NBA Player News

Holmgren was just 1-of-6 from three on Friday, but he recorded a double-double and finished one assist shy of a complete stat line. The slender Holmgren has recorded double-doubles in consecutive games for the second time this postseason, with the first being Games 1 and 2 of the first round. Interestingly, Oklahoma City went small to begin overtime, with Holmgren replaced by Luguentz Dort. Denver would score the first five points before Holmgren returned, subbing in for Alex Caruso, but the damage was already done. Game 4 is on Sunday afternoon, with Denver holding a 2-1 lead.

Gordon is said to be a true game-time decision after he injured his left hamstring in Game 6. His availability appears to be in doubt, though the Nuggets hope he will play. Tyson has missed the last three games with an ankle injury. He wasn’t part of the Nuggets’ rotation, but could see some minutes if he’s healthy and Gordon is out. Russell Westbrook, Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson will all have added importance if Gordon is unavailable.

Westbrook is dealing with a hand sprain that at times seemed to impact his handle in Game 6. Nevertheless, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Nuggets in Game 7 against Oklahoma City on Sunday. It seems likely that Westbrook will be available and he could have added importance if Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is unable to suit up.

Murray had 25 points in Game 6 after appearing on the injury report with an illness. He said after the game that there was no way he would sit out with an illness in the playoffs. It’s safe to assume that will be the case once again and that Murray will be active as the Nuggets try to advance to the Western Conference finals.

This isn’t exactly a revelation to those who closely followed Brown throughout the season. It was obvious the 28-year-old small forward was playing through some knee pain for the last month of the regular season and playoffs. The Celtics star had received multiple injections in his knee to deal with the pain. Brown will be evaluated in the coming week to determine if surgery is needed. Depending on the course of action on Brown’s knee, the Celtics could be down another star with Jayson Tatum already having had surgery to repair a torn Achilles.

Gordon injured his left hamstring during Denver’s Game 6 victory on Thursday. While ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday evening that the forward’s status for Game 7 is in serious doubt, the Nuggets are hoping that Gordon will play. He’ll be evaluated once he arrives at the arena on Sunday, with the medical staff determining Gordon’s availability and, if cleared, how much he can play. Peyton Watson, Russell Westbrook and Julian Strawther will all have heightened importance if Gordon cannot play.

Between the hamstring injury that sidelined him for the final three games of the first round and his inconsistent production when available, this was a disappointing postseason for Holiday. Friday’s performance was his worst, with the veteran guard shooting 12.5 percent from the field. Unfortunately, Holiday’s 2024-25 season was underwhelming regarding fantasy value, as he finished outside the top-100 for the first time since his rookie season (2009-10). Holiday’s fantasy prospects next season will be impacted by Jayson Tatum (Achilles) likely missing a significant amount of time, but that may also mean an expanded role for Payton Pritchard. Pritchard finished Friday’s loss with 11 points, two rebounds, four assists and one three-pointer in 28 minutes.

After going off for 34 points in a valiant Game 5 performance on Wednesday, White could not find his groove on Friday. He shot 2-of-8 from beyond the arc and provided limited value as a playmaker in Boston’s season finale. After a surprisingly elite fantasy season in the Celtics’ run to the championship last season, White was a top-50 player in 2024-25. That aligned with his Yahoo! ADP (48), which may be a bit higher next season due to Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles tendon.

After being unable to play during the second half of Game 5 due to having trouble breathing, Porzingis was used in a reserve role in Game 6. The Celtics forward/center could not provide much value in that role, and replacement Luke Kornet (5/5/1/0/1 in 21 minutes) also struggled on Friday. Most important for Porzingis this offseason is to address the illness that impacted him throughout the postseason. A healthy Porzingis can be an excellent fantasy asset, especially with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) likely missing most of the 2025-26 season.

While Horford shot the ball reasonably well in Game 6, the veteran center’s impact was muted as Boston lost by 38 points. Horford reached double figures in three of the series’ final four games, providing increased value with Kristaps Porzingis battling an unspecified illness. However, it wasn’t enough to give Boston a shot at winning the series, especially after losing Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Horford, who failed to crack the top-100 in fantasy value, will be a free agent this summer. How the front office views the roster after Tatum’s injury will be one of the major offseason storylines in the NBA.

As good as Brown was in Game 5, he could not drum up a similar performance in Friday’s series finale. He committed seven turnovers, and with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out, the Celtics could not afford to sit Brown despite his foul trouble. As a result, he was disqualified with about three minutes remaining in the third quarter. From a fantasy standpoint, Brown’s 2024-25 production did not align with his Yahoo! ADP (40), as he was only a top-75 player in eight-cat formats. Depending on what the Celtics’ front office does this offseason, with Tatum likely to miss most of the 2025-26 season, Brown’s ADP will likely be inflated next fall.