Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's Game 3 against the Clippers. Dallas' three-point bomber sprained his right ankle in Game 2 and hasn't recovered in time for Friday's game. Josh Green and Dante Exum will have a chance to log extra minutes without Hardaway Jr., although they aren't good fantasy options. Both players failed to score in Game 2, with the Mavericks relying heavily on their first unit.

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) continues to carry a doubtful designation on the injury report ahead of Friday's Game 3 against Indiana. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers believes that Antetokounmpo is getting "close" to returning, but it looks like his comeback won't happen on Friday. Bobby Portis has started in Antetokounmpo's absence, averaging a double-double in the series with 14.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in 30.5 minutes. He could see a few more minutes on Friday, as Khris Middleton (ankle) is considered questionable for the contest.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) didn't practice on Thursday and is considered questionable for Friday's Game 3 against the Pacers. Middleton hurt his right ankle in Tuesday's Game 2, although he was still able to log 36 minutes in the contest. The three-time All-Star has played well in the series, averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) likely remaining on the shelf, Damian Lillard would be expected to do even more offensively. Malik Beasley and Jae Crowder should share most of Middleton's minutes if he's out, with one of them likely moving to the first unit.

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum was limited to 15 points in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Thunder, shooting 6-for-14 from the field and 1-for-5 from outside. Nine points came in the second quarter following a zero-point effort in the first. McCollum posted half of the team's four steals and picked up five rebounds with four assists. The veteran is now 3-for-14 from downtown through the first two games of the series. A big improvement is needed from him in home games for New Orleans to have a shot in the series.

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Brandon Ingram finished Wednesday's Game 2 loss against Oklahoma City with a full line after initially struggling in the contest. Ingram had only four points in the first half before finding his rhythm in the second and finishing with 18 points on 5-for-10 shooting. He nailed all eight free throws and tallied four rebounds with three assists, one steal, and one block. Ingram hasn't looked quite himself since returning from a knee injury in the regular-season finale. The talented scorer has yet to make a three-pointer in the series against OKC and averages a measly 15.0 points on 37 percent shooting.

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas finished Wednesday's heavy 124-92 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 as the team's top scorer, netting 19 points in 23 minutes on 8-for-14 shooting. The Lithuanian big man had an incredible start to the contest, scoring all of New Orleans' first 11 points. A Herbert Jones triple broke Valanciunas' scoring run at the 7:58 mark in the first quarter. After gobbling up 20 rebounds in Game 1, Valanciunas settled for seven boards this time, adding two assists to his tally. The Pelicans center has been productive in the series, but his defensive shortcoming resulted in Chet Holmgren getting 20 first-half points in Game 2. The veteran definitely has to improve at that end to earn consistent playing time.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 33 points as the team grabbed a 2-0 series lead against New Orleans with a 124-92 victory on Wednesday. After struggling from deep in Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander hit three three-point bombs with five attempts and shot a very efficient 13-for-19 overall. He also bagged a pair of steals and grabbed three rebounds while dishing out five assists. OKC's MVP candidate is averaging 30.5 points through the first couple of postseason games. The Pelicans need to find a way to slow him down if they want to advance to the next round.

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is questionable ahead of Thursday's postseason game against the 76ers. Robinson was two points shy of a double-double in Game 1. He also had four blocks in that one. However, things were different in Game 2, with the 26-year-old finishing with just one point and four boards. With that said, he could be limited even if he's cleared to suit up, meaning DFS managers may want to keep him out of their lineups. Instead, Isaiah Hartenstein, amassing 14 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks on Monday night, should be the preferred fantasy option.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) is questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Knicks. The 30-year-old reaggravated the injury to his surgically repaired left knee in Game 1, forcing him to exit the contest briefly before returning. But despite carrying a questionable designation ahead of Game 2, Embiid was on the floor and finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in 39 minutes of action. At any rate, he should be listed as probable, considering the Sixers hope to avoid going down three games in this series. However, if Embiid can't go, Paul Reed and Mo Bamba will split time in the middle.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo logged a team-high 40 minutes in Wednesday's win over the Boston Celtics. He looked good in this one, finishing with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double. The C's have had issues with Adebayo during this series, with the 26-year-old averaging 22.5 points and shooting 61.3% from the field. With that in mind, the C's will likely adjust heading into Game 3 on Saturday, so everyone on the Heat roster could be in for a long night.

