Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) is questionable for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 6 against Minnesota after missing multiple games and playing limited minutes in his last appearance. Even if he returns, his workload could be managed in a win-or-go-home setting. Spencer Jones stepped into a larger role in Game 5, producing 20 points with four three-pointers, three rebounds, and three steals in 37 minutes and would remain a strong DFS value if Gordon sits again. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray should continue handling the bulk of the offense.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) is probable for Thursday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 6 against Boston as he continues to play through recovery from a recent procedure. He logged 39 minutes in Game 5 after 34 minutes in his initial return, and a similar workload is expected in this elimination setting. In two appearances, Embiid has averaged 29.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, maintaining elite production. He remains a top DFS anchor, while Tyrese Maxey and Paul George continue to play key offensive roles.

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (back) is questionable for Thursday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 6 against Atlanta due to a lower-back contusion, though he is still expected to push to play in a closeout spot. If he is limited or sits, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado could see more run after combining for 21 points in 28 minutes off the bench in Game 5. Hart's all-around role makes him valuable in DFS if active, while Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns should continue carrying the offense.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (knee) is questionable for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 6 against Denver due to left knee soreness, adding another layer of uncertainty to a thin backcourt. With Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) already sidelined, Hyland has been in line for a larger role, making his status critical. If he sits, Mike Conley and Kyle Anderson would need to handle more playmaking, while Terrence Shannon Jr. could see a bump after scoring 15 points with two three-pointers in 14 minutes in Game 5. Shannon could be a strong DFS value if his minutes increase.

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (adductor) is out for Wednesday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 5 against Orlando, leaving the team short on perimeter shooting in a win-or-go-home spot. His absence should open up more minutes for Caris LeVert and Daniss Jenkins, though neither offers consistent scoring. Cade Cunningham is expected to handle even more offensive responsibility, increasing his DFS appeal, while Duncan Robinson may see added looks from deep. Huerter is not a factor until he returns, and Detroit will need secondary shooters to step up.

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) is out for Wednesday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 5 against Detroit and has yet to appear in the playoffs. His absence is expected to continue into the next game as he works his way back, though there is still no clear timeline. Even with Franz Wagner (calf) also sidelined, Isaac's status does not meaningfully change Orlando's rotation. Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. will continue to handle most frontcourt minutes, while Tristan da Silva and Jamal Cain remain secondary options.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (calf) is out for Wednesday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 5 against Detroit after being diagnosed with a right calf strain. He was unable to participate in shootaround and could miss additional time as the series continues. Anthony Black is a strong candidate to move into a larger role, while Tristan da Silva and Jamal Cain should see increased minutes after combining for 14 points and 13 rebounds in Game 4. Paolo Banchero should take on a bigger offensive role, making him a strong DFS option, while Black stands out as a value play.

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson recorded his second career postseason double-double in Tuesday's Game 5 loss to the New York Knicks. He led his team with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the contest. Additionally, Johnson managed two steals in 35 minutes. The first-year All-Star made himself useful on both ends of the floor, but Johnson's scoring efforts weren't good enough again. He went 1-for-5 from outside and 7-for-15 overall from the field. In the playoffs, Johnson has made only 42.9 percent of his field-goal attempts, and as a result, his scoring average has dipped to 19.5 points per game. Johnson's numbers in other areas have also declined compared with the regular season. The Hawks likely won't survive beyond six games in the series if Johnson can't regain his regular-season form.

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson dominated against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, leading his team to a blowout win in Game 5 of the series with 39 points, three rebounds, and eight assists. Brunson had a 15-for-23 record from the field and made three of his five attempts from deep. With an average of 28.2 points per game, Brunson is the fourth-highest scorer in the 2026 playoffs. He has also contributed 2.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, making 41.9 percent of his three-point attempts. The 2025 NBA Cup MVP will look to maintain his high level of performance as the Knicks try to finish off the Hawks in Game 6 on Thursday.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum finished Tuesday's Game 5 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers with 24 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. He led the Celtics in scoring and rebounding, recording his fourth double-double of the series. While this was another productive night for Tatum, his scoring efficiency was poor. The six-time All-Star was 8-for-19 from the field, including 4-for-12 from outside, and even struggled at the free-throw line, going 4-for-7. Overall, Tatum's percentages have improved in the playoffs, and he has been busy all over the court while averaging 37.8 minutes per game. Tatum leads his team in rebounding (10.6), assists (7.6), and steals (1.4), while sitting second in scoring (24.6).

