Fantasy Basketball

Kleber (shoulder) has been cleared to play in Tuesday's Game 4 against the Timberwolves, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Kleber has been on the sidelines since May 3 with an AC joint separation, but he returned to practice Monday. The fact that the Mavericks are clearing him to play prior to warmups is also a good sign. Kleber could absorb some of the minutes that Dereck Lively (neck) was getting recently.

Turner left Monday's Game 4 against the Celtics due to a back injury but was cleared to return for the second half, Tony East of SI.com reports. He finished with eight points (2-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds and one assist over 27 minutes in the loss.

Turner's performance indicates that his back injury slowed him down, as he wasn't much of a factor in the 105-102 loss. The Texas product also contended with foul trouble, which limited his ability to be aggressive. Turner will now shift his attention to the offseason after his squad was swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Kornet (wrist) will play in Monday's Game 4 against Indiana, Jay King of The Athletic reports.

Kornet was spotted warming up with tape on his injured left wrist prior to tipoff, and he's been cleared to give it a go. He logged 13 minutes in Game 1 before suffering the wrist injury in Game 2 and should see reserve minutes again Monday night behind Al Horford.

Lively (neck) has been ruled out for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves on Tuesday, Chris Haynes of Turner Sports reports.

Lively was initially deemed doubtful for Tuesday's matchup due to his neck sprain, and he'll officially be forced to miss at least one game as the Mavericks attempt to close out the series. It's unclear whether Lively will be able to return if the Western Conference Finals continue past Tuesday or if the Mavericks advance to the NBA Finals, which begin June 6. Dwight Powell is a candidate to see increased playing time in Lively's absence.

Kleber (shoulder) is questionable for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.

Kleber has been sidelined since May 3 due to an AC joint separation, but he's closing in on a return to action. He participated in Monday's practice session and will be in the mix to return to game action Tuesday, although the Mavericks will likely monitor his status ahead of tipoff before officially determining his availability. Even if Kleber isn't cleared for Tuesday's matchup, it wouldn't be surprising to see him return later in the Western Conference Finals, if necessary, or for a potential run in the NBA Finals.

Lively (neck) is doubtful for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.

Lively sustained a neck sprain during Sunday's Game 3 and was unavailable down the stretch. He wasn't seen at Monday's practice session and will likely be sidelined Tuesday as the Mavericks attempt to advance to the NBA Finals. If Dallas wins Game 4 to complete the sweep, Lively will have over a week to rest before the NBA Finals begin June 6.

Siakam posted 19 points (8-18 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-5 FT), 10 rebounds and three assists over 39 minutes during Monday's 105-102 loss to Boston in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Siakam did what he could to avoid the elimination and the sweep, but the Pacers didn't have a realistic chance to complete the comeback without Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) leading the offense. Despite the woes the team had in the series, Siakam was productive, scoring at least 20 points in all but one of the four games and posting two double-doubles in that span.

Tatum totaled 26 points (11-26 FG, 3-11 3Pt, 1-1 FT), 13 rebounds, eight assists and one steal across 44 minutes during Monday's 105-102 victory over the Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Even though Tatum needed 26 shots to score 26 points, the star forward once again came through when called upon, and he finished just two assists away from recording what would've been his first triple-double since April 21. Tatum has been on an absolute tear of late and has scored 25 or more points in all but one of his last eight contests, so he comes into the NBA Finals with plenty of momentum.

Smith is out for Monday's Game 4 against the Celtics due to illness.

Smith has played a limited role through the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals, so his absence shouldn't impact Indiana's rotation much. He'll be considered day-to-day and should have a chance to return for Game 5 if the Pacers are able to extend the series.

Washington chipped in 16 points (5-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), eight rebounds and two assists across 40 minutes during Sunday's 116-107 win over the Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

Washington finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double, meaning he's now gone four playoff contests without reaching that feat, but he's been remarkably consistent as a scoring alternative. Despite not being anything more than Dallas' third-best scoring option -- on his best games -- it's worth noting Washington has scored in double digits in all but one of his last 10 appearances, a span in which he's averaged 15.9 points per game while shooting 41.3 from beyond the arc.

