Houston Rockets guards Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard will move into the starting five ahead of Friday's Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets will be without Kevin Durant (ankle), which is a huge blow to this team that is already down 2-0 in the series. With that being said, Houston will shake it up and shift Josh Okogie to the bench with one of Eason or Sheppard taking his spot in the starting unit. Sheppard dropped 17 points and eight assists during Saturday's Game 1 loss. He was quiet on Tuesday, but could be an interesting DFS option without Durant on the court. Eason probably has less overall upside, but is a more consistent option ahead of Friday's slate. Both players will need to pick it up offensively without Durant available on Friday.

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker won the NBA's Most Improved Player award on Friday. A well-deserved win for Alexander-Walker, who posted an impressive 2025-2026 season. During the regular season, Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points, 1.3 steals, and 3.2 three-pointers across 33.4 minutes per game. The 27-year-old has bounced around since entering the league in 2019, but appears to have found a home in Atlanta. His excellent play is a key reason as to why the Hawks made the postseason. He put together top-five value at his position this season and has certainly raised his fantasy value heading into the 2026-2027 campaign.

Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) will miss the entire first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Quickley hasn't been able to suit up at all this series after suffering a hamstring injury during the regular-season finale. He suffered a setback during his rehab process and he won't be available at all during the first round. This is a major blow to the Raptors, who are already down in the series. The continued absence of Quickley should mean that Jamal Snead and Ja'Kobe Walter will see larger workloads for the rest of the series. Neither player is a great option, but Snead is the better choice between the two right now. If the Raptors do advance to the next round, fantasy managers should check back to see if Quickley will be available for that series.

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (ankle) has been officially ruled out ahead of Friday's Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant missed Game 1 due to a right knee issue, but was back on the court for Game 2. Unfortunately, Durant suffered a left ankle sprain during Tuesday's loss. The Rockets are already down 2-0 in the series and will have a tough hill to climb without Durant on Friday. The expectation is that Reed Sheppard will move into the starting five. He was scoreless across 11 minutes of action on Tuesday, but his value will increase without Durant on the court. Tari Eason and Jae'Sean Tate are candidates to see more time on the court as well. Out of the bunch, Eason seems to be the most trustworthy DFS option in Durant's absence. Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun will be asked to do the heavy lifting on Friday.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) has been officially ruled out ahead of Friday's Game 3 against the Boston Celtics. Embiid hasn't been able to suit up this series, and it remains unclear if he'll play at all. The big man is still recovering from an appendicitis that has kept him sidelined for the last two weeks. His continued absence should mean Andre Drummond and Adem Bona continue splitting up the minutes at center. Between the two, Drummond is the better DFS option after nearly registering a double-double during Tuesday's game. Fantasy managers will have to check back for another update on Embiid ahead of Game 4.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Ayo Dosunmu finished with 25 points, three rebounds, and nine assists in 32 minutes during Thursday's Game 3 win over Denver. He led the team in scoring and did most of his damage inside the arc, staying efficient while facilitating offense. Dosunmu continues to hold a key role off the bench, and his usage rises when Anthony Edwards is limited, boosting his DFS appeal. Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle continue to provide reliable production, and Dosunmu is trending as a strong DFS option with his growing playmaking role.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block, and one three-pointer in 41 minutes during Thursday's Game 3 win over Denver. He was highly efficient from the field and played a key two-way role, logging heavy minutes while defending primary scorers. McDaniels' expanded workload boosts his DFS appeal, especially with Anthony Edwards managing a lingering knee issue. Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert continue to handle frontcourt usage, while McDaniels offers reliable multi-category production when minutes remain elevated.

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson posted 24 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, one block, and two three-pointers in 38 minutes during Thursday's Game 3 win over New York. He carried a heavy workload and contributed across all categories, continuing to anchor Atlanta's frontcourt production despite inconsistent shooting compared to his regular-season efficiency. Johnson's high usage and all-around role keep his fantasy value strong in all formats. CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker continue to provide reliable support, while Dyson Daniels chips in on defense but isn't heavily involved as a scorer.

