Sunday Daily Dose: Dose: Brook Lopez's Bad Break?
Stephen Curry showed that he is actually from this Earth, Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal each went down with injuries and Chef James Harden is officially back to airing on the Food Channel during select Saturday nights.
Minnesota @ Chicago: Timberwolves 102, Bulls 93 (OT)
Studs: Pau Gasol, Nemanja Bjelica, Karl-Anthony Towns
Duds: Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, Nikola Mirotic
Mark it down in history: November 7, 2015: The night Nemanja Bjelica became an American household name. Playing a whopping 40 minutes (Kevin Garnett played 12), the “rookie” went off for a career-high 17 points, 11 rebounds, five dimes, a steal, a block and two 3PM (5-of-9 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs)…if he is still available in your league, please invite me to play with your friends next season. Fellow rookie and frontcourt mate Karl-Anthony Towns had it going on with a stat-stuffing effort (17 points, 13 rebounds, one steal, four blocks) despite playing just 27 minutes, and considering how fun it already is, it’s going to be a bouncy house of excitement once Towns learns how to stay on the floor more consistently…KAT will be in a lot of Saturday’s winning DFS lineups.
Andrew Wiggins, after a painfully slow start, finally got aggressive, scoring 31 points to go along with four triples. However, it took him 27 shots (making 11) to get there and he was just 5-of-10 from the charity stripe, so it’s hard to get really excited about his performance, especially when he’s still not doing anything defensively. Ricky Rubio briefly left this one with a bloody nose, but he returned and posted a versatile, valuable line (seven points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, three steals) despite making just two of his 10 shots. I’ve been getting a lot of Gorgui Dieng (six points, even rebounds, two steals, 23 minutes) questions recently, and I’m just not seeing it. Towns and Bjelica are rightfully going to play ahead of him.
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Chicago has some soul searching to do…things just do not look right. Pau Gasol (21 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, one block) delivered the fat line his owners have become accustomed to feasting on, but both Jimmy Butler (11 points, eight rebounds, five turnovers, 4-of-15 FGs) and Derrick Rose (11 points, five assists, five turnovers, 3-of-13 FGs) were nowhere to be found, disappointing those who rolled either or both out as a DFS play. The rollercoaster ride is real for Nikola Mirotic and those with him on their team, and the big man bottomed out on Saturday with just four points and three boards (1-of-8 FGs) in 17 foul-plagued minutes. After combining for just seven points over his last two on 3-of-16 from the floor, I’m floating trade offers aggressively for him in leagues where I didn’t get him…the Bulls need him to be successful.
Orlando @ Philadelphia: Magic 105, Sixers 97
Studs: Dewayne Dedmon, Elfrid Payton, Isaiah Canaan
Duds: Nerlens Noel, Tobias Harris, Victor Oladipo
I told you yesterday not to drop Elfrid Payton until we saw more, and he bounced back favorably with 20 points, five assists and three steals on a surprising 8-of-10 shooting. Payton is still going to struggle with his shot, but if he stops over-dribbling and serves as a pesky defender, Scott Skiles will ride him like Secretariat. Without Nikola Vucevic (knee), Dewayne Dedmon did his best Festus Ezeli impression, rewarding those who gambled on him in DFS with 12 points, nine boards, a steal and three blocks (8-of-8 FTs) in 30 minutes of action…he is a better player than most want to give him credit for, and the Magic have invested wisely in his development.
Tobias Harris (nine points, four rebounds, three dimes, one steal, one block, 25.5 minutes) lost time to Aaron Gordon (10 points, six rebounds, 22.5 minutes), and that is an especially disappointing development considering it’s Harris’ fourth game of the season with fewer than 30 minutes. The Magic paid Harris to be an important part of their future, but Skiles won’t be afraid to turn to Gordon and/or Mario Hezonja (11 points in 12.5 minutes) if Harris’ inconsistency continues. Evan Fournier got a ton of run (40 minutes), and although he scored 17 points (three 3-pointers), he added just three boards, two dimes, and a steal with five turnovers…points and triples is what to expect with Fournier, anything else is a bonus. Victor Oladipo may have been a little tired after playing so much early this season, as he managed just 15 points, five boards, three dimes and two steals on 6-of-18 shooting.
