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Offseason | NBA Week 26

NBA roundup: Mavs grab road win over Clippers

Wed Apr 24 1:44am ET
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Luka Doncic had 32 points and nine assists and Kyrie Irving added 23 points as the Dallas Mavericks got the best of the Los Angeles Clippers 96-93 in Game 2 on Tuesday to even their first-round playoff series.

P.J. Washington scored 18 points and Derrick Jones Jr. had 10 as the Mavericks recovered from a double-digit defeat in Game 1 on Sunday, when they trailed by as many as 29 points and scored just 30 in the first half.

Doncic and Irving combined to go 19 of 44 (43.2 percent) in the game after they struggled in the decisive first half of Game 1 when they combined to shoot 5 of 19 (26.3 percent). Irving made 3 of 4 free throws in the last 12 seconds to seal the win.

James Harden and Paul George each scored 22 points as the Clippers were unable to take advantage of Kawhi Leonard's return. Leonard, who had not played since March 31 because of right knee inflammation, scored 15 points in 35 minutes.


Pacers 125, Bucks 108

Pascal Siakam recorded 37 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and Indiana evened its first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with an impressive victory over host Milwaukee in Game 2.

Myles Turner added 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who snapped a 10-game postseason losing streak dating back to 2018.

Damian Lillard scored 34 points and Brook Lopez added 22 for the third-seeded Bucks. Each player made six 3-pointers. Milwaukee again was without star Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).

Timberwolves 105, Suns 93

Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting and Minnesota pulled away from Phoenix in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series in Minneapolis.

Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert finished with 18 points apiece for Minnesota, which seized a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Timberwolves won by double digits despite a subpar night from Anthony Edwards, who shot 3 of 12 from the field and finished with 15 points.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 20 points on 6-for-13 shooting, though he was 1-for-6 from 3-point range. Kevin Durant finished with 18 points and Bradley Beal scored 14, but the pair combined to shoot 12 of 32 from the field.

Player Notes
James Harden Wed Apr 24 9:30am

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden had 22 points on 6-for-14 in a 96-93 loss to Dallas on Tuesday. After opening the series with a vintage performance and 28 points, Harden scored only three points in the first quarter without making any field goals, and the Clippers' offense struggled throughout the night. Harden finished with 6-for-14 shooting, including a 2-for-10 effort from deep, and tallied six rebounds with eight assists, one steal, and one block. The former MVP has plenty to think about ahead of Game 3, but at least the Clippers now have Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup to boost their chances in the series.

Luka Doncic Wed Apr 24 9:30am

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic netted a game-high 32 points in Tuesday's 96-93 Game 2 victory over the Clippers. Doncic added six rebounds, nine assists, one steal, and one block to his tally, playing a whopping 45:43 in the contest. Both teams struggled to put points on the board, and it was no different with Doncic, who finished 5-for-14 with his three-point attempts and 11-for-26 overall from the floor. Kyrie Irving added 23 points as the Mavericks continued to rely heavily on their star duo. The pair have averaged over 55 points per game in the series, with Doncic posting 32.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.

Damian Lillard Wed Apr 24 9:20am

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard continued to roll in Game 2 against the Pacers on Tuesday, but his big performance wasn't enough this time around for the team to get the win. Lillard led his squad in a 125-108 loss with 34 points on 10-for-21 shooting. Most of his makes came from downtown, as Lillard went 6-for-13 with the three-ball. He delivered five assists in the contest and recorded four rebounds with one steal. The 2024 All-Star Game MVP is thoroughly enjoying his first postseason campaign in three years, sitting among the top scorers with 34.5 points and boasting a very impressive 50 percent success rate from behind the arc.

Tyrese Haliburton Wed Apr 24 9:10am

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double in Tuesday's Game 2 victory over the Bucks. He already had seven assists in the first half and didn't have any trouble completing his double-double after the break, hitting three shots from downtown with seven attempts and finishing with 4-for-10 overall shooting. Additionally, Haliburton grabbed four rebounds and disrupted Milwaukee's offense by registering one steal and one block. The young Pacers star was a nightmare for the Bucks during the regular season, but they have found a way to limit him to 10.5 points in the playoffs so far. However, he's been shooting 40 percent from three-point range, and it looks to be only a matter of time before Haliburton explodes for a big performance in his first playoff campaign.

