Life presents difficult decisions. I had the option to watch basketball, or I could continue watching The Wire marathon on HBO. Then I remembered, this is called the Box Score Breakdown, not the Video Breakdown. So get ready for a bunch of innocuous Wire references with a tinge of conjecture.

KEEP THE DEVIL WAY DOWN IN THE HOLE

Rodney Stuckey suffered a facial contusion after Andre Drummond struck him in the face. He didn't return to the game, and his eye swelled to the point where he couldn't see (not permanently). He may not be ready to play today in Brooklyn, possibly vaulting George Hill into the starting lineup for good. If and when Stuckey does return, C.J. Watson will likely shift to backup point guard.

WHERE'S WALLACE?

• Atlanta
  • Pero Antic (ankle)
• Boston
  • Marcus Smart (calf)
• Charlotte
  • Lance Stephenson (hip)
• Cleveland
  • Kyrie Irving (knee)
• Denver
  • Randy Foye (quad)
  • Danilo Gallinari (knee)
  • Darrell Arthur (DNP-CD)
• Indiana
  • Damjan Rudez (illness)
• Los Angeles
  • Kobe Bryant (Achilles)
• Memphis
  • Zach Randolph (knee)
• Milwaukee
  • Larry Sanders (illness)
  • Ersan Ilyasova (concussion)
• Oklahoma City
  • Kevin Durant (ankle)
• Philadelphia
  • Hollis Thompson (illness)
• Portland
  • LaMarcus Aldridge (illness)
  • Chris Kaman (baby)
• Sacramento
  • Ryan Hollins (personal)
  • Ramon Sessions (back)
  • DeMarcus Cousins (illness)
• San Antonio
  • Tony Parker (hamstring)
  • Kawhi Leonard (hand)

THIS IS MY CORNER

No stranger to the reserve life, Deron Williams came off the bench after missing two games with a calf problem. Last season, Williams relinquished the starter's role to Alan Anderson under Jason Kidd's regime as he worked his way back from ankle issues. Williams was limited to 21 minutes and contributed eight points (2-6 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-6 FT), four rebounds, and four assists. The Nets are in the midst of playing four games in five nights, so we'll soon see if coach Lionel Hollins plans on inserting him to his customary spot, unless another player forces his hand.

Jarrett Jack proved his worth in the event Williams is traded for a non-point guard entity. In 34 minutes, he supplied a season-high 27 points (8-14 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 10-10 FT), seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block. In his last two starts by my count, Marcus Smart has been had by Norris Cole and now Jack, calling into question his one-on-one defensive reputation. I know the four steals tell a different story, so I'll be focusing on that in the coming weeks because defense appeared to be his calling card entering the NBA.

Marcus Smart replaced Jameer Nelson in the starting lineup after relinquishing the spot for the Celtics' game against Nelson's former team, the Magic. Coach Bradley Stevens said, "[I want] to be able to match up defensively a little bit differently." The situation is clearly fluid. With the Celtics facing the Wizards tonight, using Smart on John Wall would be the logical move. Part of me believes that Nelson received the start last time because it was against his former team. I can't prove the validity of that hypothesis, so we'll just have to wait for definitive word tonight.

Smart finished with five points (2-6 FG, 1-3 3Pt), six assists, four steals, and three rebounds in 31 minutes. He picked up five fouls in the process, so the 31 minutes could have easily been 35. On the season, 66 percent of his attempts have been three-pointers, of which he's converted 29 percent. If you can withstand the uncertainty of the rotation, poor field goal percentage, and rookie growing pains, feel free to roster Smart.

So how did the frontcourt fare? Jared Sullinger played 32 minutes, Kelly Olynyk played 24 minutes, Tyler Zeller played 24 minutes, Brandan Wright played 6 minutes, and Brandon Bass played 4 minutes (all in the fourth quarter) for a grand total of 90 minutes. The unaccounted six minutes between power forward and center belong to Jeff Green. Sullinger dominated the Nets in both preseason games and carried that over into the regular season, providing 19 points (8-16 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, and two assists. Olynyk chipped in 11 points, three rebounds, and two blocks while Zeller added 14 points, nine rebounds, and an assist, steal, and block. Zeller was the forgotten man in the fourth quarter this time around, cementing coach Stevens' proclivity for antagonizing the fantasy community in his pursuit of playing the hot hand on a quarter-to-quarter basis. Just remember, what played out in this game doesn't automatically translate to any subsequent game.

