The Langston Gallowins, uh, I mean the New York Knicks won their third straight game. Not to be outdone, the Atlanta Hawks won a franchise-record 15th consecutive game, clearing the Washington Wizards by six and a half games.

Just a friendly reminder that a free trial of NBA League Pass expires after this weekend, so take advantage while supplies last. You could stumble upon Carmelo Anthony scoring 62 points or Klay Thompson scoring 52 points.

Disclaimer: This is about 5,000 words. Where did I find the time? To quote Rick James, "Cocaine is a hell of a drug."

HOSPITAL WARD

The night began with C.J. Miles replacing Rodney Stuckey in the starting lineup. It ended when Miles exited the game with a sore left groin, impressively scoring eight points in seven minutes. Miles has battled injuries his whole career. If you own him in deeper leagues, you're better off holding him until you receive definitive word on his prognosis. And whatever you do, do not Google search "C.J. Miles" at work unless you desire an uncomfortable meeting with HR.

Jose Calderon banged knees with Elfrid Payton, and he didn't return to the game. He suffered a left knee contusion, but X-rays were negative. Pablo Prigioni was the first to replace Calderon off the bench. He doesn't hold much value if Calderon misses extended time. The Knicks play tonight in Charlotte, calling into question his availablity.

Elfrid Payton had his ankle stepped on by Jason Smith. Retaliation perhaps? It didn't look malicious, but it did look scary as Smith landed on Payton's lower leg when both were descending under the basket. Payton walked it off and was diagnosed with a sore left knee. Evan Fournier checked in for Payton and could regain his early season value if Payton has to miss a few games. Payton left with nine points and 11 assists in 37 minutes. Their next game is Sunday against the Pacers.

Dwight Howard injured his right ankle nine minutes into the game. He left the arena in a walking boot. I don't know the severity, and I also feel like the rotation was thrown out of whack since they were facing the Suns who like to use Markieff Morris at center. Donatas Motiejunas only played 23 minutes, but he stands to gain the most fantasy value if Howard rests. Then coach McHale could shift Josh Smith to power forward. However, Joey Dorsey played 20 minutes and might just fit the bill in order to keep Smith in a reserve role. The Rockets don't play again until Sunday, squaring off against the Lakers. I doubt they need Howard for that game, so he could secure four days off if he returns against the Mavericks on Wednesday. That Sunday game against the defensively-challenged Lakers will be important if you're shuffling players off the wire in a head-to-head matchup. No Dwight Howard disperses the majority of the frontcourt touches to Motiejunas, whose averaging 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in games Howard doesn't play.

M.I.A.

• Atlanta
  • Shelvin Mack (calf)
• Boston
  • Kelly Olynyk (ankle)
  • James Young (DNP-CD)
• Charlotte
  • Jannero Pargo (back)
• Chicago
  • Mike Dunleavy (ankle)
  • Doug McDermott (DNP-CD)
• Denver
  • Ty Lawson (personal)
  • JaVale McGee (leg)
• Golden State
  • Andre Iguodala (rest)
  • Festus Ezeli (ankle)
• Houston
  • Terrence Jones (leg)
• Los Angeles
  • Kobe Bryant (shoulder)
  • Jeremy Lin (DNP-CD)
  • Tarik Black (ankle)
• Miami
  • Hassan Whiteside (ankle)
  • Justin Hamilton (concussion)
• Minnesota
  • Ricky Rubio (ankle)
  • Kevin Martin (wrist)
  • Shabazz Muhammad (groin)
• New Orleans
  • Ryan Anderson (ankle)
  • Jrue Holiday (leg)
• New York
  • Amar'e Stoudemire (rest)
  • Andrea Bargnani (calf)
• Oklahoma City
  • Mitch McGary (leg)
• Philadelphia
  • Tony Wroten (knee)
  • Furkan Aldemir (DNP-CD)
• Sacramento
  • Carl Landry (wrist)
• San Antonio
  • Marco Belinelli (groin)

ROTATION NOTES

Nerlens Noel missed one game due to illness but returned to square off against the Raptors. He grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in 33 minutes, just the second time in the last 10 games he grabbed double-digit boards. Luc Mbah a Moute rejoined Noel in the starting lineup after missing two games and exceeded his yearly averages with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, one blocks, and one three-pointer in 34 minutes.

