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Friday’s slate was loaded, with ten games being played. Gregg Popovich and LeBron James both made history, but there was also some important injury news out of Portland. Anfernee Simons, one of the waiver wire pickups of the year, is dealing with a mild case of patellar tendinopathy in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, according to the team. That effectively rules him out for the fantasy playoffs in most leagues, which opens the door for Brandon Williams. Williams hasn’t shot the ball particularly well since entering the rotation but he stands to play plenty with Simons sidelined.
And now, on to Friday’s action.
Magic 118, Timberwolves 110
Minnesota’s starting lineup was back intact for this one, as Jarred Vanderbilt (quad) was cleared to play. Unfortunately, he didn’t offer much to fantasy managers, playing 20 minutes and finishing with two points, six rebounds, and one steal. Jaden McDaniels, who moved back to the bench due to Vanderbilt’s return, played 32 minutes and tallied 12 points, three rebounds, one assist, and three blocks. Both players are rostered in 44% of Yahoo leagues, but McDaniels has been a top-100 player over the last two weeks. With the Timberwolves scheduled to visit Miami Saturday night, managers in need of blocks and 3-pointers will want to consider picking up McDaniels.
Taurean Prince (back) was available but played just 17 minutes scoring four points on 2-of-7 shooting. His fantasy value isn’t particularly high when healthy, especially on nights when Minnesota’s rotation is relatively full. Anthony Edwards (knee) shot 9-of-19 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line, putting up 25 points, three rebounds, five assists, one steal, and four 3-pointers in 34 minutes. If he’s ruled out for Saturday, Malik Beasley (8/4/2/2 with two 3-pointers in 32 minutes) is definitely worth a look. Also of note was the ear contusion suffered by Patrick Beverley, who played just four minutes before exiting. His availability will impact Beasley and Jaylen Nowell, who logged 13 minutes and finished with 12 points (5-of-5 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, and two 3-pointers. He’s a deep-league streamer, at best, if Beverley sits Saturday night.
Orlando entered this game without any injury concerns, so the focus instead shifts to the stellar performances put forth by the team’s starting big men. Mo Bamba (27/12/0/0/2 with five 3-pointers) and Wendell Carter Jr. (20/10/5 with two 3-pointers) both tallied double-doubles, shooting a combined 17-of-30 from the field. Bamba has been a 3rd-round player in 9-cat over the last two weeks, according to Basketball Monster. With a Yahoo rostered percentage of 79%, there’s a very small chance that he’s sitting on the waiver wire of some shallow leagues.
Moritz Wagner (18/6/1 with two 3-pointers) had a good night off the bench, doing his damage in just 13 minutes of action, but there’s no need to even consider streaming him with Carter and Bamba being healthy. Markelle Fultz (14/3/7/1 with one 3-pointer) looked good in his 18 minutes and should take on a similar workload Sunday when the Magic host the 76ers.
Celtics 114, Pistons 103
Grant Williams (illness) was originally listed as questionable, but he was ultimately cleared and finished with seven points, three rebounds, and two assists in 18 minutes. While capable of providing deep-league value on occasion, Williams is a tough play when Robert Williams (12/9/3/1/1) and Al Horford (6/7/1) are healthy. Jayson Tatum (31/8/6/1 with two 3-pointers) has now scored 31 or more in each of his last five games, a big reason why he’s been a top-5 player over the last two weeks. Jaylen Brown (22/8/4/1 with one 3-pointer) and Marcus Smart (20/3/5/5 with two 3-pointers) were also productive, while Derrick White (11/4/1/1/1 with one 3-pointer) recorded a full stat line in 24 minutes off the bench.
While Cleveland’s Evan Mobley remains the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year honors in the eyes of many, Cade Cunningham may be giving voters something to think about. He posted a line of 27 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three 3-pointers in 41 minutes in this one, continuing his run of very good play. Over the last two weeks, Cunningham is averaging 22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 1.7 3-pointers per game, while shooting 47.4% from the field and 78.3% from the foul line. With Killian Hayes (adductor) sidelined, there’s little reason for the Pistons to have anyone other than Cunningham operate as the primary playmaker.
And Cunningham made some franchise history on Friday. He’s scored 20 points or more in six straight games, the longest such run for a Pistons rookie. Grant Hill, Kelly Tripucka, and Dave Bing all had streaks of five straight 20-point games. This was also his 10th game with at least 25 points this season, which leads all rookies. And Cunningham is just the second player in franchise history to have at least 10 25-point games in a season when age 20 years or younger, joining Isiah Thomas.
Marvin Bagley (20/11/1/2) rebounded from a pedestrian effort in his first start for the injured Isaiah Stewart earlier this week, possibly getting himself back into the good graces of fantasy managers who rolled the dice on him. Kelly Olynyk (6/1/2/1) only played 13 minutes, with Bagley’s play being the biggest reason why.
Hawks 112, Clippers 106
It feels like we got the full Marcus Morris experience over the course of the Clippers’ last two games. After going off in a win over the Wizards he struggled with his shot in Atlanta, going 4-of-12 from the field. And to top things off, Morris (13/3/1/1/1 with one 3-pointer in 24 minutes) was hit with two technical fouls and ejected for insulting an official. His early exit freed up a few more minutes for Luke Kennard (14/4/4/1 with three 3-pointers), who played 31 off the bench. Ivica Zubac (24/12/4/1/2) had one of his best games of the season, shooting 10-of-13 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in 36 minutes. That’s the most that he’s played in a game since January 19, when he logged 37 in an overtime loss to the Nuggets.
Backup center Isaiah Hartenstein (2/5/1) picked up three quick fouls, playing just 12 minutes as a result. He’s come up recently as a possible streaming option, and Friday’s dud does not help his case. The good news is that Sunday’s matchup with the Pistons should be a good one for Hartenstein; hopefully, he’ll bounce back.
The big question as far as the Hawks are concerned is what to do with John Collins. He had another bad night, playing 23 minutes and finishing with nine points, three rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot. He hasn’t looked like his usual self since returning from injury, and the downturn in production comes at a horrible time for those who have Collins rostered. Hopefully, Sunday’s matchup with the Pacers can give Collins a much-needed jolt. His struggles mean that Danilo Gallinari (13/6/3 with three 3-pointers in 30 minutes) should remain on the radar in most leagues.
Trae Young (27/5/11/1 with one 3-pointer) and Clint Capela (14/11/2/1/2) recorded double-doubles for the winners, while Kevin Huerter (16/8/2/1 with four 3-pointers) has scored 16 points or more in three of his last four games. The rebounding was a nice bonus, with the eight boards being the most that he’s had in a game since January 17 vs. Milwaukee. Rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues, Huerter has been a top-100 player over the last two weeks. Playing time is the concern here, as this was his first game with at least 35 minutes played since February 24. De’Andre Hunter (12/2/1) getting into foul trouble gave Huerter a welcome boost, so Red Velvet is likely a deep-league option only at this stage.
Hornets 142, Pelicans 120
New Orleans was without Brandon Ingram (hamstring) and C.J. McCollum (protocols), which meant that the rotation was in for some major changes. Devonte’ Graham (19/4/7/3 with four 3-pointers) and Naji Marshall (14/4/7/3 with two 3-pointers) recorded decent lines as spot starters, but the true breakout came courtesy of rookie Trey Murphy. In just 28 minutes he shot 12-of-20 from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line, establishing career-highs in points (32), rebounds (nine), and 3-pointers (seven) while also dishing out two assists. New Orleans may have been blown out at home, but Murphy’s performance stands as a silver lining in that cloud. He’s rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues, and Sunday’s game against the Rockets stands as a good opportunity for Murphy to build on this performance.
The aforementioned Graham is a must-add if he’s still available in your league, while Marshall can be streamed until Ingram and/or McCollum returns. Jonas Valanciunas’ output (10/8/1/1) was a bit of a letdown, and he only played 25 minutes. Willy Hernangomez (15/6/1/1/1) and Jaxson Hayes (13/5/2/0/1 with one 3-pointer) put up decent lines, with the former shooting 6-of-6 from the field. While Hayes being a starter gives him some value, Hernangomez has been the better option recently as far as fantasy value is concerned, even with his playing time being a bit unpredictable.
Charlotte took full advantage of New Orleans’ injury-related absences, shooting nearly 60% from the field and hitting 22 3-pointers. Miles Bridges (26/8/9/1 with four 3-pointers) and Terry Rozier (25/3/8/2 with seven 3-pointers) stood out, but this was a balanced performance with seven double-digit scorers. Cody Martin (15/5/4/1 with one 3-pointer) logged 28 minutes off the bench, and he’s averaging 26.4 minutes per over his last five games. P.J. Washington (6/1/5 with two 3-pointers) dealing with some foul trouble may have opened the door for Martin, and he isn’t worth picking up for that reason. LaMelo Ball (17/6/9/3 with two 3-pointers) had just one turnover, a nice development after he racked up a total of 14 in the three games prior.
Grizzlies 118, Knicks 114
New York blew another late lead, as the team was outscored 19-18 by Ja Morant (37/4/8/2/1 with one 3-pointer) over the last 13 minutes. While starting “point guard” Alec Burks (18/6/5/1 with two 3-pointers) had a solid night individually, New York’s issues at that position are a big reason why this team has struggled to maintain leads. In addition to Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. (13/4/1/0/5 with two 3-pointers) had a huge night defensively, as did reserves Brandon Clarke (10/8/0/2/4) and Kyle Anderson (6/9/3/1/2). The only negative for Memphis was Steven Adams (6/9/0/1/1) tweaking his ankle and only playing 25 minutes.
Also of note was the pregame news that Dillon Brooks (ankle) will make his return at some point during Memphis’ upcoming four-game road trip, which begins Sunday in Oklahoma City. Rookie Ziaire Williams (13/3/1 with three 3-pointers) has come through on occasion as Brooks’ replacement in the starting lineup, but he’s ranked outside of the top-250 in 9-cat over the last two weeks. No surprise that he’s only rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues. As for Brooks’ potential impact on fantasy playoff rosters, the question is how long will Memphis take with his “ramp-up” process. The Grizzlies are locked in a race with Golden State for the 2-seed in the West, so there’s clearly something to play for. But one would imagine that the priority is to make sure that Brooks is at full strength for the postseason, regardless of the Grizzlies’ seed.
With Cam Reddish (shoulder) ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and Obi Toppin (hamstring) once again ruled out, New York went with an eight-man rotation. Julius Randle (36/12/6/2/2 with two 3-pointers) and RJ Barrett (23/7/2/1 with one 3-pointer) led the way, but fantasy managers took a hit in the field goal percentage category. Randle shot 11-of-27 on the night, while Barrett was just 9-of-25. Immanuel Quickley (11/4/2/1 with one 3-pointer) played 31 minutes off the bench, his third straight game logging at least 30.
Rostered in 46% of Yahoo leagues he’s been a top-50 player over the last week, and the injuries may mean that Quickley stays in that 30-minute range for the foreseeable future. He and Burks (46% rostered) are both worth picking up in standard leagues, even with the Knicks only playing three games next week.
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Mavericks 113, Rockets 100
There was a moment on social media ahead of Friday’s game when it was announced that Christian Wood (illness) would be starting, but that proved to be incorrect. Both he and Jae’Sean Tate (ankle) were held out, which meant that KJ Martin Jr. (11 points, six rebounds) and Alperen Sengun (6/6/1/1) remained in the starting lineup. Neither offered much in the way of production, which was a disappointment for fantasy managers and DFS players alike, but keep the faith. As it has been said in the past, there really isn’t much reason for the Rockets to not give their younger players all the minutes that they can handle.
The players who did come through were Josh Christopher (17/3/2/1 with one 3-pointer) and Bruno Fernando (16 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks), with the latter shooting 8-of-8 from the field and recording his first NBA double-double. The combination of Wood being out and Sengun getting into foul trouble opened the door for Fernando, and to his credit, he took advantage of the opportunity. He didn’t play at all in Wednesday’s win over the Lakers, and that was also a game that Wood missed, so Fernando should be left on the waiver wire. Dennis Schroder (ankle) played 24 minutes off the bench but was largely ineffective, finishing with three points, three rebounds, seven assists, and one steal in 24 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Rockets, Fernando wasn’t the only player to take advantage of their issues in the post. Dwight Powell went for 22 & 10 in the first half, finishing the night with a line of 26 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 32 minutes. That production was much-needed, as Dallas was without Jalen Brunson (thigh) and Dorian Finney-Smith (arm). Spencer Dinwiddie (16/3/7/2/1 with one 3-pointer) and Josh Green (10/6/1/4/2 with one 3-pointer) filled the resulting voids in the starting lineup, and the latter is worth streaming until DFS returns.
The Mavericks begin a four-game road trip on Sunday in Boston, so that won’t be the easiest spot for Green. And Luka Doncic (30/14/6/0/2 with five 3-pointer) did not pick up a technical foul, so he remains at 14 on the season. Two more, and he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension.
Heat 117, Cavaliers 105
Jimmy Butler (sinus) was back after a one-game absence and he played well, accumulating 24 points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block in 34 minutes. This was the first game of a back-to-back for Miami, so we’ll see if he plays in Saturday’s game against the Timberwolves. Butler’s return essentially dropped Gabe Vincent out of the rotation completely, as he played just one minute. Victor Oladipo (5/2/2/0/1) played 18 minutes, and he will not be available for Saturday’s game. Caleb Martin (knee) was once again ruled out after initially being listed as questionable, so it’s fair to wonder if he’ll give it a go Saturday night. He wouldn’t be worth rostering, but that is something to keep an eye out for.
Bam Adebayo (30/17/1/3/1) was outstanding in the middle, while Kyle Lowry (3/4/10/0/1 with one 3-pointer) didn’t offer much scoring but did hit double figures in assists. If you need assists he’s still your guy, but managers in search of some scoring at the point guard position may need to look elsewhere at this point. Tyler Herro (22/1/2/1 with two 3-pointers) and Max Strus (17/2/3/1/1 with five 3-pointers) shot a combined 14-of-28 from the field, and they’re also players to keep an eye on for Saturday’s action if you play DFS.
Dean Wade (5/1/0/1) was once again in the starting lineup for the Cavaliers, filling the void left by Jarrett Allen (finger). Nights like this are why Wade can’t be viewed as a dependable streamer, and it didn’t help matters that Cedi Osman (8/3/2 with two 3-pointers in 16 minutes) was also quiet. Kevin Love (11/8/2/1 with one 3-pointer) was decent, but he’s already rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues. If you can get Love, then he’s the player to play with Allen sidelined. Otherwise, there isn’t much to like here. Darius Garland (24/2/10/1) finished with a double-double, but this was not a great night for him due to the combination of poor shooting (4-of-17 FGs) and a high turnover count (seven). Evan Mobley (19/12/4/1/1) had another good night, and his value skyrockets with Allen sidelined.
Spurs 104, Jazz 102
History was made in San Antonio, even if the man of the night did not seem too thrilled with celebrating the occasion. Gregg Popovich became the NBA’s all-time leader in regular-season wins (1,336), passing Don Nelson. From a fantasy standpoint, it’s important to note that this was the first game of a back-to-back for San Antonio. So don’t be surprised if the Spurs’ injury report ahead of Saturday’s game against the Pacers is chock full of names. Dejounte Murray (27/9/4/5 with one 3-pointer) led the way for the winners, while Jakob Poeltl (15/11/1/0/2) and Keldon Johnson (13/10/1 with one 3-pointer) both recorded double-doubles.
Zach Collins (15/5/3/0/1 with two 3-pointers) played 19 minutes off the bench and played well, but we’ll see if he plays on Saturday. While Collins has played in both ends of a back-to-back this season, he was on a minutes limit for the second game. That could once again be the case, even if Poeltl is held out. Doug McDermott (illness), Joshua Primo (illness), and Keita Bates-Diop (back) were among the Spurs sidelined, with McDermott’s absence meaning a start for Josh Richardson (11/4/3/1/1). Richardson played 34 minutes and proved to be a better streaming option than either Lonnie Walker (11/2/2/1/1 with one 3-pointer) or Devin Vassell (8/7/1/0/1 with one 3-pointer).
Utah was without Bojan Bogdanovic (leg), and he was replaced in the starting lineup by Danuel House. House played 29 minutes, finishing with nine points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers. You’ll certainly take the “stocks,” as this is an area in which the man House was replacing doesn’t offer much value, but the overall line wasn’t anything to write home about. Donovan Mitchell (24/7/6 with four 3-pointers) was solid, but Mike Conley (8/5/5/5 with one 3-pointer) had a rough night shooting the basketball, as he was 2-of-14 from the field. Conley has struggled recently, and that combined with Utah hosting Sacramento on Saturday may give some managers an excuse to cut bait.
Raptors 117, Suns 112
Toronto picked up a huge win on the road, and they’ve got Gary Trent Jr. to thank for it. Shooting 13-of-21 from the field and 8-of-8 from the line, he scored a career-high 42 points to go along with eight rebounds, one assist, and eight 3-pointers. While GTJ has been a 6th-round player in 9-cat over the last two weeks, he’s done this while shooting a rough 34.4% from the field. It was nice to see him turn things around, even if this performance is not a sustainable one. Pascal Siakam (25/7/10/1 with two 3-pointers) made up for a 10-of-24 night from the field by producing in the rebound and assist categories, while Scottie Barnes (15/6/1/5/2 with one 3-pointer) was productive across the board.
And things remain the same at the center position for Toronto. Khem Birch (4/6/1 in 26 minutes) is the starter, but Precious Achiuwa (11/7/0/1 with one 3-pointer in 16 minutes) remains the most productive of Nick Nurse’s available options. Chris Boucher (4/3/0/1/1 in 12 minutes) is still getting rotation minutes, but he should not be rostered in 66% of Yahoo leagues. Toronto is in Denver Saturday night, so we’ll see if the Raptors decide to hold anyone out.
Phoenix was once again without Cameron Johnson (quad), who remains without a timeline for a return to game action. While this hasn’t changed much within the Suns’ bench unit, Johnson’s absence has led to Mikal Bridges (18/7/1/0/1 with two 3-pointers) taking on a heavier workload. He played 38 minutes on Friday, his average over the last four games. For the season Bridges is playing 35.0 minutes per game. Cameron Payne (24/7/4/2 with three 3-pointers) remains a valuable fantasy option with Chris Paul (thumb) sidelined, and his rostered percentage (66%) is too low.
Landry Shamet (2/0/2/1) played 21 minutes off the bench, and if you didn’t drop him once Devin Booker (22/3/7/1/1 with three 3-pointers) returned, now is the time to make that happen.
Lakers 122, Wizards 109
LeBron James (knee) was listed as questionable but, to the surprise of no one, he was ultimately cleared to play. And he put on a show for the home crowd, racking up 50 points (18-of-25 FGs, 8-of-8 FTs), seven rebounds, six assists, one block, and six 3-pointers in 36 minutes. He’s scored 50 or more in consecutive home games, and he becomes the oldest player in league history to have multiple 50-point games in the same season (Bernard King was 34 when he did it during the 1990-91 campaign). Also, James is the first Laker to score 50 or more in consecutive home games since the late Kobe Bryant in April 2007, and he moved into sixth on the NBA’s career defensive rebounds list (passing Dikembe Mutombo). What more can anyone say at this point?
Malik Monk (shoulder) and Talen Horton-Tucker (ankle) also played after being listed on the pregame injury report, and both played well. Monk, who should be rostered in most leagues due to his presence in the starting lineup, finished with 21 points, three rebounds, four assists, and five 3-pointers in 30 minutes. Horton-Tucker (15/5/3/2) played 30 minutes off the bench, but he has been far too inconsistent to be trusted in most leagues. Austin Reaves (12/5/3/0/1) missed all four of his 3-point attempts, but still managed to record a respectable line. So long as he continues to start and play 30-plus minutes per night, the rookie is worth rostering (5% Yahoo).
Washington’s lone road game against the Lakers was also the first game back for Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who were the subject of a video tribute. While Kuzma (23/7/3 with two 3-pointers) was solid, Caldwell-Pope (4/1/1/1) had a tough night. This is why he’s still rostered in just 57% of Yahoo leagues, despite being a 6th-round player over the last two weeks. Corey Kispert (21 points, two rebounds, and five 3-pointers) is capable of providing 3-pointers in deeper leagues, but that represents his ceiling at this point.
It was good to see Kristaps Porzingis step up after grabbing just one rebound in the loss to the Clippers, finishing with 14 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one blocked shot. Of course, we can’t have it all, as the big fella shot 3-of-13 from the field. Rui Hachimura (15/6/1/1 with two 3-pointers) has been close to a top-100 player over the last two weeks and is rostered in just 13% of Yahoo leagues. If he’s available for Saturday’s game in Portland, Hachimura would be worth a roll of the dice. The same can be said for Daniel Gafford (5/7/1/1/3), especially if the Wizards decide to rest Porzingis.