Pascal Siakam Wed Apr 24 9:00am

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 37 points and bagged 11 rebounds as his squad tied the first-round series against Milwaukee at one with a 125-108 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night. Siakam became the first player to start a postseason campaign with consecutive 35-point, 10-rebound performances since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967. The two-time All-Star reached the impressive double-double with 16-for-23 shooting, and he also found time to dish out six assists. The Pacers will be delighted to see their midseason acquisition flourish in the playoffs, but Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is reportedly close to returning to action, and his presence will make things a lot more difficult for Siakam.

Devin Booker Wed Apr 24 8:50am

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Devin Booker top-scored for the team with 20 points in Tuesday's Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves. He finished with 6-for-13 shooting from the field and went 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. Phoenix had a miserable night offensively in a 105-93 loss, and it was summed up well by Booker's 1-for-6 effort from deep. The Suns star also collected three rebounds, five assists, and two steals with six turnovers before fouling out with a couple of minutes remaining in the game. Frank Vogel's team is now 2-0 down in the series, and Phoenix will need a lot more from Booker to turn things around. He's shot below 40 percent in the series so far, averaging 19.0 points.

Anthony Edwards Wed Apr 24 8:40am

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards couldn't replicate his Game 1 performance in the second game of the first-round series against Phoenix, settling for 15 points on 3-for-12 shooting in Tuesday's 105-93 win. He made two shots from outside with six attempts and was 7-for-8 at the line. Edwards couldn't get going shooting-wise but helped out well in other areas, delivering a game-high eight assists and notching five rebounds with three steals and one block. Karl-Anthony Towns also struggled to make an impact offensively, but Minnesota still dominated the contest, which must be very encouraging for the team going forward. The series shifts to Phoenix on Friday, with Edwards looking to produce a bounce-back performance in Game 3.

Daniel Gafford Tue Apr 23 11:10pm

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (back) returned to Tuesday's matchup with the Clippers. He logged just three minutes before exiting in the first quarter with back soreness. But it appears Gafford is at least feeling well enough to return, although there's a chance he could be limited. The 25-year-old also tweaked his ankle on Sunday in Game 1, so he may appear on the injury report heading into Game 3 on Friday night.

Karl-Anthony Towns Tue Apr 23 11:10pm

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns went cold offensively in Tuesday's postseason win over Phoenix. He scored only 12 points, going 3-for-7 from the field and 1-for-4 from deep. Fortunately, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick at least added eight rebounds and a steal. At any rate, Towns hasn't looked the same since returning from knee surgery. However, he should turn things around at some point during this series, so DFS managers should keep him on the radar.

Jaden McDaniels Tue Apr 23 11:00pm

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels scored a game-high 25 points in Tuesday's win over the Suns. He shot the ball well, going 10-for-17 from the field, and added eight rebounds, three assists, and a steal. The 23-year-old had just nine points in Game 1, which isn't unusual. Yet, with production like this, his popularity will increase heading toward Game 3 on Friday night. However, his rostering cost should also rise after the efficient performance.

Daniel Gafford Tue Apr 23 11:00pm

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (back) is questionable to return to Tuesday's matchup with the Clippers. The 25-year-old lasted three minutes before being escorted to the locker room with back soreness. The Mavs lost Game 1, so the team is certainly hoping he can get back out there. But if Gafford is done for the evening, Dereck Lively II and Maxi Kleber would likely absorb most of the surplus minutes.

Luke Kornet Tue Apr 23 10:10pm

Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (calf) won't play on Wednesday versus the Heat. The 28-year-old sustained a calf injury at practice and wasn't available for the series opener, with his absence likely to extend at least a few more contests. While Kornet had a semi-consistent role in the rotation during the regular season, head coach Joe Mazzulla only utilized three players outside of the starting lineup in Game 1, so he probably won't do much for DFS managers once he's healthy enough to return.

