NBA INJURIES
| NAME | TEAM | INJURY | TIMETABLE TO RETURN | ANALYSIS |
| Kawhi Leonard | SAS | Quad | No Timetable | Leonard has barely been in contact with the Spurs as he rehabs in New York. Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gay will continue to pick up more playing time. |
| Gordon Hayward | BOS | Ankle/Tibia | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | It's over! Brad Stevens has said that Hayward won't be returning at all. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum benefit by getting more shots. |
| Kyrie Irving | BOS | Knee | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Irving will miss the entire 2018 Playoffs. Terry Rozier, Shane Larkin and Marcus Smart (when healthy) will fill in. |
| DeMarcus Cousins | NO | Achilles | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Cousins will not return for the Playoffs. Anthony Davis has shifted to Center and Cheick Diallo and Emeka Okafor get more playing time. |
| Joel Embiid | PHI | Face | DAY TO DAY | Embiid thinks the Sixers are being too cautious. He's listed as doubtful for game 3 and has not played in this series. He will be wearing a mask over his face. Richaun Holmes fills in for him. |
| Stephen Curry | GSW | Ankle | 1-3 Weeks | Curry is not expected to play at all in the Warriors first round match up. He could make it back for the second round. Quinn Cook continues to be the primary fill-in option. Shaun Livingston grabs minutes. |
| Kevin Love | CLE | Thumb | DAY TO DAY | Love got X-Ray's o his Thumb and all signs are pointing to him being fully ready to go for game 3. Jeff Green and Larry Nance Jr. will fill in if he can't go for some reason. Expect him to play. |
| Jusuf Nurkic | POR | Leg | DAY TO DAY | Nurkic had to leave game 2 with a Leg injury, but he should be ready to go for game 3 with no restrictions. Zach Collins and Ed Davis will fill in if he can't go. |
| Marcus Smart | BOS | Thumb | 1-2 Weeks | The Celtics have targeted April 27th as the date to expect Smart to return. Terry Rozier and Shane Larkin will see a lot of minutes in the first round of the playoffs. |
| Dion Waiters | MIA | Ankle | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Waiters had Ankle surgery and will miss the playoffs. Tyler Johnson, and Wayne Ellington pick up minutes and usage. |
| Andre Roberson | OKC | Patellar Tendon | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | With Roberson out, Corey Brewer (when healthy), Alex Abrines (when healthy) and Terrance Ferguson will see more minutes and usage in the playoffs. |
| Evan Turner | POR | Toe | DAY TO DAY | Turner is dealing with a Toe injury and may have to miss game 3. If he can't go, Maurice Harkless and Pat Connaughton should see more action. |
| Daniel Theis | BOS | Knee | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | With Theis out for the Playoffs, Marcus Morris will see a ton of minutes and usage. |
| Ryan Anderson | HOU | Ankle | DAY TO DAY | Anderson has missed the first two games of the first round and he should be considered questionable to return in game 3. P.J. Tucker will fill in if he can't play. |
| JaVale McGee | GSW | Quad | DAY TO DAY | McGee is currently questionable for game 3 and if he can't play, Zaza Pachulia and Jordan Bell will pick up more playing time. |
| Thabo Sefolosha | UT | Knee | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Sefolosha had surgery on his Knee and will miss the playoffs. Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko will see more playing time. |
| Patrick McCaw | GSW | Back | 2-3 Weeks | If the Warriors make it deep into the Playoffs, we may be able to see McCaw back by the end of the second round. His re-evaluation is in about three weeks. Shaun Livingston will pick up minutes. |
| Luc Richard Mbah a Moute | HOU | Shoulder | No Timetable | He'll miss at least the first round of the playoffs and it's not a lock that he's ready in time for the second round. P.J. Tucker will benefit most. Gerald Green should grab a few more minutes as well. |
| Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot | PHI | Knee | No Timetable | If TLC returns, he will be on the outside looking into the Sixers rotation. |
| Alexis Ajinca | NO | Knee | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Ajinca will NOT play in the Playoffs. Cheick Diallo and Emeka Okafor will see playing time. |
| Justin Patton | MIN | Foot | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Patton will NOT play in the Playoffs. |
Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.