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis had trouble getting anything going in Wednesday's loss to the Heat. The veteran scored just six points, the fewest of anyone in the starting lineup, going 1-for-9 from the field while missing all four tries from deep. Fortunately, he added eight boards, three steals, and two blocks, so his evening wasn't a total flop for DFS managers. With that in mind, Porzingis averaged 20.3 points against the Heat during the regular season, meaning he could easily turn things around on Saturday night.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum scored 28 points in Wednesday's matchup with the Heat. While Jaylen Brown had a game-high 33 points, Tatum still had a solid outing. His shooting numbers haven't been the best through the first two games of this series. However, he's made up for it in other statistical areas. Unfortunately, Tatum efforts weren't enough, with the Heat stealing a win. With the series tied at a game each, both teams will meet on Saturday night in Miami. The 26-year-old played well against the Heat during the regular season, and he should continue to see plenty of minutes, which is always ideal for DFS purposes.

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown had a game-high 33 points in Wednesday's postseason meeting with Miami. He added eight rebounds, one steal, and one block. The 27-year-old had 17 points in Game 1, so his offensive outburst was appreciated by DFS managers. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, as the Celtics would go on to lose this one on their home turf. With the series knotted at one game each, both clubs will meet on Saturday night in South Beach. Of course, Brown will be a coveted DFS Option, although he may have a tough time matching his production from Game 2.

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (ankle) hasn't been ruled out for Game 3 against Minnesota on Friday. X-rays came back negative after Allen re-injured his right ankle in Tuesday's Game 2. He is considered day-to-day. "Got to see what the next two days look like," Allen said when asked about his chances of featuring in Game 3. Allen, who initially hurt his ankle in Game 1 last week, has had a rough time in the first-round series, averaging only 3.5 points on 20 percent shooting. Royce O'Neale and Eric Gordon will figure more heavily in the rotation if he can't play on Friday.

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden had 22 points on 6-for-14 shooting in a 96-93 loss to Dallas on Tuesday. After opening the series with a vintage performance and 28 points, Harden scored only three points in the first quarter without making any field goals, and the Clippers' offense struggled throughout the night. Harden finished 6-for-14 shooting, including a 2-for-10 effort from deep, and tallied six rebounds with eight assists, one steal, and one block. The former MVP has plenty to think about ahead of Game 3, but at least the Clippers now have Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup to boost their chances in the series.

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic netted a game-high 32 points in Tuesday's 96-93 Game 2 victory over the Clippers. Doncic added six rebounds, nine assists, one steal, and one block to his tally, playing a whopping 45:43 in the contest. Both teams struggled to put points on the board, and it was no different with Doncic, who finished 5-for-14 with his three-point attempts and 11-for-26 overall from the floor. Kyrie Irving added 23 points as the Mavericks continued to rely heavily on their star duo. The pair have averaged over 55 points per game in the series, with Doncic posting 32.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard continued to roll in Game 2 against the Pacers on Tuesday, but his big performance wasn't enough this time around for the team to get the win. Lillard led his squad in a 125-108 loss with 34 points on 10-for-21 shooting. Most of his makes came from downtown, as Lillard went 6-for-13 with the three-ball. He delivered five assists in the contest and recorded four rebounds with one steal. The 2024 All-Star Game MVP is thoroughly enjoying his first postseason campaign in three years, sitting among the top scorers with 34.5 points and boasting a very impressive 50 percent success rate from behind the arc.

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 37 points and bagged 11 rebounds as his squad tied the first-round series against Milwaukee at one with a 125-108 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night. Siakam became the first player to start a postseason campaign with consecutive 35-point, 10-rebound performances since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967. The two-time All-Star reached the impressive double-double with 16-for-23 shooting, and he also found time to dish out six assists. The Pacers will be delighted to see their midseason acquisition flourish in the playoffs, but Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is reportedly close to returning to action, and his presence will make things a lot more difficult for Siakam.

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Devin Booker had a team-high 20 points in Tuesday's Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves. He finished 6-for-13 shooting from the field and went 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. Phoenix had a miserable night offensively in a 105-93 loss, and it was summed up well by Booker's 1-for-6 effort from deep. The Suns star also collected three rebounds, five assists, and two steals with six turnovers before fouling out with a couple of minutes remaining in the game. Head coach Frank Vogel's team is now down 2-0 in the series, and Phoenix will need a lot more from Booker to turn things around. He's shot below 40 percent in the series so far, averaging 19.0 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns went cold offensively in Tuesday's postseason win over Phoenix. He scored only 12 points, going 3-for-7 from the field and 1-for-4 from deep. Fortunately, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick at least added eight rebounds and a steal. At any rate, Towns hasn't looked the same since returning from knee surgery. However, he should turn things around at some point during this series, so DFS managers should keep him on the radar.