Tony Wroten, the Sixers' leading scorer, is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a partial ACL tear in his right knee. He missed the previous five games and 13 in total. Nothing drastically changes, except for Larry Drew II averaging 4.4 assists in the last five games as the only backup point guard, and K.J. McDaniels and Michael Carter-Williams play roughly five extra minutes per game sans Wroten.

James Johnson played a team-low nine minutes. Patrick Patterson (14 PTS, 13 REB) started the second half instead of Amir Johnson (2 PTS, 4 REB). Johnson played seven minutes in the second half. Coach Casey was pissed during the postgame press conference, but I was unable to glean if the Patterson move would stick in the future. Coach recently swapped Terrence Ross with Greivis Vasquez, so it's a possibility Patterson supplants Johnson indefinitely. The Raptors don't play again until Sunday.

Jonas Valanciunas played 26 minutes and compiled 11 points (3-5 FG, 5-7 FT), three blocks, three rebounds, and two steals. It's his sixth straight game under 30 minutes played. It's not difficult to see why, either. As archaic as plus/minus is, the Raptors are minus 51 when Valanciunas plays. Every other player with at least 200 minutes provides a positive plus/minus. Because there are two sides of the court and Valanciunas struggles mightily on the defensive end, his minutes are capped and given to more mobile options, regardless of his offensive output. He's been benched in 14 fourth quarters, a trend not going away until he improves his pick-and-roll defense and rotational awareness. Luckily, if you own him, the Raptors plays the Pistons next, the last team Valanciunas played 30+ minutes against.

Iman Shumpert finally saw the court after being traded to the Cavaliers, suiting up for the first time since December 12th. He played 10 minutes off the bench in the blowout win and provided eight points, two rebounds, and two assists. His value was maximized earlier this season when pressed into primary ball-handling duties, a role not easily prescribed in Cleveland. He did come off the bench, and with J.R. Smith's renaissance, he may stay there for a while.

Luol Deng jumped back into the starting lineup after missing one game due to illness. He could not miss, and by could not miss I mean shoot 9-of-13 from the field for 23 points in 35 minutes. In the event you weren't paying attention, Deng is shooting 50 percent from the field this season, joining only Kevin Durant as the only other small forward to top the 50-percent plateau. His numbers are suppressed when Dwyane Wade plays (12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 31.9 minutes per game), so consider last night's rendition an outlier.

George Hill graced the Pacers with an appearance after missing the previous 11 games to play for the sixth time all season. In 20 minutes off the bench, he provided 13 points (5-10 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 3-4 FT), two assists and one steal. More importantly, he didn't suffer any setbacks and played during crunch time. I'd wait until his minutes trend toward 30 minutes before I use him in my lineups. First, make sure to activate him or grab him off the wire.

Amar'e Stoudemire rested the first game of a back-to-back. He'll play tonight against the Hornets. Cole Alrich, Pablo Prigioni, Quincy Acy, and Cleanthony Early, all played minor minutes after sitting the previous two games. Jason Smith hit his first three-pointer of the season. I know because I watched it happen live. He also chipped in a season-high 19 points (8-18 FG, 3-4 3Pt), five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in 34 minutes.

Coach Derek Fisher already knows what he has in guys like Aldrich, Acy, Prigioni, and Shane Larkin. Now he's tinkering with the lineups, playing 10-day contracts Louis Amundson and Lance Thomas to see if they're part of the longterm solution in New York. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. I posit 60 percent of this roster won't return next season anyway. Thomas dialed up a season-high 16 points (8-10 FG), four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 25 minutes. Even though Tim Hardaway has regressed, he supplied double-digit points for the fifth straight game. With a healthy unit at Fisher's disposal, it's anyone's guess how the minutes shake out (at least until Carmelo Anthony shuts it down, Prigioni is traded, and Andrea Bargnani is bought out).

