Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was once again recognized for his defensive prowess on Friday, earning his eighth NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. He was joined by Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons), and Derrick White (Boston Celtics). Kevin Garnett, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Gary Payton share the NBA record with nine NBA All-Defensive First Team selections. Gobert has also been named once on the All-Defensive Second Team, giving him nine selections overall. Only five players in NBA history have received the recognition at least 10 times, with Tim Duncan holding the all-time record at 15.

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama will head into Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night knowing he has been named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team for the second time in his career. He also earned the honor during his rookie campaign in 2023-24. The French star didn't make the cut last year after appearing in only 46 games. This season, Wembanyama was the only unanimous selection for the All-Defensive First Team. It doesn't come as a surprise, given that Wembanyama was also named the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year this season. Wembanyama led the NBA in blocks for a third consecutive campaign, swatting away 3.1 shots a night.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell will return to the starting lineup in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports. Mitchell has started six of the Thunder's 10 postseason games, but he had to settle for a reserve role at the start of the Conference Finals after Jalen Williams (hamstring) was cleared to return to the lineup. With Williams now back on the shelf, Mitchell will get a new opportunity to run with the starters. As a starter in the 2026 playoffs, Mitchell has posted averages of 21.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals.

San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox (ankle) will rejoin the lineup on Friday night in Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The star guard missed the first two games of the series due to an ankle injury. According to reports, Fox is dealing with a pretty bad injury that would keep him out of regular-season games. It will be interesting to see how effective he will be in Friday's contest. Fox has averaged 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 33.3 minutes per game during the playoffs. He will presumably reclaim his starting spot, bumping Dylan Harper (adductor) to the bench.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. Unfortunately, Williams won't be able to play through a left hamstring injury he sustained in Game 2. The team initially listed Williams as questionable for Friday's contest. Cason Wallace started the second half in Williams' place in Game 2 and could have a larger role once again. At the same time, Ajay Mitchell has previously started in Williams' absence. Guys like Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain could pick up extra shifts in the rotation as well.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden tallied 18 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three three-pointers in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks. The 36-year-old shot 6-for-15 from the field and 3-for-3 at the line, but his low assist total was a problem on a night when Cleveland's offense stalled badly. The Cavaliers shot only 38.8 percent overall and 9-for-35 from three-point range, falling into a 2-0 series hole. Harden can still supply scoring and steals, but Cleveland needs more playmaking from him in Game 3.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks, knocking down two threes on 5-for-8 shooting. The 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year stretched the floor and protected the rim, but his rebounding dropped off sharply from the 14 boards he grabbed in Game 1. Cleveland's frontcourt simply couldn't generate enough second-chance offense once an 18-0 Knicks third-quarter run flipped the game. Mobley remains a steady multi-category contributor whose blocks, boards, and improving outside touch give him a high fantasy floor even on a down scoring night. With the series shifting to Rocket Arena, expect his interior workload against Karl-Anthony Towns to climb in a near-elimination Game 3.

New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 18 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and three three-pointers in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 30-year-old shot 7-for-12 from the field and 1-for-2 at the line, giving New York an efficient inside-out counter while Jalen Brunson shifted into facilitator mode. Towns also finished plus-18 over 36 minutes, a solid response after a quieter Game 1. With Josh Hart scoring 26 and Brunson handing out 14 assists, Towns did not need heavy usage to carry fantasy value through rebounds, efficiency, and floor spacing.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell paced his team with 26 points in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks, sinking 8-of-9 at the free-throw line on a night the Cavs converted just 68.8 percent there as a group. The four-time All-Star shot 8-for-18 from the field with two threes, four rebounds, one assist, and one block, and his floater briefly cut the deficit to eight before an 18-0 Knicks third-quarter run buried Cleveland. "I thought our process was right tonight, so that gives me confidence going home," coach Kenny Atkinson said. Mitchell's volume and free-throw access keep his fantasy floor high regardless of efficiency, and a return to Rocket Arena down 2-0 sets up a likely usage spike. He poured in 48 points in a similar spot a year ago, so the ceiling for a Game 3 outburst is real.

New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges scored 19 points on a tidy 9-for-12 from the field in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, adding three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a corner three that pushed the lead back to 13 in the fourth. The former Net rarely needed more than a clean look, converting at the kind of clip that justified the trade haul New York gave up for him. He didn't lean on volume from deep, taking just a handful of attempts after a season spent ironing out a shooting hitch that surfaced in the preseason. Bridges has settled into a steady two-way role behind Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, and nights like this keep him a dependable source of points and steals without the boom-or-bust threes that drag his floor.

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, burning a defense that had been daring him to shoot. The 30-year-old went 10-for-21 from the field and a scorching 5-for-11 from deep, adding seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals. It was a sharp turnaround after Game 1, when Hart was benched down the stretch amid a 26.7 percent slump from three. Cleveland left him open by design again, and this time he made them pay. With Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns all scoring in double figures, Hart's three-point variance is the swing factor in his line. The threes won't always fall like this, but the assists, boards, and steals keep his floor steady as New York heads to Cleveland up 2-0.