Nerlens Noel, coming off of two really strong games, was a huge bust on Saturday with two points, four rebounds and four turnovers in 21.5 minutes before picking up a Flagrant-2 foul, resulting in his ejection…that left Jahlil Okafor (19 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks, three turnovers) as the only center on the roster. Jerami Grant (11 points, four rebounds) left this game after getting poked in the left eye and was later diagnosed with a corneal abrasion, so Hollis Thompson (28.5 minutes) would be the next man up with Robert Covington (knee) not yet ready to go should Grant have to miss any time. You can get excited about T.J. McConnell (six points, eight rebounds, nine assists, three steals, two blocks, five turnovers) if you want, but I’m not…the scouting report is getting around, and the returns of both Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall from knee injuries promise to impact TJM’s long-term stock…he’s a sell-high candidate while the hype train is rolling him forward. Now McConnell’s backup, Isaiah Canaan (23 points, six triples, three steals) showed what he’s capable of doing, but the problem is nobody—including Canaan—knows if or when it’s going to happen.
Washington @ Atlanta: Hawks 114, Wizards 99
Studs: Paul Millsap, Otto Porter, Kent Bazemore
Duds: Jeff Teague
The numbers looked good for John Wall (19 points, 12 assists, two steals, two 3PM, two steals, one block) and decent enough for Bradley Beal (11 points, six rebounds, six assists), but a combined 15 turnovers is a big reason why Washington lost this game…it gets worse for Beal, who shook off a left (non-shooting) wrist injury only to hurt his left shoulder, prompting X-rays after the game, and we’re expected to know more on Sunday…if he’s forced out of action, there’s no obvious pickup to be had with Jared Dudley, Gary Neal and Ramon Sessions all likely to gain time…Wall now has 15 turnovers over the last two contests, and with how much he’s tasked to do for his team, it’s going to be a regular thing for the point guard this season, making him a more valuable player in 8-cat than 9-cat leagues. Otto Porter’s career-best 23 points (8-of-12 FGs, three triples) would look a lot better if complemented by something—anything—else, but the cupboard has been pretty bare so far this season. Marcin Gortat (10 points, 10 rebounds, two steals) and Nene (10 points, 10 rebounds, three steals) continue to play limited roles, and Nene isn’t even worth rostering outside of extremely deep formats.
Kent Bazemore’s career-high 25 points (10-of-15 FGs, four 3-pointers) led Atlanta in the win, and maybe now his DFS price point will finally catch up with his production….Baze added four boards, three assists and two steals in just 29 minutes. I’ve run out of superlatives for Paul Millsap, and we’re not even 10 games into the season. An absolute fantasy beast because of his ability to contribute even when he isn’t scoring, Trillsap went off for another huge night with 21 points, seven rebounds, six dimes, two steals, two blocks and three 3-pointers.. So long as he stays healthy, Millsap is going to be on a lot of championship-winning teams. Jeff Teague killed what would have been a really solid line (10 points, eight assists, five steals) with a 4-of-16 shooting effort paired four turnovers, but Dennis Schroder (six points, seven assists, three turnovers, 3-of-10 FGs) wasn’t a whole lot better.
New Orleans @ Dallas: Mavericks 107, Pelicans 98
Studs: Eric Gordon, Dwight Powell, Ryan Anderson
Duds: Chandler Parsons, Wesley Matthews
Anthony Davis (24 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, two blocks, 11-of-19 FGs) is doing everything he can to get his Pelicans a win, but New Orleans is now 0-6 on the young season. Considering AD played monster minutes and posted a huge line on Friday, this was a pretty solid Saturday effort…It’s going to be tough sledding until this club can get Tyreke Evans (knee surgery) back and Jrue Holiday (leg) faces fewer playing restrictions. Without either on Saturday, Ish Smith pulled sevens out of the slot machine with seven points (3-of-14 FGs), rebounds and assists to pair with two steals and a block. Smith is best reserved as a DFS play on days where Holiday is out, otherwise his production will be volatile as he shares time with Toney Douglas, who had 11 points, three assists and two steals in 28 minutes. Moral victories don’t mean much for a team that is still looking for its first win, but New Orleans has to be hopeful that Ryan Anderson (21 points, nine rebounds) and Eric Gordon (21 points, five rebounds, four assists, five triples) can finally get it going.
