Bucks vs Nets
Spread: Nets -1
Total: 216
Key Injuries
Kyrie Irving - OUT (Ankle)
MVP CPT
Kevin Durant, BKN - He isn't cheap but this matchup is all about the top tier talent and filling in where you can. Both teams are playing incredibly tight rotations as well so Durant will likely be on the floor all game long. He has four straight games of AT LEAST a double-double as he triple-doubled in Game 5.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL - If you aren't rolling with Durant it is clear that Giannis is the next best thing. He is averaging 57 FP over the last four games, scoring at least 30 point while pulling down 10+ rebounds in each contest.
Khris Middleton, MIL - IF the Bucks are going to move on they need one of their secondary players to come through for them. In Game 6 that was Middleton who scored 38 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. This was the second game this series where Middleton went 30/10+ as in Game 1 he scored 35 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. They need that again tonight out of him.
FLEX
Jrue Holiday, MIL - Holiday has played well in this series and while he hasn't popped like the others, his consistent floor makes him a reasonable flex play that most will be looking at. Over te last three games he has scored at least 31 FP while putting up a series high 46 FP in Game 6.
James Harden, BKN - Harden was not great in his initial return but bounced back a bit in Game 6, scoring 40 FP. What I love here is the minutes for Harden, let us hope the production soon follows.
Blake Griffin, BKN - Blake has been very sturdy for the Nets in this series, giving them 30 minutes a night and solid overall production. In each game this series he has gone for at least 21 FP which a series high 26 FP in Game 6.
Jeff Green, BKN - Green entered the starting lineup in Game 6 and slumped, shooting just 2-of-9 from the floor. In Game 5 he popped off for 38 FP, scoring 27 actual points. Assuming he starts again he is in play for me.
Dart Throws
Pat Connaughton, MIL - The minutes have been there but the production was not in Game 6 as Connaughton was 0-for-5 from the floor for just 2.5 fantasy points. In the previous two games he went for 21 and 27 fantasy points. He should see 20+ minutes here again in Game 7 but lets hope for a better shooting night!
P.J. Tucker, MIL - He plays a lot of minutes but the production is very hit or miss. In Game 4, he had 26 FP but he has only gone for double-digit fantasy points in two games this series.
Player News
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Knicks have relieved Tom Thibodeau of his duties as head coach.
One year after signing a three-year extension, Thibodeau is out as head coach of the Knicks. New York had back-to-back 50 win seasons and made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years under Thibodeau, but the team is looking for a new voice to help the organization get over the hump after five years with coach Thibs. The Knicks’ pursuit of a championship for the first time since 1973 will begin this offseason with the search for a new coach.
The Suns have been aggressive in pursuit of trading Kevin Durant and regaining control of draft capital, according to Kelly Iko of the Athletic.
Since the end of the season, according to Iko, the Houston Rockets have fielded several calls from the Suns, who have gradually lowered their asking price for Durant. The Suns are interested in getting some of their first round picks back as Houston controls their first round selections in 2025, 2027 and 2029. The asking price is still not low enough for the Rockets, who aren’t keen on breaking up their young core of players for the 36-year-old small forward, casting doubt over a deal ever materializing.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Jarace Walker will miss at least Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder.
At the earliest, Walker could return for Game 3 on June 11. Though Walker has had some solid minutes, he hasn’t played a significant role for the Pacers in the playoffs to this point. Obi Toppin will continue to fill out the majority of the backup power forward minutes.
Jarace Walker (ankle) left the arena on crutches following Saturday’s Game 6 victory over the Knicks.
The Pacers sealed their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000 on Saturday, defeating the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to win the series. The lone negative was the right ankle injury suffered by Walker, who landed awkwardly during the fourth quarter. The second-year forward required assistance back to the locker room and did not return. During his postgame availability, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he was unsure what Walker’s status for the NBA Finals would be. Indiana has the depth to withstand Walker’s absence if he cannot play, but this would leave Carlisle with one less potential option to call on.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reports Naz Reid is expected to opt out of his contract and enter free agency.
Reid has been one of the best reserves in the NBA over the last few seasons. If he chooses to test the free agent waters, it could be to simply gauge his value and earn a fair contract. It doesn’t guarantee that he will leave Minnesota, though if he is able to find a team that wants to him to start, that could be the best thing for his fantasy value. In that scenario, he would be drafted much earlier in fantasy drafts next season.
Jalen Brunson had 19 points (8-of-18 FGs), two rebounds, seven assists and two three-pointers against the Pacers in Game 6 on Saturday.
Brunson took the Knicks as far as they could go this year. In a must-win situation on the road in Game 6, the 28-year-old point guard faced the toughest Pacers defense he’d seen all series. Brunson’s 19 points were the lowest total he had in the series. He turned the ball over five times and was -18 in 34 minutes as the Knicks season came to an end in Game 6. Brunson had a number of accomplishments this year such as being honored by the All-NBA team, Clutch Player of the Year, and taking the Knicks as far in the playoffs as they’ve been in 25 years. While Brunson was excellent in these playoffs, his supporting cast wasn’t enough for the Knicks to make the Finals. New York will head into the offseason with questions surrounding the direction of the team after falling short in the playoffs once again.