Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (calf) has been cleared of deep vein thrombosis and is no longer on blood-thinning medication. This marks a significant step in his return to the lineup. Although Lillard is expected to be out for Saturday's Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, his comeback appears to be around the corner. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said on Thursday that there is a "very good chance" Lillard will play in the postseason. The nine-time All-Star averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.2 steals during the regular season.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (ankle) practiced fully on Thursday, indicating that he will be 100 percent ready when the team begins its playoff campaign on Sunday. The six-time All-Star sat out the final four regular-season games due to an ankle injury. Mitchell has proven himself as a highly productive playoff performer and will be expected to make a deep run with his team after the Cavaliers dominated the regular season. For his postseason career, Mitchell has averaged 28.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in 37.6 minutes.

Miami Heat guard/forward Pelle Larsson (ankle) is considered questionable for Friday's play-in action against the Atlanta Hawks. Larsson was also uncertain for Wednesday's matchup against the Chicago Bulls but was upgraded to available ahead of tip-off. However, he did not receive any playing time off the Miami bench. The Swedish rookie has been nursing an ankle sprain recently, which sidelined him for three games at the end of the regular season. With the Heat squad now relatively healthy, it seems unlikely that Larsson will play a significant role during the postseason.

Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (conditioning) remains questionable on the injury report ahead of Friday's clash against the Atlanta Hawks. Love missed the end of the regular season due to personal reasons and is currently focused on regaining the conditioning necessary to return to play. During the postseason, Love's experience could be a valuable asset for the Heat; however, his productivity has been relatively low this campaign. Love averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds during the regular season, appearing in only 23 games.

Dallas Mavericks point guard Brandon Williams (oblique) is listed as probable for Friday's play-in matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 25-year-old is dealing with a left oblique strain but managed to play through the injury on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings. Williams impressed with 17 points and five assists in 18 minutes off the bench. Before Wednesday's game, Williams was listed as questionable on the injury report, so he appears to be making progress in his recovery. Williams will be in a good spot to replicate his Wednesday performance since Memphis allows the fourth-most bench points in the league.

Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (hand) has been listed as questionable for Friday's play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks. The 21-year-old is making progress toward his return to the lineup, but he may miss another game on Friday due to a fractured hand. Jovic's inclusion in the lineup would provide an additional frontcourt option for the Heat, who have been without the England-born Serbian since late February. During the regular season, Jovic averaged 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 25.1 minutes, primarily coming off the bench.

Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (hand) will remain sidelined for Friday's play-in finale against the Miami Heat. The veteran big man has been out since March 10 with a left hand injury, and it remains uncertain when Capela can return to the lineup. Atlanta will continue to lean on Onyeka Okongwu in the middle. In the matchup against the Heat this season, Okongwu has averaged 15.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (Achilles) is listed as probable for Friday's play-in game against the Miami Heat. He will likely be upgraded to available ahead of tip-off once again, as has happened throughout the campaign. Young is coming off a 28-point effort in Tuesday's loss to the Orlando Magic, during which he was ejected for receiving two technical fouls. He needs to maintain his composure better on Friday night and score more efficiently. On Tuesday, Young was the top scorer in the game but shot only 8-for-21 from the field and 1-for-5 from deep.

Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (adductor) is likely to suit up for Friday's matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, as the team considers him probable for the game. Davis remains on the injury report due to his left adductor strain, but he took on his usual workload in Wednesday's win over the Sacramento Kings and appears to be fully healthy. The 10-time All-Star had a team-high 27 points in 35 minutes, along with nine rebounds, one steal, and three blocks as the Mavericks advanced to Friday's winner-takes-all clash.

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (ankle) has been officially listed as questionable for Friday's play-in game against the Dallas Mavericks. Morant's status is iffy after he hurt his right ankle in Tuesday's loss to the Golden State Warriors. Following the game, the Grizzlies superstar said that he will play in Friday's do-or-die contest, but he missed Thursday's practice, and the team considers him a game-time decision. Losing Morant would be a significant blow to Memphis' hopes of winning and making the playoffs. His absence is set to elevate the fantasy value of Scotty Pippen Jr.. Vince Williams Jr. and Luke Kennard might also benefit, depending on who fills Morant's spot in the first unit.

Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 33 points in Wednesday's 120-106 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Play-In Tournament. The veteran star provided steady scoring for Sacramento throughout the contest, but the Kings got hammered in the second quarter, 44-19, and never recovered. DeRozan finished with 13-for-28 shooting and even hit a pair of three-pointers. Over 43 minutes of action, he also picked up seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. DeRozan's numbers slightly declined across the board during his first year in Sacramento, but he looks poised to remain a productive player even as a 36-year-old in 2025-26.

