Dallas Mavericks forward/center Daniel Gafford (back) is considered questionable for Friday's Game 3 against the Clippers. He couldn't practice on Thursday after being limited to only nine minutes due to a back issue in Game 2. Maxi Kleber saw 28 minutes off the bench on Tuesday, while Dereck Lively II also benefited. Both should figure heavily in the rotation again on Friday if Gafford can't play. Lively II could be an intriguing DFS play if he joins the first unit. The rookie from Duke averaged 8.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks as a starter during the regular season.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) has been ruled out for the first-round series against Orlando. He missed the end of the regular season with a knee injury and hasn't featured in the first two playoff games either. Georges Niang, Caris LeVert, and Isaac Okoro lead the Cavaliers bench without Wade. Okoro has been the most productive player of the trio in the playoffs, although his 7.0 points and 2.5 steals per game shouldn't excite many DFS players.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro scored a team-high 24 points in Wednesday's shocking win over the Boston Celtics. He struggled in Game 1 of this series. However, the 24-year-old turned things around in Game 2, going 6-for-11 from deep and adding 14 assists. With Terry Rozier (neck) and Jimmy Butler (knee) out of commission, the offense will continue to run through Herro. Of course, the Celtics will make adjustments for Game 3 on Saturday, so the 2019 No. 13 overall pick could have difficulty remaining as productive as he was on Wednesday night.

Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but if the team has its way, he won't be going anywhere soon. According to general manager Sean Marks, tying Claxton down will be the "No. 1 priority" for the team in the summer. Marks added that he hopes Claxton will be a Net for "a very long time." The comments came after Brooklyn's new head coach, Jordi Fernandez, said at his introductory press conference that he believes Claxton has the potential to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Claxton, the 31st pick of the 2019 draft, has just completed his fifth NBA season. He averaged 11.8 points with a career-high 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 29.8 minutes.

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (ankle) hasn't been ruled out for Game 3 against Minnesota on Friday. X-rays came back negative after Allen re-injured his right ankle in Tuesday's Game 2. He is considered day-to-day. "Got to see what the next two days look like," Allen said when asked about his chances of featuring in Game 3. Allen, who initially hurt his ankle in Game 1 last week, has had a rough time in the first-round series, averaging only 3.5 points on 20 percent shooting. Royce O'Neale and Eric Gordon will figure more heavily in the rotation if he can't play on Friday.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (back) returned to Tuesday's matchup with the Clippers. He logged just three minutes before exiting in the first quarter with back soreness. But it appears Gafford is at least feeling well enough to return, although there's a chance he could be limited. The 25-year-old also tweaked his ankle on Sunday in Game 1, so he may appear on the injury report heading into Game 3 on Friday night.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (back) is questionable to return to Tuesday's matchup with the Clippers. The 25-year-old lasted three minutes before being escorted to the locker room with back soreness. The Mavs lost Game 1, so the team is certainly hoping he can get back out there. But if Gafford is done for the evening, Dereck Lively II and Maxi Kleber would likely absorb most of the surplus minutes.

Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (calf) won't play on Wednesday versus the Heat. The 28-year-old sustained a calf injury at practice and wasn't available for the series opener, with his absence likely to extend at least a few more contests. While Kornet had a semi-consistent role in the rotation during the regular season, head coach Joe Mazzulla only utilized three players outside of the starting lineup in Game 1, so he probably won't do much for DFS managers once he's healthy enough to return.

Phoenix Suns forward Grayson Allen (ankle) won't return to Tuesday's postseason meeting with Minnesota. He tweaked his right ankle during the Game 1 loss on Saturday night and was considered day-to-day. However, the former Blue Devil managed to suit up for this one, although he reinjured the same ankle, ending his night after logging only 17 minutes. With Game 3 on Friday night, Allen may not be healthy enough to get on the floor. The Suns already lack depth, so the starting lineup would presumably get plenty of work if that's the case. In addition, Royce O'Neale and Eric Gordon would be the favorites to absorb the surplus minutes.

