Well, the cable went out and I wasn't able to continue watching the Game of Thrones marathon. On the bright side, I watched the Knicks win, Cameron Payne marvel, and LeBron James decide he needed to prove something against the Nuggets.

HOSPITAL WARD

I witnessed Darrell Arthur aggravate his back after throwing down a monster jam. He stayed in the game and blocked a shot on the next play. You could tell he was grimacing, but coach Malone left him out there. I don't know if Arthur will play tonight against the Blazers. In fact, I didn't see an injury reported anywhere.

M.I.A.

• Atlanta
  • Dennis Schroder (DNP-CD)
  • Tiago Splitter (calf)
• Cleveland
  • Kyrie Irving (DNP-rest)
• Denver
  • Danilo Gallinari (ankle)
  • Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle)
  • Jusuf Nurkic (knee)
• Detroit
  • Jodie Meeks (back)
  • Steve Blake (DNP-CD)
• Houston
  • Terrence Jones (illness)
• Memphis
  • Matt Barnes (suspension)
  • Brandan Wright (knee)
  • Jordan Adams (knee)
• Miami
  • Justise Winslow (ankle)
  • Josh McRoberts (knee)
• Milwaukee
  • Damien Inglis (ankle)
  • Greivis Vasquez (ankle)
• New York
  • Lou Amundson (back)

ROTATION NOTES

Brandon Jennings made his season debut after rupturing an Achilles nearly 12 months ago. He replaced Steve Blake as the primary backup point guard and played 17 minutes.  Jennings definitely didn't look for his shot, instead focusing on creating for his teammates, but since the rest of the second unit is underwhelming, Jennings' assist total didn't impress on the first night. The eye test matched the numbers, because, per NBA.com's player tracking data, Jennings racked up 13 potential assists - passes by a player to a teammate in which the teammate attempts a shot, and if made, would be an assist. That number is more than LeBron James,Eric Bledsoe, and Jeff Teague average on the season and Jennings did that in 17 minutes. Imagine if his teammates were competent and he wasn't sharing the court with Stanley Johnson and Aron Baynes. Jennings finished the game with seven points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four assists, and one rebound. All seven of his points came in the final minute with the game out of reach.

If Jennings is only the backup point guard, rostering him becomes tough. I, however, think he'll eventually receive 4-8 minutes as a combo guard alongside Reggie Jackson. The presumed dual role will elevate his value. Jackson and Jennings are the only capable facilitators on the roster, and Jackson has improved his outside shot to help space the floor with Jennings on the ball. If you can wade through a few weeks of Jennings getting 16 minutes a night, I think it's worth the payoff to add him. It's all about properly managing expectations.

Ty Lawson (26) played more minutes than Patrick Beverley (21) in a close game where injuries and foul trouble weren't an issue. This is the second straight game Lawson outplayed Beverley, and it's the Rockets' second straight loss. I think the Rockets are showcasing Lawson to get him out of there ASAP, and the move has crushed Beverley's oddball fantasy value. He's recorded but two steals in the last five games and reached 30 minutes once in that span. I would hold onto Beverley based on the next two opponents - Golden State and San Antonio - but after that, it appears Lawson will reclaim the minutes. If you'd rather cut ties before sitting through two potential zeroes from Beverley, Lawson isn't an attractive replacement, and I think you can stream that spot with hot free agents.

Zach Randolph started because Matt Barnes served the first game of his two-game suspension. Since the Grizzlies only play twice this week, Barnes won't be able to contribute until next Monday. Randolph provided 17 points (7-10 FG, 3-3 FT), seven rebounds, and three assists in a matchup that suited his play style. It's unclear if coach Joerger will revert to the smaller lineup when Barnes returns, but Tony Allen's presence the previous four games dropped Barnes below 30 minutes a night. Barnes offered a lethal combination of threes, steals, and blocks, swatting 14 shots over a nine-game cluster in mid-December. The Grizzlies were 4-5 with the new-age starting lineup, but all the advanced stats supported the move. I consider Barnes a hold. That doesn't mean you have to if he's the last man on your bench or his diminished playing time scares you off him.