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown finished only 9-for-23 from the field as he tallied 22 points in Tuesday's 113-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston had a chance to close out the series on home court, but most of the team struggled to score. Brown's efforts included a 1-for-4 record from downtown and a 3-for-5 success rate at the free-throw line. He picked up five rebounds and dished out five assists. On the defensive end, Brown recorded one steal. Missing a chance to finish the series in five games will haunt the Celtics, but Brown and his crew must refocus quickly with Game 6 on Thursday. The 2024 Finals MVP will enter the contest averaging a team-high 25.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.2 steals in the series.

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey produced a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double in Tuesday's must-win game against the Boston Celtics. Philadelphia faced elimination in Game 5 of the first-round series, but Maxey and Joel Embiid pulled the team out of a difficult spot. The duo scored 58 of the team's points, more than half, in a 113-97 road win. Maxey was the leading rebounder on the 76ers squad and finished 10-for-18 with his field-goal attempts. He sank both free throws and was 3-for-10 from downtown. Maxey's productive night included five assists, two steals, and one block. Philadelphia will lean on Maxey and Embiid again in Game 6 on Thursday as the team tries to even the series at three.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid led all scorers with 33 points in Tuesday's 113-97 elimination-game win against the Boston Celtics. With their backs against the wall, the 76ers stayed alive thanks to a dominant fourth quarter, winning 28-11. Embiid had eight of his points in the final frame and finished 12-for-23 from the field. He didn't make a single three-pointer on five attempts but was solid at the line with a 9-for-10 effort. Embiid also notched a game-high eight assists, four rebounds, and one block. The former MVP underwent an appendectomy just weeks ago, but you wouldn't know it from his performance. He has averaged 29.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 36.5 minutes per game since making his 2026 postseason debut.

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama recorded a second consecutive double-double in Tuesday's series-clinching 114-94 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Wembanyama was offensively passive, taking only seven field-goal attempts, but he remained highly influential. In 34 minutes, he tallied 17 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and six blocks. Wembanyama was perfect at the line with six attempts and had a 5-for-7 record from the field, including 1-for-2 from three-point range. Despite missing most of Game 4 due to a concussion, Wembanyama averaged good numbers in his first career playoff series, posting 21.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 4.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals.

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes has delivered back-to-back inspiring performances to help the team tie its first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After dropping the first two games, the Raptors had their backs against the wall in Games 3 and 4 -- and the situation brought the best out of Barnes. He averaged 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks in two consecutive home wins. With the series now shifting back to Cleveland, the Raptors have some positive momentum. Barnes has been doing it all for Toronto, and slowing him down won't be easy for the Cavaliers.

Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris is enjoying one of the best postseason campaigns of his career in 2026. Through four games in the first-round series against the Orlando Magic, the 33-year-old has averaged 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. His scoring is up nearly six points from his regular-season numbers. Only once, in 2021 with Philadelphia, has Harris averaged more points in the playoffs (21.8). The veteran has become a bigger offensive threat despite making just 14.3 percent of his three-pointers. In Wednesday's Game 5, Harris could record his first three-game postseason streak of 20-point outings in five years -- a feat his team might desperately need after falling behind 3-1 in the series.

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren has struggled to make an impact in the first-round series against the Orlando Magic. The first-year All-Star has been limited to 9.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Compared to the regular season, his field-goal percentage has dropped from 65.0 to 46.9. After finishing 41 of his 70 regular-season appearances with a double-double, Duren is still looking for his first postseason double-double of the year. He may not get many more opportunities to record one, as the top-seeded Pistons have shockingly fallen 3-1 behind in the series. Duren's performance could be the deciding factor in whether the team extends its playoff run in Game 5 on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) remains questionable on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's Game 5 against the Houston Rockets. He has also been questionable for the last couple of games before being downgraded to out. On Wednesday, Reaves appears set to finally make his comeback from a left oblique strain after ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the Lakers guard is "optimistic" about returning to action in Game 5. Reaves will likely have a minutes restriction when he returns, but his addition to the rotation will affect the playing time of Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, and Bronny James Jr.

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (ankle) has been officially ruled out for Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Due to a left ankle injury, Durant has missed two games and didn't practice on Tuesday. He was seen running on an antigravity treadmill. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has labeled Durant day-to-day, but he won't get a chance to return this season if Houston doesn't win on Wednesday night. Reed Sheppard will likely continue to start in Durant's absence, and there will be larger roles for Tari Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith.

Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie hopes to agree to a contract extension with the team. Logan Stanley of the Arizona Republic reports. "I want to be here," Gillespie said after Phoenix's season-ending loss to Oklahoma City on Monday. "They know that. I'm sure we'll figure something out. Right now, just process this, reflect on the season, probably this next week. Then figure that out when that needs to be figured out. This is where I want to be. I want to make this my home. They know that. We've had good conversations about it." Playing on a one-year, $2.3 million contract, Gillespie enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025-26 and will be in line for a hefty pay raise. He averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 28.5 minutes per game.