Houston Rockets 102, Sacramento Kings 94
John Wall
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 28 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2/8 | 11/21 | 4/6 |
Wall continued to look rejuvenated posting this line over 37 minutes, and if I bet you $5 that his usage rate was over or under 37.5, you’d probably take the over and ask me for my Venmo as it was 35.8. It was a bit maudlin for Rockets announcer Bill Worrell to repeatedly claim last night that the 2010 no. 1 overall pick looked like he was still in high school, but Houston must feel slightly better paying him $40-plus million the next three years with this level of production.
Christian Wood
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2/7 | 7/14 | 4/7 |
Wood posted another gem over 33 minutes, and the 15 boards were a career high. It’s hard to believe Houston has control of this lanky force for three seasons for virtually the same amount it’s paying Wall for one (3y/$41m) after a preseason sign and trade with Detroit. With a usage rate of 25.2 in this contest, Wood’s going to get touches and shots despite the clamor for the rock on his squad.
Eric Gordon
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3/12 | 7/18 | 4/4 |
Gordon was the biggest beneficiary from another Harden absence, and while the 3-point percentage is an eyesore, Gordon’s a somewhat disappointing .369 for his career behind the arc, which was borderline elite when he was a rookie in 2008 but is now the kind of percentage you expect from Daniel Theis or Aron Baynes; ’twas a different world, on and off the hardwood.
Notes: James Harden was a late scratch with a sprained right ankle, and is a toss-up for Monday’s tilt against the Mavs. DeMarcus Cousins played 11 minutes and grabbed 6 boards with 2 swats in the process, but the rest wasn’t pretty or worth typing.
De’Aaron Fox
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0/3 | 8/19 | 7/10 |
It wasn’t Fox’s best performance of the young season, but he did score a team-high 23 over 35 minutes; he’s not a total drag for 3-point production like he was in this game, but is only a career 32.6-percent shooter from deep.
Richaun Holmes
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 4/8 | 3/3 |
Holmes is going to have competition for touches and shots all season, but the two blocks with good shooting percentages (yeah, well, he didn’t MISS any treys, either) over 33 minutes is satisfactory. While you’re rightfully disappointed after he scored 20-plus in his last two contests, take solace that he’s played over 30 minutes in 3 straight.
New York Knicks 106, Indiana Pacers 102
RJ Barrett
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4/5 | 8/15 | 5/6 |
I guess when R.J. Barrett plays like this, victories over teams like the Pacers are possible. Wait, are the Knicks good? They’re 3-3. Yes, the Knicks normally have this many wins come January each season, but that’s with seasons starting around Halloween. Barrett led the team in points and minutes (42), but, if you’re going to trust Barrett to produce like this, I have shares in the Brooklyn Bridge to sell you.
Julius Randle
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2/5 | 5/16 | 0/0 |
The Big Orange laid his share of bricks tonight but still came within two dimes of a Rondo-esque triple-double. He was bound to return from orbit after some big games this week, but the overall production is still strong, especially for a guy with a Yahoo! ADP of 76.4.
Note: Alec Burks missed his third straight with a sprained left ankle, nullifying his hot start. He was questionable before this game, so, he could be back next week. Nerlens Noel played 17 minutes and shouldn’t be on your roster unless you’re in a 16-teamer.
Oklahoma City Thunder 108, Orlando Magic 99
George Hill
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3/7 | 7/12 | 1/1 |
This game gives me two thoughts: 1. This roster looks like the fallout from a one-sided NBA 2K trade binge; 2. It proves basketball is a sport you need to watch more of than the average game to understand what happened. I keep looking at numbers and trying to figure out how this squad won, with Hill’s mundane numbers over 27 minutes leading the way. He hasn’t played more than 30 minutes this season, but, he’s starting and producing, so grab him off your waiver wire if you’re looking for guard production due to early injuries.
Al Horford
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2/7 | 5/12 | 0/0 |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2/7 | 5/12 | 0/0 |
See what I mean? Who propelled the Thunder last night? OKC barely whelmed based on the box score, but still picked up a dub against a supposedly superior Orlando squad (now 4-2 with the loss). Definitely an off night for SGA, who still led the team with a 26.5 usage rate, but for Al Horford, this looks like the kind of night to expect; don’t expect him to make too many more round-ups, either, I only included him to show you that it’s a perplexing box score to see and reconcile with the outcome. Luguentz Dort produced a line rife with single digits that’s unworthy of typetude, so, no, it wasn’t him thrusting the Thunder to a victory, either.
Nikola Vucevic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 30 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4/7 | 13/21 | 0/0 |
The Vooch continued his strong campaign dropping 30 and 13. You’d like to see your scoring big get to the line and swat a shot or two, but, it’s hard to complain about this line or player, especially with a relatively meager usage rate of 25.3 last night.
Terrence Ross
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4/9 | 9/21 | 4/5 |
You’ve got to appreciate a sixth man who still finds a way to put up 21 shots over 30 minutes, and Ross owners will enjoy the added bonuses of 6 boards with no turnovers; Ross’ usage rate of 30.3 led the Magic, so he’s a focal point whenever he’s on the court.
Philadelphia 76ers 127, Charlotte Hornets 112
Tobias Harris
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4/7 | 9/14 | 2/2 |
Harris led the way for Philadelphia as five others joined him scoring in double figures. No one cares about 5 turnovers when you’re this efficient, as he produced this line with a usage rate of 23.4. He’s underappreciated as a player and a fantasy asset, as he had a Yahoo! ADP of 60.6 but is a borderline all-star who can score in the lane and from deep.