Matthew Dellavedova started in place of Kyrie Irving (knee), providing eight points (2-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three assists, one rebound, and one steal in 36 minutes. He's on the court to provide staunch defense, not accumulate Irving-like stats. Frankly, Irving's absence provided LeBron James more offensive touches. Coach David Blatt essentially ran a seven-man rotation, and Dion Waiters scored 17 points (6-14 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-5 FT) in 33 minutes, first time he's hit 30 minutes since the first game of the season. Irving tested his knee during warmups and decided to sit even though he was initially cleared to play. His condition doesn't sound serious; all the same, it was the second game of a back-to-back, so monitor his prognosis prior to Sunday's game against the Pistons.

Tristan Thompson slid into the starting lineup, replacing Shawn Marion who substituted for Anderson Varejao (Achilles) the previous game. He played a team-high 40 minutes, giving him relevance in some fantasy leagues given the lack of frontcourt depth. I can't call him an immediate add unless you're fishing solely for offensive rebounds. Kevin Love finished with 22 points (7-17 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 5-5 FT) in 33 minutes, but was benched the entire fourth quarter for his subpar defense. Coincidentally, the Magic were held to 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Zaza Pachulia and Kendall Marshall started over Larry Sanders (illness) and O.J. Mayo. Pachulia lit up his former team for 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists in 26 minutes. Coach Kidd prefers Mayo in the second unit, so replacing him in the long haul should stick. It's unknown if Marshall will fulfill that command on a healthy roster.

John Henson missed the previous 14 games with a left foot sprain. He provided five points (1-2 FG, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in 18 minutes. It's obvious coach Kidd isn't a fan of Henson, severely cutting into his immediate fantasy value. I'd keep him on your radar with the injuries piling up in Milwaukee, but don't hold your breath waiting for last season's stats.

Jeff Teague slid back into the starting lineup after coming off the bench one game. The game was over by halftime, in favor of the Bucks, permitting rookie Adreian Payne was able to make his NBA debut.

Greg Monroe jumped into the starting lineup post-Josh Smith Era and overmatched the Pacer's frontline to the tune of 19 points (7-11 FG, 5-8 FT), 15 rebounds, three steals, one assist, and one block. The Pistons face the Cavaliers and Magic to close the month, making him a must-start in any daily leagues. Jonas Jerebko led all reserves with 28 minutes. I like him and want to write about him in the Waiver Wire column, so I won't spoil anything here. Monroe's frontcourt mate, Andre Drummond, was limited to 28 minutes because of foul trouble, but closed the night with 20 points (9-12 FG, 2-8 FT), six rebounds, three steals, and one block. He received some lucky bounces on his hook shots, perhaps the result of hard work and improved touch around the rim.

Josh Smith came off the bench after only one practice session and attempted a team-high 21 shots, converting just nine en route to 21 points in 32 minutes. Donatas Motiejunas played 31 minutes with Dwight Howard in foul trouble, but his grip on starter's minutes and offensive touches are trending in the wrong direction. It's only a matter of time before Smith joins the starting lineup, relegating Motiejunas to standard league relevance only when Howard doesn't play. Coach McHale may have tipped his hand when Smith played the entire overtime instead of Motiejunas.

Tony Allen returned to the starting lineup after missing four games with a right corneal abrasion. Tayshaun Prince resumed his reserve role, and Allen finished with 10 points (4-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six assists, three rebounds, two steals, and one block in 26 minutes before fouling out.

Jon Leuer started after a one-game reprieve for Kosta Koufos, both of whom were sitting in for Zach Randolph (knee). Both replacements played less than 17 minutes each. With a game against the Heat tonight, I'd expect Leuer to start based on the matchup.

