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Friday’s schedule was just as noteworthy for who sat as it was who was on the court. Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic were among those who did not play, while LeBron James was back after missing eight games due to an abdominal strain. But we’ll begin with an update on a player whose team did not play, as Collin Sexton will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left meniscus. On the court, his absence has resulted in veteran Ricky Rubio entering the starting lineup.
Rubio, who’s rostered in 78% of Yahoo leagues, is providing top-100 value in 9-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. The only concern in a categories league is his field goal percentage, as he’s making just 38.4% of his attempts. That’s not great, especially for a point guard, but the overall value makes Rubio a player worth holding onto for the long-term. Another player to keep an eye on with Sexton sidelined is Isaac Okoro, who should have more opportunities to make plays himself. He’s hit double figures in two of Cleveland’s last three games, but those are also Okoro’s only double-digit efforts of the season.
The lack of consistent offensive production means that managers should take a “wait and see” approach, as Okoro is only rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues. He’ll be available in most leagues, even if he gets hot. Lastly, it will be interesting to see what Darius Garland‘s fantasy ceiling will be. He’s providing 7th-round value in 9-cat, and is rostered in 92% of Yahoo leagues. He’s been good percentage-wise, and over the last five Garland is averaging 21.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 3.2 3-pointers and 3.6 3-pointers per game.
I’m not selling high here; given his role, and Cleveland’s need for him to do more, Garland is in a good spot. And those who have him rostered should hold off on making a move...for now.
Hornets 121, Pacers 118
LaMelo Ball had one of his best games of the season, putting up 32 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, one steal and four 3-pointers in 39 minutes. Shooting 12-of-22 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line, Ball was two assists shy of a triple-double. With a line like that, you’ll be fine with the five turnovers. Currently a top-10 player in 9-cat, Ball could very well be a top-5 player come season’s end. Fantasy managers who took what appeared to be a gamble by selecting Ball within the first 25 points have to be thrilled with the second-year point guard.
Gordon Hayward (25/4/3/3/2 with one 3-pointer) and Miles Bridges (14/6/1/1/1 with two 3-pointers) posted full stat lines, while Kelly Oubre (16/3/0/1 with three 3-pointers) and Cody Martin (12/4/5/0/1 with one 3-pointer) had good nights off the bench. Charlotte went small for 18 minutes in this one, with Jalen McDaniels (5/5/2/0/1 with one 3-pointer) playing 15 minutes. He isn’t worth picking up right now, but the minutes allotment behind Mason Plumlee is something to keep an eye on with P.J. Washington (left elbow) still sidelined.
The big change for Indiana was the return of Chris Duarte (right shoulder), who went right back into the starting lineup. He wasn’t all that effective, playing just 14 minutes and finishing with six points, one rebound and one assist. After a hot start to the season, the rookie guard has failed to keep it going with Malcolm Brogdon (16/1/2/0/1 with two 3-pointers) and Caris LeVert (six points, five rebounds) both in the starting lineup. Duarte’s still rostered in 47% of Yahoo leagues, which is a bit high at this point. Managers in standard leagues should have already dropped him from their rosters.
With Duarte back, Kelan Martin moved to the bench and tallied seven points, one rebound, two assists and one 3-pointer in 19 minutes. He wasn’t worth rostering as a spot starter, and that’s the case for Martin as a reserve, as well.
Indiana’s starters struggled mightily, to the point where Rick Carlisle decided to bench them. None played more than 23 minutes, with Brogdon bring the lone double-digit scorer. The bench came through with some nice contributions, however, most notably Jeremy Lamb. Lamb scored a season-high 23 points while also tallying three rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and four 3-pointers in just 16 minutes. While this was a promising performance, Lamb is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues for a reason. Unless the Pacers lose one of their starting perimeter players due to injury, there’s no need to consider picking him up. The same can be said for Torrey Craig (14/7/1 with one 3-pointer), Brad Wanamaker (12/3/0/1 with one 3-pointer) and Goga Bitadze (11/4/0/2/1 with one 3-pointer).
Warriors 105, Pistons 102
Golden State was down multiple rotation players for this one, as Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter joined the aforementioned Curry on the bench. That meant even more scoring opportunities for Jordan Poole (32/3/0/2/1 with three 3-pointers) and Andrew Wiggins (27/5/1/2/1 with one 3-pointer, and both stepped up. Gary Payton II (12/3/0/2/1 with three 3-pointers) and Juan Toscano-Anderson (2/6/9/1/1) filled the resulting voids in the starting lineup, and both offered some value to managers who may have streamed them.
