After the basketball extravaganza we experienced on Monday, Tuesday was always destined to be a let down, and in that respect, it didn't disappoint. But, even when we're lacking a plethora of games to digest, there is always something to look at, so that's what I'll do, in Tuesday's Box Score Breakdown.
M.I.A.
These guys all sat out Tuesday's action, for one reason or another.
- Heat
- James Ennis (DNP-CD)
- Spurs
- Marco Belinelli (groin)
- Nuggets
- Danilo Gallinari (knee)
FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT
On a light slate, like we had Tuesday, it often doesn't take a lot to snag the fantasy line of the night. Kawhi Leonard didn't let that stop him though, putting up 17 points (6-13 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT) with 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in 31 minutes. The 15 rebounds was a season high, and after being one of the most debated players in the preseason, Kawhi has improved in nearly all facets of his game. He has increased his scoring, his rebounds, his assists, and his steals, but that has come at the expense of a drop off in his efficiency. There is a bright spot in that though, as his free throw attempts have risen from 1.9 to 4.0 per game, so when he starts converting at 80 percent again, it'll have a much larger impact on your team. He is legitimately a top 30 player in all scoring formats, when in the preseason, that is not something you could say.
ROTATION NOTES AND QUIRKS
Hassan Whiteside played only 11 minutes, but that wasn't due to poor form or fouls. The big waiver-wire sensation got himself injured. That sound you could hear in the second quarter of the Heat and Thunder was the sound of switched fantasy owners who had scooped up Whiteside cursing in unison. Whiteside has been ruled out of Wednesday's game due to the sprained ankle, but we don't have a timetable after that. Chris Andersen will likely start in his stead and become a guy you have to reconsider in 14 team leagues in the very short term. Danny Granger played 25 minutes while Luol Deng played 29 minutes, due to illness and Granger will likely start Wednesday with Deng already ruled out.
Dwyane Wade returned from his hamstring, pushing Shabazz Napier to the bench and scored 18 points with six assists. Only a two game absence this time for Wade, and owners will be glad he's back, but always wary of the next trip to the infirmary.
Jusuf Nurkic played 26 minutes and wasn't bothered by fouls, scoring 10 points with nine rebounds, but was inexplicably sat down in the second half by fantasy buzzkill Brian Shaw. He has now been back over 23 minutes for two straight games but the Shaw specter continues to hover over the Bosnian big man.
Shaw went small a lot, playing Jameer Nelson another 24 minutes off the bench and sharing the court with Ty Lawson. In his four games in Denver, Nelson has averaged 24 minutes, scoring 13.0 points, 1.5 three-pointers, and 5.5 assists on 47 percent shooting. The shooting is not sustainable, given his shooting numbers on the season come out at 37 percent, but the other numbers of interesting for 14 team leagues. It's hard to roster him in standard leagues if he is only getting 24 minutes a night, but eve that is way more than I anticipated he would get in Denver.
BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant both got close to triple-doubles and swiped four steals each, in controlled, but dominant performances. Reggie Jackson dropped 16 points with not much else off the bench and now has double digit scoring in three of his las four. As a backup, it's hard to own him for his production alone though, but if you are banking on a trade, not a sure thing, he has more value.
Dion Waiters, after going a combined 15-for-25 in his previous two outings, went 1-for-9 in a replication of his Oklahoma City debut. He gave his owners three points and literally nothing else. There will be better days.
Aron Baynes had an out of nowhere 15 points, fuelled by a mirage-like 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Baynes is a very accomplished free throw shooter, hitting his at 84 percent this season, but considering he is taking on average 1.7 per game, the 9-for-9 is likely not replicable. Baynes has been good, though, on nights when Tim Duncan sits, so that's something to remember for the future. Danny Green was the opposite, completely inefficient, going 2-for-12 from field. He still added a block and a steal, along with two three-pointers and owners shouldn't be too concerned.
Arron Afflalo bounced back from a shocker Monday to put up 21 points with three three-pointers and three steals. Afflalo has historically not been a guy who gets you steals (0.6 on the season), but he has nabbed nine steals in his last five games. Given his history, it's unlikely that holds and Afflalo is an extremely overrated player for fantasy, giving three-pointers and a free throw percentage bump with average scoring. Kenneth Faried showed what he can do with actual, NBA starter's minutes, going for 26 points and 14 rebounds in 37 minutes.
Ty Lawson suffered through a really bad night, scoring just four points, but did add eight dimes and two steals. He'll be okay.
NIGHTLY LEADERS
Points
- Kenneth Faried, F, DEN, 26 points
- Arron Afflalo, G, DEN, 21 points
- Kevin Durant, F, OKC, 19 points
- Russell Westbrook, G, OKC, 19 points
Rebounds
- Kawhi Leonard, F, SAS, 15 rebounds
- Kenneth Faried, F, DEN, 14 rebounds
- Russell Westbrook, G, OKC, 10 rebounds
Assists
- Kevin Durant, F, OKC, 8 assists
- Manu Ginobili, G, SAS, 8 assists
- Ty Lawson, G, DEN, 8 assists
Steals
- Kevin Durant, F, OKC, 4 steals
- Russell Westbrook, G, OKC, 4 steals
- Arron Afflalo, G, DEN, 3 steals
Blocks
- 11 players with 1 block
Three-Pointers
- Kawhi Leonard, F, SAS, 3-6 3Pt
- Arron Afflalo, G, DEN, 3-6 3Pt
- Six players tied with 2 3Pt
Minutes
- Kevin Durant, F, OKC, 39 minutes
- Wilson Chandler, F, DEN, 38 minutes
- Kenneth Faried, F, DEN, 37 minutes
- Chris Bosh, F, MIA, 37 minutes