I wrote 1,000 words before the games began. Then I wrote another 3,500 words. The takeaway: last night's festivities don't accurately portray future circumstance. Teams were without newly acquired pieces, thrusting backups into superabundant roles.

Players can still get bought out between now and Wednesday (giving them requisite time to clear waivers and sign with a team for the playoffs). Second, standard trade deadline in ESPN leagues expires Wednesday, February 25th at 12 PM EST. Try to complete deals by Sunday if your league lives by the veto. If a proposed deal gets accepted Tuesday, only to get vetoed Wednesday after the 12 PM deadline, you're stuck sucking the waiver wire teat.

TRADE DEADLINE IMPRESSIONS

I want to give my thoughts on what transpired Thursday. You don't have to read this. I just need a record of my opinions on the internet.

Goran Dragic averaged 22.1 points, 6.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.9 threes in 34.7 minutes per game without Eric Bledsoe last season (38 games), bolstered by a 26 percent usage rate. However, he was slotted next low-usage players (Channing Frye, Miles Plumlee, P.J. Tucker), Chucker McGee (Gerald Green), and a watered-down Markieff Morris. The Dragic-Frye duo recorded a league-high 1.3 points per pick-and-roll possession. Dragic shot 47 percent from beyond the arc when Frye was on the court and just 29 percent with him on the bench. This season, Dragic is shooting 35.5 percent from downtown, closer to his career mark. We won't witness Chris Bosh (blood clot) recreate that pick-and-pop magic with Dragic. Last season delivered the perfect cocoon in the outlier of Dragic's career.

Overall, Dragic's value increases. I'm typically cynical, so my earlier musings may have misled you. He's no longer situated as the small forward.  You'll also note, Dwyane Wade's 34.1 percent usage rate is third highest in the NBA, but that only matters when Wade plays. Also, Dragic leaves the Suns and their 9-game head-to-head fantasy playoffs schedule to join the Heat and their 12 games during Week 21-23.

Arron Afflalo could max out at 28 minutes per game (14 at small forward and 14 at shooting guard) since Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews play 34 minutes per game. He'd need to absorb 13 minutes per game from Allen Crabbe and 12.5 minutes per game from C.J. McCollum, but it's still a drastic drop in minutes and usage. Damian Lillard plays shooting guard for stretches when Steve Blake replaces Matthews midway through the 1st and 3rd quarters, reducing Afflalo's minutes even more. Afflalo was an easy drop with all the emerging players receiving potentially increased roles. Even worse, Lillard, Matthews, and Batum rarely miss games, even if they're injured. In deeper head-to-head leagues, Afflalo jumps from the Nuggets, 10 games during the default fantasy playoffs, to the Blazers, boasting 12 games in the same timeframe. In standard ESPN leagues, the Blazers play a maximum 18 games during the default playoffs (Weeks 21-25), aided by the postponed game from January they'll play the beginning of Week 24.

JaVale McGee has played a team-low 32 minutes combined in three games since Timofey Mozgov was traded. He wasn't the reason Jusuf Nurkic averaged 22.1 minutes per game as a starter; Nurkic's 5.7 fouls per 36 minutes and Brian Shaw were the reason behind the minute's crunch.

I don't like the Rookie of the Year argument. It's awarded to the player with the best stats among his draft class. Mike Miller has a Rookie of the Year award to his name. Unless you forgot, Michael Carter-Williams benefitted from a fast system, glossy stats, and one of the worst rookie classes in NBA history. He won the award by default.

General manager Sam Hinkie converted the 11th pick of a weak draft into the Lakers' pick this season (top-5 protected) or either over the following two seasons (top-3 protected each). It's easy to deride the trade of Carter-Williams, but point guard is the deepest position in the league. I consider him in the bottom third of starting point guards in terms of talent. He's the same age as Brandon Knight and Isaiah Canaan and nowhere near the shooter.

In Carter-Williams' defense, offseason shoulder surgery stunted the improvement of his broken shot. Don't be surprised when his percentages increase next season, and don't chalk it up to a change in scenery.