I’m all about Dwight Powell right now, and he responded again with 15 points, seven boards and a block in 26 minutes off the bench. Capable of stretching the floor, crashing the glass and providing activity on both ends, Powell owns a steady role with plenty of potential to grow…he’s one of my favorite waiver wire additions if he’s still floating out there in your league. I don’t trust Zaza Pachulia (nine points, 14 rebounds) will stay healthy all season, and I’ll believe JaVale McGee (leg) makes a contribution when we see it. Dallas got 18 points from Dirk Nowitzki, but it was Deron Williams (19 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, three 3-pointers) who led the team in scoring. Still working their way back into form and playing under restrictions, Chandler Parsons (six points, two rebounds, 15 minutes) and Wesley Matthews (13 points, two rebounds, 29.5 minutes) can’t be counted on for much in the short-term.
Brooklyn @ Milwaukee: Bucks 94, Nets 86
Studs: Thaddeus Young, Greg Monroe, Khris Middleton, Jerryd Bayless
Duds: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Very troubling news for Brooklyn, as starting center Brook Lopez (20 points, four boards, two blocks) departed early due to a sore right foot and did not return, though X-rays were negative. Lopez, who has a history of right foot injuries, is likely to be reevaluated and could undergo an MRI on Sunday, and it would be surprising if he didn’t miss any time, even if just as a precaution. The Nets would be in a real bind if Lopez goes down for an extended period, and the team would likely have to give big minutes to Thomas Robinson and Andrea Bargnani. In related news, General Manager Billy King may want to consider signing a center in the coming days.
Elsewhere for the Nets, it was a whole lot of nothing. Thaddeus Young (18 points, 13 boards, two steals) had a nice game, and he’d be prominently featured if Lopez were forced to miss time. Joe Johnson (eight points, nine rebounds, six dimes) did a little bit of everything, while rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson drew another start and had two points, seven rebounds, five dimes and three steals in 23.5 minutes.
The slow start is officially a thing of the past in Milwaukee, where Greg The Moose Monroe (20 points, eight rebounds, two steals, two blocks) is getting loose with regularity in the lane…This was finally the game Khris Middleton fans (14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal, three triples, 4-of-6 FGs) have been waiting for, and this is the player we all want to see more of going forward. Capable of contributing across the stat sheet, I believe in K-Midz as a top-60 player. Although Tyler Ennis drew another start in place of Michael Carter-Williams (ankle), it was Jerryd Bayless (19 points, 10 assists, two steals, two blocks, three triples) who unexpectedly went off for what could be his best line of the entire year. Exploding for 22 points, five rebounds and three blocks in his return on Friday, John Henson scored four points, grabbed four rebounds and had one block in his nine minutes on Saturday. Anthony Randolph says hello.
Charlotte @ San Antonio: Spurs 114, Hornets 94
Studs: Kemba Walker, Kawhi Leonard, David West
Duds: Danny Green, Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams
Kawhi Leonard (23 points, four boards, two dimes, two steals, two triples) is matchup-proof when it comes to his production this season, and it’s beyond obvious that everything is traveling through the Kawhian Islands in San Antonio. LaMarcus Aldridge (16 points in 17.5 minutes) received another welcome to the Spurs moment, seeing less action than Tim Duncan (11 points, eight rebounds, 24.5 minutes) and David West (nine points, nine rebounds, six dimes, 29 minutes), who had easily his best game since joining San Antonio It’s been a season of disappointment for anyone drafting Danny Green (eight points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block) expecting to see shades of previous production, and I don’t see it turning around anytime soon…the Spurs have better options.
Although Kemba Walker (27 points, 11-of-15 FGs) struck fire from the floor, not a single other member of his team eclipsed the 13 points Al Jefferson managed. Nicolas Batum (10 points, 2-of-6 FGs), Marvin Williams (nine points, four boards) both had tough matchups to deal with, and the Hornets did not get much from a bench that needs to import some help.
