Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez had 17 points during the Game 4 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday evening. He also added seven rebounds and one block. After undergoing a back procedure that kept him out for a chunk of the regular season, the veteran has been productive, averaging 9.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks throughout this series. He hasn't been shooting it from deep as much. However, he'll likely continue to patrol the paint moving ahead, so he may get additional opportunities on the glass. Nonetheless, while the 34-year-old has been known to have some duds, his upside can make a difference for DFS managers looking for salary cap relief.

Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis (shoulder) and Brook Lopez (rest) are listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Most of the other main starters are unlikely to play as well. It sounds like the Bucks are ready for the postseason and will rest their starters. Serge Ibaka appears to be the last big man standing, so he should see plenty of minutes in this contest. Fantasy managers should consider him a possible streaming option, assuming a majority of the Bucks starters sit.

The Milwaukee Bucks captured an overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday and the team is rewarding its four primary players with a day off on Friday. Khris Middleton (wrist), Jrue Holiday (ankle) and Brook Lopez (conditioning) have been ruled out for the game, as has star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee). The Bucks will lean heavily on the likes of Bobby Portis, Wesley Matthews, Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton for Friday's game as the team faces a Los Angeles Clippers team that will also be without several regulars. All four of the above-mentioned players are worth starting in fantasy with Portis and Allen being the most enticing members of the group.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) has been cleared to get back onto the floor for Monday's game against the Jazz. Lopez has been sidelined since Opening Night after undergoing back surgery and subsequent rehab. Fantasy managers should temper expectations for the 33-year-old, as Milwaukee will likely attempt to acclimate him to the rotation during his first handful of games back in the mix. While it's unclear whether he will continue to start or shift to his traditional bench role, Bobby Portis figures to lose some of his fantasy shine, even if he remains a viable season-long cog in most leagues. In addition to his double-digit scoring, Lopez holds multi-block and multi-three potential on a nightly basis, making him an appealing categories format option as playoff matchups get underway.

The path back to game action for Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) has been arduous, but it appears that the veteran is continuing to progress ahead of the postseason. Head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed prior to Friday's game that Lopez would soon begin to ramp up with contact and 5-on-5 scrimmaging, a necessary start before he can suit up for Milwaukee. Lopez played in the season opener on Oct. 19, but he has since been sidelined since undergoing back surgery in December. Bobby Portis -- and recently Serge Ibaka -- have taken over center duties in his absence. Lopez is likely off the fantasy radar for the remainder of the regular season, but he could be an interesting DFS piece come the playoffs due to his long range shooting and blocked shot prowess.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) was able to take part in Thursday's practice. However, Lopez remains "a ways" off from a return to the court, according to head coach Mike Budenholzer. Lopez has been sidelined basically all season long. He underwent back surgery in December and will hopefully return in time for the playoffs. Although, it's unlikely Lopez returns in time to play many regular season games. Bobby Portis should remain the starting center and carry plenty of fantasy value. Serge Ibaka will back him up, but won't be anything more than a deep league option.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) remains without a return date. The 33-year-old veteran has appeared in just one game this season and underwent surgery on his back in December. He will travel with the team and visit a specialist in Los Angeles during the Bucks' four-game road trip. However, there is a chance Lopez may be sidelined considerably longer, which will keep Bobby Portis in the starting lineup moving ahead. At this rate, Lopez can be dropped by the fantasy managers without any room to spare.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) is out for the foreseeable future. The veteran center underwent back surgery and remains without a timetable. This is a shame considering Lopez was reportedly ramping up his activities. At this point, Lopez is safe to drop in just about every fantasy format. DeMarcus Cousins should take over a majority of his playing time. Also, Bobby Portis will continue getting plenty of minutes and touches. Portis should be rostered in basically all formats, while Cousins has some deep league appeal.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) won't suit up against Boston. The veteran hasn't played since logging 28 minutes during the season opener against the Brooklyn Nets, so his absence on Friday evening will mark his 12th consecutive omission from the lineup. Unfortunately for the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle) and Khris Middleton (illness) also aren't in the lineup, so Grayson Allen, Bobby Portis, and Jrue Holiday should do most of the heavy lifting against the Celtics.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) won't play on Tuesday against the 76ers. The veteran remains on the shelf because of a bad back, and his absence against Philadelphia will be his tenth straight. Fortunately for the defending champs, Philly will be without Joel Embiid, who will miss time due to health and safety protocols. Nonetheless, it will likely be Bobby Portis who will replace Lopez in the lineup, with the 26-year-old posting 13 points, 13 boards, four steals, and two blocks during his only start of the year, which occurred on Sunday against the Wizards. For those looking to fill the void, Portis is undoubtedly worth a look, especially since he may see an uptick in production with Khris Middleton sidelined as well.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) has been preemptively ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest against the Wizards due to persistent back soreness. The outing will be the ninth in a row that Lopez has been in street clothes, with Giannis Antetokounmpo stepping into the starting center role. Bobby Portis has also taken on an elevated role within the second unit, while Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Jordan Nwora have benefited from the rotation shuffling as well. Milwaukee has been mum on when Lopez could get back into the mix, so until hearing otherwise, fantasy managers can presume him sidelined.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) has once again been ruled out, this time for Friday's contest against the Knicks. Lopez has been dealing with a significant bout of back soreness, one that has kept him from practicing as recently as Thursday, with head coach Mike Budenholzer not having a timetable for when the seven-footer could return to action. Giannis Antetokounmpo has served as the team's de facto starting center in Lopez's absence, with Bobby Portis, Jordan Nwora, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo all garnering additional frontcourt minutes as well. Lopez's next chance to play comes Sunday vs. Washington.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) has been ruled out for the team's game against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. The 32-year-old veteran is dealing with a sore back and this will be his third straight game on the sidelines. The fact that he's been ruled out a day before the game is an indication that he'll likely have some more missed games ahead. Bobby Portis (hamstring) isn't listed on the injury report, despite dealing with a hamstring injury, so he may draw the start at center for the game. Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely operate as the team's center at various points throughout the game as well.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) had already been ruled out for Saturday's contest, but head coach Mike Budenholzer let it be known before tip-off that the veteran big man would miss Monday's game against Indiana as well. The team is clearly taking a conservative approach to the center's back soreness, which has allowed Giannis Antetokounmpo to serve as the team's de facto starting five. With Bobby Portis (hamstring) also out of the mix, Jordan Nwora and Sandro Mamukelashvili have reaped added minutes, although their totals from Saturday will likely be telling about where they stand heading into Monday's outing. Lopez's next chance to suit up comes Wednesday when the Bucks return home vs. the Timberwolves.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) will miss his second consecutive game Saturday vs. the Spurs as he continues to battle back soreness. Milwaukee opted to start Giannis Antetokounmpo as its de facto center Thursday, which could very well be the case again with no true backup center available. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jordan Nwora stand to benefit from the increased frontcourt run and rebounding opportunities, although both will likely remain DFS-only assets. Lopez's next chance to return to action comes Monday against Indiana.

