NBA Player News

Davis ended with 40 points (14-23 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 11-11 FT), 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and three steals in 42 minutes during Tuesday's 132-126 loss to Denver in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

Davis led all scorers with 40 points in Tuesday's Game 1 loss to go along with five combined steals and blocks, turning in a dominant performance on both ends of the floor. Despite the loss, the Lakers will head into Game 2 full of confidence after overcoming a slow start and pushing the Nuggets late in the fourth quarter. The Lakers will presumably need Davis to be at his best on a nightly basis should they hope to upset the top-seeded Nuggets. Given what we have seen from him thus far in the playoffs, he certainly looks up to the challenge.

Davis (foot) is available for Tuesday's Game 1 versus the Nuggets, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.

Davis has been upgraded from probable to available Tuesday, as he has been dealing with a nagging foot injury all playoffs. The star center averaged 16.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in 27.0 minutes across his previous two matchups with Denver this season.

Zeller (illness) is questionable for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston on Wednesday.

Zeller didn't practice Monday due to the illness and finds himself in jeopardy of sitting out Game 1. The backup center has had a minimal impact so far in the playoffs, averaging 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.9 minutes across 10 appearances.

Bamba (ankle) has been ruled out for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.

Bamba, who's recovering from a PRP injection in his ankle, is set to be evaluated Tuesday in Los Angeles, so if he gets some positive news, the backup big man could be available later in the series. However, even if he's cleared, he's not guaranteed a spot in the Lakers' postseason rotation.

Davis is considered probable for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Nuggets on Tuesday despite a right foot stress injury, Harrison Faigen of SBNation.com reports.

There's no cause for worry here, as Davis has held the same probable designation throughout the playoffs and hasn't missed a game. Look for him to claim his usual spot among the starting unit as he prepares for an All-Star showdown with Nikola Jokic.

Bamba (ankle) didn't practice Monday and will be listed as doubtful for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver on Tuesday, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports.

Bamba is still in Los Angeles after getting a PRP injection in his ankle earlier this postseason. He has a follow-up appointment Tuesday and will rejoin the team afterward. Even if Bamba is cleared to suit up at some point in the series, it's unclear if he'll be part of the Lakers' rotation versus Denver.

Zeller didn't participate in Monday's practice session due to an illness, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.

Zeller has had a limited impact to begin the playoffs, but he was unavailable for Monday's practice due to his illness. It's unclear whether the issue will impact his availability for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics on Wednesday.

Horford supplied six points (2-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt), 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals across 34 minutes during Sunday's 112-88 win over the 76ers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Horford out-rebounded the NBA MVP in Game 7, and although he didn't take many shots, he bested Joel Embiid off the glass. Horford struggled to score throughout the series but was able to log double-digit rebound totals in two games during the series against the Sixers. The Heat may prove to be a tougher test for Horford, who failed to post double-digit scoring and rebound totals over three games against Miami this season.

Embiid posted 15 points (5-18 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 5-6 FT), eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 38 minutes during Sunday's 112-88 loss to the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Game 7 did not go Philly's way, and a tepid outing from Embiid was a critical factor. Embiid's frustration with Boston's early lead was clearly visible, and the 2022-23 NBA MVP effectively threw in the towel in the fourth quarter, exhibiting minimal effort. Embiid finished the postseason with averages of 23.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks over nine games -- well below his regular-season numbers.

Looney logged nine points (4-7 FG, 1-1 FT), 18 rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes during Friday's 122-101 loss to the Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Looney came off the bench in the contest but still made a big impact with a team-leading 18 rebounds over 26 minutes. Eight of his boards came on the offensive end, and he finished the Warriors' 13-game playoff run with 4.7 offensive rebounds per contest, second-most in the league. Looney's limitations on offense -- he averaged just 6.5 points in the postseason -- resulted in him taking on a reserve role over the final five contests against the Lakers and emphasizes his one-dimensional skill set, which makes him only a marginal asset in fantasy.