Sidebar: Sam Hinkie's press conference yesterday morning was almost as captivating as the final 15 minutes of the trade deadline. He gives off a Frank Underwood vibe. I watch the entire thing in a hypnotic trance.

Sidenote: As an advocate of Tony Wroten, I'm excited and scared about his role on the team next season.

Thaddeus Young can siphon Kevin Garnett's 16.3 minutes per game and some of Cory Jefferson's 10.8 minutes per game since Mirza Teletovic's season-ending heart problem. Coach Lionel Hollins could move Young to small forward, shift Joe Johnson to shooting guard, and move Brook Lopez into the starting lineup. I give that scenario a 10 percent chance of happening. As long as Young remains at power forward, Mason Plumlee's minutes will be capped because of Lopez's scoring prowess.

Reggie Jackson goes from starting next to Steven Adams, Serge Ibaka, Lance Thomas, and Andre Roberson to playing with Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Jodie Meeks. In 13 starts, Jackson averaged 38.9 minutes per game, dropping 20.2 points on 17.9 attempts, as well as 7.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. He's not going to miraculously shoot well from behind the three-point line this season. D.J. Augustin averaged team-high 34.4 minutes since Jennings' injury, compiling 8.2 assists and not much else. I expect Jackson to hover near 33 minutes per game and attempt less than 15 shots per game surrounded by substantially better offensive weapons. Full disclosure: I also poopooed Augustin's ceiling.

K.J. McDaniels wasn't re-signing with the Sixers at a reasonable price. Sam Hinkie and Daryl Morey used to work together, motive behind the move. McDaniels is someone who casual fans think is better than he is because they only see four second glimpses, not the whole game. Those same fans think he's worth a max deal this offseason because they rely on SportsCenter Top 10 montages to guide their opinion of a player they never watch. McDaniels was stat-chasing because of his contract. His team defense suffered because of it. He's crazy athletic and needs to improve offensively. Philadelphia asked him to sit on the three-point line, not his strongest attribute (shooting 24 percent over the last 36 games). He'll be an interesting piece next season, depending on which team throws piles of money at him.

Isaiah Canaancould will start in Philadelphia, per Sam Hinkie. Tim Frazier was signed to his second 10-day contract. JaKarr Sampson has limited, counterfeit experience in that capacity. At first, I believed Canaan was last season's Byron Mullens, a player everyone clamored for because he landed in Philadelphia. Then I did my research. As a starter, Canaan's averaged 12.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.7 three-pointers on 43 percent in 28.4 minutes this season. He's an adept free-throw shooter, contrary to small NBA sample size. In college, D-League, and summer league, Canaan exceeded 80 percent from the charity stripe.

Pros

• could play 34+ minutes as the point guard
• Tony Wroten and Michael Carter-Williams accumulated inflated stats as the point guard
• Sixers and Rockets employ similar offensive philosophies
• Sixers lead the NBA in steals per game
• His shooting, combined with Robert Covington, can help spread the floor. Both guys were on the Rockets' D-League and summer league teams
• Could become Bob Sura

Cons

• Defenses will converge on him
• In Houston, his shots came from open looks on passes out of the post or a driving James Harden
• Trouble finishing around the rim
• Could remain Isaiah Canaan

Isaiah Thomas jumps into the starting point guard gig. Without Jared Sullinger (foot) and Marcus Thornton (traded), Thomas can snatch primary ballhandling duties from Evan Turner. Conversely, Brad Stevens could bring him off the bench, a moniker Thomas has tried to shed his entire career. The head-to-head fantasy playoff implications are great. As noted with Goran Dragic, the Suns play a minimum nine games during the default schedule. Much like the Heat, the Celtics play a maximum 12 games during Week 21-23. Even if Thomas' role stagnates, three additional games during the fantasy playoffs is worth the wait.

Norris Cole was traded to the Pelicans. He might play garbage minutes, but since he was terrible in Miami, a change of location doesn't seem like it'll signal Obama-type hope.

