Boston Celtics guard Derrick White didn't need to break out the heroics in Game 1 for the team to notch a blowout win over the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran guard finished with 15 points, five assists, two rebounds, one steal, and two turnovers while shooting 5-for-11 from the floor and 3-for-8 from downtown. The fact that this seemed like a down game for White is a problem for the Mavericks. The offensive firepower ran through Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis in this one, but White has the ability to lead the team in scoring on any given night. His defense has also been a key piece in their success and he'll look to do more of the same in Game 2 on Sunday.

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday contributed in the way he knows best, all-around on offense and a strong showing on defense. In the Game 1 blowout win over the Dallas Mavericks, the veteran combo guard registered 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and one steal while shooting 4-for-9 from the floor and 2-for-5 from deep. He didn't commit a single turnover and was a big part of the defensive masterclass against Kyrie Irving and company. Holiday and Derrick White have been a huge one-two punch in the backcourt and they'll continue to be showcased throughout this Finals matchup.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving struggled in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against Boston on Thursday. He scored only 12 points, shooting a rough 6-for-19 from the field while failing to make any of his five attempts from deep. Although he added three boards, two assists, and two steals, it wasn't his best showing. At any rate, head coach Jason Kidd will likely make some adjustments for Game 2 on Sunday night, meaning Irving has a chance to get back on track in an attempt to knot the series ahead of Game 3 in Dallas.

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown had a team-high 22 points in the win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday evening. He added six rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three blocks. While Jayson Tatum is always the focal point for opposing defenses, Brown had another solid showing. There's no reason why that trend shouldn't continue for Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, so DFS managers should keep him on the radar.

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) was available for the win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. Despite missing over a month with a Soleus strain, the veteran looked great in his 21 minutes off the bench, amassing 20 points off 8-for-13 shooting from the field while adding six boards and three blocks. Head coach Joe Mazzulla indicated before the game that Porzingis wouldn't have a minutes restriction. While that should continue to be the case in Game 2 on Sunday, he may not see the floor much more than in Game 1. However, as long as Porzingis remains as productive, DFS managers won't mind.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum had a double-double in Thursday's win over the Dallas Mavericks. He amassed 16 points and 11 rebounds, adding five assists and a block. Unfortunately, the former Duke Blue Devil had issues taking care of the ball in Game 1, committing six turnovers. Tatum was arguably the C's most productive performer throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. But it's not uncommon for him to have an off night on the scoring end. With that in mind, Tatum could turn things around in Game 2, with Boston looking to earn another win before the series heads back to Dallas.

According to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) won't have a minutes restriction on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran has been sidelined for well over a month because of a Soleus strain. With that said, Porzingis could still see less work than usual, meaning Al Horford remains a viable, albeit risky, DFS option for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

According to Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports, impending free agent guard/forward Buddy Hield is expected to draw "strong interest" from teams this offseason, with the Bucks, Magic, Suns, and Timberwolves the favorites to acquire his talents. After inking a four-year, $94 million contract with the Kings in 2020-21, Hield was dealt to Indiana before eventually ending up in Philadelphia for the 2023-24 campaign. While Hield had some solid performances, he struggled overall by averaging 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 38.9% from deep. Fortunately, the 2016 No. 6 overall pick could turn things around with a new club, meaning he has a good chance to bounce back for fantasy managers in 2024-25.

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Malik Monk is poised to land himself a big contract as a free agent this summer, and the Detroit Pistons are seen as a team that will heavily pursue his signature. "Monk feels like someone the Pistons will heavily prioritize due to the team's need for legitimate three-point shooting and off-the-dribble shot creation," writes James L. Edwards III of the Athletic. Monk has been one of the best bench players in the league in recent seasons and averaged career-highs of 15.4 points and 5.1 with Sacramento in 2023-24. Recent reports suggest that Monk could command over $20 million per year as a free agent.

Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) will officially be available for Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas on Thursday. The Celtics have removed him from their injury report and list no other injuries. Porzingis last played on April 29 in Game 4 of Boston's first-round matchup against Miami. After missing four weeks of action, he likely won't be at his best on Thursday, but it will be great to see Porzingis back in action. His return means a lesser role for Al Horford, although the veteran should still play an important role in the rotation.

