NBA Player News

Embiid (knee) returned to Tuesday's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Celtics with 2:00 remaining in the third quarter, Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com reports.

The star big man briefly exited to the locker room earlier in the third quarter after appearing to bump knees with Jaylen Brown. Embiid missed less than three minutes of game time before checking back in.

Embiid exited to the locker room in the third quarter of Tuesday's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against Boston due to an apparent left knee injury, Justin Turpin of WEEI.com reports.

Embiid exited to the locker room with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter after appearing to bump knees with Jaylen Brown. If Embiid is unable to return, Andre Drummond will likely help pick up the slack the rest of the way.

Embiid (abdomen) is available for Tuesday's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Celtics.

Embiid will suit up in Tuesday's win-or-go-home matchup after returning from a seven-game absence due to an appendectomy in Game 4. Over 34 minutes in Sunday's Game 4 loss, the star big man posted 26 points (9-21 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 7-9 FT), 10 rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal.

Maluach chipped in two points (1-1 FG) and two rebounds across five minutes during Monday's 131-122 loss to the Thunder in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The rookie first-rounder struggled to earn consistent playing time in 2025-26, finishing with averages of 3.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 8.9 minutes per tilt across 46 regular-season games. Barring the Suns losing Mark Williams (foot) in restricted free agency, Maluach might have a hard time cracking Phoenix's Opening Night rotation in 2026-27 with Oso Ighodaro also in the picture.

Ighodaro ended with eight points (4-5 FG), eight rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals in 34 minutes during Monday's 131-122 loss to the Thunder in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

With Mark Williams (foot) out for the postseason, Ighodaro stepped into a larger role for the Suns to close out the campaign. During the regular season, the second-year center appeared in all 82 games and was a staple in the rotation with averages of 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks in 22.0 minutes per contest.

Hartenstein finished Monday's 131-122 victory over Phoenix in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with 18 points (5-7 FG, 8-9 FT), 12 rebounds, three assists and one steal over 29 minutes.

Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren combined for 42 points and 24 rebounds as they overpowered Phoenix's frontcourt. Across four games this series, Hartenstein posted averages of 11.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 23.5 minutes per contest.

Reed (coach's decision) went unused off the bench Monday in the Pistons' 94-88 loss to the Magic in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series.

After seeing action in each of the Pistons' final 20 games of the regular season, Reed has essentially fallen out of the rotation through Detroit's first four playoff contests while head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has leaned almost exclusively on Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart as the team's options at center. Reed has appeared in just two of the four games of the series, making a 45-second cameo in garbage time of a Game 2 win and then logging seven minutes in Game 3, when Duren contended with foul trouble.

Gobert posted three points (1-2 FG, 1-1 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 29 minutes during Monday's 125-113 loss to the Nuggets in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Gobert pulled down seven rebounds, but he attempted only two shots and connected on one in the loss. A low point total isn't uncommon for the veteran, but his shot volume was conspicuously low. He's recorded fewer than three shot attempts just six times this season. Gobert has recorded a double-double during the series, so he has the ability to put the pieces together despite the imposing presence of Nikola Jokic.

Jokic produced 27 points (9-15 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 8-10 FT), 12 rebounds, 16 assists and two blocks in 38 minutes during Monday's 125-113 win over the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Jokic was much improved from the field after hitting at a rate of 39.1 percent over the first four games of the series. The 31-year-old also impressed as a playmaker, which helped him record his second triple-double of the first round. The Nuggets will need this version of Jokic to show up again in Game 6 to help extend the series.

Reid (ankle) returned to Monday's Game 5 of the Western Conference first-round series against Denver during the fourth quarter, Jace Frederick of St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Reid went to the locker room after appearing to turn his ankle, but he was spotted back on the bench shortly after and was cleared to check back in during the final period. He'll presumably be a full go down the stretch of Monday's clash.