Of the two, Payton has a better shot at providing some deep-league value, as Toscano-Anderson was completely out of the rotation recently. That being said, are back home on Sunday and the rotation should once again be whole. So there’s no need to pick up either GPII or JTA. Nemanja Bjelica (14/8/2/1 with two 3-pointers) also provided some streaming value, but the four turnovers were a negative.
Detroit was already down one center, as Kelly Olynyk is sidelined due to a knee injury, and they lost their starter Friday night. Isaiah Stewart played just 16 minutes before leaving with a sprained right ankle, finishing with a line of two points and four rebounds. The Pistons host the Lakers on Sunday, so the status of their starting center is something to keep an eye on.
If Stewart can’t play, Trey Lyles (four points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes) and Luka Garza (three points, one assist and one 3-pointer in seven minutes) stand to see an increase in playing time. Lyles could be worth a look in extremely deep leagues, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if fantasy managers just left him alone.
Frank Jackson (27/2/0/3 with five 3-pointers) had a big night off the bench, and he’s scored 11 or more in four of his last five games. Not only was this his season-high, but it was also Jackson’s first 20-point game of the season. With Killian Hayes appearing to once again tweak a hand injury that’s been giving him trouble recently, Jackson could be in line for an increase in playing time. His 26 minutes are the most for Jackson since the season opener, when he played 29 in a loss to the Bulls.
Frank hasn’t done much to make himself a player worth tracking in fantasy leagues, but that could change if Hayes has to miss time. Cory Joseph (8/2/5/2) played 30 minutes, and was the point guard that Dwane Casey went with in the fourth quarter instead of Hayes. Joseph would be a better call than Jackson if Hayes needs to sit, as he’s a better fit with Cade Cunningham (19/6/6/3/2 with three 3-pointers in 36 minutes).
Nets 115, Magic 113
Brooklyn was down two starters, as Kevin Durant (right shoulder) joined Joe Harris (left ankle) on the sideline. And the Nets lost a third starter Friday night, as Bruce Brown (6/3/1/0/1) was limited to 17 minutes due to tightness in his left hamstring. Brooklyn is off until Monday, and with the team having just three games on the schedule for next week, Brown would be worth dropping if he has to miss any action. A Nets player to add, especially with the team’s injuries? Patty Mills, who posted a line of 22 points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and four 3-pointers.
He doesn’t offer a great deal in statistical categories other than points and 3-pointers, but Mills is well worth the risk with Harris sidelined. And he’s still rostered in just 30% of Yahoo leagues. James Harden (36/10/8/3/2 with three 3-pointers) was 19-of-20 from the foul line, which helped make up for his 7-of-25 effort from the field. The field goal percentage and six turnovers did fantasy managers no favors, but the overall line that Harden produced makes those deficiencies palatable. James Johnson had the most surprising line of the night, as he chipped in with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one block and one 3-pointer in 26 minutes off the bench. There’s no reason why any manager should entertain the possibility of picking him up, regardless of league format.
On the Orlando side, the Magic held a 19-point lead at one point but could not close out the game. The good news is that Jalen Suggs (right quad) produced his best game as a pro, scoring a career-high 21 points with four rebounds, three assists, two steals, one block and four 3-pointers in 32 minutes. After getting off to a slow start, Suggs may be turning the corner, as he’s accounted for totals of 34 points, five rebounds, seven assists, five steals, two blocks and seven 3-pointers in his last two games. And this is great timing, as more than a few fantasy managers had to consider dropping him. Now, managers may be looking to add Suggs, as the Magic have one more game this week (Saturday in Milwaukee) and four more next week.
Franz Wagner (17/2/5/1/1 with two 3-pointers) and Chuma Okeke (17/3/1/1 with two 3-pointers) both had solid games, while Mo Bamba (12/10/1/1/3) posted a full line outside of triples. Lastly, Wendell Carter (1/9/3/0/1) had a brutal night, missing all five of his field goal attempts. But he remains a top-100 player, so managers who have him rostered should not panic. And if you’re in a league with a manager who’s prone to making rash decisions, coming up with a trade offer would be a good idea.
Celtics 130, Lakers 108
LeBron James (abdominal strain) making his return to action after sitting out the eight games prior was the headline entering Friday’s matchup, but Jayson Tatum stole the show. Shooting 13-of-26 from the field and 7-of-7 from the foul line, Tatum posted a line of 37 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, three steals, one block and four 3-pointers in 34 minutes. Tatum has now scored 30 points or more in consecutive games for the second time this season, and he has posted a full stat line in each of his last three. While Tatum is still providing 4th-round value in 9-cat, that won’t be the case for much longer.