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Klay Thompson finished 5-for-7 from deep and had 23 points in Wednesday's 120-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Thompson, who went 0-for-10 from the field in his final game as a Warrior during the Play-In Tournament against the Kings last season, finished 8-for-11 overall from the field and tallied five rebounds with two assists, one steal, and one block. The veteran sniper had much to prove following last year's shocker, and turned out to be one of the key performers in Wednesday's game. Dallas will need a similar effort from him on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies. During the regular season, the Grizzlies held Thompson to 30 percent three-point shooting and 11.3 points per game.

Chicago Bulls guard/forward Josh Giddey led his team with 25 points and notched 10 rebounds, four assists, and one block in Wednesday's 109-90 loss in the Play-In Tournament against the Miami Heat. Despite dealing with a torn muscle in his shooting hand, Giddey logged 40 minutes of action, shooting 9-for-21 from the field. He finished 2-for-7 with the three-ball. The season ended on a sour note for Giddey, but he played extremely well over the final stretch, averaging nearly a triple-double since the All-Star break. Things have worked out perfectly for Giddey in Chicago, and from a fantasy perspective, it would definitely be beneficial if he extends his deal with the Bulls. The 22-year-old will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis scored a team-high 27 points as the team defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-106 in Wednesday's play-in contest. He missed a third consecutive double-double by one rebound and had one steal and three blocks in the game, shooting 9-for-23 from the field, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Davis logged 35 minutes on the floor, the most since returning to action from an adductor strain. Ahead of the Play-In Tournament, Dallas still listEd Davis on the injury report, but he appears to be finally fully healthy. This is a big boost for the Mavericks, who now have to beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night to qualify for the playoffs. Rookie big man Zach Edey and the Grizzlies struggled to contain Davis earlier in the season when he was still with the Los Angeles Lakers, as the 10-time All-Star averaged 30.5 points and 15.0 rebounds over two games.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro was on fire in Wednesday's play-in game against the Chicago Bulls, racking up a game-high 38 points in a 109-90 road win. He was unconscious in the first half, sinking all eight shots for 23 points to help Miami grab a 71-47 lead. The Bulls did a much better job defensively in the second half, but still had no answers for Herro, who finished 13-for-19 from the field with a 3-for-7 record from downtown. The first-year All-Star rounded out his line with five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Herro's play was on another level compared to others, but he also has room for improvement for Friday's showdown against the Atlanta Hawks, as he committed seven turnovers. In four regular-season meetings with the Hawks, Herro averaged 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.5 steals, shooting 40 percent from three-point land.

Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (thumb) is on track to return to the lineup for the start of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The 26-year-old big man missed the final month of the regular season after undergoing thumb surgery. On Tuesday, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said he is "pretty sure" Sims will be available for the team's first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, which begins on Saturday. Sims has averaged 2.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15.0 minutes with the Bucks. However, with Bobby Portis back from suspension, the former Knick will likely have a smaller role during the postseason.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (knee) is expected to return to action by January 2026. "The expectation around the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving, is that he will play a good chunk of next season," said ESPN's Shams Charania on NBA Countdown Wednesday night. "There is optimism that he will be back by January." Irving underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee on March 26. The nine-time All-Star has a $43 million player option for next season. However, sources have told Charania that the Mavericks intend to rip up his player option and offer him a new three-year deal, which would align his contract duration with those of Anthony Davis and general manager Nico Harrison. Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in his 14th NBA season.

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (adductor) will play on Wednesday against the Kings. AD was listed as probable, so most DFS participants were already anticipating his availability for the pivotal Play-In meeting with Sacramento. He met the Kings four times during the regular season, averaging 24.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 1.5 steals, giving him plenty of upside for fantasy managers.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (ankle) says he'll suit up for Friday's Play-In game against the Kings or Mavericks. He tweaked his ankle in Tuesday's loss to the Golden State Warriors. Still, Morant finished with 22 points in 35 minutes. DFS managers will likely see the 24-year-old pop up on the Injury report heading into Friday's contest. If Morant suffers a setback and gets ruled out, Scotty Pippen Jr., who averaged 14.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals in 21 starts during the regular season, will likely take over at the one.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Rockets might be interested in trading for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant this offseason. Charania stated both sides have a "level of mutual interest," although things could change depending on how far the Rockets advance during the playoffs. He has one year left on his current deal, so it's unknown how much Houston would be willing to give up. Still, acquiring Durant, who averaged 26.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 blocks this season, could make the Rockets an even bigger threat to clubs around the National Basketball Association. As far as his fantasy outlook is concerned, he should remain a valuable fantasy asset in 2025-26, no matter where he ends up. However, Durant will need to stay healthy, with the veteran logging only 60 games during the 2024-25 campaign.