Cory Joseph started in place of Tony Parker (hamstring). Coach Popovich said, "...we're just going to sit him out for a while." A similar stunt was pulled last season, and Parker only missed six games. However, those six games spanned two weeks and intersected with the All-Star break. The Spurs play four games over the next six days, then four games in the first 12 days of January. I believe he'll be back in the lineup by January 13th, missing a maximum of nine consecutive games. Joseph will retain value during Parker's hiatus; just don't expect him to shoulder the offensive load. The Spurs carry multiple primary and secondary ball handlers, alleviating undue pressure on Joseph. I'm also expecting Patty Mills to make his triumphant return sometime soon, inevitably scaling back Joseph's minutes. In 10 starts, Joseph is averaging 12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 36.2 minutes per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. Those are Tony Parker-lite numbers.

Boris Diaw played after missing the Christmas game with a fever. He scored 10 points (5-8 FG), grabbed six boards, and recorded three assists in a game where Tiago Splitter was held scoreless in 12 minutes.

Kyle Anderson reentered the starting over Marco Belinelli. It didn't matter much as Anderson was the second Spur stuck on zero points in just 9 minutes. Belinelli led the bench mob with 13 points (6-14 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 0-2 FT), three rebounds, one assists, and one steal in 32 minutes. Both gentlemen are filling in for Kawhi Leonard (hand), whose return date hasn't been specified.

Thomas Robinson started for LaMarcus Aldridge (illness), and Nicolas Batum returned to the starting lineup, sending Allen Crabbe to the bench. Joel Freeland grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in a season-high 25 minutes, aided by the absence of Chris Kaman (baby). The Trail Blazers face the Knicks on Sunday in Portland, but Kaman's availability for that game remains uncertain. As such, don't spend too much FAAB on Freeland. Batum was one of three Blazers to score in double digits, providing 14 points (5-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 29 minutes. Half of his shots this season have been three-pointers, but he's only converting at 23 percent from downtown, destroying his field goal mark. Nevertheless, Batum is one of six players averaging at least eight points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one three-pointer per game.

Reggie Evans started for DeMarcus Cousins (illness) and posted 11 points (5-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 16 rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 32 minutes. The minutes were flowing because little used Ryan Hollins (personal) didn't play. The Kings play the Knicks tonight, calling into question Cousins' presence. Interim coach Corbin confirmed the illness was unrelated to the meningitis he suffered earlier this season.

YOU COME AT THE KING, YOU BEST NOT MISS

James Harden is the reason I wanted the fourth pick in my drafts. That way, I wouldn't struggle with the decision of James, Curry, or Davis, and I would pick earlier in the second round, snagging Chris Bosh in the process. Harden is returning top-three value, possibly top-two if you disregard turnovers. The official leading scorer of the NBA infused the Rockets with 32 points (10-17 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 10-11 FT), 10 assists, eight rebounds, and three blocks in 41 minutes during their overtime victory over the Grizzlies. It was interesting to see him forced into a bunch of mid-range shots, something he takes more than people realize.

YOUNGBLOOD OF THE NIGHT

Andrew Wiggins tallied back-to-back 20+ point scoring efforts, finishing with 22 points (8-18 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 5-8 FT), five rebounds, three rebounds, and two blocks in a team-high 41 minutes. Last time Wiggins yield such results, he followed them up with three straight single-digit scoring games. He's inconsistent and getting outplayed by Shabazz Muhammad. That said, if he was on the wire in a deep league, I'd consider reinvesting now with the thought that Ricky Rubio (ankle) could be a couple weeks away from returning. Wiggins is just destroying your field goal percentage and hasn't offered much in the secondary categories for me to consider him in 10-team leagues.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE SURVEILLANCE

Rajon Rondo scored a season-high 21 points on a team-high 17 shots. He had no problem dissecting the Lakers' zone defense but did much of his damage in transition, launching his floater on plenty of occasions. Rondo buffered the scoring with eight rebounds, seven assists, and one steal in 35 minutes. His minutes have increased by about 1.5 per game following the trade, but his rebounds and assists have seen a noticeable decline in the past four games while only his points made a drastic jump. Playing alongside more talented players removes the burden of having to do-it-yourself, instead generating easier looks on the offensive end.