Dennis Schroder did not play. He wasn't on the injury report and there was no mention of discipline. Coach Budenholzer wanted to see how Shelvin Mack performed, which resulted in five points on 2-of-9 shooting in 15 minutes. I'm cool with coaches running their rotation how they see fit. They have 82 games to experiment before the postseason, and they don't get enough practice time throughout the season. The Hawks get four days off before their next game, and that may explain why Jeff Teague played more combined minutes in the last two games than he did in any other consecutive games this year. After Teague played a season-high 35 minutes on Monday, he was on the court for 33 minutes last night.

Greg Monroe played 20 minutes and Jabari Parker played 18 minutes. Joe Prunti has taken over for Jason Kidd on an interim basis. Both Monroe and Parker failed to offer resistance against the Thunder, thus cementing their fate. Monroe's legit; don't worry about him. Parker, on the other hand, has failed to score at least 10 points in four of the last five games, and if he's not scoring, he's not helping you in fantasy leagues. To be frank, he wasn't exactly helping you before the cold streak. Parker has attempted four three-pointers all season, and he's near the bottom of the league in combined assists, steals, blocks, and three-pointers. His stats are eerily similar to Stanley Johnson this season, a comparison devoid of confidence. Cling to Parker if you must, but I never expected large returns his first year back from a torn ACL.

Matthew Dellavedova started because Kyrie Irving rested the second night of a back-to-back. It will be the last time Irving doesn't play both legs of a back-to-back. The Cavaliers next back-to-back begins January 15th - reason behind the lifted restriction. I will continue to vouch for Dellavedova's fantasy usefulness when Irving plays. He's the clear backup point guard behind a guy who's six months removed from a fractured kneecap.

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

Al Horford: 30 points (11-15 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block, 36 minutes

Horford hit a career-high five three-pointers en route to a season-high 30 points. All of his attempts were wide open because Dwight Howard sagged in the paint on pick-and-rolls. Horford made five three-pointers in his previous 12 games combined, going 5-of-29 over that stretch. His field goal attempts have trended down each month, but his production remains steady. His efficiency last night pushed him over the top, but as mentioned earlier, the Hawks get four days off, potentially explaining last night's expanded playing time.

ROOKIE OF THE NIGHT

Cameron Payne: 16 points (5-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three assists, three rebounds, one steal, 16 minutes

Payne proved why he deserves minutes over D.J. Augustin. The rookie was running point with the starters, Russell Westbrook included, during the fourth quarter and ran some exotic pick-and-rolls with Enes Kanter. It was his second straight game in the rotation after spending the season in and out of the D-League. I considered adding him in a dynasty league, but I'm in win-now mode and I can't foresee Payne playing more than 15 minutes a night or sustaining this highly efficient effort. He provided a spark of energy in his limited minutes, and it appears he will remain the backup point guard for quite some time. He won't fare as well in every game, but the job is his to lose. He would need to leapfrog Dion Waiters before gaining serious traction in standard leagues. That may happen by the end of January.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH

James Harden: 26 points (6-16 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 11-12 FT), 10 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, seven turnovers, 39 minutes

Harden is shooting 40 percent on three-pointers in December, a 10-percent improvement from the start of the season. And though he leads the league in minutes per game (38.1), he's averaging 36.2 minutes per game in December, placing him outside the top-10 this month. For the season, Harden is averaging 28.4 points, 6.9 assists, and 6.1 rebounds, making him the 10th player in history to record those stats. It appears Harden is finally in game shape and ready to dominate statistically the rest of the season, even if the team results are on the negative side.

Marc Gasol: 23 points (8-18 FG, 7-7 FT), eight rebounds, six assists, four blocks, 44 minutes

After experiencing neck spasms early in November, Gasol turned his season around. His last 17 games have been spectacular: 17.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.7 blocks, 49 percent field goal, and 85 percent free-throw in 35 minutes per game. He achieved that with two distinct starting lineups while working out of the elbow and post areas, charting as a top-2 hub in both zones. The Grizzles are the only team spared the rigors of a back-to-back set in January, a positive schedule break.

