NBA Player News
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Anthony Davis C | DAL
Mavericks' Anthony Davis: Returns to game Friday
Davis (knee) has returned to Friday's game against the Grizzlies, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Davis exited the game briefly due to an apparent knee injury, but he returned to the hardwood after receiving treatment. The big man should continue to operate as Dallas' go-to option on offense down the stretch in a game during which the Mavericks are down by a wide margin.
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Anthony Davis C | DAL
Mavericks' Anthony Davis: Exits with knee injury
Davis left Friday's game against the Grizzlies during the fourth quarter with an apparent right knee injury, Noah Weber of TheSmokingCuban.com reports.
Davis limped off the court and received treatment from the trainers while on the bench, and it's uncertain if he'll return to the game. If he doesn't, Caleb Martin, Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall would be in line to see more minutes down the stretch.
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Rui Hachimura PF | LAL
Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Available to play Saturday
Hachimura (knee) is not on the injury report for Game 1 against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Hachimura is not on the injury report for the series opener, so he should handle his regular workload in a starting role for the Lakers. Hachimura averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 steals per game in 59 regular-season appearances.
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Dorian Finney-Smith PF | LAL
Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith: Good to go Saturday
Finney-Smith (ankle) is available for Saturday's Game 1 against the Timberwolves.
Finney-Smith joined several Lakers players in sitting for the regular-season finale against the Trail Blazers, but he will play in the postseason opener Saturday. Since being traded by the Nets to the Lakers in December, Finney-Smith averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals over 28.9 minutes per game across 43 outings (including 20 starts).
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Maxi Kleber C | LAL
Lakers' Maxi Kleber: Won't play in series opener
Kleber (foot) is out for Game 1 against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Kleber hasn't played since Jan. 25 while recovering from surgery on his right foot, which he underwent Jan. 30. While he has been taking part in practices recently, he doesn't have a timetable to return to action. His next chance to suit up will come in Game 2 of the series on Tuesday.
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LeBron James SF | LAL
Lakers' LeBron James: Officially listed as probable
James is probable for Game 1 against the Timberwolves on Saturday due to a left hip flexor strain.
James is expected to be available for the series opener against the Timberwolves, but the probable tag comes with some caution about whether the star forward will be 100 percent. James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game in 70 regular-season contests, shooting 51.3 percent from the floor and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc.
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Austin Reaves SG | LAL
Lakers' Austin Reaves: Will play Game 1
Reaves (ankle) is not on the injury report ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against Minnesota.
Reaves was held out of the Lakers' regular-season finale against the Trail Blazers due to a right ankle sprain, but that won't be an issue for him for the start of the postseason. He's coming off the best regular season of his four-year NBA career, averaging career highs in points (20.2), assists (5.8), rebounds (4.5) and steals (1.1) while connecting on 37.7 percent of his three-point attempts across 73 games.
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Luka Doncic PG | LAL
Lakers' Luka Doncic: Off injury report
Doncic (quadriceps) is not on the injury report ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Timberwolves.
Doncic was held out of the regular-season finale against the Trail Blazers in order to manage a left quadriceps injury, but that won't prevent him from playing in the Lakers' postseason opener Saturday. In his 22 regular-season appearances for the Lakers, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals over 35.1 minutes per game while connecting on 37.9 percent of his three-point attempts.
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Trae Young PG | ATL
Hawks' Trae Young: Double-double in Play-In Game loss
Young provided 29 points (9-22 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 7-8 FT), five rebounds, 11 assists, one block and one steal across 44 minutes during Friday's 123-114 overtime Play-In Game loss to the Heat.
Young had another strong Play-In Tournament performance Friday, leading both teams in assists and finishing second in points behind Tyler Herro (30). Young saw his efficiency from the field dip this season, though that was probably partially due to a right Achilles issue that made him a regular on the Hawks' injury report. He connected on a career-low 41.1 percent of his field-goal attempts, and his 34.0 percent clip from three-point range was his lowest since his rookie season (2018-19). Young finished the regular season averaging a career-best 11.6 assists along with 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals across 36.0 minutes per contest.
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Georges Niang PF | ATL
Hawks' Georges Niang: Sparks bench with 20 points
Niang notched 20 points (8-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, four assists and two steals over 26 minutes during Friday's 123-114 overtime Play-In Game loss to the Heat.
Niang led the Hawks' reserves in scoring Friday and finished as the team's third-leading scorer behind Trae Young (29) and Onyeka Okongwu (28). Niang was able to establish a bigger role for himself after being traded by the Cavaliers to the Hawks in February. Across 28 regular-season games with Atlanta (including two starts), Niang averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 23.0 minutes per contest.