Towns provided 14 points (5-18 FG, 0-8 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 11 rebounds and three assists across 38 minutes during Sunday's 116-107 loss to Dallas in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

Towns can't find an offensive rhythm, and the star big man had another woeful showing, particularly from three-point range, where he missed all eight of his attempts. The double-double was a nice outcome for the fantasy managers who continue to trust him, but it's worth noting Towns has yet to reach the 20-point mark in any game of the series while shooting a woeful 27.8 percent from the field, including 13.6 percent from deep.

Tatum contributed 36 points (12-23 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 7-11 FT), 10 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and one steal in 44 minutes during Saturday's 114-111 victory over the Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Tatum came through every time the Celtics needed him in this hard-fought Game 3 victory. Aside from leading Boston in scoring, he also finished two assists away from recording a triple-double. Tatum has been improving with each passing round and has been on an absolute tear of late, surpassing the 30-point mark in four of his last six appearances while averaging 31.7 points per game in the current series against Indiana.

Fontecchio underwent surgery on his left great toe Tuesday, and he is expected to return by the start of training camp, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.

Fontecchio missed the final 14 games of the regular season due to a contusion on his right great toe, but he was a solid performer for the Pistons. The 28-year-old averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals in 30.2 minutes, starting in nine of 16 games. The sharpshooter is a restricted free agent, and he will likely garner interest from multiple teams including the Pistons. However, Fontecchio has made it clear that he is interested in returning to Detroit.

Nesmith logged 14 points (4-11 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 5-6 FT), six rebounds, an assist and a steal over 35 minutes during Monday's 105-102 loss to Boston in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Nesmith posted career highs in every major category this season, putting up 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks in 27.7 minutes. After signing an extension at the beginning of the season, the 24-year-old will likely return to the Pacers next season and look to expand his role with the team.

McDermott closed with three points (1-1 FG, 1-1 3Pt), three assists, a rebound and a block over 13 minutes during Monday's 105-102 loss to the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

McDermott was traded to the Pacers early in February and in 28 games averaged 3.1 points, 0.7 assists and 0.5 rebounds in 9.5 minutes. The 32-year-old is set to become a free agent ahead of the 2024-25 season and has played for seven teams in his 10-year career.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday that Mathurin (shoulder) is way ahead of schedule on his post-surgery recovery, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Mathurin's productive sophomore season was cut short due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The 21-year-old averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.1 minutes across 59 games. This progress bodes well for the Pacers and Mathurin, as he's on track to make a full recovery before the start of the 2024-25 season.

Brown ended with 29 points (11-22 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 3-6 FT), six rebounds, two assists, one block and three steals over 44 minutes during Monday's 105-102 win over the Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Even though Jayson Tatum led the Celtics in scoring throughout the series and Jrue Holiday grabbed headlines for his excellent defensive play, no player was more consistent than Brown, who was named the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals. Brown surpassed the 25-point mark in three of the four games he played against Indiana after accomplishing that feat just three times in the previous two series combined.

Prosper (ankle) will not play in Tuesday's Game 4 against Minnesota, Grant Afseth of SI.com reports.

This will be the 15th straight game on the shelf for Prosper. He's yet to be cleared to practice and remains without a timetable for a return.

Edwards closed Sunday's 116-107 loss to Dallas in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals with 26 points (11-24 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-6 FT), nine rebounds, nine assists and two steals across 43 minutes.

Edwards looked more aggressive than in the first two games of the series, but the star guard continues to struggle with his shot, even though he showed some encouraging signs in this one. Edwards has shot a mere 38.6 percent from the field in the series ahead of a pivotal Game 4 in Dallas on Tuesday.

Sheppard will start Saturday's Game 3 against the Celtics, Tony East of SI.com reports.

Tyrese Haliburton (leg) has been ruled out for Game 3, and his availability for Game 4 and beyond is in jeopardy too. In 15 postseason appearances, Sheppard has averaged 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 three-pointers.