Nikola Vucevic forced his way onto this list by tallying 12 points (6-10 FG), eight rebounds, and a career-high seven assists. He really hasn't missed a beat since returning from back spasms two weeks ago. The only reason to get rid of him is the Magic's terrible head-to-head fantasy playoff schedule, but rotisserie owners of Vucevic need not worry about such trivial matters.

ALL IN THE GAME, YO

Mason Plumlee kept Brook Lopez mostly glued to the bench. In a team-high 36 minutes, Plumlee added 14 points (6-7 FG, 2-6 FT), 12 rebounds, three assists, and one block compared to Lopez's eight points (4-7 FG) and one rebound in 14 minutes. Kevin Garnett played 17 minutes, opening up the possibility for a Plumlee/Lopez tandem. In their 55 minutes of shared court time, the Nets are a minus 11.6 in net rating. However, Lopez has developed a great mid-range jumper during his tenure in the league, allowing Plumlee to roam the paint for easy lobs and putbacks. Defensively, they'd probably never win another game, squashing any chance of long-term success. Plumlee should be owned while he's playing starter-level minutes, and anyone who owns Lopez needs to find a nice window to trade him.

Kyle O'Quinn picked up three fouls in his first eight minutes and his fourth foul three minutes into the second half. He was held scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting in 16 minutes. If you're in one of my leagues and want to drop him, please do. I'll gladly add him if patience doesn't exist in your vocabulary. I know what O'Quinn is and what he's not. He'll provide just enough production in every category sans points to keep him relevant in fantasy circles, and it's part of the reason I drafted him with the last pick in my 12-team rotisserie league.

Elfrid Payton is still not ready to close games. He did end up with six points (3-5 FG), five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 25 minutes, but Evan Fournier provides enough moxie and offense to keep the ship afloat for coach Jacque Vaughn. In 34 minutes, the recently demoted Fournier furnished 15 points (5-10 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. Payton is a dicey play in rotisserie leagues because he's inefficient and turnover prone, but the assists and steals he provides can help an owner in head-to-head leagues.

Quick aside: Victor Oladipo shed his mask. He finished with 13 points (5-14 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), eight assists, four rebounds, three steals, and five turnovers before fouling out in 37 minutes.

DeMarre Carroll joined Kyle O'Quinn in the scoreless column, one game removed from his career-high 25 points. Much like O'Quinn, if you want to drop Carroll in my leagues, I'll gladly take him off your hands. One poor outing of an 82-game season isn't enough to panic over. The same should be said for Kyle Korver, who finished with three points on 1-of-8 shooting in 28 minutes.

Jared Dudley unlocked and NBA2K achievement by shooting 100 percent from the field on 10 attempts, ending the night with a season-high 24 points, four rebounds, four steals, two assists, and four three-pointers in 24 minutes. I was expecting him to be the most added player in Yahoo! leagues, but that distinction went to Jarrett Jack, even though Deron Williams returned to the lineup. Even with Ersan Ilyasova out with a concussion, Jason Kidd ran ten players at least 17 minutes in their 107-77 victory over the Hawks. Since Jabari Parker's season-ending injury, eight Bucks (or one Abraham Lincoln and three George Washingtons) are averaging between 22 and 32 minutes per game. I'm trying to remind you that any player on this team on any night can have a "Jared Dudley" game. Hot streaks exist. Should it develop into a prolonged streak, I'll consider adding Dudley on my rosters.

Brandon Jennings shot at least 50 percent from the field for the first time since going 3-of-6 on December 7th. He only played 28 minutes to D.J. Augustin's 24 minutes, and Spencer Dinwiddie didn't play at all. Jennings and Augustin scored 14 points apiece and combined for 18 assists. Don't let one good Jennings game fool you; he's toxic outside of assists and three-pointers, capping his overall value. Plus, the timeshare with Augustin exists because of Jennings' inconsistencies.