New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges went scoreless with one rebound and two assists in 21 minutes during Thursday's Game 3 loss to Atlanta. His limited role stood out, as Miles McBride logged 31 minutes and produced 15 points with five three-pointers, signaling a possible shift in the rotation. Bridges' usage has dipped, and his offensive inconsistency is becoming a concern in playoff formats. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns continue to carry the scoring load, while McBride emerges as a viable DFS value option if his minutes remain elevated.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson finished with 26 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals, and zero three-pointers across 40 minutes in Thursday's one-point loss to Atlanta. He carried the offense with 23 shot attempts but missed all five from deep and committed a late turnover in the final possession. Brunson has cleared 25 points in all three games this series, maintaining elite usage. OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns continue to benefit as secondary scorers, while Miles McBride remains a deep-league option for threes.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards left Thursday's Game 3 win over Denver late in the fourth quarter and did not return, finishing with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two three-pointers in 24 minutes. He dealt with foul trouble and ongoing knee soreness that has lingered throughout the series, putting his status for Game 4 in question. Edwards still carries heavy usage when active, but the uncertainty adds risk. Ayo Dosunmu and Donte DiVincenzo picked up extra run, with Dosunmu delivering 25 points and nine assists, making him a strong DFS alternative if Edwards is limited.

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum finished with 23 points, five rebounds, one assist, two steals, two blocks, and two three-pointers in Thursday's narrow Game 3 win over New York. He struggled to find rhythm after halftime but came through when it mattered, knocking down the go-ahead mid-range jumper in the final seconds. McCollum has now topped 20 points in each game this series, averaging strong scoring with modest peripherals. His steady usage and late-game role make him a reliable DFS option heading into Saturday's Game 4 with Atlanta holding a 2-1 series edge.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (ankle) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Friday night. LaRavia hurt his right ankle in Tuesday's Game 2 win, but this issue won't force him to miss additional time. Although LaRavia made a positive impact with the Lakers during the regular season, his role has been limited in the playoffs. Across the first two games of the first-round series, the 24-year-old has averaged only 3.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 17.0 minutes.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) is listed as questionable for Friday's Game 3 against the Houston Rockets. This is a positive development after Reaves' three-week absence due to a left oblique strain. The Lakers initially ruled him out for at least four weeks. Reaves' return on Friday would affect the playing time and offensive usage of Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart. However, Reaves might not handle his usual workload after a long absence, so Kennard and Smart could remain key players.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) has been upgraded to doubtful on the injury report before Friday's Game 3 against the Boston Celtics. Embiid is two weeks removed from a successful appendectomy and was a limited participant at Thursday's practice. He appears to be nearing his return to action, but Friday's game could come too soon for the former MVP. With Embiid on the shelf, Adem Bona and Andre Drummond have held down the fort at the No. 5 spot in the first-round series. Drummond has offered more DFS production, averaging 6.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 24.0 minutes.

Denver Nuggets guard/forward Spencer Jones will take Aaron Gordon's (calf) spot in the starting lineup on Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 24-year-old will start at least one game as Gordon manages left-calf tightness. A spot in the starting unit typically puts players in a better position to make an impact, but Spencer's effectiveness has not shown up in the box score. In 37 regular-season starts, he averaged 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown will also help cover for Gordon's absence.

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (ankle) is questionable for Friday's Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran star returned from a knee injury in Game 2 of the series, but he's now back on the injury report with a left ankle sprain. If Durant can't suit up on Friday night, Reed Sheppard is set to return to the starting unit. Even with a full lineup, Sheppard will carry a heavier workload in Friday's game after Rockets head coach Ime Udoka told reporters on Thursday that he would see increased minutes. In Tuesday's Game 2, Sheppard was limited to 11 minutes.

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (concussion) has been tagged as questionable on the official injury report before Friday's Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers. The French phenom has traveled with the team to Portland and could be available to play despite his nasty fall in Tuesday's Game 2 loss. Wembanyama must clear concussion protocol before he can suit up again. If that doesn't happen in time for Friday's game, Luke Kornet would start at center. During the regular season, Kornet rolled with the first unit in 25 games, averaging 7.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) will play in Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. Edwards has been listed as questionable on the initial injury report ahead of each game this postseason as he deals with a knee problem. However, it doesn't seem to be a serious enough issue to keep him sidelined. That said, the injury could be affecting his play in this series, at least in terms of scoring efficiency. Edwards has made only 38.6 percent of his field-goal attempts, averaging 26.0 points per game. He has also notched 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks.

Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) will miss Thursday's Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gordon was listed as probable on the initial injury report before he was suddenly downgraded to questionable on Thursday afternoon. Now, he has been officially ruled out due to tightness in his left calf. Gordon's workload has increased to 33.0 minutes per game in the postseason, leaving the Nuggets with a significant void in the rotation on Thursday night. With Gordon absent, Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown could all assume more important roles.