You may have to worry about a potential left ankle problem for Gasol. According to the AP recap, Gasol was playing on a bum ankle. Based on the research, Gasol dealt with a similar injury on December 9th and he messed it up last night late in the game but stayed in. The Grizzlies don't play for another three days, providing plenty of time for swelling to subside.

Michael Carter-Williams: 19 points (8-14 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 2-6 FT), nine rebounds, nine assists, two steals, 32 minutes

I'm trying to trade Carter-Williams for Victor Oladipo. I don't think his recent performance is sustainable or endurable with Jerryd Bayless coming off the bench. Carter-Williams did hit four jumpers outside the paint, a minor miracle. I'm just not sold on Carter-Williams as a starting point guard.

Russell Westbrook: 27 points (10-22 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 7-8 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists, five steals, 35 minutes

Rinse. Lather. Repeat.

Kevin Durant: 26 points (6-18 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 13-13 FT), eight assists, six rebounds, one steal, one blocks, 39 minutes

Durant is shooting 51.9 percent from the field, 40.8 percent on three-pointers, and 89.8 percent from the free-throw line. He's hit a three-pointer in every game this season, and over the past month, he's averaging 5.9 assists per game, which is slightly less than Eric Bledsoe, Deron Williams, and Kyle Lowry.

BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

Derrick Williams scored 16 of his 18 points (5-9 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 7-9 FT) in the fourth quarter. My dislike of Williams is beyond the outer limits of reality. For that reason, my default advice is to avoid Williams like the plague. No good will come to you. I hope Williams plays well and opts out of his contract next season.

Robin Lopez blocked a season-high six shots in a season-high 36 minutes, the exact same playing time as Andre Drummond, the victim of Lopez's swats. Because he defended Drummond exquisitely, Lopez's excessive minutes were warranted. On most nights, Kristaps Porzingis receives extensive minutes at center, marginalizing Lopez. Because Porzingis only played 18 minutes last night, I'm not worried about a Lopez revival. Coach Fisher remarked last week that Lopez was still struggling with the offensive aspects of the triangle, mainly due to teammates' stagnation.

As eluded to, Andre Drummond had his shot blocked six times, failed to grab at least 10 rebounds in 36 minutes, and shot 5-of-15 from the floor. Wipe this game from the memory banks.

Kyle Korver went 0-for-11 and missed all 10 three-point attempts, failing to hit a three-pointer in his last 18 attempts. Over the past four games, Korver is 2-of-26 on threes. I have a believable answer to the struggles: surgery. Korver underwent ankle and right elbow surgery after the postseason. Instead of spending the summer working on his shot, Korver was rehabbing and didn't start shooting without pain until September. His routine was compromised. He shot 34 percent on threes in the preseason and improved slightly to 36 percent in 32 regular season games. The loss of DeMarre Carroll promoted wild card Kent Bazemore, the team's most accurate three-point shooter at 41 percent, into the starting lineup. The entire world is upside down, and it's all because the 34-year-old Korver couldn't work on his craft this summer. He had this to say last week:

"I'm kind of caught between two shots. I'm locking in on my mechanics, thinking about something when I'm shooting the ball, and it's weird. But I feel like things are starting to come together."

Paul Millsap is the only player in the league averaging at least 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block this season. Last night's 22 points (9-20 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 13 rebounds, four assists, a season-high five blocks, and one steal in 35 minutes met the desired criteria.

Dwight Howard accumulated a season-high 30 points (10-12 FG, 10-18 FT), 16 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in 38 minutes. The Rockets entered the game with two off days, and Terrence Jones (illness) didn't participate. Howard's initial defender was Paul Millsap, and that led to a ton of alley-oops. Once Al Horford moved onto Howard, he switched to his post-up game, which could be a weapon if he ever harnessed it. Howard attempted 10 free throws in the fourth quarter, most of which derived from intentional fouls. I read last week that James Harden and Howard, in their third season as teammates, were finally practicing pick-and-roll sets. That was evident last night, and it paid off. If they stick with that formula, Howard is on target for a stellar 2016. Also of note, the Rockets place near the bottom of the league in back-to-backs over the final three months.