Joel Embiid
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1/2 | 7/11 | 4/6 |
It’s a robust stat line but while it’s short of what you truly expect from Embiid, you’re quite pleased to see this over 36 minutes after he missed the Dec. 27 game with back tightness; there’s little reason to think it was anything other than precautionary rest for a back-to-back, after he played 37, 26, and 36 minutes, respectively, in the three games since.
Ben Simmons
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0/0 | 6/9 | 3/5 |
Another Rondo-esque triple-double from another fellow bricklayer, Simmons can confound but consistently produces. Did anyone out there watch “Summer Heights High” with Chris Lilley? One of the three characters he played — the eighth-grade wannabe breakdancer, Jonah — formed a rivalry with an acrobatic classmate who far outperformed Jonah in dance battles, but that wouldn’t stop him from disparaging the superior peer for a lack of fundamentals, constantly decrying, “He doesn’t even know basic moves!” That’s what I think of every time I watch Simmons play. HE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW BASIC MOVES! Yet he’s one of the best 50 people on the planet at hoops, despite his unconventional arsenal.
Seth Curry
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3/6 | 8/11 | 2/2 |
If you bought into the hype that Doc Rivers was gonna give Seth some run and ensure he got looks, you’re pleased with this late-round grab, who produced this line with a meager 15.7 usage rate. All signs are pointing to a career year from the younger Curry, who netted 21 for the second straight game. The 6 dimes are a season high, but, Curry’s going to give you elite percentages, 3’s, double-figure points, and a few dimes with a swipe over 30-odd minutes each night, there’s a role on winning real and fantasy teams with a guy like this.
Terry Rozier
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 35 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7/11 | 12/18 | 4/4 |
Scary Terry went off for his biggest game since his 42-point season opener; it was also the second game where he made more than two of his 3-point attempts, so not a big coincidence. While it’s not a dire feast-or-famine situation with Rozier, his ancillary stats are tough to swallow when he’s not cracking 20 ppg which he hadn’t since the opener, until this outburst.
Gordon Hayward
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2/4 | 7/15 | 4/4 |
Anyone scared off by Hayward’s injury history and recent broken finger (on his shooting hand, even) feels foolish. He played a team- and season-high 38 minutes, scored over 20 points for the third time in 6 games, and could tip your league’s fantasy scales in your favor if timid owners let him slide to you, you courageous bastard. He gives you above-average value in every category, and, hasn’t he hit his quota for freak injuries in a career? Let’s hope so.
Cleveland Cavaliers 96, Atlanta Hawks 91
Collin Sexton
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2/5 | 10/18 | 5/5 |
Sexton’s consistently demonstrating he can be an elite scorer, as he’s averaging 26.0 ppg to start the season. The sample size is still relatively small, but, he’s yet to score under 20 in any contest thus far, and he’s been good for at least a swipe per contest, with a surprisingly low usage rate of 25.2 to date. He’ll probably be taken too early in next year’s draft with such gaudy scoring numbers, but enjoy the production and options he gives you this year.
Andre Drummond
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0/0 | 6/10 | 0/0 |
It was easily Drummond’s worse game this season; he only played 20 minutes despite a pair of fouls on the night, and there’s nothing noted about injuries as of Sunday afternoon. It’s likely an outlier, and he should be good for a double-double with multiple blocks and swipes any time he suits up.
Trae Young
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2/5 | 6/16 | 2/4 |
It was an unexpectedly pedestrian night from Young, easily his worst of the fledgling season. Trae earns his living getting to the line, and he only shot 4 FT for the second straight game. There’s no reason for any long-term concern, but hopefully this outlier didn’t cost your team a win in H2H.
Clint Capela
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0/0 | 8/12 | 0/5 |
You drafted Capela for the boards, blocks, and FGP, and he certainly delivered all of it, plus the 16 points, over 30 minutes in this contest. This is a nice uptick from his first two games, wherein he only scored 7 in each with little other than boards.
New Orleans Pelicans 120, Toronto Raptors 116
Brandon Ingram
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 31 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4/8 | 8/17 | 11/14 |
Ingram’s seemingly having a Leap Year, netting a season-high 31 points over a team-high 35 minutes, doing it from inside and outside, and there’s no reason to think Ingram won’t contend for multiple league honors this season.
Zion Williamson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0/0 | 7/12 | 7/10 |
Zion’s not going to get you any treys in the near future (0/2 this SEASON), but, it’s unlikely you counted on that when tabbing him on draft day. It’s hard to know where his ceiling is, and his production might not be enough this season to have warranted him being an average third-round pick, but Zion owners are encouraged, at minimum, at his production to date.
Fred VanVleet
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4/13 | 9/23 | 5/5 |
VanVleet’s percentages weren’t great but he provided stellar guard numbers in the rest of his line, over a team-high 39 minutes. While the 1-4 Raptors have some things to figure out, Freddie’s going to be an integral part of whatever Nick Nurse contrives this season.
Chris Boucher
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1/4 | 7/13 | 9/9 |
Boucher made his case to be the starter over Baynes with this line in 28 minutes off the bench, notching a season-high 24 points with solid ancillary production, including that perfect night from the stripe. If he’s still available in your league, stash him if you can, as Boucher has produced when given minutes thus far.
