The much anticipated matchup between Kevin Durant and LeBron James didn't eventuate with James sitting with knee soreness, but that didn't mean that the two games served up to us weren't entertaining or chock full of fantasy goodness. To the box scores!
ADD ME! ADD ME!
The Rockets' Patrick Beverley is back from his multiple hamstring issues, and from what we've seen so far, he's a different player from the middling talent that supplanted Jeremy Lin as the starting point guard in 2013-14. In the comeback, overtime victory over the Sacramento Kings, Beverley scored 15 points (5-12 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 1-4 FT), with 10 rebounds, five assists, and one steal in 40 minutes, and over the season is averaging some very impressive numbers. He is dropping 13.4 points, including 3.1 three-pointers, with 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. The assists aren't there, but he gives great contributions in other categories is a perfect punt-assists point guard, who is owned in just 43 percent of ESPN leagues and 79 percent of Yahoo leagues.
M.I.A.
These guys all sat out Thursday's action, for one reason or another.
- Cavaliers
- LeBron James (knee)
- Rockets
- Kostas Papanikolaou (knee)
- Terrence Jones (leg)
- Dwight Howard (knee)
- Isaiah Canaan (ankle)
- Francisco Garcia (calf)
- KIngs
- DeMarcus Cousins (meningitis)
- Omri Casspi (knee)
CASUALTY WARD
Kyrie Irving was forced to leave the court in the second quarter of Thursday's matchup with the Thunder with a knee injury, but thankfully, turned out to be just a contusion and Irving was able to return and played 40 minutes. Irving said he'll play Friday, but cautioned that there will be some stiffening overnight. If he does miss, Matthew Dellavedova would draw another start in most likelihood.
FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT
So much for that back injury. James Harden lit it up again against the Kings, scoring 44 points (14-32 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 13-15 FT), a season-high, with four rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and one block in 48 minutes. Harden is a legitimate MVP candidate this season and is in the running to be the number one fantasy player this season. If you drafted him, you're very happy.
BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES
Matthew Dellavedova started in place of LeBron James, who missed with knee soreness and isn't considered serious, put up a very useful line of 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt), five rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 34 minutes. With Irving's knee potentially an issue, Dellavedova could get another start, but his value would be limited to daily fantasy or if Irving misses extended time.
Kevin Love posted a solid double-double of 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. Love added one block, while Thompson had two rejections. Thompson is averaging 14.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in his last four games in 31 minutes and is sneakily becoming someone who can give value in 12 team leagues. Don't make a silly move to get him though.
The Kevin Durant minutes restriction is still in place, but KD doesn't care for your restrictions. He put up a great fantasy line of 19 points (6-14 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 6-6 FT), six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks in his 30 minutes and you can just feel the fantasy freight train gaining steam. Buckle your seatbelts.
Reggie Jackson played 26 minutes, scoring 13 points with four rebounds and three assists, but his usefulness in standard leagues is tenuous. IN 10 team leagues, you can probably find better value on the wire.
Joey Dorsey had his best line of the season with nine rebound,s five steals, and one block, but given that he is averaging 0.6 steals this season, it's safe to call this a fluke. He did outplay Tarik Black, who only got 16 minutes despite starting.
Ben McLemore scored 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting and remains a guy with intriguing value. His rebounds have dropped so he is mainly a points and three-pointers guy at the moment, but the minutes are there and he should be able to find a home in most leagues.
Darren Collison's strong campaign kept on going, with 24 points, three rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Could it be that Collison has finally settled into a starting role? If I owned Derrick Rose, Collison would be the guy I'd be targeting in a trade.
Jason Thompson was the guy who took advantage of DeMarcus Cousins' absence, notching a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds. If you need points and boards, and the occasional double-double while Boogie is out, Thompson is solid, but not spectacular. Reggie Evans, who also gets a bump, struggled with just five points and four rebounds in 18 minutes. He's strictly a rebounds only guy, as you likely already know.
NIGHTLY LEADERS
Points
- James Harden, G, HOU, 44 points
- Russell Westbrook, G, OKC, 26 points
- Darren Collison, G, SAC, 24 points
Rebounds
- Kevin Love, F, CLE, 16 rebounds
- Jason Thompson, F, SAC, 15 rebounds
- Tristan Thompson, F, CLE, 13 rebounds
Assists
- James Harden, G, HOU, 8 assists
- Russell Westbrook, G, OKC, 8 assists
- Rudy Gay, F, SAC, 8 assists
Steals
- Joey Dorsey, C, HOU, 5 steals
- James Harden, G, HOU, 3 steals
- Darren Collison, G, SAC, 3 steals
- Rudy Gay, F, SAC, 3 steals
- Trevor Ariza, F, HOU, 3 steals
- Jeremy Lamb, G, OKC, 3 steals
Blocks
- Kendrick Perkins, C, OKC, 3 blocks
- Kevin Durant, F, OKC, 2 blocks
- Tristan Thompson, F, CLE, 2 blocks
- Steven Adams, C, OKC, 2 blocks
- Serge Ibaka, F, OKC, 2 blocks
- Carl Landry, F, SAC, 2 blocks
- Ryan Hollins, C, SAC, 2 blocks
Three-Pointers
- Patrick Beverley, G, HOU, 4-8 3Pt
- Matthew Dellavedova, G, CLE, 4-6 3Pt
- James Harden, G, HOU, 3-10 3Pt
- Trevor Ariza, F, HOU, 3-10 3Pt
- Anthony Morrow, F, OKC, 3-5 3Pt
- Jason Terry, G, HOU, 3-10 3Pt
Minutes
- James Harden, G, HOU, 48 minutes
- Ben McLemore, G, SAC, 46 minutes
- Trevor Ariza, F, HOU, 43 minutes