Grayson Allen Tue Apr 23 10:00pm

Phoenix Suns forward Grayson Allen (ankle) won't return to Tuesday's postseason meeting with Minnesota. He tweaked his right ankle during the Game 1 loss on Saturday night and was considered day-to-day. However, the former Blue Devil managed to suit up for this one, although he reinjured the same ankle, ending his night after logging only 17 minutes. With Game 3 on Friday night, Allen may not be healthy enough to get on the floor. The Suns already lack depth, so the starting lineup would presumably get plenty of work if that's the case. In addition, Royce O'Neale and Eric Gordon would be the favorites to absorb the surplus minutes.

Kawhi Leonard Tue Apr 23 9:10pm

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) will play in Game 2 against Dallas on Tuesday. The two-time Finals MVP will make his first appearance of the month, having sat out nine straight games. Leonard's return will drop Amir Coffey from the starting unit. Coffey could still play a decent role in the rotation, but his fantasy value takes a big blow with the move to the bench. Leonard has built himself a reputation as a prolific playoff performer, but he has struggled against the Mavericks this season. In three regular-season meetings, Leonard shot only 44.9 from the floor in the matchup to average 21.3 points with 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Grayson Allen Tue Apr 23 6:40pm

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (ankle) has been cleared to play in Tuesday's Game 2 against Minnesota. An ankle injury forced him to exit the series opener early on Saturday, but Allen has fully shaken off the injury and reportedly won't have a minutes limit on Tuesday. The 28-year-old sharpshooter averaged 19.0 points against Minnesota during the regular season with a sizzling 62.5 percent success rate from deep, but he had an off night in Game 1. Before injuring his ankle, Allen notched only four points, which all came via free throws. He finished 0-for-3 from the field in 25 minutes of action.

Zion Williamson Tue Apr 23 6:30pm

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (hamstring) has said that it is "absolutely realistic" for him to return to action this postseason, reports Will Guillory of The Athletic. Williamson suffered a left hamstring strain a week ago in the team's first play-in game against the Lakers. He's on track for a re-evaluation in a week's time. Trey Murphy III has taken over from Williamson in the starting unit and opened the playoffs with a very impressive performance in Game 1 against Oklahoma City. The 23-year-old led the team with 21 points and three blocks, adding four rebounds, two steals, and one steal to his line.

Terry Rozier Tue Apr 23 6:20pm

Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (neck) won't be ready to return to the lineup when the team continues its first-round series against Boston on Wednesday. He'll be sidelined for an eighth consecutive game due to neck spasms. Rozier's absence should secure a significant role for Delon Wright on Wednesday. His performance was one of only a few bright spots for Miami in Game 1, as Wright led both benches with 17 points, hitting a perfect 5-for-5 from deep. He also notched a pair of steals and handed out three assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Tue Apr 23 6:20pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) has been officially ruled out for Tuesday's Game 2 against Indiana. The former MVP is expected to return to action at some point in the series, but it's only been a couple of weeks since he strained his left Soleus muscle, and Antetokounmpo needs more time to heal. Bobby Portis has taken over Antetokounmpo's position in the starting unit. He opened the first-round series with a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. Meanwhile, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton carry bigger loads offensively without Antetokounmpo.

Kawhi Leonard Tue Apr 23 2:50pm

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) was present at the morning shootaround ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday versus the Dallas Mavericks. Dealing with inflammation in his right knee, Leonard hasn't played since March 31 and remains listed as questionable for the second game of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The 32-year-old two-way superstar's status is trending in the right direction but appears likely to come down to a game-time decision based on pregame warmups. Should Leonard remain out, James Harden and Paul George would dominate usage for the Clips as even more appealing DFS options on Tuesday's three-game slate. The sharpshooting Amir Coffey would figure to remain in LA's starting lineup as well, but he averaged only 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.7 three-pointers in 28.9 minutes over 13 games as a starter in the regular season.

Nikola Jokic Tue Apr 23 9:30am

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic cooked up a special line against the Lakers in Monday's 101-99 win, leading the team with 27 points and bagging 20 rebounds and 10 assists. It's his fourth career playoff game with at least 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. There have been only four other occasions in NBA playoff history when a player has managed to record these numbers. Jokic's night included a pair of steals in 41 minutes on the floor, as he shot 9-for-16 from the field and 2-for-4 from downtown. The reigning Finals MVP fills up the stat sheet with ease and should continue to do so as the series shifts to L.A. later in the week.