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) has been named to the Greece international squad that is set to play in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in early July. The news indicates that the Bucks star is ready to return to action soon. Antetokounmpo last played on April 9, missing Milwaukee's entire postseason campaign. Following the team's first-round exit against Indiana, Antetokounmpo announced that he wasn't even close to returning. But it looks like he's now recovered well enough to help his country's basketball team grab a ticket to the Paris Olympics.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns has just enjoyed the longest postseason campaign of his career with the team, but his time in Minneapolis might be nearing an end. "I do not think they would tear the team apart, however, I do think there's a possibility if the ownership change took place that Karl Towns' role would be reevaluated," said ESPN's Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective podcast. The Timberwolves ownership situation remains in limbo, with a three-person arbitration panel set to decide if Glen Taylor has the right to remain the owner of the ball club or if Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez can complete their purchasing process, which began in 2021.

Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is expected to return to action in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against Dallas. But it's possible that the Latvian big man won't be fully healthy. "I don't know," said Porzingis on Tuesday when asked whether he is currently 100 percent. "We'll see. Done a lot of work up until this point. Done everything needed to get back into playing shape. We'll see." Porzingis was limited to 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 26.2 minutes in the first four postseason games before a calf injury took him out of the lineup. He might still struggle to perform at his best if he's not 100 percent in the Finals.

According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers could sign center Joel Embiid to a three-year, $193.5 million extension this offseason. The 30-year-old was named the league's MVP in 2022-23 and finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging a career-high 34.7 points and 5.6 rebounds with 11.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.2 steals. Without question, Embiid is one of the most dominant players in the National Basketball Association. However, he logged only 39 regular season games last season because of a knee injury. At any rate, Embiid is capable of being the most productive fantasy option in any format. But his constant ailments over the years will make some fantasy managers look in another direction during drafts heading into October.

According to Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) won't suit up for Finland during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The 27-year-old has spent the last two seasons in Utah, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 39.9% from downtown. However, he appeared in only 55 games last season, including missing 17 of Utah's final 21 contests because of a right shoulder injury. Fortunately, Markkanen is expected to get the green light for on-court activities in August. With that said, Markkanen could be at least a top-30 fantasy option. But he's had trouble staying healthy since entering the league, which could continue to impact his potential for fantasy managers.

According to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, the Bulls expect Lonzo Ball (knee) to suit up this season. However, nobody can say for sure when that will happen. The 26-year-old last played during the 2021-22 campaign, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals. He also shot a career-high 42.3% from deep. Unfortunately, Ball hasn't played a game since January 2022 because of a left knee injury. Without question, Chicago would love to have the former UCLA Bruin back in the lineup. But it could take him a while before he has a chance to do anything worthwhile for fantasy managers.

According to Darnell Mayberry of The New York Times, impending free agent forward DeMar DeRozan wants to remain in Chicago. The Bulls feel the same way. However, while both sides are comfortable with the $40 million annual salary, the real issue is the length of a potential deal. Of course, DeRozan wants a long-term contract, considering he is a few months away from turning 35. On the other hand, Chicago prefers to sign him to a shorter deal. The 2009 No. 9 overall pick is still a capable fantasy producer, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 24.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. He also appeared in 79 games and led the league in minutes. Nonetheless, there's a strong chance DeRozan will remain in Chicago next season. But that doesn't mean rival clubs won't try to lure him away from the Windy City this summer.

Boston Celtics centerKristaps Porzingis(calf)is expected to suit up in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavs on Thursday, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Porzingis has played in several scrimmages during the last few days and has had no setbacks. The 28-year-old last played in Game 4 of the Celtics opening round against the Miami Heat on April 29th. Before going down with a Soleus strain, the center averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals in four postseason contests. He has not seen action in over a month and could see limited action in Game 1. However, Porzingis returning means Al Horford's DFS value will decrease.

Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Paul George has been linked with an exit from L.A. via free agency, but teammate Terance Mann hopes to see the nine-time All-Star stick around. Mann was asked on FanDuel TV's Run It Back to have a guess if George will remain a Clipper in 2024-25. "I hope so," said Mann. "But you never know with this free agency stuff." George is reportedly "Plan A" for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency, with the Orlando Magic also seen as a potential landing spot for him.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram will be left without a max extension this offseason. "Considering their current and future financial situation, the Pelicans are unlikely to offer him that maximum deal this offseason," William Guillory of The Athletic wrote on Monday. Ingram is eligible to sign a four-year, $208 million contract in the summer. The team understandably isn't very keen to make such a big investment in Ingram after seeing him struggle in the playoffs. New Orleans was swept in the first round by Oklahoma City, with Ingram settling for 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists with 34.5 shooting from the field.