The Golden State Warriors are on a 12-game winning streak. The Detroit Pistons are on a 12-game losing streak. On one hand, you get to coach a great group of players. On the other hand, you're Stan Van Gundy with complete power over a bunch of malcontents and half a game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. History may one day look fondly over Van Gundy's decision to spurn the Warriors so that he could give Jodie Meeks $18.8 million, but today is not that day.

HOSPITAL WARD

Brook Lopez. Surely, you've heard of him. Large man; deep, booming voice. Played 17 games last season and underwent offseason foot surgery. Has a twin brother. Well, Lopez will miss the next 7-10 days (4-6 games) due to a lower back strain. One of two things could happen here: 1). Kevin Garnett shifts to center, similar to last season, and Mirza Teletovic starts or 2). Mason Plumlee, owner of a 41 percent field goal and free-throw mark, gets inserted into the starting lineup to maintain the rotation's integrity. Teletovic is averaging 24.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 4.5 three-pointers in two starts this season, potentially marking him as the interim starter. Also, I believe I read a week or two ago that Jerome Jordan is ahead of Plumlee in the rotation. In his two starts, Plumlee is averaging 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 16.2 minutes.

Ian Mahinmi will miss the next 6-8 weeks (18-25 games) because of a torn plantar fascia. He was averaging 18.3 minutes per game, which were significantly boosted when Roy Hibbert missed time with an ankle issue. As a reserve, Mahinmi was averaging 16.9 minutes per game, most of which shall be divvied up between Luis Scola and Lavoy Allen.

Luke Babbitt sprained his left knee and didn't return. The Pelicans play the Knicks on Tuesday. If Babbitt misses that and any subsequent game, Ryan Anderson and Austin Rivers will get more minutes.

M.I.A.

• Dallas
  • Raymond Felton (ankle)
• Denver
  • Kenneth Faried (back)
  • Nate Robinson (back)
  • JaVale McGee (tibia)
• Memphis
  • Vince Carter (DNP-CD)
• Miami
  • Chris Andersen (ankle)
  • Danny Granger (DNP-CD)
• Milwaukee
  • John Henson (ankle)
  • Ersan Ilyasova (face)
• Oklahoma City
  • Mitch McGary (inactive)
  • Perry Jones (DNP-CD)

ROTATION NOTES

Ed Davis and Ronnie Price replaced Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin in the starting lineup. The maneuver snapped Boozer's streak of 588 consecutive games as a starter. Davis becomes ownable in most leagues even though the starter tag shouldn't influence anyone's decision. What really matters are the minutes. His subpar free-throw mark makes me hesitant in rotisserie leagues. Lin is a hold in most leagues because his competition is Ronnie Price. Also, coming off the bench will give him more freedom to improvise with the ball in his hands. If you'll remember, some of Lin's best games last year with the Rockets were as a reserve. I don't know how long this change holds, but coach Byron Scott said this to the media:

"If you look at our record, we have to make changes - at least think I do. As a coach, I'm not going to stand pat and just watch it continue to be played this way. So to me, it was a no-brainer. The reason is obviously on the defensive end. The last five games I've been thinking about this."

J.J. Hickson started for Kenneth Faried (lower back strain) and scored four points (1-6 FG, 2-2 FT), grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked a shot in 20 minutes after picking up five fouls. Faried was questionable prior to tip-off, and his status for tonight's game in Toronto should carry over.

Luol Deng's return to the starting lineup displaced Danny Granger, who received a DNP-CD. Norris Cole reappeared after a two-game hiatus, shifting Mario Chalmers to the bench. Chalmers predictably outplayed Cole in the game and on the box score.

Larry Sanders returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench Friday with an illness. He joined the rest of the starters and the man he supplanted, Zaza Pachulia, in double-figures, finishing the game with 10 points (5-7 FG), nine rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and one assist in 28 minutes. It's only the second time he's played at least 28 minutes, highly influenced by his 6.3 fouls per 36 minutes (highest mark of any starter).

Kelly Olynyk was scoreless in 17 minutes off the bench after picking up four fouls. Tyler Zeller, the starting center, added eight points (2-6 FG, 4-4 FT), eight rebounds, one block, and one assist in 27 minutes. Neither has produced enough to run away with the job, and Olynyk can't stay on the court because he's averaging 4.0 fouls in 24.7 minutes per game. It's an old fashioned slap fight favoring Zeller because the Celtics have won three games in a row.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH

Rajon Rondo attempted a season-high in shots for the second consecutive but only converted 5-of-17 from the field. He earned the 31st triple-double of his career, supplying 13 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and three steals in 34 minutes. He shot 2-of-4 from the free-throw line, raising his yearly average from 30 percent to 32 percent.

John Wall led the Wizards with 17 points (5-13 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 7-8 FT), 14 assists, eight rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in 42 minutes. He did everything except hit a three-pointer. Call me crazy, but that performance wins the Fantasy Line of the Night. I may have mentioned this last time, but Wall leads all point guards in steals (2.2) and blocks (0.7) per game. He's also tied with Chris Paul for most double-doubles (11) by a guard, cementing his place inside the top-10 fantasy producers this season.

Russell Westbrook continues to take advantage of Kevin Durant's minutes limit, posting 22 points (9-19 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 3-6 FT), 11 rebounds, and seven assists in 35 minutes. Even with Durant's return, Westbrook leads the league in usage rate at 38.3 percent, dropping to 33.7 percent when the two share the court.

BOXSCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

Bradley Beal did what Bradley Beal is wont to do. He took a bunch of mid-range jumpers and missed them. He finished the game 4-of-18 from the field but only attempted four shots at the rim. You can thank Avery Bradley for forcing and contesting those long jumpers, as well as Randy Wittman's offensive scheme. Aside from the 10 points, Beal recorded a single block in 36 minutes. People expect so much from Beal even though he's never proven to be a top-75 fantasy asset in his injury-riddled career (except for the stretch last season where he played 40 minutes per game). Simply put, he's attempted 15 free-throws in 10 games this season and is scoring a career-low 7.7 percent of his points from the charity stripe. I remember watching him attack the basket more often during his rookie season, just before the stress fracture in his tibia ended his year. Perhaps that issue still lingers. I just wish he'd stop settling for 19-footers that drown his efficiency.

Rasual Butler missed his first four shots, didn't make a basket until eight minutes left in the third quarter, sank six three-pointers, and scored 14 of his 22 points (8-17 FG, 6-10 3Pt) in the fourth quarter. That's a lot to digest. Essentially, Butler has assumed Trevor Ariza's role from last season: sit in the corner and hit a wide open three-pointer when John Wall passes you the ball. Over the past six games, he's averaged 17.3 points, 1.2 steals, and 2.8 three-pointers while shooting a blistering 54.9 percent from the field and 54.8 percent from downtown. It's flier territory even with Bradley Beal and Paul Pierce in front of him because Wittman has run those three guys out in the same lineup.

Marcus Thornton, sensing a loss of job security as Marcus Smart gets brought along slowly, scored 21 points (7-12 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), blocked two shots and grabbed two rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. He failed to score double-digits in five of his previous six games, so don't worry about him in almost all cases.

Ty Lawson recorded 10 assists, the eighth consecutive game reaching double figure assists, in 44 minutes. His 1-of-10 performance from the field and four total points sullied an otherwise decent line and ended a streak of six double-doubles. Every time I write about Lawson, I need to bring up the ankle issues that hampered his early season productivity.

Wilson Chandler scored a season-high 29 points (12-22 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 1-1 FT), grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out two assists in 37 minutes. He's scored double-digits in 17 of his last 18 games and is somehow still healthy.

Josh McRoberts had his best numerical game of the season in just 28 minutes against the Grizzlies. He scored a season-high 14 points (6-8 FG, 2-3 3Pt), grabbed five boards and dropped five dimes in the process. All of his shots were at the rim or behind the three-point line. Shawne Williams played a season-low 12 minutes, so it appears safe to re-add McRoberts in leagues where you're happy with 8+ points, 4+ assists, 4+ rebounds, and 1+ three-pointer on a nightly basis.

Marc Gasol's horrible game was offset by Jon Leuer's career-game. Gasol scored two points (1-6 FG) in 28 minutes, but Leuer scored a season-high 20 points (7-12 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT)  and grabbed  12 rebounds in a 24 minutes off the bench. As far as anomalies go, this one is pretty obvious.

Brandon Jennings shot 50 percent (3-6 FG) from the field for the first time in nine games. Over his last seven games, Jennings has converted 4-of-30 from behind the three-point line, severely limited by his sprained left thumb.

Reggie Jackson played 28 minutes off the benched but scored a season-low four points on 2-of-9 shooting. It's the first time all season he scored less than 10 points. His value took a significant hit when Russell Westbrook returned, but still holds relevance in 12-team leagues as a bench guy.

Tyson Chandler failed to grab double-digit rebounds for first time in seven games. It was also the first time he played fewer than 27 minutes in eight games, accumulating a team-high seven rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki was the only Mavericks' starter to play in the fourth quarter, limited to a grand total of three minutes in the 125-102 win over the Bucks.

J.R. Smith scored 20 points (8-12 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT) and Amar'e Stoudemire added 16 points (7-11 FG, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, two blocks, and two assists in a team-high 36 minutes. It's only a matter of time before the wheels fall off, so use Stoudemire cautiously since he's spent a majority of the previous two seasons playing 23 minutes off the bench, when healthy. I'm not concerned about Jose Calderon and his four points in 24 minutes. His game is tailored to rotisserie leagues and that's where he needs to be owned.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. Wilson Chandler, F, DEN: 29 points (12-22 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 1-1 FT)
2. Chandler Parsons, F, DAL: 28 points (11-14 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 2-4 FT)
3. Kevin Durant, F, OKC: 28 points (10-19 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 7-8 FT)

Assists

1. John Wall, G, WAS: 14 assists (6 turnovers)
2. Rajon Rondo, G, BOS: 11 assists (4 turnovers)
3. Ty Lawson, G, DEN: 10 assists (3 turnovers)

Rebounds

1. Kris Humphries, F, WAS: 14 rebounds (5 offensive)
2. Rajon Rondo, G, BOS: 13 rebounds (2 offensive)
3. Serge Ibaka, F, OKC: 13 rebounds (6 offensive)

Steals

1. Paul Millsap, F, ATL: 4 steals
2. Jeff Green, F, BOS: 4 steals
3. Mario Chalmers, G, MIA: 4 steals
4. Brandan Wright, C, DAL: 4 steals

Blocks

1. Serge Ibaka, F, OKC: 4 blocks
2. John Wall, G, WAS: 3 blocks
3. Al Horford, C, ATL: 3 blocks
4. Brandan Wright, C, DAL: 3 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Rasual Butler, F, WAS: 6-10 3Pt
2. Chandler Parsons, F, DAL: 4-6 3Pt
3. Wilson Chandler, F, DEN: 4-12 3Pt
4. Jrue Holiday, G, NOP: 4-5 3Pt
5. Paul Millsap, F, ATL: 4-5 3Pt

Minutes

1. Ty Lawson, G, DEN: 44 minutes
2. John Wall, G, WAS: 42 minutes
3. Wilson Chandler, F, DEN: 37 minutes
4. Courtney Lee, G, MEM: 37 minutes
5. Jabari Parker, F, MIL: 37 minutes