NBA Player News

Durant (knee) will be a game-time decision for Game 2 on Tuesday against the Lakers, per Will Guillory of The Athletic.

Durant, who missed Game 1 due to a right knee contusion, was a partial participant in Monday's practice. The Rockets are likely to re-evaluate him closer to Tuesday's tipoff. If Durant is unable to suit up, Houston would likely start both Josh Okogie and Reed Sheppard once again.

Embiid (abdomen) started his post-appendectomy strength and conditioning program Monday, Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Embiid underwent a successful appendectomy back on April 10, and while he remains without a timetable, he appears to be trending in the right direction. Adem Bona started Game 1 against Boston, but he was ineffective for the most part in his 14 minutes.

Edwards (knee) participated in Monday's morning shootaround, Anthony Slater of ESPN.com reports.

Edwards is listed as questionable for Monday's Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Nuggets due to injury maintenance, but it would be a major surprise to see him sit this one out. For now, it appears he's trending in the right direction.

Banchero closed with 23 points (8-15 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 5-7 FT), nine rebounds, four assists and one steal over 37 minutes during Sunday's 112-101 win over the Pistons in Game 1 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Banchero led the Magic in scoring as the team stunned Detroit to take the series lead. Banchero has struggled with consistency this season, but he's now scored at least 23 points in back-to-back games while shooting above 50 percent from the field.

Cunningham finished with 39 points (13-27 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 10-11 FT), five rebounds and four assists across 40 minutes during Sunday's 112-101 loss to the Magic in Game 1 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Pistons got off to a sluggish start in this game, but Cunningham was excellent throughout. He entered the postseason with no restrictions after a health scare to close the regular season, and it's a great sign that he was able to log 40 minutes with no issues.

Vassell finished Sunday's 111-98 win over Portland in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with 15 points (5-13 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 34 minutes.

The 25-year-old forward continues to deliver secondary scoring for the Spurs. Vassell has scored at least 14 points and drained multiple three-pointers in five of the last seven games, averaging 13.4 points, 5.1 boards, 2.4 threes, 2.1 assists and 1.1 combined steals and blocks over that span.

Castle posted 17 points (4-13 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 8-8 FT), seven rebounds and seven assists in 33 minutes during Sunday's 111-98 victory over the Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The second-year guard continues to emerge as a multi-category complement to Victor Wembanyama. Two of Castle's five career triple-doubles have come in the last eight games, a stretch in which he's averaging 18.0 points, 9.3 assists, 7.8 boards and 1.8 threes while shooting 42.4 percent from downtown.

Wembanyama finished Sunday's 111-98 victory over the Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with 35 points (13-21 FG, 5-6 3Pt, 4-5 FT), five rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 33 minutes.

The third-year superstar led all scorers on the night as he dominated in his playoff debut. Wembanyama was nursing a minor rib injury late in the regular season, but he's been a force when he's been on the court, scoring more than 30 points in five of his last six games while averaging 34.7 points, 12.5 boards, 3.5 assists, 3.0 blocks and 2.5 threes while shooting 62.0 percent from the floor and 44.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Henderson racked up 18 points (7-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one steal over 27 minutes during Sunday's 111-98 loss to the Spurs in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Making his ninth straight start, the third-year guard was second on the Trail Blazers in scoring behind Deni Avdija's 30 points. Henderson has become a more efficient scorer during his latest starting stint, and over that nine-game stretch, he's averaging 15.4 points, 3.2 assists, 2.4 boards, 2.1 threes and 1.3 steals while shooting a respectable 46.2 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from long distance.

Clingan totaled four points (2-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt), seven rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes during Sunday's 111-98 loss to San Antonio in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The second-year center had recorded double-doubles in his last two regular-season matchups with the Spurs, but Clingan simply couldn't handle Victor Wembanyama in the latter's playoff debut. Through seven contests in April, Clingan is averaging 10.0 points, 10.4 boards, 2.1 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 threes over 26.1 minutes, and he'll need to raise his game if Portland is going to avoid a quick exit.