Boston was once again without Jaylen Brown (right hamstring) and Robert Williams (left knee), which kept Dennis Schroder (21/6/6 with one 3-pointers) and Grant Williams (5/3/2 with one 3-pointer) in the starting lineup. Williams scored 11 points or more in three straight games heading into Friday’s action, so there was some deep-league value to be had. Williams is rostered in just 7% of Yahoo leagues, and his fantasy value depends on the availability of the Time Lord.
As for Schroder, he’s still a top-100 player who’s rostered in 78% of Yahoo leagues. With the aforementioned Brown having gone through a workout before being ruled out, now would be a good time to see what you can get for Schroder via trade before it’s too late. And with Schroder not offering much in the way of defensive production, he’ll be a difficult play in most leagues once Brown is cleared to play.
Going back to the Lakers, it was known that LeBron’s return would impact the entire rotation. He looked sharp, shooting 10-of-16 from the field and finishing with 23 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and three 3-pointers in 32 minutes. Carmelo Anthony, who started with James sidelined, played 26 minutes off the bench and put up 13 points, four rebounds, one block and three 3-pointers. Nice night for Melo, but he shouldn’t be rostered in standard leagues now that James has returned.
The player who struggled the most was Talen Horton-Tucker (2/2/3 in 27 minutes), whose run of three straight games with at least 17 points came to a screeching halt. Rough game for THT, but not enough to make him a player who should be dropped. The chemistry should improve with more game time, and Horton-Tucker’s abilities as a defender and playmaker will keep him in the rotation. Anthony Davis (31/6/2/0/3) bounced back from a pedestrian effort in Wednesday’s loss to the Bucks, while Russell Westbrook (12/4/6/1 with one 3-pointer) committed just two turnovers on the night.
Averaging just over five turnovers per game on the season, Westbrook has five in his last two games combined. His usage takes a hit with LeBron back in action, and there is still a lot of work to be done from a chemistry standpoint.
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Bucks 96, Thunder 89
With Derrick Favors (rest) getting the night off, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Mike Muscala handled the responsibilities at the center position for the Thunder. Robinson-Earl played 28 minutes, accounting for seven points, two rebounds, two steals and one 3-pointer. Production-wise, he isn’t worth picking up in standard leagues right now. But that’s going to change eventually, as the Thunder go all-in on resting their more established veterans like they did last season. Muscala (14 points, nine rebounds, one block and four 3-pointers in 20 minutes) had a solid night, but his value is heavily impacted Favors’ availability. He can’t be rostered in most leagues, either.
Luguentz Dort (10/6/1/1 with two 3-pointers) saw his heater come to an end, but that was to be expected given how hot he was offensively. Rostered in 71% of Yahoo leagues, Dort is worth hanging onto for the time being. Hopefully Dort can step up and show that the last week wasn’t a fluke, even if he doesn’t put up high point totals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (17/6/3/1 with two 3-pointers) shot 5-of-20 from the field, and he is still ranked well outside of the top-50 in 9-cat. Being ranked 72nd isn’t terrible, but that is a bit disappointing for a player who had a Yahoo ADP of 31. This would be a good time to “buy low” on Gilgeous-Alexander, as he won’t lack for opportunities to right the ship.
Milwaukee’s rotation was unchanged, with Bobby Portis once again filling in for the injured Brook Lopez (back). Portis recorded a double-double, going for 17 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, two steals and three 3-pointers in 31 minutes. Rostered in 70% of Yahoo leagues, Portis is a top-100 player whose percentage should be higher than that. Especially with Lopez still not having a concrete timeline to return to action. Giannis Antetokounmpo (21/19/7/2/4) shot just 6-of-16 from the field, but that’s a line that most fantasy managers will take without hesitation.
Khris Middleton (16/8/3 with three 3-pointers) continues to work off the rust, but it will be interesting to see how the Bucks manage his workload for Saturday’s game against the Magic. Will they play him, or will they give him the night off. Either way, managers will want to keep an eye on the early injury report. Milwaukee plays four games next week with no back-to-backs, so that should help Middleton get back into a rhythm.
Pelicans 94, Clippers 81
New Orleans’ depth chart at the point guard position looked a bit different, as Devonte’ Graham was held out due to a sore left foot. As a result Tomas Satoransky (4/5/2 in 25 minutes) made a spot start, and he did not offer much in the way of production. Graham’s absence also meant rotation minutes for Kira Lewis Jr., and he took full advantage of the opportunity. In 23 minutes, he put up 16 points (7-of-12 FGs), four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two 3-pointers. Lewis isn’t a player to add right now, but the upcoming schedule makes him someone worth tracking.
