Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving continued his quality play in Game 5, which vaulted the team into the NBA Finals after completely destroying the Minnesota Timberwolves by a score of 124-103. The veteran scorer finished the game with 36 points on 14-for-27 shooting overall and 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. He also chipped in five assists, four rebounds, and knocked down all four of his free throws. Irving has been heavily criticized for not being able to get deeper into the playoffs with anyone not named LeBron James, but he has found himself as the Robin to Luka Doncic's Batman, which has taken them to another Finals appearance. When it comes to scoring, Irving is only matched by very few.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic cashed in a big game along with his backcourt duo in Kyrie Irving to lead the team to their first NBA Finals appearance since they won with Dirk Nowitzki in 2010-11. The superstar guard posted 36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and four turnovers while shooting 14-for-22 from the floor, 6-for-10 from deep, and 2-for-3 from the charity stripe. After missing the postseason altogether last year, Doncic and Irving have seemed to figure out the chemistry on the offensive end which has vaulted their team's potential to a new high. In Game 5, they combined for 72 points while the Timberwolves scored 103 as a team.

Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns was the only player on the team outside of Anthony Edwards who scored double-digit points in a blowout loss that ended their season on Thursday night. In the 103-124 loss, Towns registered 28 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two turnovers while shooting 9-for-20 from the floor and 1-for-6 from downtown. The 28-year-old registered a solid season despite taking a backseat to Edwards and dealing with some more injuries. He posted 21.8 points, 8.3. rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 threes, and 2.9 turnovers per game while making his fourth All-Star game.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards put his best foot forward in Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, but it wasn't enough as they suffered a blowout loss. The young star registered 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting with nine rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, and one turnover. Edwards not only cashed in on the best season of his young career, but he proved to everyone that he could elevate his level of play in the postseason at the age of just 22. This year, he averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.4 threes, and 3.1 turnovers per game. He'll likely be a top-ten fantasy option heading into next season.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, there hasn't been any progress in contract talks between the Warriors and guard Klay Thompson. Golden State reportedly offered him an extension before the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign. However, Thompson declined, so there's a good chance he'll be an unrestricted free agent come July. The 34-year-old averaged 17.9 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 38.7% from deep, all down from the 2022-23 season. But teams are reportedly interested in his services, with the Magic, Thunder, and Sixers emerging as potential suitors. Nonetheless, it will be different seeing Thompson in a new uniform, although he could have a bounce-back year while playing for a championship-caliber club.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) is available for Thursday's matchup with Minnesota. He was once again listed as questionable. However, there wasn't a chance he'd miss this contest, considering the Mavericks can advance to the NBA Finals with a win. Doncic has averaged 31.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 2.3 steals during the Western Conference Finals, making him the top DFS option for Thursday night.

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to seek a trade for forward Rui Hachimura. The 2019 No. 9 overall pick averaged a career-high 13.6 points in 2023-24. He also played 68 games, the most since entering the league. There will likely be a market for Hachimura, who has two years left on his contract. With that in mind, he could be even more productive with a new team if given routine minutes.

According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Indiana Pacers want guard T.J. McConnell to remain with the team for the remainder of his career. The 32-year-old averaged a career-high 10.2 points with 5.5 assists and 1.0 steals during the 2023-24 campaign. He was also instrumental in helping the Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. McConnell, who has one year left on his current deal, is eligible for an extension this offseason. With that said, he isn't expected to be a routine fantasy producer in 2024-25, but he could get plenty of chances to be productive, considering Tyrese Haliburton's inability to remain healthy.

According to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has been "working really hard to get back." There was talk that Porzingis would return for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Indiana Pacers. However, that never happened. Truth be told, the C's didn't need him, with the team pulling off a sweep. With the Finals commencing on June 6, it appears Porzingis has a chance to be available for Game 1 after missing over a month because of a Soleus strain. Of course, if he can't suit up, Al Horford, averaging 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds during the playoffs, will continue to get most of the work in the middle.

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac is expected to start extension talks with the team soon. The Croatian big man is currently on a three-year, $33 million deal that will expire after the 2024-25 campaign. Zubac joined the Clippers from the Lakers in the middle of the 2018-19 season and has steadily developed. The 27-year-old scored a career-high 11.7 points in 2023-24, grabbing 9.2 rebounds and blocking 1.2 shots across 26.4 minutes of action. Fantasy managers can expect to see similar numbers from him next season.

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson has likely played his final game with the team. According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Jazz are expected to make Clarkson available on the trade market. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has spent the last four and a half seasons in Salt Lake City. Clarkson has mostly been used as a microwave scorer off the bench and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for his efforts in 2020-21. He put up 17.1 points and averaged a career-high 5.0 assists this term. The veteran should be a very attractive piece on the trade market, as Clarkson is tied for two years with a deal that pays him $14 million annually.

Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter appears set for a change of scenery. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Hawks are ready to make Hunter available ahead of the 2024 draft. The 26-year-old could be a hot commodity on the trade market after coming off a career year. Hunter averaged 15.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in 29.5 minutes, with 38.5 percent shooting from deep. The fourth pick of the 2019 draft has finished the first season of a four-year, $95 million contract.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Taurean Prince hopes to ink a new deal with the team. He signed a one-year, $4.5 million pact last offseason and wants to extend his stay in L.A. "My family, the quality of life in Los Angeles is something that myself and my family haven't had in probably three or four seasons," Prince told Lakers Nation. "So to stay here would be definitely number one. If not that, then I mean, wherever the dominoes fall and wherever it's best, that's where I'll be. But I for sure want to be a Laker, 100 percent." Despite starting 49 times in 78 appearances and averaging 27.0 minutes, Prince didn't do much that pops out on the box score in 2023-24. He averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range.

Miami Heat guard/forward Duncan Robinson is eager to develop further despite turning 30 in April. "I just turned 30, which is crazy," Robinson recently told Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. "But what might even be crazier is I still think I'm far from a finished product. Maybe a lot of people say that 28 to whatever is your prime, but I feel like my prime is still ahead of me." After having stints out of the rotation last season, Robinson enjoyed a bounce-back year in 2023-24. He averaged 12.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and a career-high 2.8 assists with 39.5 percent shooting from deep. Robinson is mostly seen as a three-point specialist and definitely has room for improvement in other areas.

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has been increasing his activity, as he attempts to return from a strained calf injury he suffered in the first round of the playoffs. In a recent interview, head coach Joe Mazzulla provided a positive outlook on the veteran center's potential return for the NBA Finals, stating, "Like I said, he's working really, really hard. There's been a couple shootarounds where he hasn't done anything with the team but has been in a 1-on-1 setting kind of ramping it up with the intensity level of it. He's been getting better and better." The Celtics have cruised through the postseason, and the NBA Finals will not begin for more than another week, giving Porzingis more time to get fully healthy.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford scored 12 points with perfect 6-for-6 shooting and swatted away three shots in a 105-100 loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday. Playing a playoff-high 31 minutes, Gafford contributed in multiple areas, grabbing eight rebounds and tallying one assist with one steal. The 25-year-old big man saw extra action due to Dereck Lively II (neck) being out. He's been a major force on the defensive end in the series and always does his work on offense efficiently as well. With four games played in the matchup, Gafford has averaged 10.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks with 72.4 percent shooting.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving saw his incredible run of wins in closeout games come to an end on Tuesday, as the team went 105-100 down against Minnesota on home court. Irving had previously won on all 14 occasions when his team was in a spot to finish off a playoff series. However, the Mavericks were far from their best on Tuesday, and it was also a poor effort from Irving, who had 16 points with 6-for-18 shooting. He was 1-for-6 from behind the arc and capped off his line with two rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Irving and the Mavericks will look to get back on track in Game 5 on Thursday.

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic came up with his ninth postseason triple-double on Tuesday, but his efforts weren't enough in a 105-100 loss to Minnesota. The Mavericks leader finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading his team in all categories. His line included one steal, although Doncic's triple-double came with poor 7-for-21 shooting. He was 4-for-11 from downtown and 10-for-12 at the free-throw line. Doncic now shares the ninth spot on the all-time playoff triple-doubles list with Wilt Chamberlain, with Magic Johnson sitting at the top with 30. However, four of Doncic's triple-doubles have come in losses, including two this year, which will be frustrating for him.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert registered a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double as the team managed to avoid a sweep against Dallas in the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday with a 105-100 win. Gobert made four of his five attempts from the field and finished 5-for-9 at the line. He had one assist and one block, logging 39 minutes of action despite battling foul trouble. This marks the second double-double of the series for Gobert, who has averaged 12.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in the matchup. His numbers have dropped compared to the regular season, and it would be a big plus for the Timberwolves if he could get back to the level.

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley produced a good two-way performance in Tuesday's Game 4 win over the Mavericks, scoring 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting and snagging four steals. He also recorded three rebounds in 34 minutes on the floor as Minnesota fought off elimination. Conley struggled in the first game of the series, but he's played well since then, and the team needs more of the same to remain alive again in Game 5 on Thursday. The veteran point guard will enter the contest with averages of 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.0 steals across the last three games.