Kemba Walker had himself a night on Saturday going 6-60-7-4-4-0-9 on 21-of-34 shooting and made all 12 free throws. This was Walker Blue Label aged 28 years in a silk-lined box. The game versus the 76ers went into OT so this was in 45 minutes of action, but Kemba is taking a ridiculous amount of shots on the year averaging a league-leading 21.4 per game, but with a name like Walker, who could blame him? He’s also averaging career-bests in points (28.7), assists (6.1), rebounds (4.5), 3PM (3.9), and FG% (45.8). If you drafted him in the second or third round, congratulations, have a shot. Here’s what else went down in the NBA on Saturday night:
Jeremy Lamb– 1-20-10-3-1-0-1 on 6-of-18 shooting and 7-of-7 from the line. 20+ points in two straight, and he’s quietly putting together another solid season. If he could just get minutes in the 30’s, this Lamb would be Michael Jackson Baaahhhd.
Mike Muscala– 1-6-6-2-2-0-2 on 2-of-8 shooting and made his only free throw. He got 37 minutes as Wilson Chandler got his minutes capped on the heels of a back-to-back. Just a name to monitor as one of the prime beneficiaries of the loss of Dario Saric. I could see adding him in 12-ers if you have something to lose. The Sixers get Phoenix next so it could be a good matchup.
Joel Embiid– 2-33-11-3-1-2-4 on 9-of-23 shooting and 13-of-14 FTs. Could have been the lede, but can’t deny Kemba’s 60-burger. Embiid’s knack for FT shooting is making him comparable to Anthony Davis. Seriously, their numbers are not that different.
Ben Simmons– 23-11-9-2-0-4 on 7-of-13 shooting and 9-of-11 from the line. Nearly got the trip-dub, but it was one of his better nights at the charity stripe that helped Philly eke out the win.
Jimmy Butler– 1-15-3-4-2-2-4 on 4-of-11 shooting and 6-of-7 FTs. Surprisingly quiet night for Butler, as he’s still getting acclimated to playing in a Sixers uniform. I wouldn’t be too worried, but something to monitor.
Danilo Gallinari– 5-28-3-2-1-0-1 on 9-of-14 shooting and 5-of-5 FTs. As a kid I visited Disney World’s Animal Kingdom and there was a ride called Countdown to Extinction. I feel like Gallinari’s ankles and knees are on this ride.
Tobias Harris– 2-27-8-3-0-0-3 on 11-of-17 shooting and 3-for-4 from the line. Toby is putting together a very nice season and is leading the Clips in scoring.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander– 4-2-2-0-0-1 on 2-of-9 shooting in just 20 minutes. He had four fouls in the first half, so his minutes were limited. Of course after I pimped him last week, he puts up two stinkers after one really nice game. Remember SGA is still in the Genesis of his career.
Montrezl Harrell– 16-10-1-0-1-1 on 7-of-10 shooting and 2-of-4 FTs. Always brings the energy off the bench, which is why Doc loves him coming off the bench, which is unfortunate for fantasy owners.
Joe Harris– 2-19-1-4-1-0-0 on 7-of-11 shooting and 3-of-5 from the stripe. Average Joe continuing to get it done with a high FG%. Awesome pick, if you got him in the later rounds.
Jarrett Allen– 24-11-2-0-1-1 on 8-of-13 shooting and 8-of-9 from the line. This was his career-high in points and this kid has a really bright future ahead of him. He should return value if you drafted him in the 5th-7th round range.
D’Angelo Russell– 5-23-3-10-2-1-1 on 9-of-16 shooting. He’s really coming into his own this season, and has shown he can get scorching hot from deep at times. Remember, a few games ago he had nine 3-poiners. Definitely having a career-year, and if he could just make his free throws (74.4%), he’d be a stud.
Kent Bazemore– 2-13-5-4-4-1-1 on 5-of-14 shooting and 1-of-2 FTs. The whack percentages and turnovers always hold him back, but he’s still been a value on the year.
John Collins– 12-2-0-0-1-3 on 3-of-6 shooting and 6-of-7 FTs. Came off the bench and only played 12 minutes, but obviously it’s great for the Hawks and his fantasy owners to have him back.
