Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey cooled off on Monday in Game 1 against the New York Knicks, settling for 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists in a 137-98 blowout loss. He had twice as many turnovers (4) as assists, going 3-for-9 from the field and 0-for-3 from three-point land. If it weren't for Maxey's perfect 7-for-7 effort at the charity stripe, his line could have looked even uglier. Maxey's drop in form was unexpected, as he finished the first-round series against Boston with back-to-back 30-point games and notched two double-doubles in the last three games. During the regular season, Maxey was a menace for the Knicks, averaging 30.0 points per game with 50.0 percent efficiency from deep. If he can get back to that level, this could still turn into a very competitive series.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid contributed only 14 points, four rebounds, and one assist in Monday's Game 1 blowout loss to the New York Knicks. Coming off a big Game 7 win over Boston on Saturday night, the 76ers lacked energy, and Embiid's performance perfectly summed up the entire team's effort. The former MVP made only three of 11 field-goal attempts and, for the second time in four games, failed to make a three-pointer. Most of Embiid's points came from the free-throw line, where he finished 8-for-9. Embiid leads Philadelphia with 25.2 points per game in the playoffs, but he has been limited to 42.4 percent field-goal efficiency, making just three of 22 attempts from deep. The Knicks could take down the 76ers quickly if Embiid's performance doesn't improve.

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson had an explosive start to the second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, leading all scorers with 35 points in 31 minutes. This was just nine points fewer than the total Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George combined for Philadelphia. 27 of Brunson's points came in the first half. He finished 12-for-18 from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, while making all eight free-throw attempts. Brunson was busy scoring all night, so he had time for only three assists. He also recorded one rebound and two steals. Philadelphia limited Brunson to 23.0 points per game during the regular season, but he looks set to make a lot more noise in this playoff series, with a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.

Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle bagged his first double-double of the 2026 postseason on Monday, contributing a team-high 21 points and 10 rebounds in a 104-102 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. He also had a pair of assists and one steal. Randle went 8-for-20 from the field, including 2-for-6 from downtown. So far, Randle's offensive efforts have steadily improved in the playoffs, but he's having trouble handling the ball. Monday's game marked the fourth consecutive outing for Randle with four or more turnovers. He accounted for half of the team's 10 turnovers in this game. Still, Randle has picked up positive momentum recently and has a key role to play against Victor Wembanyama's crew.

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama opened the second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a triple-double, finishing a 104-102 loss with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and a record-setting 12 blocks. No player in NBA history had recorded as many blocks in a playoff game. Wembanyama became only the third player to register a triple-double with blocks in the postseason. His spectacular defensive effort made up for his offensive shortcomings. Wembanyama missed all eight three-point attempts and finished 5-for-17 overall from the field. In 40 minutes on the floor, Wembanyama also tallied five assists. The French superstar should be determined to improve his offensive output in Game 2.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards returned from a knee injury with an 18-point effort in Monday's 104-102 road win over the San Antonio Spurs. Edwards logged 25 minutes off the bench and scored 11 points in the fourth quarter. He finished an efficient 8-for-13 from the field, including 2-for-3 from downtown. Minnesota's star man blocked one shot and had three rebounds and three assists. Efficiency from the field has been an issue for Edwards this postseason, and it's a great sign for the Timberwolves that he found his rhythm in the second-round opener. It remains to be seen whether the team will also utilize Edwards off the bench in Game 2 on Wednesday night. Terrence Shannon Jr. did a good job as a starter in Edwards' place on Monday, notching 16 points, five rebounds, and one assist.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (knee) will come off the bench Monday against San Antonio in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals after missing two games with a left knee bone bruise and hyperextension. He has been cleared to play but will operate under an undisclosed minutes restriction, lowering his DFS ceiling. Terrence Shannon Jr. will remain with the first unit after posting 24 points, six rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one three-pointer in 35 minutes against Denver. Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels should also stay heavily involved.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 1 against the Lakers after suffering a Grade 1 strain and is expected to miss additional time. His absence opens a sizable usage gap, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set to carry an even heavier offensive load while Chet Holmgren takes on more frontcourt responsibility. Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace should see a bump in minutes, though their roles could shift from game to game. Oklahoma City will lean more heavily on its primary creators early in the series.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (knee) is available for Monday's Game 1 against San Antonio but is expected to play limited minutes after missing time with a knee injury. Even with a restriction, Edwards remains the focal point offensively, though his ceiling may be capped early in the series. Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels could take on more scoring responsibility, while Mike Conley may see added playmaking duties. Bones Hyland and Terrence Shannon Jr. could lose touches with Edwards back, tightening the rotation around Minnesota's primary options.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (hip) is available to play ahead of Monday's Game 1 against the New York Knicks. As expected, Embiid is cleared to play after being listed as probable on the injury report. The oft-injured big man has been a frequent guest on the injury report, but is ready to play despite dealing with a minor hip injury. His presence in the rotation will mean minimal roles for Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. Neither player is worth a look as a DFS with Embiid healthy and taking on a full workload.

Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (groin) holds a questionable tag ahead of Tuesday's Game 1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Huerter missed the final three games of the first-round series against the Orlando Magic. He continues to deal with a lingering groin injury that could impact his availability for the beginning of this series. Daniss Jenkins and Javonte Green would likely continue to see more playing time if Huerter is unavailable on Tuesday. His absence has impacted Cade Cunningham the most, with him playing nearly 40 minutes during Sunday's victory over Orlando.

New York Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan (hamstring) is available to play ahead of Monday's Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers. As expected, Sochan is cleared to play after being listed as probable on the injury report. It's nice to have him available, but Sochan wasn't in the rotation during the first round of the postseason. Depending on how the game goes, Sochan could see a few minutes, but he won't be someone worth targeting in DFS contests.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Ayo Dosunmu (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs. Dosunmu sat out during the Game 6 victory over the Denver Nuggets. The lingering calf issue is going to keep him sidelined for at least one more game. The Wolves should be in decent shape as long as Anthony Edwards (knee) is available to play, but he currently carries a questionable tag into this game. Terrence Shannon Jr. gained the most value without Edwards or Dosunmu on the court for Thursday's win over the Nuggets. Without Dosunmu available, Bones Hyland, Jaylen Clark, and Shannon should all benefit from increased playing time.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell recorded 22 points, three rebounds, and one assist in 35 minutes during Sunday's Game 7 win over Toronto. He shot 9-for-20 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep, leaning heavily on scoring while contributing minimally in other areas. His assist and defensive numbers dipped throughout the series compared to his regular-season levels, signaling a more scoring-dependent role. Jarrett Allen controlled the paint, and James Harden handled more of the playmaking, leaving Mitchell to carry the scoring load heading into the Detroit series.

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes recorded 24 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and one block in 37 minutes during Sunday's Game 7 loss to Cleveland. He went 8-for-14 from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 at the line, doing a bit of everything while carrying the offense. Barnes stayed consistent throughout the series, showing how much the team leans on him to create. RJ Barrett chipped in as a secondary scorer, but most of the offense still flowed through Barnes. With the season now over, Barnes is firmly established as the franchise centerpiece heading into next year.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen recorded 22 points, 19 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three blocks in 33 minutes during Sunday's Game 7 win over Toronto. He shot 7-for-11 from the field and 8-for-14 from the line, controlling the paint on both ends while posting his best outing of the series. Allen's work on the glass and defense continues to hold Cleveland's frontcourt together. With Donovan Mitchell and James Harden creating on the perimeter, the Cavs will lean on Allen to match Detroit's physicality in the next round.

Orlando Magic forward/center Paolo Banchero recorded 38 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and one block in 42 minutes during Sunday's Game 7 loss to Detroit. He shot 14-for-25 from the field and 4-for-7 from three, carrying the offense with efficient scoring and playmaking after a quiet Game 6. Banchero handled a heavy workload throughout the series, reinforcing his status as the focal point. Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. contributed, but Orlando leaned heavily on Banchero's creation. With the season over, he's set to remain a high-usage centerpiece and a strong fantasy building block heading into next year.

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren recorded 15 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists in 37 minutes during Sunday's Game 7 win over Orlando. He shot 5-for-9 from the field and anchored the interior, delivering his first double-double of the series at the right time. Duren had an up-and-down series, but this game was a reminder of how impactful he can be on the glass. With Cade Cunningham running the offense and Tobias Harris handling much of the scoring, Duren's role stays centered on rebounding and protecting the paint as Detroit heads into a tougher matchup with Cleveland's frontcourt.

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham finished with 32 points, one rebound, 12 assists, and two blocks in 39 minutes during Sunday's Game 7 win over Orlando, pushing Detroit into the next round. He controlled the offense throughout, pairing efficient scoring with high-level playmaking in a decisive closeout. Cunningham's usage and versatility remain the foundation of Detroit's attack, giving him elite DFS appeal moving forward. Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren also delivered strong supporting lines, but Cleveland's defense will likely key on Cunningham as the primary engine in the next series.

Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris recorded 30 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one block, and three steals in 36 minutes during Sunday's Game 7 win over Orlando. He shot 11-for-18 from the field and 5-for-7 from three, delivering his most efficient outing of the series while staying active defensively. Harris has now scored at least 20 points in five straight games, cementing his role as a secondary scorer. Cade Cunningham drives the offense, while Jalen Duren adds interior production, but Harris' scoring punch gives Detroit another reliable option entering the Cleveland matchup.