NBA Player News

James finished Tuesday's 101-94 victory over the Rockets in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with 28 points (8-20 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 10-14 FT), eight rebounds, seven assists and one steal over 39 minutes.

James, who is carrying a ton of weight on his shoulders without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), continues to impress at his advanced age. James even pulled off a reverse dunk in this contest, and the Lakers now take a commanding 2-0 series lead into Houston.

James registered zero points (0-1 FG) over three minutes during Tuesday's 101-94 victory over the Rockets in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

James played just three minutes, failing to record a stat for the second straight game. At this point, he is simply coming on to provide a small amount of rest for others, while not being seen when it matters. Barring any significant injures, don't expect to see James on the floor much moving forward.

Kennard contributed 23 points (8-13 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six rebounds, two assists and three steals in 42 minutes during Tuesday's 101-94 win over Houston in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Kennard continued his recent surge, having now scored 50 points in his past two games, powering the Lakers to a 2-0 series lead over the Rockets. It continues what has been a strong end to the season for the veteran, who is playing a sizeable role following injuries to both Austin Reaves (oblique) and Luka Doncic (hamstring). The next challenge for Kennard will be to repeat his heroics away from home when the two teams meet in Houston on Friday.

Smart contributed 25 points (8-13 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 4-5 FT), two rebounds, seven assists, one block and five steals over 35 minutes during Tuesday's 101-94 win over Houston in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Smart was electric on both ends of the floor, helping the Lakers to a somewhat surprising 2-0 lead. Despite being shorthanded, Los Angeles continues to defy the odds, with Smart being a major factor in the team's success. Through two playoff appearances, he has averaged 20.0 points, 7.5 assists, 3.0 three-pointers and 4.5 combined steals and blocks.

Durant contributed 23 points (7-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 8-9 FT), six rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal across 41 minutes during Tuesday's 101-94 loss to the Lakers in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Durant returned after missing Game 1 due to a knee injury, scoring a team-high 23 points while also recording a career playoff-high nine turnovers. Sadly for Rockets fans, his efforts weren't enough, as Houston fell to its second straight loss. With the series now heading to Houston, Durant will undoubtedly be looking to turn things around, beginning with Game 3 on Friday.

Sheppard logged zero points (0-4 FG, 0-3 3Pt), three assists and one steal across 11 minutes during Tuesday's 101-94 loss to the Lakers in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Sheppard hit rock bottom, failing to score for the first time all season. After playing a substantial role in Game 1, Sheppard was basically an afterthought, logging just 11 minutes following the return of Kevin Durant. Now trailing 0-2 in the series, Houston will head home, where it will look to wrestle back some momentum.

White contributed eight points (3-12 FG, 2-10 3Pt), two rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 39 minutes during Tuesday's 111-97 loss to the 76ers in Game 2 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

White's lack of offensive precision continues to be an issue, as he scored no more than 12 points for the 10th time in his past 11 games. Despite putting up top-30 fantasy numbers this season, efficiency has been a major talking point. Through 79 total appearances, he has shot just 39.3 percent from the field, easily his worst fantasy category.

Pritchard racked up four points (2-8 FG, 0-4 3Pt), five rebounds and five assists over 27 minutes during Tuesday's 111-97 loss to the 76ers in Game 2 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Pritchard couldn't get anything going Tuesday, scoring just four points on 2-for-8 shooting. Boston was likely caught off guard in the loss, with numerous players delivering below expectations. With the series now tied at 1-1, The Celtics will be looking to turn things around when they line up again for Game 3 on Friday.

Vucevic provided nine points (3-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and one assist over 18 minutes during Tuesday's 111-97 loss to the 76ers in Game 2 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Vucevic continues to play a limited role off the bench, providing Boston with modest production on both ends of the floor. The fact that he is playing purely as a backup despite the fact that Neemias Queta has been struggling highlights just how unimpactful Vucevic has been.

Oubre registered 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 0-1 FT) and five rebounds across 32 minutes during Tuesday's 111-97 victory over the Celtics in Game 2 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Oubre scored double digits for the sixth straight game, although he offered very little in terms of peripheral production. He continues to play a major role for the 76ers, logging in excess of 30 minutes on most nights. With Tuesday's win, Philadelphia will now head home with the series tied at 1-1.