Tobias Harris continues to come off the bench for coach Jacque Vaughn and will for the foreseeable future. It was reported as such Thursday. Vaughn said, "I just think overall [it helps] the balance of our group right now. He's getting himself back into shape after missing two weeks. And that's about it." So there you have it. Vaughn used Harris off the bench the final 19 games last season. I don't know how long Vaughn will continue this charade, but I do know management picked up coach's option for next season this past summer. I doubt they fire him in-season, so get accustomed to Devyn Marble starting at small forward. This all could change barring the news on Elfrid Payton's knee. Harris ended the night with nine points on 4-of-14 shooting in 29 minutes. Keep in mind, he recently missed five games because of an ankle issue. In that time, the team changed from a half-court team to an up-tempo offense. Vaughn could just be playing this cautiously until he feels Harris is conditioned for the fast pace.

Joakim Noah found time to play after missing the last four games. In 34 minutes, he registered six points (3-8 FG), seven rebounds, two blocks, and one assist. I've witnessed Noah dropped in a 12-team league. It's a tough call to make, and you're better off trying to trade him, but with his health always in question (excluding last season's anomaly which ended with a knee surgery), the improved supporting cast, and his low-level production, you're sitting on the center version of Lance Stephenson.

Rajon Rondo was benched the final five minutes. Coach Carlisle would not disclose why he chose Devin Harris over Rondo during crunch time. Maybe Rondo's 24 percent mark from the free-throw line as a Maverick played into the decision of such a close game.

Ryan Anderson and his career-low 34 percent mark from downtown sat because of ankle inflammation. The Pelicans don't play again until Sunday. Alexis Ajinca blocked five shots with the boost in minutes, and Dante Cunningham scored 14 points in 35 minutes against one of the bottom two defenses in the NBA.

Byron Scott started rookie Jordan Clarkson, Wayne Ellington, Ryan Kelly, Jordan Hill, and Robert Sacre. This was his response to life without Kobe Bryant, who'll probably miss the rest of the season because of a torn right rotator cuff on account of surgery. We won't know for sure until Monday.

Nick Young led the team with 17 points and three three-pointers off the bench. He failed to record any other stats. San Antonio native Clarkson led the team in minutes (29), finishing with 11 points (5-9 FG), four assists, and three rebounds. He's a flier in the way Zach LaVine was a flier earlier this season. You hope he pans out, but the odds are he furnishes pedestrian fantasy lines. He also has to compete with Ronnie Price, the golden child.

If you think owning Jeremy Lin is a no-brainer, you're probably wrong. In eight games without Bryant this season, nine Lakers averaged between 20-30 minutes per game. Wesley Johnson led the pack at 29.8 minutes, followed by Price at 28.5 minutes. Lin played the sixth most minutes per game (24.4) in Bryant's absence. In those games, he averaged 9.9 points, 4.8 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 three-pointers while shooting 36 percent from the floor, 40 percent from deep, and 63 percent from the free-throw line. This story doesn't have a happy ending because Scott benched Lin the entire game.

After holding Lin since the draft, I finally dropped him in a 12-team head-to-head league. I'm forfeiting a decent playoff schedule; the only carrot at the end of the stick. It's not worth the headache, in my opinion. Did I overreact after one game? Maybe. It'll take a prolonged absence from Clarkson and Price for Lin to see extended minutes. Lin could always ask management for a trade, but few teams offer the fantasy value of the Lakers. Perhaps Scott was sending a message to Lin before he plays him the next game. At this point, I'm speculating because I need to rationalize to myself that logic and reason dictated the benching.

Matt Bonner started over Tiago Splitter. I could have sworn I read coach Popovich was going to use Splitter in the starting lineup moving forward. Naivete got the best of me this time, or it was misreported. It's too early to tell.

