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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
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.

Jamal Murray Tue Apr 23 9:20am

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray salvaged his bad night with a strong finish and the game-winning shot in Monday's 101-99 victory over the Lakers. Murray put the Nuggets 2-0 up in the series by hitting a tough step-back 15-foot shot over Anthony Davis at the buzzer. Denver pulled off a 20-point comeback in the game, with Murray scoring 12 of his 20 points inside the final 7:15 of play. He failed to hit a single three-pointer with five attempts and finished 9-for-24 overall from the field. However, Murray also made a big impact defensively with a pair of blocks and registered three rebounds with five assists. Murray's shot has been off at the beginning of the series, but he's known as a very good postseason performer and should kick into gear soon.

LeBron James Tue Apr 23 9:10am

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James had a vintage playoff performance in Game 2 against Denver on Monday in a 101-99 loss. He produced 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and totaled eight rebounds, 12 assists, two steals, and two blocks. James was 3-for-6 with the three-ball and shot 9-for-19 overall. The NBA-s all-time leading scorer has now lost nine consecutive games against a single opponent for the first time in his 21-year career. He will try to spark a comeback in the series on Thursday when the two teams meet up in Los Angeles.

Anthony Davis Tue Apr 23 9:00am

Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis brought out all of his offensive moves to score a game-high 32 points in Monday's loss to Denver. Davis missed only five of his 19 shots and racked up 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block across 39 minutes. However, the Lakers needed one more swat from him, as Jamal Murray hit a 101-99 game-winner at the buzzer over Davis. The Lakers are now 2-0 down in the series, but Davis has been in outstanding form. He's averaged 32.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks through the first couple of games.

Jarrett Allen Tue Apr 23 9:00am

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen dominated the glass in Monday's Game 2 win against the Magic, becoming the third player in franchise history to record 20-plus rebounds in a playoff game. He joined Kevin Love (21) and Brad Daugherty (20), gobbling up nine rebounds on the offensive end alone. The great work on the glass helped Allen to ease to a second consecutive double-double in the series, as he posted 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting. It was a productive night all around for the 28-year-old, with Allen completing his line with three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Allen also had 18 rebounds in Game 1, and Orlando clearly has to do better on the glass to have a chance in the series, which continues on Thursday.

Donovan Mitchell Tue Apr 23 8:50am

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell put together a full line in Monday's 96-86 Game 2 victory over Orlando, leading all scorers with 23 points and collecting eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. It was a busy night for the Cavaliers superstar, although Mitchell struggled from downtown with a 2-for-10 effort. It dragged his overall shooting numbers down badly, as Mitchell finished 9-for-22 from the field. Mitchell's three-point shooting for the series now stands at 27.8 percent, but he's still enjoyed a good start to the playoffs, averaging 26.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals.

Kyle Anderson Tue Apr 23 8:40am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (hip) has been listed as questionable for Tuesday's Game 2 against Phoenix. Anderson hurt his right hip in the series opener at the weekend, playing only five minutes. Nickeil Alexander-Walker earned extra trust off the bench and had an outstanding day at the office on Saturday with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Everybody's favorite sixth man, Naz Reid, should also eat up a few more minutes on Tuesday if Anderson can't play.

Josh Hart Mon Apr 22 10:50pm

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart had another big game on Monday night in the postseason win over the 76ers. He played all 48 minutes and finished with a double-double, amassing 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. The 29-year-old also got after it defensively by ending the evening with two steals and two blocks. Hart has been one of New York's top contributors, combining for 43 points and 28 rebounds in the series' first two games. With the Knicks now up two games to none, both clubs will meet again on Thursday in Philadelphia. DFS managers should expect the 2017 No. 30 overall pick to get all the work he can handle and remain heavily involved on both sides of the floor.