Roy Hibbert fouled out in 23 minutes and still scored a team-high 19 points (5-10 FG, 9-10 FT) in the process. He's only averaging 26.5 minutes per game, which is in the bottom third of starting centers. On the other end of the spectrum, he's hitting 81 percent of his free-throws, a rarity for a center (second to Marc Gasol). His numbers this season are nearly identical to last season's averages, minus three minutes per game.

Danny Green returned a normal production in slightly more than expected minutes; not to be confused with unsustainable production over the course of 96 minutes in back-to-back triple-overtime games. In his last three games, Green is averaging 10.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, and 2.3 three-pointers in 31.6 minutes per game. This is the norm, which is still freaking great.

Ryan Anderson is shooting a career-low 33 percent from downtown. Last night, he scored a team-high 22 points (7-15 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 6-6 FT), grabbed seven rebounds, recorded two assists, and produced a steal in 32 minutes. I've openly branded Anderson as an overrated asset who you should cash in for a more sturdy option. Whether you believe the season-long slump can be reversed or last season's neck injury lingers, Anderson's minutes rapidly declined with the addition of Omer Asik this season, reducing his overall fantasy value which was largely tied to his three-pointers, lack of turnovers, and high free-throw percent on minimal attempts.

Nick Young shot 5-of-8 from downtown and 0-of-8 from inside the arc. Jeremy Lin led the team with seven assists and three blocks. Ed Davis shot 1-of-6 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. And of course, in a game without Kobe Bryant, six different Lakers scored in double figures, led by Carlos Boozer's 18 points (9-16 FG, 0-1 FT), and three Lakers recorded double-doubles.

Kenneth Faried: part man, part animal. Some might ask, are we human or are we dancer? Faried scored a season-high 26 points (11-15 FG, 4-5 FT), grabbed a career-high 25 rebounds, and added three assists in 30 minutes. First off, hallelujah. Second, foul trouble limited him to 30 minutes, but it's concerning since that appears to be his threshold under the Brian Shaw regime. Third, points, rebounds, and field goal percentage are his only valuable attributes in fantasy basketball, both of which vary from night-to-night since the Nuggets don't call plays for him. He's an undersized power forward with a short wingspan, both detrimental to producing steals and blocks. Since he only touches the ball when he rebounds, assists are almost nonexistent. If you're cool with a healthier version of Nikola Pekovic, by all means keep him.

I contend Faried is a better rotisserie option than a head-to-head option, so if you want to cash in, now would be the time to do so. Additionally, the Nuggets are one of eight teams to play 10 games or less during the fantasy playoffs (Week 21-23), clearing four of those games in Week 21. If you earn a bye that week, you're getting six games max out of Faried, whereas you could snake three four-game weeks from Al Jefferson or Derrick Favors, should anyone bite on those offers on the foundation of this 26-point, 25-rebound game. You may also be able to snag an injured Ricky Rubio for the stretch run. I'm not saying these deals are possible, but they're worth a shot, even if you have to throw in a second player.  If you don't get the player you want in return, don't settle. The upcoming game against the Raptors will hurt his value, but that is followed by a matchup against the Lakers.

Mo Williams secured 13 assists off the bench, playing 29 minutes to Zach LaVine's 19 minutes. Shabazz Muhammad saw a massive drop in efficiency, needing 14 shots to score 14 points, but his 11-game double-digit scoring streak remains intact.

Tony Wroten performed as expected, contributing a team-high 22 points (7-13 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 7-9 FT), four assists, four rebounds, and two steals, in 27 minutes. It was expected because Wroten grew up in the Seattle area, attending the University of Washington, and invited almost all of Washington to see him play. I made sure to take advantage of that in my daily fantasy lineups.

Sir Robert Covington hit a three-pointer for the twelfth straight game and is averaging 2.9 three-pointers per game in December. Luc Mbah a Moute failed to record at least one steal for the first time since November 21st (15 games). And worst of all, the Sixers failed to extend their two-game winning streak.