Jermey Lin– 2-16-4-4-3-0-4 on 7-of-11 shooting. Almost on the cusp of being borderline ownable in 12-ers. That’s how you give a solid endorsement.
Victor Oladipo– Played only five minutes after aggravating his knee. It doesn’t appear to be that bad, but he’s questionable for Monday.
Myles Turner– 2-10-11-2-0-3-3 on 4-of-12 shooting and 0-of-2 FTs. This is who he is. It’s time to accept that.
Brandon Ingram– 17-6-7-0-0-0 on 7-of-13 shooting and 3-for-4 FTs. I’m an Ingram Hater, so I’m gonna ignore the nice FG% and assists and just focus on his complete lack of contribution to D stats and 3-pointers. If you drafted him in the mid-rounds, you played yourself. You could have waited for TJ Warren who’s having a much better season.
Lance Stephenson– 1-19-6-3-2-0-1 on 6-of-9 shooting and 6-for-6 FTs. Got 22 minutes off the bench. Lance speared the Magic D last night, but Lakers still somehow got smoked.
Nikola Vucevic– 2-36-13-0-2-0-3 on 15-of-23 shooting and 4-for-5 FTs. Vucci Mane is the main reason the Magic are a surprising 8-8 on the season. Beast.
DJ Augustin– 3-22-1-7-0-0-2 on 7-of-9 shooting and 5-for-5 FTs. This DJ is quietly having a nice season. Very efficient and the 5.0:1.1 Assist to TO ratio is especially nice.
Juancho Hernangomez– 4-20-11-2-0-1-4 on 7-of-12 shooting and made both free throws. Started and got 35 minutes. Definitely worth owning at least until Barton returns.
Nikola Jokic– 2-25-10-8-1-0-1 on 10-of-20 shooting and 3-for-4 from the line. Damn, some nice lines from the Nuggets in a loss tot he Pelicans… Jokic just doing what he do.
Gary Harris– 6-24-5-4-1-1-0 on 9-of-16 shooting. Dirty Harris, making your day! He’s beginning to round into form and I am of the opinion his numbers should improve a bit.
Monte Morris– 1-13-3-5-0-0-2 on 6-of-7 shooting. Got 34 minutes off the bench. The full Monte! Scoop him up! Why not?
Nikola Mirotic– 3-20-10-2-0-3-1 on 50% shooting and 5-for-5 from the line. Such a nice pairing of him and AD…
Anthony Davis– 40-8-8-0-1-0 on 10-of-20 shooting and 20-of-21(!) FTs. The free throws are nice after he had an off-night from the line on Friday, but back-to-back 40-burgers, and you’re just nitpicking.
Julius Randle– 21-10-3-3-1-1 on 8-of-13 shooting and 5-for-7 FTs. Randle off the handle!
Ricky Rubio– 2-20-4-2-3-0-1 on 6-of-13 shooting and 6-of-7 FTs. Nice game, but he’s still burning you if you took him in the mid-rounds. 35.2% FG shooting on the year will do that.
Donovan Mitchell– 5-28-3-6-3-1-3 on 10-of-21 shooting and 3-for-4 FTs. His numbers are creeping up to where his owners expected, but I think he was a bit over-drafted this year.
Al Horford– 1-9-6-2-1-2-3 on 4-of-7 shooting in just 21 minutes. The Jazz had this game well in hand halfway through the fourth so Stevens put in the B-squad and the starters ceded minutes, so there were a lot of deflated lines for Boston last night.
Serge Ibaka– 16-4-1-2-4-2 on 6-of-13 shooting and made 4-of-4 FTs in just 23 minutes. Raptors absolutely destroyed the Bulls who were without Zach LaVine, so a lot of the lines could have been bigger.
Fred VanVleet– 4-18-4-4-1-1-1 on 7-of-11 shooting. Solid-yet-boring back-up point guard. He’s more of a streamer, but had a nice night.
