NBA Player News

  • Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis: Posts 12/8 line in loss

    Porzingis finished with 12 points (3-8 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 6-6 FT), eight rebounds and one assist across 24 minutes during Sunday's 115-110 loss to the Clippers.

    Of all the players on the roster, the Warriors will have to rely on great games from Porzingis to advance. When Porzingis is at his best, he's a clear height and size mismatch against the Clippers, and his contributions have played a significant role in getting the Warriors to this point. His eight rebounds were sufficient, but the team needs more points from the big man in the rematch.

  • Warriors' Stephen Curry: Paces team with restricted minutes

    Curry chipped in 24 points (7-14 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 6-8 FT), six rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in 29 minutes during Sunday's 115-110 loss to the Clippers.

    Curry scored a team-high 24 points despite a minute restriction, but he'll be ready for increased output in a rematch during the Play-In Game against the Clippers on Wednesday. It's a miracle that the Warriors have been able to limp their way to this point, and they'll now place their hopes on Curry's typical postseason heroics to turn the tide.

  • John Collins PF | LAC

    Clippers' John Collins: Logs 18 points in start

    Collins racked up 18 points (8-12 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and nine rebounds over 21 minutes during Sunday's 115-110 victory over Golden State.

    Ideally, a balanced set of totals from Collins and Brook Lopez would be the best recipe for the Clippers' frontcourt, but the team insists on keeping Derrick Jones and his oft-inconsistent production in the first unit. Collins showed his potential impact by pouring in 18 points in only 21 minutes. The team is likely to revert to the original scheme in the rematch Tuesday night, but Jones went scoreless in 21 minutes against Golden State. A lineup switch could be in store.

  • Clippers' Bogdan Bogdanovic: Shoots way to 17 points

    Bogdanovic totaled 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-8 3Pt), three rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes during Sunday's 115-110 win over the Warriors.

    Bogdanovic's three-point shot is his bread and butter, and he drilled five from long range on the way to his second-best total of the season. The veteran sharpshooter has been limited by an illness, but he appears healthy enough to play a support role. Although the ninth-year pro averaged a career-low 7.4 points per game this season, he's a streaky player who can rack up points quickly.

  • Clippers' Bennedict Mathurin: Posts team-high 20 points

    Mathurin recorded 20 points (7-17 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 4-6 FT), nine rebounds, eight assists and one block across 32 minutes during Sunday's 115-110 victory over the Warriors.

    Mathurin stepped up amid Kawhi Leonard's (wrist/knee) absence and produced a solid line. Mathurin came two assists and one rebound shy of a triple-double. Mathurin's numbers have tapered off a bit in recent weeks, but his success against the Warriors should result in another good outing, given the upcoming rematch against Golden State in the Play-In Tournament.

  • Rayan Rupert SG | MEM

    Grizzlies' Rayan Rupert: Logs double-double in finale

    Rupert provided 21 points (8-15 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 12 rebounds, five assists, one block and two steals across 42 minutes during Sunday's 132-101 loss to the Rockets.

    Rupert faced some injury issues late in the season, but he finished the campaign with a flurry of productive games and could be a net positive for the Grizzlies after moving over from Portland. There's ample room for promotion on this depleted squad, which will undergo a transformation in the offseason.

  • Grizzlies' Dariq Whitehead: Paces team with 26 points

    Whitehead totaled 26 points (11-21 FG, 4-11 3Pt), four rebounds and one assist across 39 minutes during Sunday's 132-101 loss to the Rockets.

    A 2023 first-round draft pick of Brooklyn, Whitehead struggled to stay healthy over his first two seasons in the league, appearing in just 22 games for the Nets. After being waived in October, Whitehead spent most of the season with the Thunder's G League affiliate before inking a 10-day deal with Memphis on April 3. He saw extensive playing time for the injury riddled Grizzlies down the stretch, appearing in the team's final six games while averaging 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 three-pointers and 1.5 assists in 30.5 minutes. With his contract expiring Monday, Whitehead will become an unrestricted free agent.

  • Reed Sheppard SG | HOU

    Rockets' Reed Sheppard: Hits for 19 points in win

    Sheppard racked up 19 points (7-18 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal across 26 minutes during Sunday's 132-101 win over Memphis.

    With Houston's starters taking a seat during the regular-season finale, Sheppard stepped into the first unit. It's a familiar path for Sheppard, who started 21 times this season and is often the preferred candidate at the point guard position. The team could go with Sheppard or Josh Okogie as they begin the first-round series with the Lakers, but Sheppard should log significant minutes in either event.

  • Tari Eason PF | HOU

    Rockets' Tari Eason: Goes for 20 points in victory

    Eason posted 20 points (8-17 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), eight rebounds and three assists over 24 minutes during Sunday's 132-101 victory over Memphis.

    Eason ceded significant time to Jabari Smith over the course of the season, but Eason got the green light for production at the four with the first unit sidelined during the regular-season finale. An eight-game stretch of single-digit scoring totals in March brought an end to his stint with the first unit, but the demotion didn't affect his bottom line. He still logged significant minutes and remained a decent source of rebounding for the squad.

  • Suns' Haywood Highsmith: Scores five points in return

    Highsmith (knee) recorded five points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-1 FT) in 10 minutes off the bench Sunday in the Suns' 135-103 win over the Thunder.

    Highsmith made it back to the court for the Suns' regular-season finale after he had been sidelined for each of the previous 12 games while receiving maintenance for his surgically repaired right knee. The veteran forward saw only light action in the contest, but assuming his knee responds well, Highsmith looks like he'll be good to go for the Suns' playoff run. However, because Phoenix was holding out eight rotation players Sunday, Highsmith looks to be in danger of losing out on a spot on the second unit when the Suns host the Trail Blazers on Tuesday in a Play-In Tournament game.

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