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson tallied 19 points, three rebounds, 14 assists, and one three-pointer in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 29-year-old shot 7-for-16 from the field and 4-for-4 at the line, trading his usual scoring-heavy profile for a playoff career-high assist total as Cleveland sent extra attention his way. Josh Hart turned those openings into 26 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double. Through two games of the series, Brunson is averaging 28.5 points and 10.0 assists, giving him a useful floor even when the shot volume dips.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday is happy with his current situation and wants to remain with the team, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reports. "I hope so. I don't like being traded and moved and stuff," Holiday said about remaining in Portland. "I like being a part of something and building with the team and seeing the progress and going through the progress with them. So I hope so. I'd love to be here." After spending seven years in New Orleans, Holiday has suited up for three different teams this decade. His fantasy stock improved with his move to Portland, as Holiday averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.0 steals in 29.4 minutes per game this season. Compared with his time in Boston, he had a much larger offensive role. Holiday, who will be 36 in June, has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $135 million contract.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Ayo Dosunmu will enter unrestricted free agency this summer, but the team hopes to bring him back, The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski reports. "Ayo's our most important free agent," Timberwolves president Tim Connelly told reporters on Tuesday. "He's a guy we thought we knew pretty well and we liked him from afar. Now seeing him day to day, we love him." The Timberwolves picked up Dosunmu in a trade with the Chicago Bulls in February. He was a great fit for the team, averaging 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals in 28.9 minutes per game. Dosunmu's playoff run with Minnesota included a 43-point effort in Game 4 against Denver in the opening round. The 26-year-old has proven himself as a versatile fantasy contributor and still has room to develop as a player.

San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox (ankle) is listed as questionable for Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. Fox was also questionable for Games 1 and 2 and didn't suit up for either. According to Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, the two-time All-Star is dealing with an ankle injury that he wouldn't be playing with in the regular season. Given he had played through the injury during the postseason, it was a surprise that Fox wasn't in the lineup for the Western Conference Finals opener. Now, he's looking at a third consecutive absence. To make matters worse for the Spurs, the backcourt also lost Dylan Harper (adductor) in Game 2 against the Thunder.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been officially listed as questionable for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. In Game 2, Williams was limited to seven minutes, exiting the action due to left hamstring tightness. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Williams is considered day-to-day. Fortunately, it appears Williams has avoided a major injury, but it looks likely he will miss at least one or two games. Due to Williams' hamstring issues, the Thunder have used Ajay Mitchell as a starter in the postseason, boosting his fantasy appeal. However, Cason Wallace was trusted with a starting role in the second half of Game 2 against San Antonio on Wednesday night.

San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Devin Vassell scored a playoff career-high 22 points on Wednesday night in a 122-113 Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He finished as San Antonio's second-leading scorer behind Stephon Castle, going 7-for-14 from the field, including 6-for-12 from beyond the arc. Vassell pulled down four rebounds and added one assist and one block. Injuries have begun to affect the Spurs' lineup, and this might not be the only time in the Western Conference Finals when Vassell takes on a larger offensive role. He has averaged 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 34.2 minutes per game in the playoffs.

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama produced another high-level all-around performance in Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, finishing a 122-113 loss with 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, one steal, and four blocks. He went 3-for-7 from deep and made exactly half of 16 field-goal attempts, collecting his eighth postseason double-double. Two games into the Western Conference Finals, Wembanyama is averaging some mind-boggling numbers. He has notched 31.0 points, 20.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. The French phenom has performed exceptionally well on the road and could put up even bigger numbers in more comfortable settings during Games 3 and 4 on home court.

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 30 points in Wednesday's 122-113 Game 2 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. After making barely 30% of his field-goal attempts in Game 1, the back-to-back MVP finished 12-for-24 from the floor and 6-for-6 at the line. However, he still struggled from deep, going 0-for-3. Offensively, Gilgeous-Alexander also contributed nine assists, while grabbing four rebounds and picking up two blocks with one steal. This was Gilgeous-Alexander's fifth 30-point game of the postseason. Going forward, his offensive role might increase after Jalen Williams (hamstring) was hurt on Wednesday night.

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein recorded his second double-double of the postseason in Wednesday's 122-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 10 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The 28-year-old big man struggled in Game 1, logging only 12 minutes, but he got back on track on Wednesday night. Hartenstein's playing time went up to 27 minutes, and his efforts included three assists. He grabbed eight boards on the offensive end alone and finished with a 4-for-8 effort from the field. Despite his rough Game 1 outing, Hartenstein had been a solid contributor for the Thunder in the playoffs, averaging 8.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.1 steals.