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (back) is listed as out for Thursday's game against the Miami Heat. This news comes from the official injury report, so there's not much information available. It'd be surprising to see the Bucks rest the veteran big man this early in the season. Lopez does have a long history of injuries, but resting him in the second game of the season isn't a good sign. Bobby Portis (hamstring) will also be sitting out during Thursday's contest. That means, Giannis Antetokounmpo should see a majority of his time at center in this game.

PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric won't return to Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night after suffering a right knee injury late in the first quarter. Saric is one the team's main contributors off the bench, averaging 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in about 11 minutes per game. Without him, Williams turned to Torrey Craig for more minutes in the first half and also used Frank Kaminsky, who hasn't played much in the postseason. Saric's right knee appeared to buckle when he landed on a jump stop while trying to score against Milwaukee's Brook Lopez. Shortly afterwards, he limped off the court and into the locker room. The Suns led the Milwaukee Bucks 57-49 at halftime. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks are dealing with another injury that could affect their preparations for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. Clint Capela, the Hawks' top rebounder and one of the NBA's best defensive players, took an inadvertent elbow to the face in the closing minutes of a 110-88 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. In a postseason filled with significant injures, Capela was struck in the right eye by Bucks guard Sam Merrill on a play under the basket. The Hawks center left the court with a towel over his face and did not return. After being examined shortly after the game by the team ophthalmologist and checked again after the team arrived in Milwaukee, Capela was listed as questionable for Game 5 with eye inflammation. The Hawks evened the series 2-2 despite missing star guard Trae Young, who injured his right ankle in a freak accident when he stepped on an official's foot along the sideline in Game 3. With veteran Lou Williams filling in for Young... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks are dealing with another injury that could affect their preparations for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. Clint Capela, the Hawks' top rebounder and one of the NBA's best defensive players, took an inadvertent elbow to the face in the closing minutes of a 110-88 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. In a postseason filled with significant injures, Capela was struck in the right eye by Bucks guard Sam Merrill on a play under the basket. The Hawks center left the court with a towel over his face and did not return. After being examined shortly after the game by the team ophthalmologist and checked again after the team arrived in Milwaukee, Capela was listed as questionable for Game 5 with eye inflammation. The Hawks evened the series 2-2 despite missing star guard Trae Young, who injured his right ankle in a freak accident when he stepped on an official's foot along the sideline in Game 3. With veteran Lou Williams filling in for Young... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks are dealing with another injury that could affect their preparations for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. Clint Capela, the Hawks' top rebounder and one of the NBA's best defensive players, took an inadvertent elbow to the face in the closing minutes of a 110-88 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. In a postseason filled with significant injures, Capela was struck around his nose and right eye by Bucks guard Sam Merrill on a play under the basket. The Hawks center left the court with a towel over his face and did not return. Atlanta coach Nate McMillan said he expected to receive an update on Capela's condition later Wednesday while the Hawks are en route to Milwaukee for Game 5. The series is tied 2-2. The Hawks evened it up despite missing star guard Trae Young, who injured his right ankle in a freak accident when he stepped on an official's foot along the sideline in Game 3. With veteran Lou Williams filling in for Young and scoring... [More]