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Joel Embiid C | PHI
76ers' Joel Embiid: Participating in on-court work
Head coach Nick Nurse said Saturday that Embiid is participating in on-court work and will be evaluated after Saturday's and Sunday's shootarounds, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports.
Embiid underwent an appendectomy April 10 and hasn't played since April 6. The star big man was upgraded to doubtful before being ruled out ahead of Friday's Game 3 loss, and it appears there's a chance he will return for Game 4 on Sunday. The 76ers are expected to offer an update on his status by Saturday night, but for now, he can be considered questionable for Sunday.
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Austin Reaves SG | LAL
Lakers' Austin Reaves: Taking shots Saturday
Reaves (oblique) will put up shots at the arena Saturday, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com.
Reaves missed the final stretch of the regular season and was unavailable for the first three games of the postseason due to an oblique strain. He carried a questionable designation heading into Friday's 112-108 win over the Rockets, though he was ultimately ruled out. Head coach JJ Redick plans to provide an update Saturday afternoon on Reaves' status for Game 4. For now, the 27-year-old can be considered questionable for that contest. If Reaves can't suit up Sunday, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard should continue to take on expanded roles offensively behind LeBron James.
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De'Aaron Fox PG | SA
Spurs' De'Aaron Fox: Rough night from deep
Fox finished with 18 points (7-16 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 3-5 FT), four rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes during Friday's 120-108 victory over the Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
After shooting 40 percent from downtown in Game 1, Fox has shot a combined 2-for-9 from that range in his last two appearances. However, despite the shooting woes, the 28-year-old has remained involved on both ends of the floor, and he may be required to do more in Game 4 on Sunday if Victor Wembanyama (concussion) isn't cleared to return.
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Robert Williams III C | POR
Trail Blazers' Robert Williams: Another quality effort Friday
Williams posted 11 points (5-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 25 minutes during Friday's 120-108 loss to the Spurs in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Williams has scored 11 points in every game of the series with the Spurs. While the 28-year-old fell one rebound shy of the double-double mark in each of his previous two appearances, it appears he may continue to be featured on both ends of the floor more than he was during the regular season, meaning Donovan Clingan might be spending additional time on the bench.
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Donovan Clingan C | POR
Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Offensive struggles continue
Clingan finished Friday's 120-108 loss to the Spurs in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with seven points (2-6 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-4 FT), 11 rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes.
Clingan's offensive woes continued in Game 3, with the 22-year-old now failing to hit the double-digit scoring mark in each game of the series with the Spurs. Even with Victor Wembanyama (concussion) not a lock to suit up for Game 4 on Sunday, Clingan may continue to be a non-factor offensively, especially with Robert Williams receiving a slight uptick in minutes of late.
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Deni Avdija PF | POR
Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija: Just misses Game 3 double-double
Avdija notched 19 points (3-15 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 12-16 FT), six rebounds and nine assists in 37 minutes during Friday's 120-108 loss to the Spurs in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The 25-year-old forward salvaged a poor shooting night with big volume at the free-throw line while falling one dime short of his second double-double of the series. Through his first three career playoff games, Avdija is averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 boards, 5.7 assists, 1.3 threes and 1.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 35.3 minutes, but he's shooting just 40.8 percent from the floor -- well below his regular-season mark of 46.2 percent.
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Scoot Henderson SG | POR
Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson: Drains five treys in Game 3 loss
Henderson produced 21 points (8-18 FG, 5-10 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 36 minutes during Friday's 120-108 loss to San Antonio in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
It was another impressive performance from long range for Henderson, who has come out firing for the Blazers in the series. Over his first three career playoff contests, the third-year guard is averaging 23.3 points, 4.0 threes, 2.0 boards, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting a blistering 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from beyond the arc.
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Jrue Holiday PG | POR
Trail Blazers' Jrue Holiday: Drops team-high 29 in Game 3 loss
Holiday notched 29 points (12-18 FG, 5-9 3Pt), six rebounds, five assists and four steals in 41 minutes during Friday's 120-108 loss to San Antonio in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The veteran guard led the Blazers in scoring on the night, but it wasn't enough to pick up a win even with Victor Wembanyama (concussion) sidelined for the visitors. Holiday is averaging a whopping 38.7 minutes a game to begin the series, with the 35-year-old turning that workload into averages of 18.0 points, 8.3 assists, 5.0 boards, 2.7 threes and 2.0 steals per contest, and he'll likely be leaned on heavily again in Game 4 on Sunday.
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Dylan Harper SG | SA
Spurs' Dylan Harper: Big double-double off bench Friday
Harper ended Friday's 120-108 victory over Portland in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with 27 points (9-12 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 10 rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in 30 minutes off the bench.
The rookie guard came through with the best performance of his career in the win, topping the 24 points he managed twice during the regular season while producing his first ever double-double. Harper's increased usage came while Victor Wembanyama (concussion) was in street clothes, so his ability to deliver big numbers again in Game 4 on Sunday might depend on whether Wembanyama is cleared to return.
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Luke Kornet C | SA
Spurs' Luke Kornet: Double-double in Game 3 start
Kornet closed Friday's 120-108 victory over Portland in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with 14 points (6-9 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks over 30 minutes.
With Victor Wembanyama (concussion) not yet cleared to return, Kornet made just his second career playoff start and delivered his first double-double in 46 postseason appearances. The 30-year-old center is averaging 11.3 points, 8.3 boards, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks in 24.0 minutes to begin the series, and Kornet could have a bigger role again in Game 4 on Sunday if Wembanyama remains sidelined.