Memphis @ Utah: Jazz 89, Grizzlies 79
Studs: Derrick Favors, Trey Burke
Duds: Mike Conley, Alec Burks
Marc Gasol finally showed some signs of life with 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, but he’s now 8-of-27 over his last two games….The team also lost Brandan Wright (right knee soreness) to an early departure. Mike Conley (8-of-25 FGs, 20 points) couldn’t buy a basket, and Zach Randolph had 10 points and nine rebounds, which qualifies as a good night for him these days. I know it probably sounds dramatic, but the Grizzlies need to blow this roster to smithereens…it is not built to contend in an NBA that is leaving them in the dust. This team’s “shooters” in Courtney Lee, Jeff Green and Matt Barnes combined to make 9-of-26 field goals.
Save for his recent two-game bout with the flu, Derrick Favors (12 points, 16 rebounds, three steals, one block) has been absolutely awesome, and I see no reason for his production to slow down as Utah’s franchise cornerstone. Enjoying his best shooting season as a pro, Trey Burke kept it going with 24 points (six triples) on 8-of-16 from the field. Gordon Hayward turned in his best game of the season, but with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists, that gives you an indication of how bad it’s been so far. Rudy Gobert (seven points, 11 rebounds, four blocks) was up to his usual tricks, but both Rodney Hood (seven points, three blocks) and Alec Burks (nine points, four assists, four turnovers) were disappointing in the win. This game was one to avoid in most DFS formats.
Golden State @ Sacramento: Warriors 103, Kings 94
Studs: Rajon Rondo, Draymond Green
Duds: Willie Cauley-Stein, Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry in the duds section? Believe it…Curry turned in his worst game of the season, scoring 24 points while having twice as many turnovers (six) as assists (three). Curry also shot just 2-of-10 from deep, where he had been making more than half of his shots while averaging double-digit attempts. Draymond Green’s last two games: 11.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 3-pointers on 8-of-17 shooting. Festus Ezeli had another solid effort (10 points, 12 rebounds, one block) in just 22 minutes, and his production continues to be very impressive in place of Andrew Bogut (concussion). Ezeli has played so well that Luke Walton is flirting with the idea of leaving him in the starting lineup, but it’s unlikely that would mean an expansion of his limited role. Similar to Clint Capela, Ezeli’s has tantalizing fantasy potential that is waiting to be unleashed.
With the devastating news that Darren Collison (hamstring) is now going to miss at least a little bit of time, Rajon Rondo (14 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists, four steals, 44.5 minutes) is going to get all of the playing time he can physically handle…Seth Curry, who is nursing an ankle injury of his own, now becomes the Kings’ de-facto backup point guard in an incredibly weird backcourt…Collison is an enormous loss for a team that needs basically everything he does on the floor, and he can’t get back soon enough. Rudy Gay really hasn’t been able to get it going all season, and it was no different on Saturday with 22 points on 10-of-25 shooting. Willie Cauley-Stein’s potential (six points, one steal) isn’t worth fantasy production, so keep that in mind if you’re holding onto broken dreams as DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) prepares to return.
Houston @ Los Angeles (C): Rockets 109, Clippers 105
Studs: James Harden, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Duds: Trevor Ariza, Ty Lawson, Austin Rivers
Playing without Chris Paul (groin strain), the Clippers ran everything they could through Blake Griffin, who once again came up huge with 35 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. This is a different Blake we’re seeing this season, and he’s going to be a strong MVP candidate when it’s all said and done. Austin Rivers started in place of CP3, but with more shots (12) than points (10) and just a single assist, nobody confused the two players on Saturday night. DeAndre Jordan added 11 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, but it’s tough to win when the team shoots 4-of-22 from distance.
