Another day, another Anderson Varejao injury. Throw in the Thunder's first game sans Kevin Durant, Jodie Meeks' long-term injury and Giannis Antetokounmpo starting at point guard for the Bucks, there's a lot to breakdown. Tuesday's Box Score Breakdown is here and as Michael Bolton says at the beginning of "Jack Sparrow" -- Let's get to it, to it, to it...

STOCK RISING

Steven Adams -- It feels like everyone bar Thunder coach Scott Brooks knows that Adams is a better player than incumbent starter Kendrick Perkins, but even he can't ignore what Funaki has been doing. Against the Grizzlies, Adams scored 22 points (9-11 FG, 4-5 FT), with six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in just 21 minutes. Adams has now shot over 80 percent, from the field, in all three preseason games and is averaging 18.7 points, 6.0 rebound, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks in just 24 minutes per contest. He is also shooting a respectable 62 percent from the line, including going 7-of-8 over the last two games. He shot 58 percent last season, so any increase is welcome. He is currently being drafted at 140 in ESPN leagues and 137 in Yahoo leagues, both sizeable increases over his rankings on those sites, so people are starting to catch on. If he does start over Perkins, a top 100 fantasy season isn't a complete pipe dream, so he is worth a late round pick. As I say all the time, by the end of the season, you will have turned over three to five of the players you originally drafted, so feel free to grab high upside players in the latter rounds.

STOCK FALLING

Luol Deng -- I haven't been high on Deng this season, and his first appearances in a Heat uniform have done nothing to sway me. He is getting drafted at 67 on ESPN and 77 on Yahoo, but with what he's showing at the moment, it'll be struggle to recommend him inside the top 100. Against the Hawks, Deng scored just two points (1-6 FG, 0-3 3Pt), one rebound, one assist, and one steal in 21 minutes, bringing his four game preseason averages to 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals in 24 minutes, shooting 37 percent from the field and 56 percent from the free throw line. Sure, his minutes will rise in the regular season, but it's not like he's playing significantly less minutes. I want nothing to do with Deng this season, particularly where he is currently getting drafted.

M.I.A.

These guys all sat out Tuesday's action

• Memphis
  • Zach Randolph
  • Tayshaun Prince
  • Marc Gasol
  • Mike Conley
  • Tony Allen
• Oklahoma City
  • Serge Ibaka
  • Kendrick Perkins
  • Kevin Durant (obviously)
  • Reggie Jackson
• New York
  • Pablo Prigioni
• Philadelphia
  • Michael Carter-Williams
  • Arnett Moultrie
  • Jerami Grant
  • Alexey Shved
  • Elliot Williams
• Milwaukee
  • Johnny O'Bryant
  • Larry Sanders
  • Brandon Knight
  • Kendall Marshall
• Cleveland
  • Tristan Thompson
  • LeBron James
  • Kyrie Irving
• Miami
  • Josh McRoberts
  • Udonis Haslem
  • Mario Chalmers
• Houston
  • Clint Capela
  • Jason Terry
  • Dwight Howard
  • James Harden
• NewOrleans
  • Patric Young
  • Tyreke Evans

CASUALTY WARD

Anderson Varejao banged knees during Tuesday's preseason victory over the Bucks and didn't re-enter the game. Coach David Blatt expects him to play Wednesday, but as we know with Sideshow Andy, any slight bump can linger on and on. If this is more serious than expected, Tristan Thompson gets a big bump.

TRACKING POSITION BATTLES

Thunder shooting guard and small forward -- In the first game with Durant, Oklahoma City went with a wing lineup of Andre Roberson and Perry Jones III. Roberson has actually started all three games at the two-guard spot and appears to be the front-runner for the starting gig. Brooks also appears to favor Jones at the three replacing Durant as he started last season when Durant missed time. Against the Grizzlies, Roberson struggled, failing to score (0-4 FG) and grabbed just three rebounds after averaging 4.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 2.0 steals in the first two contests. Jones fared better, scoring 12 points (5-6 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT) with two rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes. Both guys will struggle to make an impact in 12 team leagues, although Roberson could be intriguing if you are after boards and defensive stats.

Knicks' power forward -- Quincy Acy has now started the last three games at power forward, playing between Carmelo Anthony and Samuel Dalembert, with Amar'e Stoudemire coming off the bench. Acy had six points (2-3 FG, 2-4 FT) with six rebounds, two assists and one steal in 27 minutes, and although he seems to be coach Derek Fisher's choice at power forward, he can be ignored in standard format fantasy leagues.

Bucks' rotation -- If you know what the Bucks are going to do, please let me know. Another different lineup for new coach Jason Kidd and it feels like things will keep going this way until the new year. As soon as more concrete information comes to hand, I'll get straight to it.

STRANGE STAT LINES

It's the preseason, so there are a ton of lines that don't always add up, but here, I'll touch on a few that stood out Tuesday.

Jared Dudley -- 15 points (5-6 FG, 5-5 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 23 minutes. Dudley was dead last season in Los Angeles for the Clippers and this shooting outburst comes as somewhat of a surprise. He shot a combined 2-of-10 in the first two preseason games so the accuracy is most definitely not real and I wouldn't be fooled by the five three-pointers made. This screams of a MIRAGE.

Nerlens Noel -- Noel returned from his thigh bruise and looked superb. His line of 12 points (3-5 FG, 6-8 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists, four steals, and one block may appear odd on the surface, (especially the steals), but I feel this is something we can expect on the regular for the rookie big man. In a head-to-head league, Noel could be this season's best rookie and a top 50 player. REAL.

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

Anthony Davis -- Davis exploded for 26 points (9-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 8-10 FT) with eight rebounds, one steal, and four blocks in 31 minutes. He's likely to ascent to the number one spot in many drafts now and this sort of performance does nothing to dissuade me from grabbing him in the top two. Onward and upward!

ROOKIE OF THE NIGHT

Nerlens Noel -- As I mentioned above, Noel had a big night. The steals are not, I repeat, are not, an anomaly. He's likely to get over a steal a game combined with high block numbers and the fantasy friendly Sixers' offense, he projects to be this season's fantasy rookie of the year.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. Anthony Davis, C, NOP 26 points (9-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 8-10 FT)
2. Kevin Love, F, CLE 25 points (8-11 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT)
3. Paul Millsap, F, ATL, Jeremy Lamb, G, OKC, Dion Waiters, G, CLE all with 23 points

Rebounds

1. Nerlens Noel, C, PHI 11 rebounds
2. Omer Asik, C, NOP 10 rebounds
3. Chris Bosh, C, MIA, Ersan Ilyasova,

Assists

1. Russell Westbrook, G, OKC 12 assists
2. Matthew Dellavedova, G, CLE 9 assists
3. Jerryd Bayless, G, MIL 9 assists

Steals

1. James Ennis, F, MIA 5 steals
2. Nerlens Noel, C, PHI 4 steals
3. Tarik Black, F, HOU 4 steals

Blocks

1. Anthony Davis, C, NOP 4 blocks
2. Samuel Dalembert, C, NYK 3 blocks
3. Elton Brand, F, ATL 3 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Kevin Love, F, CLE 5-7 3Pt
2. Kyle Korver, F, ATL 5-10 3Pt
3. Jared Dudley, G, MIL 5-5 3Pt

Minutes

1. Jeremy Lamb, G, OKC 35 minutes
2. Nerlens Noel, F, PHI 34 minutes
3. Henry Sims, C, PHI 34 minutes