Thursday Recap I Fantasy Basketball I Razzball

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Brooklyn Nets

Thunder Notes:

Lu Dort broke out of a massive shooting slump last night, scoring 27 points on 9-of-17 from the floor, including six connections from downtown. It was the first time in several weeks he cracked 50 percent shooting from the field. It was good to see his shot fall, given he didn’t contribute anywhere else on the stat sheet, with just two assists and a rebound accompanying those points and treys. His streakiness and the drain on FG percentage makes me not want to deal with him (64 percent rostered in Yahoo! leagues). Maybe if he strings together a couple more hot performances you can explore selling high.

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
27	1	2	0	0	6	0	9-17	3-4

Nets Notes:

Not much to take away from Brooklyn’s blowout loss without several of their top guns. Rookie big man Day’Ron Sharpe picked up another start in the absence of a couple of the Nets regular bigs. However, after back-to-back standout games, he cooled off, mustering just four points, six boards, and a block in 20 uninspiring minutes. Still, as a bouncy rim-runner, he’s worth streaming as long as his minutes are in the twenties (10 percent rostered).

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
4	6	1	0	1	0	1	2-5	0-0

Los Angeles Clippers vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Clips Notes:

I ask myself everyday why Reggie Jackson is still on my roster. On the surface, it makes sense—he’s got a ton of opportunity and should be able to put up very good counting stats even if his efficiency is lacking. And the last couple of seasons he had actually shot it well. Not so in 21-22. After another forgettable night where he scored five points on 2-for-11 shooting, Jackson is shooting just 38 percent from the field on 16 attempts per night, doesn’t get to the line at all, has a hard time scratching even four assists as a lead guard with the ball in his hands all the time, and doesn’t get steals. He shouldn’t be rostered in 71 percent of leagues.

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
5	6	3	0	0	1	1	2-11	0-0

Pels Notes:

On the flip side, Herb Jones needs to be owned in way more than 53 percent of leagues. Jones is a defense-first player, but his O is now coming along. Jones was uber-efficient last night, converting five of his six attempts (including a pair of triples) to score 14 points, while also scooping up six rebounds, dishing out three helpers, and swiping three steals. Over the past 30 days, he’s a top-40 player. Go get him now if he’s still available!

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
14	6	3	3	0	2	1	5-6	2-2

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Wolves Notes:

Even when he’s off with the shot—as his 1-of-9 line indicated on Thursday—Patrick Beverley is still a useful fantasy contributor. He garnered eight boards, six dimes, and a pair of steals and blocks to mitigate his inefficient three points. He’s a top-100 player on the season, and over his past six contests he’s averaging 6.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.5 3PTM, and 1.2 BPG. He’s a viable option off the wire (38 percent rostered).

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
3	8	6	2	2	0	1	1-9	1-2

Grizz Notes:

Raise your hand if you thought John Konchar would pull down more rebounds than JJJ and KAT combined. Big John led the Grizzlies to their 11th consecutive W, with 15 points on just seven shots (including three treys), 17 rebounds, three assists, and zero turnovers. He’s performed quite well when he’s been on the floor, but Memphis’ roster is so deep that big minutes will not be consistent. Leave him on waivers (one percent rostered).

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
15	17	3	0	0	3	0	6-7	0-0

Golden State Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Warriors Notes:

So happy to be able to type Klay Thompson‘s name after nearly three years. Klay is coming along slowly, but he hasn’t been shy about letting it fly, and that’s going to lead to his standard allotment of points, threes, and efficiency when he gets his legs back under him. After a slow start last night, Thompson got it going later on, finishing with 11 points and a couple of threes on 3-for-11 from the floor. Nothing to do but stay patient.

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
11	2	1	1	0	2	1	3-11	3-3

Bucks Notes:

The roulette wheel of Bucks wings came up Grayson Allen last night. The Duke product returned from protocols to the starting lineup, scoring 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting, with five boards, three triples, two steals, and a swat in 27 minutes. Allen had been scuffling along recently, scoring five or fewer points in five of his six previous outings. You can’t trust anyone in this wing rotation to produce consistently, so there’s no need to go out and pick up Allen (21 percent rostered).

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
15	5	2	2	1	3	1	6-10	0-0

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets

Blazers Notes:

With news of Damian Lillard’s surgery breaking, there’s ample opportunity for a fantasy gem to emerge in Portland’s backcourt. Dennis Smith Jr. started at the point last night, acquitting himself well with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, with eight dimes, a theft, and just one miscue. His value will take a hit when Anfernee Simons returns to action soon, but as the only true lead guard on the roster, he should still have the chance to carve out a nice little role for himself (12 percent rostered).

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
17	2	8	1	0	0	1	7-12	3-5

Nuggets Notes:

Jeff Green stepped into the starting lineup and saw 30 minutes of action, scoring 19 points on a scintillating 9-of-11 from the field. He’s been in double figures in all four games since returning from absence, and his strong play should give him a chance to supplant the other J. Green in the starting group. If that’s the case, Green (er, Jeff that is) is name to monitor on the wire (nine percent rostered).

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3PTM	TOV	FG	FT
19	5	3	0	0	0	1	9-11	1-1