Has the curse of Lil’ B been broken? With a combined 89 points in back-to-back games—both wins—James Harden is officially back on track. Impressively, Harden did his damage efficiently vs. Los Angeles with a tidy 14-of-26 shooting, including five triples and 13-of-14 from the line. He turned the ball over seven times, but who cares? He’s been a one-man wrecking crew for you in season-long and DFS games this weekend. Maybe it’s time to start talking about Dwight Howard again…the big man has 43 points and 34 rebounds over his last two games, including a 20-20 game in Saturday’s win. Considering he did his damage in just 29 minutes (five fouls), Howard’s performance is especially noteworthy. Marcus Thornton (16 points, three steals) is providing real value for the Rockets while Terrence Jones (eye) and Donatas Motiejunas (back) sit in street clothes, and that’s a good thing since Trevor Ariza’s (six points, seven boards, 1-of-8 shooting) offensive production has been impacted by the energy he’s been forced to expend defending bigger players at power forward as the Rockets have played small.
Injury Report (Teams that played on 11/7)
Atlanta Hawks
Tiago Splitter (rest): Splitter received the night off on Saturday, but it was just for rest purposes.
Brooklyn Nets
Brook Lopez (right foot): X-rays were negative on Saturday, but Lopez is likely to undergo additional testing. This is the same foot that Lopez has injured in the past.
Chicago Bulls
Kirk Hinrich (toe): Day-to-day.
Dallas Mavericks
JaVale McGee (leg): Out indefinitely.
Golden State Warriors
Andrew Bogut (concussion): Bogut is hopeful to get back out there on Monday, but Festus Ezeli is thriving in his place and could hold onto the starting gig once Bogut is ready to return.
Houston Rockets
Terrence Jones (lacerated right eyelid): Jones should be back by the time the Rockets return to action on Wednesday.
Patrick Beverley (concussion): Considered day-to-day, Beverley is targeting a return on Wednesday vs. Brooklyn. Ty Lawson and James Harden play a little more whenever Beverley sits, with Jason Terry serving as insurance.
Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Paul (groin strain): Day-to-day. Austin Rivers started in his place on Saturday.
Memphis Grizzlies
Jordan Adams (right knee soreness): Day-to-day.
Brandan Wright (right knee soreness): Day-to-day.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Martin (personal): Day-to-day.
Milwaukee Bucks
Michael Carter-Williams (left ankle sprain): His third straight game sidelined, MCW will try to get back on Tuesday vs. Boston. Tyler Ennis, Jerryd Bayless and Greivis Vasquez all fill in while MCW is out.
O.J. Mayo (hamstring): Mayo has yet to play this season.
New Orleans Pelicans
Jrue Holiday (leg): Holiday did not dress on Saturday as part of his limitations in playing back-to-back sets.
Omer Asik (calf): Day-to-day.
Kendrick Perkins (right pectoral injury): Big Perk is expected to miss the next three months.
Orlando Magic
Nikola Vucevic (right knee bone bruise): Vucevic is still feeling pain in the area, but he’s progressing and could return as early as Monday against Indiana. Dewayne Dedmon will log starter’s minutes while Vucevic is sidelined.
Philadelphia 76ers
Robert Covington (sprained right MCL): Targeting mid-November.
Jerami Grant (left eye corneal abrasion): Day-to-day.
Sacramento Kings
Seth Curry (sprained ankle): Day-to-day.
Darren Collison (hamstring strain): After an MRI revealed results that were “not good,” the Kings announced the veteran point guard is officially day-to-day. Seth Curry becomes Rajon Rondo’s backup by default, but I’d expect Rondo to play as much as he can handle, Rudy Gay to do a lot more ballhandling. The Kings’ starting shooting guard spot is a wasteland, and there is no replacement for what Collison brings on this roster.
DeMarcus Cousins (right Achilles strain): Targeting Monday return vs. San Antonio.
Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal (left shoulder): Beal underwent X-rays after hurting his shoulder on Saturday, but the team did not give word on his status. An obviously ominous non-update, more testing is likely to be done on Sunday to determine the severity of the injury. Jared Dudley, Gary Neal and Ramon Sessions would be in line for more playing time if Beal is forced to miss any action.
Martell Webster (partially torn labrum in right hip): Out indefinitely.
Alan Anderson (left ankle surgery): Out indefinitely.
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