Jameer Nelson garnered the starting nod for the Nuggets. Ty Lawson (personal) was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of DUI. The team doesn't plan to punish him. Instead, the league will impose disciplinary action once the case is resolved. I'm unfamiliar with precedence or the facts of the case, but the Nuggets play four games in five nights starting Sunday. Part of me expects Lawson to suit up for the game against the Wizards, and with the slow-acting judicial system, at least through the All-Star break. At this point, only Lawson is holding himself out of games. I would think basketball is his one outlet, his one escape. But if he doesn't want to play because he thinks he's a distraction or he wants to clean up his life, there's nothing we can do. I'm not trying to come off as callous or patronizing. I don't know what he's dealing with, but he's a human being who doesn't deserve ridicule from fantasy managers expecting immediate clarification.

Nelson is fantasy relevant for as long as Lawson sits or is suspended. Against the Celtics, his former team of six games, Nelson played 42 minutes and provided a season-high 23 points (9-20 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven assists, and one steal. In 29.8 minutes per game following the All-Star break last season, playing next to current teammate Arron Afflalo, Nelson averaged 8.2 assists per game. If you're streaming, need help in assists, and want to take a chance on the Nuggets' upcoming schedule, you can add Nelson. I just don't know that Lawson misses much more time.

J.J. Hickson started the second half instead of Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic played 15 minutes total, devoid of foul trouble. There's been talk of Nurkic dealing with a sore back. I couldn't tell you if that's the reason behind the minutes snafu, or Shaw matched up against the smaller Celtics' frontline.

Danilo Gallinari played after missing 15 games. He shot 1-of-7 in 17 minutes. Trade murmurs involving Afflalo and Wilson Chandler could boost Gallinari's playing time in a month, but he needs to stay healthy in order to reap the benefits. Knowing he already suffered one setback, I'm going to keep an eye on Gallinari but not make any hasty moves just yet.

Marcus Smart played 14 minutes after picking up five fouls. Tayshaun Prince played 17 minutes off the bench. Brandon Bass played a team-high 35 minutes, providing 17 points (5-12 FG, 7-8 FT), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block. With Kelly Olynyk (ankle) possibly out until the All-Star break (according to coach Stevens) and definitely out the next three games because he's been sent back to Boston, Bass is a capable fantasy add with a low ceiling. The Celtics play 10 games between now and the break, and Bass has provided production in every category during his first two starts, minus three-pointers. I'm not saying I would add Bass, but I'm recommending him because the minutes opened up, coach Stevens seems to trust him (especially over Tyler Zeller) and can rely on him, and the Celtics play a bunch of upcoming games. At some point, he'll get traded or bought out, so this is strictly a short-term add. You're not carrying him on your team past February 7th. If you require immediate assistance, and you own players not living up to their potential, wield Bass as a stopgap.

Goran Dragic played 18 minutes. He was benched for picking up a technical foul for arguing a call, a team rule implemented a few weeks ago by coach Jeff Hornacek. P.J. Tucker was later t'ed up but stayed in the game because he wasn't arguing a call. Not only do they have a lousy head-to-head playoff schedule, but in sneaks a team rule that threatens your chances any given night.

Here's the list of Suns players and the technical fouls they've accrued:

1. Markieff Morris - 9
2. Eric Bledsoe - 7
3. P.J. Tucker - 6
4. Marcus Morris - 5
5. Goran Dragic - 4
6. Isaiah Thomas - 2
7. Gerald Green -2

Derrick Williams started over Jason Thompson. I said it before, and I'll say it again: on principle, I'll never recommend Williams as an add in fantasy leagues.

Rudy Gay was assessed two technical fouls, resulting in an automatic ejection. He was scoreless in 13 minutes. Quincy Miller played 34 minutes, scored 13 points (3-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 6-7 FT), grabbed six rebounds, blocked two shots, and recorded two steals. That's the power of a 10-day contract.

Andre Iguodala was given the night off.

