff campaign since 2013.

Maxi Kleber Thu May 2 9:40am

Dallas Mavericks forward/center Maxi Kleber brought a flamethrower to Wednesday's Game 5 against the Clippers, finishing 5-for-7 from downtown during a 15-point effort. He had as many triples as the Clippers' starting five combined as Dallas dominated in Los Angeles and took a 3-2 series lead. Kleber bagged three rebounds and an assist as well in 19 minutes off the bench. This was by far his best performance of the 2024 playoffs, and it's unlikely Kleber will repeat it soon. However, his three-point shooting has been top-notch throughout the series. After going 0-for-3 in Game 1, Kleber has missed only three of his 12 attempts from deep.

Kyrie Irving Thu May 2 9:40am

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving had a tough time from behind the arc on Wednesday against the Clippers but played an effective game to help the team grab a 3-2 series lead with a blowout win. He finished 1-for-7 with his three-pointers. However, Irving registered a game-high plus-35 rating as he notched 14 points with 6-for-14 shooting, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals. The one-two punch of Irving and Luka Doncic has been deadly in the series, and Dallas finds itself in a great position to grab a second-round ticket on Friday in Game 6.

Luka Doncic Thu May 2 9:30am

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic eased his way to 35 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists in Wednesday's dominant 123-93 win over the Clippers. The Mavericks star might be battling a knee issue and an illness, but he pulled out some of his best moves in the game to push his scoring average in the series to 30.2 points. Doncic has also tallied 9.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the first-round matchup, with the Clippers incapable of doing anything to slow him down.

Jayson Tatum Wed May 1 11:20pm

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum delivered 16 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists in the team's Game 5 series-clinching win over the Miami Heat. Tatum did not have to showcase his usual scoring excellence with the game out of hand early, but he still produced a double-double in just 32 minutes. The 26-year-old averaged 39.5 minutes per game in the series before tonight's game to show that the blowout impacted his fantasy output and time on the court. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) missing more games could mean more fantasy production from Tatum in the next round.