Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (ankle) will play on Saturday against the Nuggets. There wasn't much doubt regarding his availability for the series opener, especially since he's battled a nagging ankle injury for months. James is coming off a few potent performances. That trend could continue, with the multi-time All-Star averaging 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in three meetings with the champs throughout the 2023-24 campaign.

Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (back) will play in Saturday's game versus the Denver Nuggets. He was listed as questionable because of a back issue, although there wasn't any doubt regarding his availability for Game 1. With that in mind, AD has had trouble in three meetings with the champs this season, at least compared to his encounters with other clubs, averaging 22.0 points, 9.3 boards, and 3.0 blocks. He's also shot 47.4% from the field in those contests, much lower than his seasonal average.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is doubtful ahead of Sunday's postseason battle with the Indiana Pacers. Although the injury report suggests he has a chance to play, he likely won't be out there for Game 1. In fact, his absence could extend beyond Sunday's contest. Fortunately, Damian Lillard (groin) is off the injury report, so his presence will help lessen the blow. Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and Brook Lopez should pick up the rest of the surplus opportunities on the offensive end.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) exited Saturday's postseason meeting with the Knicks. The reigning MVP went up for a dunk late in the second quarter. Unfortunately, he came down hard on his surgically repaired left knee and immediately fell to the court in obvious pain. There hasn't been an official update on his status. However, the team likely won't take chances with Embiid, so Paul Reed and Mo Bamba may handle things in the middle for the remainder of Game 1.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, there is "increasing doubt" regarding the availability of Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) for Sunday's postseason meeting with the Mavericks. The multi-time All-Star still hasn't gone through contact at practice since going on the shelf with another knee injury. There also haven't been any concrete updates regarding the nature of his ailment. But things don't look good for Leonard, who has battled knee injuries throughout his career. While it's too early to speculate, his absence could extend beyond Game 1. As expected, James Harden and Paul George should be the team's top offensive contributors while Leonard is out. Guys like Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac could also benefit from a production standpoint.

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan scored a team-high 22 points in Friday's Play-In loss to the Miami Heat. Despite the veteran's solid showing, the Bulls lost to a Miami team that didn't have Jimmy Butler (knee) or Terry Rozier (neck). With another season in the books, DeRozan will hit the open market this summer. But he's still productive as ever, ending the 2023-24 campaign with averages of 24.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. The 34-year-old also played more minutes this season than anyone in the National Basketball Association. However, DeRozan has made it known he wants to win, so he may have played his final game with the Bulls.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (ankle) is probable for Saturday's matchup with the Nuggets. This has been the norm for the veteran throughout the season, as he's making another appearance on the injury report because of the same ankle issue that's bothered him for months. At any rate, he is coming off two potent performances versus the Pelicans. That trend could continue in Game 1, with James averaging 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.7 steals in three meetings with the champs during the 2023-24 campaign.

Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (back) is listed as probable ahead of Saturday's Playoff matchup with the Denver Nuggets. AD has made frequent appearances on the injury report throughout the 2023-24 campaign. But this time, he's battling a sore back. With that said, barring a significant setback Davis will be out there for Game 1. Unfortunately, he's had a tough time in his three meetings with the champs this season, at least compared to his production versus other clubs, averaging 22.0 points, 9.3 boards, and 3.0 blocks. He's also shot 47.4% from the field and 20.0% from deep during those contests, meaning DFS managers may want to consider other options.

Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (ankle) is available for Friday's matchup with the Heat. The veteran injured his ankle toward the end of the regular season and missed some games. Yet, he was back on the floor for the win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. While Drummond only logged 11 minutes, he made the most of his limited workload, finishing with four points, four rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. Nonetheless, while Nikola Vucevic should absorb most of the minutes in the middle on Friday evening, Drummond has value for DFS managers on a night that features just two games across the National Basketball Association.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is still not practicing in full or doing any sort of live, on-court work at practice. According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, the former MVP was in attendance at practice but he only walked through some things and didn't participate. Game 1 of the series between the Bucks and Indiana Pacers is Sunday night, and his status will be something that needs to be closely monitored. If he's unable to play, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, and Jae Crowder are likely going to get plenty of minutes to try to offset the loss of their best player.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) has popped up again on the injury report due to the same knee issue that has plagued him all season. Right now, he's listed with injury management and officially ruled questionable. During their play-in game against the Miami Heat, Embiid struggled most of the time and was visibly exhausted by the time the second half rolled around. He'll be one to monitor throughout this series and beyond if they advance through to the second round. If Embiid can't play, Mo Bamba and Paul Reed are the next two big men on the depth chart. Nick Nurse seems to give one or the other extra minutes based on matchups.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris seems to be on his final ride with the team as he's in the final year of his max contract that he signed in 2019. Famously, the team signed him to a big contract instead of Jimmy Butler, who opted to sign with the Miami Heat at the time. Harris has experienced quite the rollercoaster ride while playing in Philly while the fans have grown tired of his shortcomings. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey, the two sides are expected to part ways after this postseason, and the front-runner to acquire his services happens to be the Detroit Pistons. His best scoring days may be behind him, but he could provide solid stats like Harrison Barnes when he first joined Sacramento.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) was diagnosed with a sprained MCL. Butler amassed 19 points, five assists, and five steals in Wednesday's one-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he injured his knee during the contest. As a result, Butler will be sidelined for at least a few weeks, which isn't an ideal scenario for the Heat if they manage to pull off the win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Nonetheless, Miami also won't have Terry Rozier (neck), meaning Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo could take over as the team's top scorers. There's also room for Duncan Robinson (back), Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Nikola Jovic to see a significant increase in DFS production.

Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (ankle) is questionable for Friday's Play-In meeting with the Miami Heat. Drummond sprained his ankle near the end of the regular season and missed some games. However, he returned for Wednesday's win over the Atlanta Hawks. But the veteran logged only 11 minutes, ending the night with four points, three rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. Nonetheless, Drummond should be on the floor for Friday's pivotal contest. While the ailment makes him a risky DFS option, he'll still have some value for the limited two-game slate. Yet, if Drummond can't play, the Bulls may need to go small, opening the door for Torrey Craig to get more involved.

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins could be heading toward the exit this summer. The Ringer reports that league sources believe Wiggins will be included in trade talks in the offseason as the Warriors look to improve their roster following a disappointing campaign. Golden State's season ended on Tuesday when the team suffered a blowout loss in the play-in tournament against Sacramento. Wiggins has spent four and a half seasons with the Warriors, winning the NBA championship in 2022. However, he had a rough campaign in 2023-24, and a divorce might be mutually beneficial. Wiggins is coming off the first season of a four-year, $109 million contract.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (groin) was able to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity and is expected to get a full session under his belt on Friday. Lillard is trying to get ready for Game 1 of the team's first-round series against Indiana, which starts on Sunday night. It's unlikely that we will see Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) in the lineup at the weekend, and Lillard's unavailability would be another huge blow for Milwaukee. However, the star guard appears to be trending in the right direction. If he's cleared to play, we should see fireworks from Lillard, as he'll be expected to do a lot more without Antetokounmpo. Lillard averaged a big 34-point, 10-assist double-double during his last playoff campaign in 2021.

Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) hasn't yet been cleared for five-on-five practice, but head coach Tyronn Lue appears to be confident of having him in the lineup when playoff action starts this weekend. "I'm preparing to have him on the court," Lue said on Wednesday. "We just take it day-by-day. He's getting better and we'll see how much he continues to progress." Leonard missed the final eight regular-season games due to inflammation in his right knee. The Clippers start their first-round series against Dallas on Sunday. Leonard, a two-time Finals MVP, is known as a great post-season performer and has averaged at least 30 points in three of his last four playoff campaigns.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) is feared to have suffered an MCL injury in Wednesday's 105-104 loss to Philadelphia in the play-in tournament. He was hurt near the end of the first quarter when Philadelphia's Kelly Oubre Jr. landed on Butler's right knee. The Heat star managed to complete the contest and logged a productive 40 minutes, but the injury could sideline Butler for an indefinite period. He's scheduled to have an MRI on the knee on Thursday. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Caleb Martin should carry a bigger load if Butler is forced to come out of the lineup for Friday's contest against Chicago. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo will be asked to do more on the offensive end.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler had 19 points in Wednesday's Play-In loss to the 76ers. The veteran played well in this one, especially on the defensive end, ending the night with five steals. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, with Miami getting one more chance to advance into the playoffs. With that said, Butler took a hard fall in this one and was down on the court holding his right knee, so he'll likely appear on the injury report heading into Friday's matchup. However, barring a setback, he should be out there, although the ailment could limit his productivity.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in Wednesday's Play-In win over the Heat. The reigning MVP carried a questionable tag heading into this one due to his infamous knee injury. But after practicing the last two days, he was available. Not only that, he logged 38 minutes. Without question, Embiid looked tired at times and also was observed grabbing his knee. However, it was a respectable showing for a guy who is nowhere near fully healthy. Fortunately, the Sixers will get a few days off before meeting the Knicks on Saturday to begin their series. Embiid will likely make another appearance on the injury report, although he should be good to go, barring a setback.