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

Klay Thompson scored 37 points on 13-of-13 shooting...in the third quarter, an NBA record for any quarter. He had 50 points before the fourth quarter and finished with a career-high 52 points (16-25 FG, 11-15 3Pt, 9-10 FT). He did it all in 33 minutes, adding five assists, four steals, two rebounds, and two blocks for good measure. Perhaps my only spot-on preseason prediction was Thompson earning an All-Star spot. It's not definitive, and we'll find out next week, but it feels like a lock at this point. I think people may be more willing to trade for Thompson after this performance, and with his value at its peak, you better get back one of the top five fantasy producers. Conversely, working for Klay is his durability and the Warriors' topnotch head-to-head fantasy playoff schedule. Consider selling high based on this performance, but only if you acquire a king's ransom.

ROOKIE OF THE NIGHT

When I die, I want my tombstone to read:

Here lies J.J. Calle, the only person who believed in Langston Galloway from day one (not including Galloway, his family, and the Knicks organization).

I'm not saying I was with him shooting in the gym, but I also didn't flagrantly dismiss his fantasy value when he was first called up from the D-League. Two and a half weeks later, he's owned in 22 percent of Yahoo! leagues and hitting game-clinching shots against the 76ers and Magic in back-to-back games. The Knicks are 3-0 with him in the starting lineup, and he's averaging 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds (as a 6'2" shooting guard), 3.3 assists, and 2.0 three-pointers as a starter. If you don't want to add him, don't add him. I can tell you he's one of the only competent players running the triangle offense, a system the D-League affiliate employs. He grabs rebounds like a controlled Lance Stephenson, his usage rate (20.7 percent) and true shooting mark (55 percent) don't sound any alarms, his D-League numbers are carrying over into the NBA, and Phil Jackson raved about him before the call-up. I purchased Galloway stock when he signed his first 10-day contract. Perhaps, you should make a similar investment.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH

Michael Carter-Williams, owner of a 44 percent true shooting mark, assembled 12 points (4-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 3-4 FT), nine assists, seven rebounds, four steals, and one block in 36 minutes. He's averaging 18.8 points, 8.7 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 steals when Tony Wroten (knee) doesn't play, exceeding almost all of his averages last night. Just recall that he had surgery on his shoulder last May and could be at risk of aggravating it further.

Eric Bledsoe was handed the reigns after coach Hornacek benched Goran Dragic (see why in ROTATION NOTES). In 39 minutes, he aggregated 25 points (8-14 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 8-10 FT), nine assists, eight rebounds, and one block. It's easy to pinpoint why he had such success. I'm just not sure you can capitalize on it.

BOXSCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

Philly native and Eastern Conference All-Star starter, Kyle Lowry, scored 17 of his 21 points (5-14 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 8-8 FT) in the fourth quarter to go along with five rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 36 minutes. He's mired in a shooting slump this January, converting just 36 percent of his shots, compounded with an average of 3.3 turnovers per game. It's a rough patch you could exploit in a lopsided trade.

DeMar DeRozan shot 4-of-14 from the field. I mentioned last week he was a sell-high guy because his perceived value is higher than his fantasy value, but that narrative has flipped on its head.  Last year's post-Rudy-Gay-trade DeRozan no longer persists. The Raptors are a deeper team, and he's not playing enough minutes to meet previous thresholds.

Sir Robert Covington leads all second-year players with 2.2 three-pointers per game and an 84 percent mark from the free-throw line. Against the Raptors, Covington scored 18 points and hit four three-pointers. Fret not; he also added six rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

Kyle Korver failed to hit at least two three-pointers for the first time in 11 games, settling for a 1-of-3 night from beyond the arc. He also dunked for the second consecutive game.

The honeymoon phase is over. Dion Waiters is trending back to reality, scoring eight points on 3-of-8 shooting against a top-3 defense in the Atlanta Hawks. That marks his third straight game under nine points. He did snatch three steals, highlighting his most useful category in fantasy leagues this season.

Kevin Durant (21), Russell Westbrook (22), and Serge Ibaka (13) combined for 56 of the team's 93 points. Everyone else failed to reach double-digits, ultimately dropping the Thunder to 10th in the Western Conference.