Danny Green– 3-17-4-3-1-0-1 on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting. We’ve been seeing the good Danny Green a bit more than the bad Danny Green, so he’s probably worth owning in most leagues. Just be prepared for the 2-for-11 nights.
Nothing to really say about the Bulls tonight, they just didn’t bring it. They didn’t have IT. Whatever it was, they didn’t have it. They got outscored 32-12 in the third…
Nemanja Bjelica– 2-1-0-0-0-0 in 14 minutes. Okay, it may be time to think about dropping him, but I’d give him one more game.
Buddy Hield– 3-23-7-2-1-0-2 on 10-of-17 shooting. That’s Hield to you pedestrians.
Marvin Bagley III– 16-8-1-0-1-2 on 7-of-10 shooting and 2-of-3 FTs. Got 27 minutes off the bench, but this was a garbage time special.
Bogdan Bogdanovic– 2-14-1-5-1-0-0 on 6-of-11 shooting in 20 minutes off the bench. He’s slowly getting back into a rhythm and I think he’ll reward owners who held him the first few weeks he was out for.
Clint Capela– 23-16-1-1-4-1 on 11-of-14 shooting and 1-of-3 from the line. Hey! In Like Clint, that’s my favorite movie!
Chris Paul– 6-24-4-9-1-0-8 on 7-of-9 shooting and 4-of-5 FTs. He seems to have gotten over the shooting woes from last week.
James Harden– 4-34-4-8-3-0-6 on 10-of-17 shooting and a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. Okay, now I’m starting to Harden.
Gary Clark– 1-5-2-1-0-4-0 on 1-of-3 shooting and 2-for-2 FTs. Got 23 minutes off the bench. Add him before the others catch on.
Kevin Durant– 32-4-3-0-1-4 on 11-of-24 shooting and 10-of-11 from the line. KD gets the obligatory mention because no one else on the Dubs was very noteworthy last night as they somehow managed to lose to the Mavs. Curry was out again and Draymond was out with a right toe sprain, so I’m not reading too much into this, but the Warriors have lost four of their last six. (Panic!)
Harrison Barnes– 2-23-8-1-0-0-0 on 7-of-14 shooting and 7-for-11 FTs. He’s been underwhelming on the year and is a bit of a buy-low, but I don’t know what I’m giving up for him.
Dorian Finney-Smith– 2-13-5-3-2-0-1 on 5-of-11 shooting and 1-of-2 from the line. Started and played 40 minutes. He’s borderline. I’m gonna say he’s a streamer.
Luka Doncic– 2-24-9-4-0-0-3 on 9-of-20 shooting and 4-for-4 FTs. Solid, if unspectacular night from the Don.
Dennis Smith Jr.– 2-14-2-6-2-1-0 on 5-of-12 shooting and 2-for-7 FTs. Nice night until you see the percentages. (Story of his career…)
Paul George– 3-32-11-2-3-3-5 on 9-of-22 shooting and 11-for-11 from the line. PG was Pretty Great last night, but against the Suns, so you know…
Steven Adams– 26-10-0-1-0-3 on 11-of-15 shooting and 4-of-5 FTs. Have yourself a nice Outback prime rib! There are some great Outback restaurants in Phoenix.
Dennis Schroder– 1-15-5-7-4-0-5 on 6-of-15 shooting and made both free throws. Not a great Westbrook impression Dennis…
Mikal Bridges– 3-14-2-2-4-2-2 on 4-of-7 shooting and and 3-for-3 from the line. Mikal with the under-the-radar rainbow line! Could be worth a spec add.
TJ Warren– 2-23-5-1-1-1-2 on 10-of-19 shooting and 1-of-2 from the stripe. Ugh, I am so regretting dropping him a few weeks ago…
Devin Booker– 3-16-4-12-0-0-1 on 5-of-16 shooting and 3-of-4 FTs. B2B 12-assist nights, but his ratios are too hard for me to stomach. He’s still only 22 years old though, so his Book is still Unwritten like Natasha Bedingfield. Yeah, didn’t think you’d read that name in a fantasy basketball article, yet here we are.
That wraps up Saturday night. As always leave a comment, especially about how Steven Adams is from New Zealand, not Australia!