The Pelicans visit the Pacers Saturday night, and they’ve got four games to play next week (including back-to-back games against the Jazz). At the very least, Lewis gave Willie Green something to think about with his performance Friday night.
Jonas Valanciunas (26/13/2/1 with five 3-pointers) continues to shine, while Josh Hart (19/10/4/2 with one 3-pointer) and Brandon Ingram (17/12/5 with three 3-pointers) both posted double-doubles. In the case of Ingram, he was also responsible for six turnovers (no other Pelican had more than one). The turnovers, when combined with his lack of defensive stats, are why Ingram still isn’t a top-100 player in 9-cat. Given his track record, and Yahoo ADP of 31, one would assume that Ingram will turn things around eventually. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to attempt to buy low, while Ingram isn’t playing to his full potential.
Nicolas Batum (12 points, three rebounds, one steal and two 3-pointers) was available despite dealing with some soreness in his Achilles earlier in the week. And that was one of the few bright spots for the Clippers, who lost despite leading 29-16 after the first quarter. Paul George (19/7/6/1 with three 3-pointers) shot 8-of-26 from the field, while Eric Bledsoe (7/5/3/2), Reggie Jackson (4/2/2) and Luke Kennard (6/3/2/1 with two 3-pointers) also had rough nights shooting the ball. Isaiah Hartenstein (11/6/2/2/3) continues to produce in the backup center role, and he’s worth picking up in deep leagues for as long as Serge Ibaka remains sidelined.
Bulls 114, Nuggets 108
Denver was without Nikola Jokic for this one, as he was held out due to a right wrist injury. Following the game, Michael Malone said that he did not know of a timeline for return, so that’s a bit concerning. Denver has one more game this week (Sunday in Phoenix) and just two next week, so we’ll see how this impacts the way in which the Nuggets manage their star center. With Jokic out, Jeff Green started and accounted for nine points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one 3-pointer in 27 minutes. He and JaMychal Green (2/2/1/1/1 in 11 minutes) won’t lack for opportunities to shine for as long as Jokic sits, but I’m not sold on either as a streaming option.
The player to watch here is Aaron Gordon, as Jokic’s absence means that he’ll have more opportunities to serve as a facilitator. Gordon was very good on Friday, scoring 28 points (10-of-12 FGs, 7-of-9 FTs), with nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one 3-pointer in 37 minutes. Providing 10th-round value in 9-cat formats, Gordon is rostered in 73% of Yahoo leagues. Look for that percentage to increase, even with Denver being light on games over the next week or so. Will Barton (23/4/3/0/1 with three 3-pointers) and Facundo Campazzo (16/2/4/2 with four 3-pointers) were also productive, while P.J. Dozier (9/10/2/0/1 with one 3-pointer) finished one point shy of a double-double.
Chicago received some good news before the game, as Alex Caruso (left wrist) and Javonte Green were cleared to play. Caruso (4/4/2/1/1) struggled with his shot, but he still managed to make some impressive plays on the defensive end of the floor. Green (5/9/1/1/1) also posted a full line, while fellow reserves Derrick Jones Jr. (16 points, eight rebounds) and Ayo Dosunmu (10/8/0/1 with two 3-pointers) played well. Neither Jones Jr. nor Dosunmu is a great option in most fantasy leagues, but the former has the edge when comparing them, due to the absence of Nikola Vucevic.
Zach LaVine (36/5/4/1 with four 3-pointers) and DeMar DeRozan (26/6/4/2) did most of the heavy lifting for the Bulls, and both are top-25 players in 9-cat. That’s a surprise as far as DeRozan is concerned, as he had a Yahoo ADP of 55. He shot 7-of-21 from the field Friday night, but is making nearly 49% of his shots on the season. So long as DeRozan can keep the field goal percentage in the high-40s, he should have little trouble outperforming his ADP.
Suns 112, Mavericks 104
Phoenix extended its win streak to 11, with Mikal Bridges (19/4/3/1/1 with three 3-pointers) having one of his best games of the season. He didn’t miss a shot, going 7-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line, a welcome development given the fact that he was a combined 6-of-19 in the two games prior. This appeared to have the makings of a huge night for Bridges, who made all six of his field goal attempts in the first half. But he only attempted one shot after halftime, with Chris Paul (18/5/14/3 with two 3-pointers) and Devin Booker (19/1/1/0/1 with three 3-pointers) taking over.
Bridges isn’t a player that the Suns run a lot of actions for offensively, which limits his fantasy ceiling. But his consistency makes him a solid middle-round player; when you select him in drafts, you pretty much know what you’re going to get.
Deandre Ayton (8/17/2/1/1) didn’t offer much scoring-wise, but you’ll take the rebounds and full stat line, while JaVale McGee (14/6/2/1) shot 7-of-10 from the field and gave the Suns good minutes off the bench. Phoenix remains without Frank Kaminsky (right knee), but the return of Ayton meant that he was no longer going to be a viable fantasy option when healthy.
Dallas was once again without Luka Doncic, who missed his second straight game because of left ankle and knee sprains. Jason Kidd said that he hopes to have Doncic back for Sunday’s game against the Clippers, and a return would change everything as far as the Mavericks’ fantasy prospects are concerned. Jalen Brunson (18/4/10/1 with one 3-pointer) would be impacted the most, but his run of nine consecutive games in double figures began while Luka was healthy. Rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues, Brunson is a player that managers who have him will want to hold onto, as that percentage will increase based upon his production.
Kristaps Porzingis (23/12/2/2/1 with three 3-pointers) has scored 21 or more in five straight and six of his last seven games, and is providing top-15 value in 9-cat. This is a welcome development for managers who selected him, but there’s always the concern that an injury could ruin things. So long as Porzingis can avoid the injury bug, he’ll be an incredibly valuable big in both 8- and 9-cat formats. Tim Hardaway Jr. (18/4/1/1 with two 3-pointers) remains streaky, as he went 7-of-21 from the field. While he has provided 10th-round value for the season, the concern is that THJ will take a hit once Doncic returns, due to the lack of consistent production in categories outside of points and 3-pointers. So keep a close eye on his numbers once Doncic is back in the lineup.
Raptors 108, Kings 89
Toronto welcomed back Precious Achiuwa (6/5/2 in 25 minutes), who was back in action after missing time due to tendinitis in his right shoulder. However, he did not go back into the starting lineup, as Nick Nurse chose to stick with Khem Birch. And it proved to be a good decision, as Birch tallied 10 points, nine rebounds, one assist, four steals and two blocks in just 23 minutes of action. The question is whether or not Birch can continue to be productive in the rebounding and defensive stats, especially in somewhat limited minutes. Managers who have him should hold onto Birch, who’s rostered in 26% of Yahoo leagues. Friday’s line is likely to increase that percentage, but Achiuwa’s return and its impact is something to be mindful of.
Pascal Siakam (32/8/1/0/2 with three 3-pointers) was nearly unstoppable, shooting 10-of-12 from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line. Providing 5th-round value on the season, Siakam may wind up being a relative steal given how the offseason shoulder surgery impacted his ADP (69 in Yahoo). Gary Trent Jr. (23/4/1/0/1 with five 3-pointers) continues to excel starting alongside Fred VanVleet (13/3/6/2 with two 3-pointers and seven turnovers), and those who have him rostered should reap the rewards.
With Trent providing 2nd-round value there may be the temptation to sell high, but I’m not sure he’ll drop off. Hold onto him, unless you receive an offer that you can’t refuse. Lastly, fantasy favorite Chris Boucher (10/12/1/1/2 with one 3-pointer) had a good night, but the inconsistency (four points total in his two games prior) makes him a difficult player to trust.
Flipping over the Kings, Chimezie Metu (10/9/0/1/1 with two 3-pointers) made another start while Marvin Bagley (4/6/1 in 17 minutes) remains in the rotation. They’ve both helped in the rebounding department, which was the desired effect when Luke Walton shook up his rotation. Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues, Metu has become a popular deep-league option over the last week or so. But how long will that last, especially with the Kings having lost six of their last seven games? If you have Metu, might as well hold onto him for the time being. Bagley still is not worth rostering, regardless of league format.
Richaun Holmes (6/3/1 in 22 minutes) had a tough night, and given the schedule this is a bit of a concern. Sacramento’s next two games are against the Jazz and 76ers, which set up to be difficult matchups at the center position. That being said, Holmes remains a top-50 player, so just ride out the storm in hopes that he’ll bounce back from Friday’s pedestrian effort. Harrison Barnes, who got off to a red-hot start, appears to have come back to earth, as he’s scored 20 points or more in just one of his last five. He had 13 on Friday, while also tallying one rebound, three assists and one steal. Toronto isn’t the best matchup at the forward spots due to the team’s length and athleticism, so hopefully Barnes can bounce back against the Jazz.