Basketball Daily Dose: Texas 2-step: Kawhi & Salah
With 12 games and limited space, I’m going to try to ignore the guys owned in all leagues and focus on the ones who could be a difference maker right now (Salah Mejri), or the ones who got injured. Here we go and you can follow me on Twitter by clicking here.
Blazers 109, Mavericks 103 – Dallas desperately wanted to win this game to avoid a first-round matchup with the Spurs, but it wasn’t meant to be. The Blazers started Moe Harkless in this one (benching Noah Vonleh) and it paid off, as Harkless had 14 points and a decent line, and Al-Farouq Aminu came through with 10 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, two blocks and a 3-pointer, despite hitting just 3-of-12 shots. Both are worth keeping an eye on, but neither is a must-own player. Mason Plumlee came through with a solid 10 points, eight boards, three steals and two blocks, and is a serviceable center right now, and Damian Lillard had another big game. C.J. McCollum was quiet, but still had 14 points and four assists in one of his worst games of the season (5-of-14 shooting). Ed Davis is worth keeping a close eye on with Meyers Leonard out (shoulder) and had 16 points, nine boards and three steals for one of his best games of the season, but he also hit 6-of-7 shots (fluky).
Center Salah Mejri was one of the stories of the night, backing up Sunday’s 13 points, 14 boards and six blocks with 14 points, 12 boards and a block last night. He played 30 minutes and is starting, while David Lee and Zaza Pachulia are fading. Mejri now looks like the pickup of the night, so go get him! Deron Williams double-doubled, Wes Matthews scored 22 and Dirk Nowitzki had 21 in the loss. J.J. Barea and Devin Harris are also worth keeping an eye on after playing well last night off the bench.
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Spurs 112, Heat 88 – The Spurs destroyed the Heat and Kawhi Leonard went off for career high-tying 32 points, eight boards and three 3-pointers, but also suffered a quad injury that forced him from the game (it doesn’t look serious). You have to think the Spurs will be careful with him, so watch for updates. LaMarcus Aldridge was very quiet in the blowout and Leonard was the only starter to hit double figures in scoring. Boban Marjanovic led the bench with 19 points, four boards and zero blocks in just 14 minutes, and Kevin Martin scored 12, but trying to figure out who to use in fantasy for the Spurs on a nightly basis is next to impossible. The Spurs improved to 36-0 at home.
The Heat were bad and only Dwyane Wade scored in double figures for the starters, meaning Joe Johnson and Goran Dragic had off nights. Luol Deng sat out with a sore quad and Hassan Whiteside had another double-double off the bench. I’m still not sure why they don’t start him. Justin Richardson was quiet for much of the game but ended up with 17 points, four assists, three steals, a block and three 3-pointers. He disappeared in his previous game, but bounced back nicely last night and I still like the idea of owning him in standard leagues. I just don’t trust him in DFS as much.
Warriors 114, Clippers 98 – The Warriors improved to 33-0 at home, Stephen Curry broke out of his mini-funk, and they’re just eight wins from tying the Bulls for the best record of all time. I could see Curry getting a rest against the Sixers on Sunday, but that’s just me thinking ahead, and not coming from Steve Kerr. Here’s the remaining schedule: Dallas, Philly, Washington, @Utah, Boston, Portland, Minnesota, Spurs, @Memphis, @Spurs, Memphis. It’s not going to be easy, but the record is clearly in reach. I could also see them really trying to win at San Antonio in April, as the Spurs are also still undefeated at home, and the Minnesota game is another spot Curry could get a rest. Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were all great last night.
The Clippers got a monster 19 & 20 line from DeAndre Jordan and the Dubs bottled up Chris Paul for 13 points, six boards and eight dimes on 4-of-16 shooting. J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford shot it poorly, while Jeff Green had 13 points and four steals in 25 minutes off the bench. If Green ends up back in the starting lineup, he’s probably worth a look, as Paul Pierce and Luc Mbah a Moute don’t offer much. Austin Rivers had 16 and has hit double digits in three of his last four, making him worth a deep-league look.
Cavaliers 113, Bucks 104 – Kevin Love returned from an illness and played well with 24 points, 10 boards, a steal, two blocks and four 3-pointers. Why can’t we get this Love every night? J.R. Smith had 13 points and three 3-pointers and has now scored 13 and 15 in his last two on 50 percent shooting. Maybe he’s ready to get hot. Tristan Thompson came off the bench but played 30 minutes and had a 13 & 10 double-double, along with two blocks. He struggled in his previous two games, but now has a dub-dub in two of his last four. And with Love back, Channing Frye is shaky, at best. He was 0-for-5 in 13 minutes off the bench. LeBron James played well and made waves by saying he’d take a paycut to play with Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. I’ll believe it when I see it. Kyrie Irving flirted with a triple-double in the win.
Jerryd Bayless finally got hot and hit 6-of-9 shots and three 3-pointers for 15 points, but just one assist. Bayless struggled in his previous two, but is still the only point guard in Milwaukee. He was the only Bucks sleeper to play well, while Giannis Antetokounmpo played with LeBron to a virtual tie. Khris Middleton also had a career-high 11 assists to go with nine points.
Celtics 91, Raptors 79 – The Celtics got a big win as all five starters played very well. Amir Johnson double-doubled against his old team, Jared Sullinger just missed one, while Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas and Evan Turner all put up nice stats. The bench, including Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart, was pretty bad and the starters are who you want to mess with in Boston right now, although I don’t trust Amir.
Kyle Lowry sat out with a sore elbow and the Raps paid the price in a loss. Jonas Valanciunas played through a hand injury and had 10 points, seven boards and two blocks, but Bismack Biyombo still managed 13 boards and a block off the pine, although he didn’t score. Cory Joseph started for Lowry and had nine points, six boards and four dimes, but hit just 4-of-16 shots, and Lowry should be back Saturday against Houston. Terrence Ross is worth monitoring after playing 36 minutes and hitting 5-of-18 shots for 13 points, three boards and a steal. He continues to get run, but doesn’t do much with it. Patrick Patterson was out again with a sprained ankle so Jason Thompson had six points, 10 boards and a block.
Pistons 118, Magic 102 – All five Pistons starters scored in double digits and Andre Drummond had a big double-double with 30 & 14. Darrun Hilliard started in place of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who was ill. Hilliard had 11 points and six boards, but KCP should be back soon. Stanley Johnson had 13 points, eight boards and three 3-pointers off the bench, but will take a hit when KCP returns.
Aaron Gordon broke out of a funk with 15 points, 11 boards and a 3-pointer and might be turning the corner. Elfrid Payton came off the bench again and got hot for a 20-10-10 triple-double, and should be starting very soon. Brandon Jennings did nothing in his start, Evan Fournier and a red-hot Victor Oladipo each scored just 14, as Dipo hit just 5-of-18 shots. If Payton was dropped in your league, go get him.
