NBA Player News
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Kevin Huerter SG | DET
Pistons' Kevin Huerter: Ruled out Friday
Huerter (adductor) is out for Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs Friday against the Magic, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.
The Pistons won't have Huerter available for a second straight win-or-go-home contest, so the team will have to turn elsewhere to fill out the reserve minutes. Daniss Jenkins, Caris LeVert and Javonte Green are all candidates for increased playing time Friday.
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Brandon Ingram SF | TOR
Raptors' Brandon Ingram: Won't play Friday
Ingram (heel) is out for Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs Friday against Cleveland, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca.
After exiting Wednesday's Game 5 loss due to right heel inflammation, Ingram will not give it a go Friday. The Raptors will be hoping the likes of Ja'Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamal Shead step up Friday and help force a Game 7 back in Cleveland.
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Joel Embiid C | PHI
76ers' Joel Embiid: Probable for Game 7
Embiid (abdomen) is listed as probable for Saturday's Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Celtics.
Embiid has played in each of Philadelphia's last three games and is expected to suit up for Saturday's win-or-go-home matchup in Boston. The star big man has averaged 26.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.4 combined steals-plus-blocks in 35.7 minutes per contest through three first-round appearances.
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Jonathan Isaac PF | ORL
Magic's Jonathan Isaac: Downgraded to out
Isaac (knee) is out for Friday's Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against Detroit.
As expected, the Magic have downgraded Isaac from doubtful to out for Game 6 due to a left knee sprain. If the Pistons survive Friday and force a Game 7, Isaac wouldn't appear to be in line to be available for that contest either.
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Zeke Nnaji PF | DEN
Nuggets' Zeke Nnaji: Scoreless in three minutes
Nnaji ended with no counting stats across three minutes during Thursday's 110-98 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Playing in his sixth NBA season, Nnaji was once again used very sparingly by the Nuggets. He made just 52 regular-season appearances, posting averages of 3.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 12.0 minutes per contest.
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Jayson Tatum PF | BOS
Celtics' Jayson Tatum: Good to go for Game 7
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Tatum is good to go for Saturday's Game 7 against the 76ers, Brian Robb of MassLive.com reports.
Tatum briefly went to the locker room during the second half of Game 6, but he downplayed it after the loss, saying they played it safe with the score out of hand. Additionally, Mazzulla said he has no concerns about Tatum's leg ahead of Game 7.
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Jonas Valanciunas C | DEN
Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Sees four minutes
Valanciunas posted two points (1-3 FG) and two rebounds over four minutes during Thursday's 110-98 loss to Minnesota in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Valanciunas was essentially a non-factor in this playoff series with 6.3 minutes per night across four contests. He played a minimal role in the regular season as well, averaging 13.4 minutes per night across 65 contests with 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
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Tyus Jones PG | DEN
Nuggets' Tyus Jones: Sees 12 minutes off bench
Jones closed with four points (2-4 FG), three assists and one steal in 12 minutes during Thursday's 110-98 loss to Minnesota in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Jones logged just three postseason appearances for the Nuggets for an average of 10.0 minutes per contest. Denver picked up Jones after he was waived by Dallas, but he was used sparingly with 11 regular-season appearances and 8.4 minutes per contest.
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Bruce Brown SG | DEN
Nuggets' Bruce Brown: Struggles in 14 minutes
Brown totaled one point (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), one rebound, one assist and two steals across 14 minutes during Thursday's 110-98 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Even though the Nuggets were shorthanded, Brown wasn't able to make a big playoff impact in 19.3 minutes per game. During the regular season, Brown appeared in all 82 games with averages of 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.4 minutes per contest. Brown is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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Tim Hardaway Jr. SG | DEN
Nuggets' Tim Hardaway: Scores 13 off bench
Hardaway registered 13 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal over 21 minutes during Thursday's 110-98 loss to Minnesota in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Hardaway's first season in Denver was a major success. He was a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, appearing in 80 regular-season games. He played 26.6 minutes per contest with averages of 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.8 three-pointers while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc.