In a night of NBA records, we had Kobe Bryant set the dubious honor of missing the most field goals in NBA history, while on a more positive note, Dirk Nowitzki eclipsed Hakeem Olajuwon as the highest scoring foreign-born player. We also had the league wipe away LeBron James' triple-double from Monday, throwing fantasy box scores in some degree of chaos, particularly where triple-doubles are counted as categories or bonuses in points leagues.
ADD ME! ADD ME!
I have an unabashed love of the Orlando Magic's Evan Fournier, but the fact that I'm recommending him as an add has nothing to do with that. Acquired from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Arron Afflalo a few days before the draft, the Magic obviously value Fournier more than others may have thought. He's started at the two-guard slot all season and even though that has been without Victor Oladipo, his numbers have been impressive. Against the Raptors, Fournier scored 24 points (9-18 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 2-4 FT), two rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 39 minutes, and for the time being, is a nice add in leagues even as shallow as 10 teams. When Oladipo returns, things will change, but it wouldn't be a complete shock to see Fournier and Oladipo as the starting backcourt, with Elfrid Payton coming off the bench, given Payton played just 19 minutes against the Raptors with Oladipo out. Fournier is currently owned in just 42 percent of ESPN leagues and 27 percent of Yahoo leagues.
DROP HIM LIKE HE'S HOT
This is not a recommendation for every league, and as always, individual results may vary, but I'm not really enamored by what I'm seeing from Elfrid Payton. If your are in a standard rotisserie league of up to 14 teams, I wouldn't be rostering the rookie, and even in a head-to-head league, where his deficiencies aren't as hurtful, I wouldn't want him in a 10 team league and I'd be looking to move on in a 12 teamer as well. I mentioned above he played just 19 minutes against the Raptors, scoring two points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt) with one rebound and three assists. That's now four points total in the last two games, taking a grand total of just seven shots in that time frame. It's like he is afraid to shoot at the moment, and in a shallow, standard type of league, I think you can do a lot better than what Payton is currently giving you.
M.I.A.
These guys all sat out Tuesday's action, for one reason or another.
- Magic
- Kyle O'Quinn (ankle)
- Victor Oladipo (face)
- Thunder
- Andre Roberson (foot)
- Perry Jones (knee)
- Kevin Durant (foot)
- Russell Westbrook (hand)
- Bucks
- Kendall Marshall (DNP-CD)
- Khris Middleton (knee)
- Lakers
- Wayne Ellington (personal)
- Nick Young (thumb)
- Kings
- Darren Collison (shoulder)
- Mavericks
- Richard Jefferson (DNP-CD)
- Raymond Felton (suspension)
- Hornets
- Gerald Henderson (DNP-CD)
- Trail Blazers
- Nicolas Batum (knee)
- Spurs
- Tiago Splitter (calf)
- Marco Belinelli (groin)
- Warriors
- David Lee (hamstring)
CASUALTY WARD
Jameer Nelson left Tuesday's game with an issue with his right hamstring and did not return, although both he and owner Mark Cuban have said post-game that they don't expect him to miss any time. If he did in fact have to sit, Devin Harris would start with J.J. Barea playing the backup role, as Raymond Felton is currently serving his suspension for his firearms offense last season.
FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT
It's amazing what a couple of weeks can do. After a sluggish start, fantasy owners were beginning to panic that they'd wasted a high pick on Damian Lillard and were looking to trade him. This line of the night honor furthers solidifies why you should never panic early in your fantasy season. Lillard was sublime, dropping 29 points (12-21 FG, 5-8 3Pt) with four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 39 minutes as he helped bring the Blazers back from a 23-point deficit. Over his last four games, Lillard has been superb, averaging 20.8 points, 3.0 three-pointers, 5.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.3 steals, while shooting 54 percent from the field and 90 percent from the line. Sure, he had six turnovers, but turnovers are not a great fantasy stat, so in my estimation, Lillard was the best fantasy player of Tuesday's games.
ROOKIE OF THE NIGHT
Another underwhelming night for rookies, with the best performance coming from Hornets' rookie, P.J. Hairston. Hairston scored eight points (2-4 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT) with an assist and a steal, hardly an inspiring performance. Hairston can be left unrostered in all but the deepest leagues or in dynasty formats.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH
Marc Gasol gave us his best Nicolas Batum impression, going close to a triple double, without even registering a single-double (I'm trying to make this term stick!). The Spaniard had eight points (3-10 FG, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, and nine assists in 32 minutes. I don't have to tell you that nine assists from a center is elite, out of position production.
Rudy Gay got closer to triple-double in a more traditional way, scoring 26 points (7-14 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 11-13 FT) with eight rebounds, and eight assists. Gay has so far exceeded all of his owners' wildest expectations, finding himself in the top 20 of fantasy rankings.
BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES
Tobias Harris showed us yet again that his poor showing last season was an outlier, posting 23 points (8-16 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 5-5 FT) and grabbing 13 rebounds, adding five assists in the process. He's definitely a guy who is outplaying their average draft position, but it doesn't feel like a fluke. Just be glad you own him.
Channing Frye got hot, scoring 11 of the first 13 points of the game for the Magic, and finished with 19 points (7-15 FG, 5-8 3Pt), grabbing six boards. I've heard numerous questions about Frye recently, and in my opinion, he should be owned in all leagues.
Luke Ridnour played 29 minutes with Payton struggling, and added six points and six assists. He's a deep league guy only, whose value is set to evaporate when Oladipo returns.
James Johnson did what he does best, and that is, put up numbers in limited minutes. The do-it-all forward, scored six points (2-4 FG, 2-2 FT) with 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 22 minutes and is averaging a steal and a block in his last four games, in just 20 minutes. If something were to happen to Terrence Ross, who was on fire again Tuesday, Johnson would become someone you would want to own in most leagues. For now, he's a nice guy to own in 14 team leagues.
Amir Johnson started the game, but played just 22 minutes, still resting his sore ankle. He scored 12 points, but had just two rebounds and no blocks, but I'd still be holding onto him for now.
Reggie Jackson led the Thunder again with 29 points (12-21 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, four assists, and two steals and is an elite fantasy talent given the Thunder's current situation. In a keeper or dynasty league, what happens with Jackson this offseason is going to be very interesting.
Anthony Morrow made his season debut, playing 14 minutes off the bench, scoring 10 points including one three-pointer. His fantasy value lives and dies with the trey and is only worth a look in most leagues if you are desperate for the deep ball.
Jason Kidd continues to mess with fantasy owners, allowing Zaza Pachulia to put up the best fantasy line for the Bucks. Pachulia got "nothing easy" against Steven Adams and Kendrick Perkins, but posted a great line of eight points (3-7 FG, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in 22 minutes. Of course that meant Larry Sanders and John Henson combined for just 27 minutes between them, because, you know, Jason Kidd.
Jabari Parker was benched down the stretch, playing just 21 minutes for six points, four rebounds and three assists. The rookie is struggling at the moment and his current play doesn't warrant ownership in 12 team leagues, but I'd advise holding on. In fact, he may be worth a very low trade offer, because he will get better.
Aside from Kobe Bryant setting that dubious record, he had his best fantasy game for the season, scoring 28 points (10-26 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 5-6 FT) with seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals. The fact the Lakers took 22 three-point shots must have upset Byron Scott more than the fact they lost.
Jordan Hill continued his great start to the season with 13 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. If he can stay healthy (which has been impossible so far in his career), Hill could be one of the fantasy stars of the season.
Beno Udrih scored 16 points in 18 minutes and it's unlikely he'll ever be this efficient again. Deep leagues only for Udrih.
Ben McLemore is starting to heat up for the KIngs, hitting another four three-pointers for 17 points in 39 minutes. He's clearly got the job over rookie Nik Stauskas, with Stauskas playing just nine minutes Tuesday. Over his past four games, McLemore has averaged 14.5 points , 2.8 three-pointers, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 33 minutes and with production like that, is worthy of an add in any league if you need the sort of numbers that he provides you.
With Darren Collison sitting out, Ramon Sessions got the start and provided nice numbers for a one-off start. He scored 18 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 4-5 FT) with three rebounds, but the zero assists is definitely not what you want out of a point guard. Rudy Gay took on a lot of the ball-handling duties in Collison's absence.
Even before Jameer Nelson got hurt, Devin Harris was outplaying him, scoring 12 points (4-7 FG, 4-4 FT) with two rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 33 minutes. I'd grab Harris just in case Nelson misses, although that looks unlikely at this stage. Harris is still performing even in a backup role.
Yet again, Lance Stephenson led the Hornets in rebounds, pulling down 14, all on the defensive end, to go with 14 points. He's definitely impacting the rebound numbers of Al Jefferson, much like he did with Roy Hibbert last season, with Jefferson averaging just 6.8 per game.
Cody Zeller yet again outplayed Marvin Williams, with the latter going scoreless in 21 minutes. Zeller posted a solid line of seven points, eight rebounds, and one block in 27 minutes and should be a guy to keep a close eye on in 12 or 14 team leagues.
Chris Kaman looked good for the Blazers, outplaying Robin Lopez in just 18 minutes, scoring 12 points (6-10 FG) with eight rebounds and two blocks. There is definitely a lot of intrigue in what Kaman is doing in limited minutes. In any league of at least 14 teams, Kaman should be owned.
Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs to the victory over the Warriors, with Parker going for 28 points and seven assists, while Leonard had 19 points (7-11 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT) and six rebounds. That's three very nice games in a row for Kawhi and it feels like the buy low window has well and truly closed.
With Steph Curry having his first off night of the season, Klay Thompson stood up in his return from a minor hand injury. Thompson hit five threes on his way to 29 points, adding five rebounds and four assists, and hit all six of his free throws.
NIGHTLY LEADERS
Points
- Damian Lillard, G, POR, 29 points
- Reggie Jackson, G, OKC, 29 points
- Klay Thompson, G, GSW, 29 points
Rebounds
- LaMarcus Aldridge, F, POR, 14 rebounds
- Lance Stephenson, G, CHA, 14 rebounds
- Jordan Hill, C, LAL, 14 rebounds
Assists
- Marc Gasol, C, MEM, 9 assists
- Rudy Gay, F, SAC, 8 assists
- Damian Lillard, G, POR, 7 assists
- Tony Parker, G, SAS, 7 assists
- Kyle Lowry, G, TOR, 7 assists
- Wesley Matthews, G, POR, 7 assists
Steals
- Kobe Bryant, G, LAL, 4 steals
- Kyle Lowry, G, TOR, 3 steals
- Evan Fournier, G, ORL, 3 steals
- Mike Conley, G, MEM, 3 steals
- Devin Harris, G, DAL, 3 steals
Blocks
- Nikola Vucevic, C, ORL, 3 blocks
- Brandan Wright, C, DAL, 3 blocks
- Ed Davis, F, LAL, 3 blocks
Three-Pointers
- Damian Lillard, G, POR, 5-8 3Pt
- Klay Thompson, G, GSW, 5-6 3Pt
- Channing Frye, F, ORL, 5-8 3Pt
- Chandler Parsons, F, DAL, 5-11 3Pt
Minutes
- Reggie Jackson, G, OKC, 43 minutes
- Channing Frye, F, ORL, 43 minutes
- Nikola Vucevic, C, ORL, 41 minutes