NBA

In what could be his final game as a Clipper, Westbrook offered little value in Game 6. Tyronn Lue needed more scoring, especially with P.J. Tucker starting, which led to Los Angeles effectively going with a six-man rotation. Westbrook entered the season with a Yahoo ADP of 109.3, a generous placement for a veteran point guard whose role would be limited. Give Russ credit for willingly taking a step back after the Clippers added James Harden, but his days as a consistently relevant fantasy option may have ended. Westbrook has a player option for the 2024-25 season and will be, at best, a late-round pick in deep leagues.

Powell played a series-high 36 minutes in Game 6, hitting the 20-point mark for the first time since he scored 21 in Game 3. The Clippers playing without Kawhi Leonard resulted in more opportunities for Norm, even if he remained in a reserve role. Powell was once again one of the NBA’s most productive bench scorers, but his fantasy value will remain capped as long as the Clippers have Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on the wings. Powell is under contract for two more seasons, and unless George were to opt out and leave, his place within the Clippers’ rotation is unlikely to change in 2024-25. He’s worth selecting with a late-round pick, but Powell is most valuable on nights when the Clippers are shorthanded on the perimeter.

After recording double-doubles in the series’ first two games, Zubac did not get another until the finale on Friday. However, he did score in double figures in all six games, providing consistent production in that regard. While Zubac does not rank among the elite fantasy centers, he once again provided solid value in 2023-24. Exceeding his Yahoo ADP (120.2) in 8- and 9-cat formats, Big Zu finished the regular season as a top 100 player in the latter. Regardless of what happens with James Harden and Paul George this summer, Zubac will remain the unquestioned top option at the center position. Fantasy managers may not use a top-100 pick on him, but Zubac is good enough to approach that value by the season’s end.

Facing elimination, the Clippers needed elite production from George and James Harden, and neither could come through. They also struggled in Game 5, making for a disappointing end to the season. Neither health nor production was an issue for George this season, as he appeared in 79 regular season games and provided top 20 per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats. The production exceeded PG-13’s Yahoo ADP (31.4) by a considerable margin, but there are questions heading into the summer. George still can opt out of the final season of his deal, and even with the expectation that he’ll remain with the Clippers, there’s no shortage of potential suitors. Regardless of where he plays in 2024-25, George’s 2023-24 season should renew the faith of fantasy managers.

Harden may have dished out 13 assists while only committing one turnover in Game 6, but he struggled shooting the basketball in his final game of the season. The Beard did not play well in the series’ final two games, which was also the case for Paul George. Friday’s loss sends James into what could be another offseason of change. Harden’s season began with instability, as he made it clear that he wanted out of Philadelphia. The 76ers ultimately accommodated that desire, and after a slow start to his time with the Clippers, The Beard rounded into form. Harden’s Yahoo ADP (31.3) suffered due to the preseason questions, but he finished the year as a top 30 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Harden will be a free agent this summer, and the Clippers could also have to negotiate a new deal with George. Look for his ADP to improve by a few spots if the Clippers keep the roster intact.

Dallas bounced the Clippers in six games, with Washington providing solid supplementary contributions on Friday. Eight of his nine shot attempts came from beyond the arc, a byproduct of playing off Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Washington has been a good fit on both ends of the floor since the Mavericks acquired him at the trade deadline, even if the individual scoring numbers took a hit compared to his production in Charlotte. His rebound, steal, and blocked shot averages increased after the trade, which is what Dallas hoped would happen. Washington and the Mavericks open their second-round series with the Thunder on Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

Gafford may not record gaudy stat lines, but his addition to the roster has been huge for the Mavericks. Between him and first-round pick Dereck Lively II, Dallas receives what would pass as quality production from the center position. Lively also scored in double figures in the series clincher, tallying 10 points with nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 24 minutes off the bench. Gafford and Lively will be critical moving forward, as Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren represents a far different challenge than Ivica Zubac. Oklahoma City will host Game 1 on Tuesday night.

Game 6 was a tale of two halves for Irving, whose increased focus on the defensive end of the floor may have limited his energy on offense. At various points in Friday’s win, he was responsible for guarding James Harden or Paul George. After missing both of his field goal attempts and scoring two points in the first half, Kyrie went off in the second. The 28 points tied a career playoff high for most in a half, and he combined with Luka Doncic to score 58 of Dallas’ 114 points. Irving must bring similar defensive energy to the table in the second round, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are up next. Game 1 of that series is on Tuesday.

Doncic was 1-of-10 from three in Game 6, but that issue did not preclude the Mavericks from wrapping up the series in six games. Efficiency was an issue for the Mavericks’ star point guard, but that did not sap his overall effectiveness. He’ll need to clean that up, as the competition will only get stronger. Doncic and the Mavericks will face Oklahoma City in the second round, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday night.

Kleber fell hard on his right shoulder on a shot attempt after colliding with Clippers wing Amir Coffey. The veteran forward did stay in the game to shoot his free throws but was subbed out on the ensuing Clippers possession. Kleber’s absence means an increase in minutes for Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.