Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks
Wizards Notes:
- Deni Avdija has really been showing promise lately, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He’s turned into a perimeter “stopper” for the Wiz and it’s been translating into valuable fantasy stats, like last night when he swatted three shots. His offense has picked up too, as he’s reached double figures in scoring in four straight after putting up 14 in the Garden. Over his past four outings, Avdija is averaging 13.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 3PTM, 1.3 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. He could be a 1/1/1 guy the rest of the way and will stick in the rotation even after all the replacement players go away (14 percent rostered in Yahoo! leagues).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 14 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5-8 | 3-4 |
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Knicks Notes:
- Hopefully, you didn’t miss the boat on picking up Kemba Walker, who’s back up to 78 percent rostered after a huge outing on Thursday. The much-maligned vet dropped a season-high 44 points in 43 minutes, shooting 14-for-27 from the field and 9-for-9 from the line, while nearly posting a trip-dub with nine boards, eight dimes, seven treys, and nary a turnover. Nice to see him come back into the fold with a vengeance.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 44 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14-27 | 9-9 |
Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat
Pistons Notes:
- Saadiq Bey‘s story mirrors Kemba’s—at least from a fantasy perspective. Bey is back after a rough start to the season and is now up to 75 percent rostered after a 23-point, 10-rebound, five-assist performance in South Beach. Over his past five, he’s averaged 23.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 3.2 3PTM. He won’t stay this hot, but he should be a top-75 contributor for the remainder of the season.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 23 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5-8 | 3-4 |
Heat Notes:
- Max Strus and Gabe Vincent have seemed to trade big games for the banged-up Heat lately. Last night it was Strus’ turn, as he poured in 26 points and five triples. Strus doesn’t reliably provide much besides points and threes, but he can get a lot of both of those stats on a given night. He’s still available in two-thirds of leagues if you’re looking for help in those cats.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 26 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 10-18 | 1-1 |
Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Hawks Notes:
- I’m very excited to see what Onyeka Okongwu can do with Clint Capela in the protocols. In just his third game back from injury he received the start and didn’t disappoint. The youngster made six of his 10 field goals to score 13 points while adding eight boards a steal, and three swats. He can be a huge value-add in all the traditional big man categories, but his defensive stat potential is the most enticing (14 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 13 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6-10 | 3-4 |
Sixers Notes:
- As long as Matisse Thybulle is getting 30-plus minutes, he needs to be added for his steal/block proclivity. He had one of the former and two of the latter last night, and on the season he’s averaging 1.8 SPG and 1.1 BPG in just 24 MPG. He’s a wraith on defense and that translates into fantasy goodness in two rare categories (35 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4-8 | 0-0 |
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Orlando Magic
Pelicans Notes:
- Herb Jones is another defensive ace who can contribute in both steals and blocks on a consistent basis. He’s had at least one of each in eight of his last 11 outings (including last night). His offense has yet to catch up, but his defense gives him a solid baseline from which to build his fantasy value (20 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3-6 | 2-2 |
Magic Notes:
- I’ve always liked Gary Harris, and his demise over the past three years or so has mystified me to no end. So I hope I’m not jumping the gun by declaring him BACK, BABY!!! Okay, it hasn’t been all that exciting, but if he can keep progressing and officially get back to the player he was, it’s great value. Harris (23 percent rostered) scored 22 points against the Pels on 9-of-14 shooting, with four triples, a steal, and a block. He’s scored 17 or more in four straight and over his past eight, he’s averaging 16.1 PPG and 2.3 3PTM. He’s been a top-100 player over the last 14 days. I’d take a flier on him (but then again, I’m biased).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 22 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9-14 | 0-0 |
Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers
Rockets Notes:
- We all know Eric Gordon can fill it up and bomb away from deep, but the former Sixth Man of the Year has really beefed up his playmaking recently as Houston hasn’t had a true point guard in the starting lineup. Gordon handed out five helpers to go along with 15 points, three steals, and a block, and that was one of his more tame outing of late. He’s averaging a robust 6.2 APG over his last five contests to complement the scoring and threes. If you’re looking for assists, Gordon may be a fruitful source moving forward (38 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 15 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6-10 | 2-2 |
Pacers Notes:
- Speaking of stepping into a point guard role, that’s what Caris LeVert did against Houston, doling out 11 dimes alongside his 24 points and eight boards. LeVert is a fantasy force when he gets to play with the ball in his hands as he did last night with Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis out of the lineup. I’m still inclined to sell high more than anything else, because there’s a chance he’s traded into a less advantageous situation in the coming weeks.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 24 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8-18 | 6-8 |
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks
Bucks Notes:
- Of all the “big” names making their returns to the NBA during H&SP season, DeMarcus Cousins has the best chance to make a significant difference in fantasy. Not only is Cousins making the most of his opportunity, but with Brook Lopez out with a long-term injury, Cousins has a chance to entrench himself in this role. Boogie scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out four assists last night. Over the last three games, he’s averaged 17.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.3 3PTM, and 1.0 BPG. He’s a must-add right now (39 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 22 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8-15 | 5-7 |
