NBA Player News

Ayton provided 21 points (9-11 FG, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one block over 31 minutes during Thursday's 119-103 victory over the Warriors.

It's the first time since March 12 that Ayton has delivered 20-plus points. All five Laker starters scored in double digits Thursday as the team tries to compensate for the absence of Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), and in three games since the two stars went down, Ayton is averaging 12.3 points, 4.0 boards, 1.0 blocks and 0.7 assists in 24.3 minutes.

Okogie closed Thursday's 113-102 win over the 76ers with nine points (4-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt), 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal over 21 minutes.

Making his first start since Feb. 5, Okogie just missed recording his second double-double of the season, and the sixth of his career. The 27-year-old wing has filled a more consistent role in the Rockets' rotation in April, averaging 13.6 minutes over the last five games while supplying 4.4 points, 3.4 boards, 1.0 assists and 0.6 steals.

Thompson amassed 19 points (7-14 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 5-8 FT), five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 42 minutes during Thursday's 113-102 victory over the 76ers.

The third-year guard has been rock solid for the Rockets down the stretch. Thompson has scored at least 14 points in eight straight games, averaging 18.4 points, 6.9 boards, 5.6 assists and 2.0 steals over that span while shooting 56.4 percent from the floor as Houston tries to chase down Denver and the Lakers for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

Smith logged 19 points (7-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 4-6 FT), five rebounds and one block across 34 minutes during Thursday's 113-102 win over the 76ers.

The fourth-year forward continued a productive stretch to close out the regular season. Smith has scored at least 12 points in nine straight games, averaging 18.2 points, 7.8 boards, 3.1 threes, 1.8 assists and 0.9 blocks over that stretch as the Rockets try to climb past the Lakers and Nuggets for the third seed in the Western Conference.

Drummond finished Thursday's 113-102 loss to the Rockets with five points (2-2 FG, 1-4 FT), 15 rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal over 30 minutes off the bench.

Adem Bona got the start with Joel Embiid (appendix) unavailable but played only 15 minutes, while Drummond handled the bigger workload from the second unit and produced his best rebounding effort since he pulled down 17 boards against the Trail Blazers on March 15. The veteran center doesn't offer much offense, but over his last 10 games, Drummond is averaging 4.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.7 threes in just 16.4 minutes.

The Heat waived Rozier on Friday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Miami had placed Rozier on paid leave back in October after he was arrested as part of an FBI sports-betting probe. His arrest stemmed from his allegedly participation in an illegal sports-betting scheme back in 2023, while he was playing with the Hornets. The NBA conducted an investigation into the matter last January but ultimately didn't find a violation of its rules. Where the 32-year-old Rozier's career goes from here is unclear, but he hasn't seen NBA action since the 2024-25 campaign.

Grimes supplied 20 points (7-16 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 5-6 FT), two rebounds and one steal over 26 minutes off the bench during Thursday's 113-102 loss to Houston.

It's the first time since March 21 that the fifth-year guard has scored at least 20 points. Grimes has returned to the second unit with Tyrese Maxey back in action, and over the last seven games off the bench, he's averaging just 9.4 points, 3.0 boards, 1.4 assists and 1.1 threes in 25.0 minutes.

Edgecombe chipped in 21 points (7-17 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 4-7 FT), six rebounds, eight assists and two steals over 40 minutes during Thursday's 113-102 loss to the Rockets.

The third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is putting the finishing touches on a productive first season. Edgecombe has scored in double digits in 10 of the last 11 games, averaging 20.6 points, 5.7 boards, 5.3 assists, 2.5 threes and 1.3 steals over that stretch, and his usage isn't likely to shrink while Joel Embiid (appendix) remains on the shelf.

Maxey accumulated a team-high 23 points (9-20 FG, 5-10 3Pt), three rebounds and five assists over 33 minutes during Thursday's 113-102 loss to the Rockets.

The 25-year-old guard was one of three Sixers to score at least 20 points on the night, but it wasn't quite enough to keep pace with the home squad. Maxey has been productive since returning in late March from a finger injury, and over seven games since getting back in the lineup, he's averaging 22.9 points, 6.9 assists, 4.1 boards and 2.1 threes.

James collected 26 points (11-17 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and one block in 32 minutes during Thursday's 119-103 win over the Warriors.

James pieced together a stellar final line and led the Lakers in points, rebounds and assists on the way to a resounding victory. The 41-year-old checked out of the game at one point during the second half with an apparent right hand injury, but James stated after the win that this is something he's been managing since March 23 against Detroit, per Trevor Lane of LakersNation.com, and he was later able to return. The superstar has kicked his production into another gear without the services of Austin Reaves (oblique) and Luka Doncic (hamstring), which is something James will need to continue as both key contributors are unlikely to return until later in the postseason.