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (ankle) has been cleared to play in Tuesday's Game 2 against Minnesota. An ankle injury forced him to exit the series opener early on Saturday, but Allen has fully shaken off the injury and reportedly won't have a minutes limit on Tuesday. The 28-year-old sharpshooter averaged 19.0 points against Minnesota during the regular season with a sizzling 62.5 percent success rate from deep, but he had an off night in Game 1. Before injuring his ankle, Allen notched only four points, which all came via free throws. He finished 0-for-3 from the field in 25 minutes of action.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (hip) has been listed as questionable for Tuesday's Game 2 against Phoenix. Anderson hurt his right hip in the series opener at the weekend, playing only five minutes. Nickeil Alexander-Walker earned extra trust off the bench and had an outstanding day at the office on Saturday with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Everybody's favorite sixth man, Naz Reid, should also eat up a few more minutes on Tuesday if Anderson can't play.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 24 points in Monday's win over Philly. He added eight rebounds and six assists. While the 27-year-old led the way on the scoring end, he still had trouble shooting the ball, going 8-for-29 from the field and 1-for-6 from deep. He posted similar shooting percentages in Game 1, so it's apparent the Sixers will continue to make him a focal point defensively. However, Brunson can get it done in multiple ways, keeping him on the radar as a top DFS option for any lineup when these clubs meet for Game 3 on Thursday night in Philadelphia.

Impending free-agent guard Malik Monk (knee) is expected to test free agency. While the Sixth Man of the Year favorite indicated his love for Sacramento, he could sign elsewhere for more money. Without question, Monk will command plenty of attention in the open market, especially from teams with cash to spend. The 26-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 15.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 72 games during the 2023-24 campaign. Unfortunately, he suffered a sprained MCL toward the end of the year and wasn't available for either of Sacramento's Play-In contests. Monk should be fully healthy by the start of the new season, although his fantasy outlook won't be known until he signs his next contract.

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (ankle) will be listed as questionable on Tuesday for Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After exiting Saturday's Game 1 defeat to the T-Wolves due to a sprained right ankle, Allen wasn't a full participant in practice on Monday but was still able to get some shots up and has been getting treatment "around the clock," per head coach Frank Vogel. After netting a team-high four three-pointers in the first game of this first-round series against Minnesota, three-and-D wing Royce O'Neale would be a prime candidate to join Phoenix's starting five and a more attractive DFS option if Allen sits out on Tuesday. In eight regular-season games as a starter for the Suns, O'Neale chipped in 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 3.1 threes per contest.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro struggled in Sunday's 114-94 loss to the Celtics. After scoring a game-high 24 points in Friday's Play-In win over the Bulls, he had 11 in Game 1, going just 4-for-13 from the field and 3-for-9 from behind the arc. The 24-year-old added four rebounds and four assists. But it was still a disappointing showing from Herro, who will now try to turn things around in Game 2 on Wednesday night. However, the C's could continue to target him on the defensive end, so his DFS potential could remain limited for the rest of the series.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson led his team to the win over the 76ers on Saturday. Brunson had trouble shooting the ball, going 8-for-26 from the field. But he still finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The 22-year-old didn't have his best showing in Game 1. However, he played well enough to help his team take the series opener. Both clubs will meet for Game 2 on Monday evening. While Brunson hasn't had the easiest time dealing with Philly throughout the 2023-24 campaign, he will likely spend most of the game on the floor, which is always good for anyone's DFS potential.

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (ankle) exited Saturday's postseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The former Duke Blue Devil tweaked his ankle, so he'd finish the day with four points, five rebounds, and two assists in 25 minutes of work. Luckily, X-rays were negative, and the team will now take things day by day before deciding his availability for Game 2 on Tuesday evening. If he can't suit up, Royce O'Neale, finishing with 14 points in Game 1, would likely slide into the starting lineup and immediately become an enticing DFS option for any contest.

Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (calf) won't play in Sunday's postseason showdown with the Miami Heat. Kornet holds a semi-regular spot in the rotation, averaging 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks this season. But he's sidelined because of a strained calf, meaning the 28-year-old could miss more time beyond Sunday's contest. Fortunately, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are available, so they should absorb most of the minutes at the five. Xavier Tillman Sr. could potentially see the floor. However, Tillman won't play enough to warrant DFS consideration.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro scored a game-high 24 points in Friday's Play-In win over the Chicago Bulls. The 24-year-old nearly had a triple-double, adding 10 boards and nine assists to his scoring total. While he still had issues taking care of the ball, he shot better than he did in Wednesday's loss to the 76ers. With that said, Herro should continue to benefit from a production standpoint while Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck) remain sidelined. Unfortunately, the Heat will advance to meet the Celtics in the opening round, which is never an easy matchup for anyone.

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso (ankle) will suit up for Friday's Play-In game versus the Heat. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Caruso suffered a "significant ankle injury" during Wednesday's win over the Atlanta Hawks and wasn't expected to play. Luckily, his symptoms mostly resolved, opening the door for his availability for the pivotal contest. As always, the 30-year-old should remain a vital piece of the Bulls' rotation. However, Caruso's presence will likely result in fewer minutes for Javonte Green, who surged toward the end of the regular season.