The Daily Dose: Dose: Warriors now 48-4!
There were 12 games in the Association on Wednesday and space is limited. We’re going to dive in and focus on the players who can make a difference for your fantasy team and the injuries. Follow me on Twitter by clicking here.
Hornets 117, Pacers 95 – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a dislocated right shoulder on Wednesday and just returned recently from right shoulder surgery, so this is very concerning. Hang on until we get more info, but this could potentially end his season. Nicolas Batum is the winner if MKG is done, with Jeremy Lin also getting a big boost. Cody Zeller had 11 & 11 and is worth a look if you need a big, while Lin had 14 and a great stat line, and Jeremy Lamb had 16 points in just 14 minutes. Lamb would also see a bump if MKG is out.
The Pacers were a mess last night as Paul George was the only one to really do anything of note. Myles Turner was quiet in just 23 minutes, while George Hill and Monta Ellis never got it going, despite playing 32-plus minutes each. Ian Mahinmi (8 & 8) is worth a look if you’re desperate for a big man. And the fact Jordan Hill went down with a dislocated right ring finger adds to the intrigue of Mahinmi, and keeps Turner as a must-own player.
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Spurs 98, Magic 96 – Kawhi Leonard hit the game-winner in this one and had another huge game with 29 points and a fun line, and LaMarcus Aldridge stayed hot with 21 points, seven boards and two blocks. Tony Parker was out with an ankle injury, but should be fine after the break. Ray McCallum started at PG, but played just 17 minutes, and Patty Mills went off for 17 points, six boards, seven assists and three 3-pointers in 31 minutes off the bench. Any time Parker’s out, Mills is the guy with the best chance at success. Tim Duncan (knee) finally returned after missing nine of his last 10 games, but had just five points and seven boards. I don’t know that I’d bother holding onto him, as the Spurs will be trying to keep him healthy for the playoffs. Danny Green was decent with 12 points and two 3-pointers on 4-of-11 shooting, but he played 35 minutes. The arrow is pointing up on Green.
For the Magic, Aaron Gordon had 14 rebounds, a steal and two blocks, but hit just 1-of-6 shots. A big second half should be coming. Evan Fournier led the way with 28 points and three 3-pointers, and has looked much better lately, but keep in mind Tobias Harris was out with an ankle injury. He should be back after the break, assuming he’s not traded. Still, Fournier is worth a pickup in most leagues.
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Kings 114, Sixers 110 – DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo were great, and Darren Collison came off the bench for 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Ben McLemore (wrist) was out again, but Collison, and not Marco Belinelli, came through in his absence. Willie Cauley-Stein played just 17 minutes and didn’t do much, and he’s a tough player to count on right now. But I still feel like he’s going to be a decent player to own after the break. Omri Casspi has also been quiet lately and had just two points in his one. Patience.
For the Sixers, Nerlens Noel was a late scratch with a sore right knee, but I’m guessing he’s fine after the break. Jerami Grant got the start in his place and went off for seven points, six boards, six assists, four blocks and a 3-pointer, but left with a leg injury. He’s day-to-day, and is usually only worth using if Noel or Jahlil Okafor are out. Okafor had a big double-double (26 & 10), and Robert Covington scored a career-high 29 points with seven 3-pointers and six steals. He came in struggling, but blew up and should be picked up if you have someone to drop. I don’t fully trust him, but Ro-Co could be primed for a solid post-break run. Nik Stauskas started and had 16 points, three assists and four 3-pointers in 31 minutes, and is worth keeping an eye on, but the fact Noel was out helped Sauce, Covington and Grant.
Grizzlies 109, Nets 90 – JaMychal Green started in place of Marc Gasol (broken foot) and hit 5-of-6 shots and a 3-pointer for 13 points, four rebounds and a steal. I’d rather hold Brandan Wright (returning soon from knee surgery) with Gasol’s injury, but Green’s also possibly worth a short-term look. Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Jeff Green all played well tonight, and that trend will continue with Gasol’s season in doubt.
For the Nets, Joe Johnson didn’t even score on Wednesday, missing all three of his shots in 23 minutes, but he’s not hurt. He was playing well coming in, and was bothered by Tony Allen’s D in this one. Wayne Ellington started and scored 18 with four 3-pointers, and while he’s completely hit-or-miss from night to night, he’s worth keeping an eye on. PGs Donald Sloan and Shane Larkin combined for 14 assists, but did nothing else, and the Nets bench didn’t do much of anything.
Nuggets 103, Pistons 92 – Center Nikola Jokic started and played 25 minutes, finishing with five points, six rebounds and zero blocks. Meanwhile, Jusuf Nurkic came off the bench to hit 8-of-12 shots for 16 points, 11 boards, a steal and a block in one of his best games of the season. Jokic was rolling two weeks ago, but the timeshare is back in full effect. Add in the fact that Joffrey Lauvergne played 21 minutes, and I’m simply confused by this situation. At this point, Jokic is still a hold and Nurkic is a pickup, but who knows where this is headed? Emmanuel Mudiay (14-4-6) played well and Will Barton had 20 off the bench, but the center job in Denver is officially the most confusing big-man position not located in Boston.
Ersan Ilyasova was out for the Pistons due to an illness so Anthony Tolliver started and had six points, seven boards, two steals, a block and two 3-pointers in 35 minutes. Ghostface Ilya will be back for the next one, so don’t get too excited about Tolliver. Reggie Jackson was also out with the flu, so Brandon Jennings got the start and had 16 points and four 3-pointers. Again, Jackson will be fine, so don’t get excited. Marcus Morris, Stanley Johnson and Andre Drummond all played well in the loss, although Stan’s 5-of-16 shooting, and Drummond’s 7-of-22 hits left plenty to be desired.
Pelicans 100, Jazz 96 – Anthony Davis and Norris Cole were kind of quiet in this one, but both are going to be much better on most nights. Cole is a must-own player as far as I’m concerned, as Tyreke Evans’ season appears to be over due to his inevitable knee surgery. Jrue Holiday came through with 21 points, six boards and nine assists as the Pelicans hung on for the win. Ryan Anderson struggled and Alexis Ajinca had eight points and 11 boards, but there’s no news here. Grab Cole, forget about Ajinca and hold Anderson.
For the Jazz, Derrick Favors went off for 29 points (no blocks, third straight game), Gordon Hayward scored 21, Rudy Gobert double-doubled with 12-14-2, and Rodney Hood had 15 points, two threes and a solid line. Hood is must-own, along with the aforementioned players, and Raul Neto is worth consideration in very deep leagues. The Jazz bench did nothing, outside of a total of 10 points with 12 boards.
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