Mavs Notes:
- Sterling Brown is a guy I’ve always kind of liked and wanted to see get an extended opportunity. Now may be the time. He recorded his second consecutive double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds in 36 minutes. He’s more of a short-term streamer, but it’s interesting to be able to get a boost in rebounding from a guard spot (one percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 10 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4-11 | 0-0 |
Charlotte Hornets vs. Denver Nuggets
Hornets Notes:
- I really wish the Hornets would fully unleash PJ Washington. Playing small with him at the 5 is such an exciting lineup for that team, and Washington would be a top-40 fantasy player if he got at least 32 minutes per night. He made the most of his nearly 27 minutes on Thursday, hitting five of his six shots and three of his four treys, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two rejections.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 13 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5-6 | 0-0 |
Nuggets Notes:
- If you can stomach the poor shooting (at least he doesn’t take many attempts most nights), Facundo Campazzo can really help your team. He provides assists, threes, steals, and a surprising amount of blocks for his size. Against Charlotte, he canned three triples, handed out five assists, swiped three steals, and blocked a shot. Over his past eight contests, he’s averaged 5.9 APG, 1.8 3PTM, 1.5 SPG, and 0.9 BPG. He ought to be rostered in more than just 14 percent of leagues.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 12 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3-12 | 3-4 |
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Thunder Notes:
- Josh Giddey continues to show improvement in the scoring department, amassing 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting against the Suns. Giddey’s arrow is pointing up, but I would actually try to sell high on him. He’s scoring more but is still pretty inefficient on the offensive end. His trip-dub potential and youth have most fantasy managers swooning, but unless you’re in a keeper league, I think you can get back something that will help your team win more this season.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7-17 | 2-3 |
Suns Notes:
- It was nearly a perfect night for Cam Johsnon, who hit all seven of his shots, including all five from deep. A solitary miss from the stripe marred an immaculate shooting performance. But he also chipped in nine rebounds, three assists, and a couple of steals to cap a great night. Johnson is a metronome on offense with mid-teens points and 2-3 triples, but he also provides some value in other categories. He’s a great guy to round out a roster (39 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 21 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7-7 | 2-3 |
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz
Wolves Notes:
- Malik Beasley has kicked it into gear. With Anthony Edwards sidelined, Beasley has the green light to let it fly with abandon, and he heaved up 25 shots on Thursday. He made 13 of them count, including seven from beyond the arc to finish with 33 points. Beasley is available in more than half of leagues, so he’s at least a short-term addition, but he’s struggled to find rhythm in a smaller bench role so this turnaround may not last very long.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 33 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 13-25 | 0-0 |
Jazz Notes:
- I thought Joe Ingles had turned the corner, but he went quiet again the last couple weeks. He busted out of the slump with 16 points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three triples. It’s rare to see him hoist 13 shots to just nine for bench heater Jordan Clarkson, so this kind of scoring output may not signal more to come. His ceiling isn’t high enough to make him a must-add after one nice game, but he’s worth monitoring for solid, low-end value (34 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 16 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6-13 | 1-1 |
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
Grizz Notes:
- De’Anthony Melton still retains value even with Ja Morant back on the floor. Melton’s role hasn’t changed as an off guard off the bench, and he has the ability to fill it up as well as rack up defensive stats, as he showed last night. Melton dropped 20 on 8-for-13 from the field, with nine boards, two steals, and a block in 25 minutes of action. He’s rostered in exactly half of leagues, but that number should probably be higher.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 20 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8-13 | 3-4 |
Warriors Notes:
- With so many Warriors wings in the protocols, Otto Porter Jr. is an immediate add. He’s been on a blocks binge recently, swatting seven shots in his past two games, including three last night. That was in addition to eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, two threes, and a steal in an all-around gem. As long as Porter is getting 30-plus minutes, he’s going to produce, so ride him while he’s hot (19 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 8 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3-7 | 0-0 |
San Antonio Spurs vs. LA Lakers
Spurs Notes:
- Holy Keita Bates-Diop! The other KDB (shoutout to the footie fans) went a perfect 11-for-11 from the field to score 30 points out of nowhere in 27 minutes of play. He was cooking with gas, and this game turned into a blowout down the stretch, so I wouldn’t read too much into it (zero percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 30 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11-11 | 5-7 |
Lakers Notes:
- With Anthony Davis shelved, the Lakers desperately need someone to fill the void. That player…did not really materialize last night. Talen Horton-Tucker was the only other player in double-figures scoring besides the remaining two big guns, but he finished with just 13 points on 13 shots, with zero threes, steals, or blocks. There will be plenty of opportunity for THT, which may be enough for a speculative add, but he’s been a disappointment so far this season so you might want to scour the wire for juicier options (23 percent rostered).
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PTM | TOV | FG | FT |
| 13 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5-13 | 3-4 |