Edwards produced 21 points (5-17 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 9-10 FT), five rebounds, seven assists and one block across 40 minutes during Friday's 109-108 loss to the Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

Edwards has been struggling with his shot in recent games, and he hasn't been able to break out of the slump that seems to be affecting him since the Game 7 win over the Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals. Edwards has shot a combined 11-for-33 in the first two games of the series against the Mavericks, and he may need to bounce back if Minnesota wants to have a shot to steal at least one game in Dallas.

White ended Thursday's 126-110 win over the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals with 23 points (8-15 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal over 36 minutes.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics in their Game 2 victory, but White was impressive in his own right as well, recording at least 20 points for the fifth time in the current playoff run and also filling out the stat sheet admirably. White holds a secondary role in the Celtics' offensive scheme, but he still delivers excellent fantasy value due to his all-around ability and occasional scoring exploits.

Edwards ended Wednesday's 108-105 loss to the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with 19 points (6-16 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds, eight assists and two steals across 41 minutes.

Edwards might have ended just two assists away from recording a triple-double, but the Timberwolves need him to be an efficient scorer, and he hasn't been able to do that of late. The Timberwolves have gone 2-2 across their last four playoff contests, and Edwards is averaging just 20.0 points per game while shooting a mere 34.7 percent from the field. That's a clear downgrade from a regular season in which he scored 25.9 points per contest while shooting a career-high 46.1 percent from the floor.

Caldwell-Pope racked up five points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt), six rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals in 40 minutes during Sunday's 98-90 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Caldwell-Pope scored single digits for the sixth time in the past eight games, highlighting the Nuggets' struggles when it comes to depth on the offensive end. While he continues to play a key role for Denver, his lack of production cannot be ignored when it comes to fantasy value. Looking ahead to next season, there is no reason to think he will be anything more than a situational streamer, utilized for steals and threes.

Conley (Achilles) is available and starting in Tuesday's Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against Dallas.

Conley has been a mainstay on the injury report, but he has continued to play through his right soleus strain and put up decent numbers. Throughout the playoffs, the 36-year-old is averaging 11.8 points, 5.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals, shooting 42.0 percent from the field.

Doncic (knee) is available for Tuesday's Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota.

Doncic carrying questionable tags due to minor ankle and knee issues is nothing new, so he'll suit up as expected. There's no word of any restrictions ahead of tipoff.

Conley (Achilles) is questionable for Tuesday's Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against Dallas.

Conley continues to deal with a right soleus strain but has played in the Timberwolves' last five matchups. Throughout the series, the veteran has averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.7 minutes. With the Timberwolves' season on the line Tuesday, Conley will likely give it a go once again.

McConnell provided 15 points (7-16 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, four assists and one steal across 25 minutes during Monday's 105-102 loss to the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

McConnell was tasked with handling a bigger role throughout the series, and that was even more noticeable with Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) sidelined for the final two contests. The veteran floor general looked good off the bench, but he wasn't able to complete the comeback on his own. McConnell scored in double digits in three of the four games of the series, including reaching the 15-point plateau in the last two.

Nembhard totaled 24 points (10-18 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, 10 assists, one block and one steal over 39 minutes during Monday's 105-102 loss to the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Even though the Pacers were swept by the Celtics, one positive outcome of this series was Nembhard's excellent play, which proved he's more than ready to handle a more prominent role in the offensive scheme. Nembhard ended his postseason run by scoring in double digits in seven appearances in a row, reaching the 20-point mark in three of the last five.

Holiday ended Monday's 105-102 victory over the Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals with 17 points (7-13 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), nine rebounds and two assists over 38 minutes.

Holiday was deemed available despite being initially tabbed questionable due to an illness for the second game in a row, and he made his presence felt as a do-it-all, two-way guard in an offensive scheme in which he occupies a secondary role. Despite the fact Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown often carry the Celtics, Holiday had some excellent performances against the Pacers, averaging 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game in the series.