Hassan Whiteside recorded his seventh assist this season, a career-high. He also blocked five shots and grabbed 11 rebounds prior to fouling out in 37 minutes. Whiteside hasn't blocked fewer than three shots in the last seven games, six games shy of his career-high.

Khris Middleton scored a career-high 36 points (13-22 FG, 6-9 3Pt, 4-4 FT), handed out seven assists, and procured a steal in 37 minutes. He only made three baskets in the paint. I fully expected Middleton's deterioration into a bit player this season, but nothing could be further from the truth. He's playing a team-high 35 minutes a night and connecting on 45 percent of his three-pointers as the team's lone long-range threat in the starting lineup. His stats have held firm for the third straight season, steals not included. His accuracy plummets when he tries to create his own shot - he's shooting 36 percent when dribbling the ball at least once. Watch out for when the Bucks possess a league-average distributor; Middleton would dominate under those circumstances.

John Henson blocked five shots in 25 minutes. You're welcome, anyone who heeded my advice in the Category Strategy article this week.

Will Barton composed 29 points (11-20 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, two blocks, and one assist in 34 minutes. You don't have to sell-high on Barton because he's a solid NBA player, but don't expect a continuation of his prodigious scoring streak when Danilo Gallinari (ankle) returns this weekend. Barton plays six fewer minutes per game when Gallinari suits up, a byproduct of them sharing the same position. With Gallinari inked to a new deal, it's feasible the Nuggets offload him this year for picks and guard depth. The table below charts Barton's per-100-possession numbers based on Gallinari's presence. Barton conducts more of the offense without Gallinari, so prepare for a noticeable statistical drop-off. It's not going to send Barton into a tailspin; it's just a friendly warning about the inevitable. Also, Gallinari has been struggling with his shot around the rim and in the fourth quarter.

LeBron James made 7-of-12 shots outside the paint and finished the game with 34 points (13-24 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 7-8 FT), six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in 34 minutes. He looked half-engaged on defense, a step up from his typical, blasé nature. I think LeBron decided that he was going to play hard without Kyrie Irving (rest) in the lineup. What makes this more impressive is that it was the second game of a back-to-back for the Cavaliers in Denver. The team has three days off before playing on Saturday.

I feel a responsibility to remind you that James will likely miss sporadic games in March as the Cavaliers clinch a playoff berth. I would look to trade him now while his value has risen over the past month due to the improved free-throw shooting. The Cavaliers play the most games after December, which reeks of rest days for a playoff-bound team.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. Khris Middleton, G, MIL: 36 points
2. LeBron James, F, CLE: 34 points
3. Al Horford, C, ATL: 30 points
4. Dwight Howard, C, HOU: 30 points

Rebounds

1. Dwight Howard, C, HOU: 16 rebounds
2. Al Horford, C, ATL: 14 rebounds
3. Kevin Love, F, CLE: 14 rebounds

Assists

1. Reggie Jackson, G, DET: 9 assists
2. Michael Carter-Williams, G, MIL: 9 assists
3. Four players tied with eight assists

Steals

1. Russell Westbrook, G, OKC: 5 steals
2. Jeff Teague, G, ATL: 3 steals
3. Dwyane Wade, G, MIA: 3 steals
4. Ersan Ilyasova, F, DET: 3 steals

Blocks

1. Robin Lopez, C, NYK: 6 blocks
2. Paul Millsap, F, ATL: 5 blocks
3. Hassan Whiteside, C, MIA: 5 blocks
4. John Henson, C, MIL: 5 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Khris Middleton, F, MIL: 6-9 3Pt
2. Al Horford, C, ATL: 5-7 3Pt
3. Kent Bazemore, F, ATL: 5-9 3Pt

Minutes

1. Marc Gasol, C, MEM: 44 minutes
2. Goran Dragic, G, MIA: 41 minutes
3. Chris Bosh, F, MIA: 41 minutes