J.R. Smith hit seven three-pointers, accounting for all 21 of his points. It's the 22nd time in his career he hit at least seven threes in a game. In nine games with the Cavs, he's averaging 15.3 points, 1.7 steals (career high), and 3.2 three-pointers in 32.9 minutes per game. As a J.R. fan, this delights me. The numbers are incredibly unsustainable, except for his 39 percent shooting from downtown, a number he didn't dip below the final five months last season. In fact, 62 percent of his attempts with the Cavaliers have been three-pointers. He's doing what Dion Waiters couldn't by embracing his role as a catch-and-shoot pyromaniac.

The Cavaliers were up 75-40 at halftime on the Hornets. No starter on either side played during the fourth quarter. LeBron James recorded 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds, four steals, one block, and two three-pointers in a season-low 27 minutes. Last week, I declared Timofey Mozgov's fantasy situation was on life support. Good thing nobody reads this; otherwise, I'd look like an idiot with the week Mozgov yielded. Last night, in 21 minutes, he scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and blocked a shot, registering his third straight double-double. Let that be a lesson to you: never get involved in a land war in Asia (but only slightly less well-known as this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!).

Al Jefferson pulverized the Cav's interior for 22 points (10-16 FG, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds, and three blocks in 23 minutes. Coach Steve Clifford allowed him to play during the fourth quarter, even in the blowout, but still won't recycle him into the starting lineup or remove the minute's cap. A game tonight against the Knicks is followed by three days off, possibly signifying the end of Jefferson's reserve days.

Don't be fooled by Lance Stephenson's line (10 points, nine assists, four rebounds). He did in this game what he did all of last season: stat chase during garbage time of a blowout. Frank Vogel routinely left Stephenson in with the second unit last year to complete his world famous triple-doubles. It gave people the sense that Stephenson was a fantasy star in the making (and potential All-Star), even though he maxed out his playing time (35 minutes per game) and alienated teammates in the process.

Kemba Walker is shooting 16-of-55 in his last three games, coinciding with the return of Jefferson and Stephenson. I don't want to blame them solely since a knee cyst held Walker out two games. However, Jefferson's absence allowed Walker more touches and increased shots in the paint. An injury and Jefferson's customary perch on the left block force Walker to attempt jumpers, a shot he's converting a 29 percent this season.

Roy Hibbert is averaging 5.6 fouls per 36 minutes in his last 10 games, playing an average of 21.9 minutes in those contests. He only played six minutes in the second half of last night's game, sitting the entire fourth quarter in favor of Ian Mahinmi. I understand why Hibbert only played 20 minutes the previous game against the Hawks. That's the team that turned him into the world's largest cheerleader this past postseason by playing five men on the perimeter. What disheartens me is his tepid performance against the Heat, a team he historically owns. It's too early to dub this a repeat of last season's second half swoon, but as a Hibbert owner, I'm internally freaking out. I still view the Pacers trading him and David West as a 50/50 possibility. Both players carry hefty player options into next season (the final year of their contract), so as soon as the Pacers decide to blow it up, Hibbert and West are the most likely candidates for relocation.

All-Star starter Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points (10-24 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-4 FT), grabbed seven rebounds, dished four assists, and blocked a shot in 42 minutes. I just wanted to congratulate All-Star starter Carmelo Anthony for posting his fourth straight game of at least 24 points.

Nikola Vucevic and his league-leading 26 double-doubles procured 34 points (16-22 FG, 2-2 FT), 18 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in 38 minutes. The steal and block fell into his lap and shouldn't be expected on a nightly basis. Otherwise, you have the makings of an All-Star reserve. My only other gripe with Vucevic is his lack of free-throw attempts. He's attempted more than six free throws in two games this season. His shot selection (34 percent midrange jumpers) and reputation are a few reasons he doesn't visit the charity stripe more often.