Wesley Matthews hit seven three-pointers, helping the Trail Blazers hit a season-high 18 three-pointers against the team they set a franchise record 21 made three-pointers last season. Matthews is tied with four other players for most three-pointers per game (2.9), and since he's played the most games, leads the NBA with 90 three-pointers made.

Isaiah Thomas shamed his former team, the Kings, with a 17 points (7-17 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five assists, three rebounds, and one steal in 29 minutes. I feel like most people saw this game coming, especially after the dud he dropped in their last meeting (he spent that morning attending the funeral of a close relative).

Alex Len is putting together a resume worthy of joining the Waiver Wire report this weekend. Against the DeMarcus Cousins-less Kings, Len contributed 10 points (5-9 FG), 11 rebounds, and five blocks in 23 minutes. Len won't receive 30+ minutes because of Miles Plumlee and foul trouble. Neither Len nor Plumlee evenly splits center minutes because Markieff Morris spends a fair share of time manning the five spot. For the time being, Len is capped around 26 minutes, which is good enough to land on a few 12-team rosters. Just know his competition for playing time extends beyond Plumlee.

I admit Derrick Williams is my least favorite fantasy player, and it's all his fault. Last night, Williams scored 16 points (7-9 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-3 FT), grabbed five rebounds, and procured a steal in 22 minutes off the bench. The Kings are blatantly showcasing and shopping him, so the minutes will keep if he continues to perform.

The Thunder decimated the Hornets, 98-75. Anthony Morrow played a team-high 28 minutes, and Brian Roberts led the Hornets with 17 points. I think that should help me get my point across. And oh yeah, Russell Westbrook needed just 25 minutes to record 29 points (11-21 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 6-6 FT), five assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block. Technically, James Harden leads the NBA in scoring even though Westbrook is averaging more point per game.

DAN FORDEN AWARD*

Marcus Morris hit 6-of-7 from deep, leading the Suns with 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and one steal in 28 minutes. In case you were wondering, Marcus shoots 48 percent from downtown when his brother Markieff Morris is on the court but dips to a 37-percent three-point shooter when Markieff is on the bench. And yes, Markieff sustains a similar ten percent disparity given Marcus's on/off splits.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. James Harden, G, HOU: 32 points (10-17 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 10-11 FT)
2. Marc Gasol, C, MEM: 29 points (12-21 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT)
3. Russell Westbrook, G, OKC: 29 points (11-21 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 6-6 FT)
4. LeBron James, F, CLE: 29 points (10-20 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 9-11 FT)

Rebounds

1. Kenneth Faried, F, DEN: 25 rebounds (12 offensive)
2. Joel Freeland, C, POR: 17 rebounds (4 offensive)
3. Reggie Evans, F, SAC: 16 rebounds (9 offensive)

Assists

1. Mo Williams, G, MIN: 13 assists (5 turnovers)
2. Ty Lawson, G, DEN: 11 assists (4 turnovers)
3. James Harden, G, HOU: 10 assists (2 turnovers)
4. Brandon Jennings, G, DET: 10 assists (1 turnover)

Steals

1. Nerlens Noel, C, PHI: 4 steals
2. Marcus Smart, G, BOS: 4 steals
3. Jared Dudley, F, MIL: 4 steals

Blocks

1. Anthony Davis, F, NOP: 5 blocks
2. Alex Len, C, PHO: 5 blocks
3. Miles Plumlee, C, PHO: 5 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Wesley Matthews, G, POR: 7-14 3Pt
2. Marcus Morris, F, PHO: 6-7 3Pt
3. Nick Young, G, LAL: 5-8 3Pt

Minutes

1. Arron Afflalo, G, DEN: 42 minutes
2. James Harden, G, HOU: 41 minutes
3. Andrew Wiggins, F, MIN: 41 minutes
4. Wilson Chandler, F, DEN: 41 minutes

*The Dan Forden Award is given to the player with the best long-distance shooting performance. It is named the Dan Forden Award after Dan Forden, audio technician for the Mortal Kombat series and the guy who popped up from the bottom right corner of the game and excitedly proclaimed "Toasty!"