Derrick Rose is attempting a career-high 5.4 three-pointers per game. In his last seven games, he's shooting 6.6 threes per game and knocking them in at 52 percent. There are things even I can't explain. He decided to transform into Fred Hoiberg, finally bereft of a minute's cap. If you don't want to trade him now because he's finally paying back your draft day investment, at least reconsider based on his team's head-to-head fantasy playoff outlook.

Jimmy Butler skidded the first half of January, only to course correct the last five games, averaging 18.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. It's only a matter of time before Mike Dunleavy (ankle) adds stability to the lineup, but my largest concern is the minutes played. Butler leads the league in minutes per game (39.4), total minutes (1656), and distance traveled (117.5 miles), per SportVU. That type of strain caused Chandler Parsons to flounder the tail end of last season, especially with his shooting. Butler's monthly field goal percentage is trending downward, a la Paul George last season, but his three-point percentage is trending upward. It's like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button all over again.

The Eric Gordon Revival is in full effect. Without Jrue Holiday (leg), Gordon has recorded at least five assists in five of the last six games, showing glimpses of when he wore a younger man's jersey. I'll concede his last five games have come against the Sixers, reeling Raptors, Knicks, Lakers, and Timberwolves. If you can facilitate a trade before the competition intensifies and/or he suffers another injury, please do so.

Anthony Davis snapped a five-game streak of at least 20 points and three blocks in five straight games, settling for 21 points (9-23 FG, 3-4 FT), 12 rebounds, two steals, and one block in 42 minutes.

Nikola Pekovic blocked two shots to boost his 13-points, nine-rebound barrage. Gorgui Dieng answered with 14 points (6-12 FG, 2-3 FT), 15 rebounds, three assists, and one block in 35 minutes. Pekovic is a decent rotisserie add, but we still don't know how coach Saunders will utilize him during back-to-back sets, of which the Timberwolves play two before the end of the month. We know the minutes will be limited, so his ceiling and injury history don't mesh well in head-to-head leagues.

Kawhi Leonard traded efficiency for gross stats this time around. He scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a team-high 33 minutes. Surely, the wrap around his shooting wrist and prior injury have caused a drop in accuracy. I'll give him until the All-Star break before concern wins out.

James Harden had the Player Of The Night award stolen from his mitts. After hitting the buzzer-beating 20-foot jumper over Isaiah Thomas, Harden finished with 33 points (8-18 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 14-17 FT), 10 assists, six rebounds, three steals, and one block in 40 minutes.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. Klay Thompson, G, GSW: 52 points (16-25 FG, 11-15 3Pt, 9-10 FT)
2. Nikola Vucevic, C, ORL: 34 points (16-22 FG, 2-2 FT)
3. James Harden, G, HOU: 33 points (8-18 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 14-17 FT)

Rebounds

1. Nikola Vucevic, C, ORL: 18 rebounds (4 offensive)
2. Pau Gasol, F, CHI: 16 rebounds (3 offensive)
3. Gorgui Dieng, C, MIN: 15 rebounds (3 offensive)

Assists

1. Russell Westbrook, G, OKC: 11 assists (4 turnovers)
2. Elfrid Payton, G, ORL: 11 assists (4 turnovers)
3. Stephen Curry, G, GSW: 11 assists (6 turnovers)

Steals

1. Monta Ellis, G, DAL: 5 steals
2. Klay Thompson, G, GSW: 4 steals
3. LeBron James, F, CLE: 4 steals
4. Michael Carter-Williams, G, PHI: 4 steals

Blocks

1. Tyson Chandler, C, DAL: 5 blocks
2. Alexis Ajinca, C, NOP: 5 blocks
3. Al Jefferson, C, CHA: 3 blocks
4. Al Horford, C, ATL: 3 blocks
5. Jonas Valanciunas, C, TOR: 3 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Klay Thompson, G, GSW: 11-15 3Pt
2. J.R. Smith, G, CLE: 7-11 3Pt
3. Six tied with four three-pointers

Minutes

1. Carmelo Anthony, F, NYK: 42 minutes
2. Anthony Davis, F, NOP: 42 minutes
3. Jameer Nelson, G, DEN: 42 minutes