HOSPITAL WARD

Rodney Stuckey scored a season-high 30 points. The night ended with him limping off the court after spraining an ankle. Via Candace Buckner's Twitter account, Stuckey plans to play Sunday against the Warriors. If the swelling persists, Tuesday presents the next game for his return.

Anthony Bennett started the first game sans Thaddeus Young. Then he suffered a right leg contusion in the second quarter, opening the gates for Gorgui Dieng, who replaced Bennett in the second-half starting lineup. Dieng double-doubled in 38 minutes. Those minutes may not carry over if Flip Saunders wants to use Kevin Garnett in a game capacity. Either way, at least 30 minutes per game until Nikola Pekovic aggravates an ankle seems reasonable for Dieng.

Chandler Parsons suffered a sprained left foot. He'll receive an MRI today to gauge the severity. The Mavericks play three games over the next four days, after which they play a league-low 13 games in March. Parsons appeared to play through the injury before leaving on his own accord. A prolonged absence boosts Al-Farouq Aminu's value, as indicated by last night's 17 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks, and one assist in 30 minutes. He showed flashes last season with the Pelicans, only to falter due to inconsistency. He'll hustle himself into stats, but the scoring is a whole separate issue.

M.I.A.

• Atlanta
  • Thabo Sefolosha (calf)
• Boston
  • Jared Sullinger (foot)
  • Kelly Olynyk (ankle)
  • Luigi Datome (inactive)
  • Jonas Jerebko (inactive)
• Brooklyn
  • Jarrett Jack (hamstring)
• Dallas
  • Amar'e Stoudemire (inactive)
• Denver
  • Ty Lawson (disciplinary)
  • Will Barton (inactive)
  • Victor Claver (inactive)
• Detroit
  • Reggie Jackson (inactive)
  • Tayshaun Prince (inactive)
• Houston
  • Dwight Howard (knee)
  • K.J. McDaniels (inactive)
  • Pablo Prigioni (inactive)
• Indiana
  • Paul George (leg)
• Los Angeles
  • Carlos Boozer (DNP-CD)
  • Wesley Johnson (DNP-CD)
• Miami
  • Goran Dragic (inactive)
  • Chris Bosh (blood clot)
• Milwaukee
  • Ersan Ilyasova (groin)
  • Michael Carter-Williams (toe)
  • Miles Plumlee (inactive)
• Minnesota
  • Kevin Garnett (inactive)
• New Orleans
  • Norris Cole (inactive)
  • Jrue Holiday (leg)
• New York
  • Alexey Shved (inactive)
  • Shane Larkin (illness)
• Orlando
  • Tobias Harris (knee)
  • Ben Gordon (DNP-CD)
• Philadelphia
  • Isaiah Canaan (inactive)
• Phoenix
  • Brandon Knight (inactive)
  • Marcus Thornton (inactive)
  • Danny Granger (inactive)
• Portland
  • Arron Afflalo (inactive)
  • Alonzo Gee (inactive)
• Sacramento
  • Darren Collison (hip)
  • Reggie Evans (knee)
• Washington
  • Bradley Beal (leg)
  • Kevin Seraphin (flu)

ROTATION NOTES

A lot. That's your answer. If I missed something, feel free to call me out.

Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson both returned from right arm injuries after missing two games apiece, and both underwhelmed, not uncommon in Anderson's case. Davis was pestered by a cavalcade of defenders, closing the night 5-of-15 from the field. Anderson converted 1-of-6 from deep, dropping to 34.4 percent from downtown. I view both players as I did prior to the All-Star break.

Tim Frazier and Jason Richardson started for the Sixers. JaVale McGee made his debut. I think Richardson sticks around, forgoing a buyout so the Sixers can hover near the cap floor. McGee will slap fight with Henry Sims for backup center minutes. At least he's no longer restricted by the thin air in Denver, detrimental to his asthma. The condition significantly reduced his court time near 20 minutes a night, a likely scenario in Philadelphia considering Sims hasn't missed a game since joining the team last trade deadline. Frazier is on his second 10-day contract. Sam Hinkie already anointed Isaiah Canaan the starting point guard. If Frazier doesn't work out, the team can always bring back Larry Drew II. I know they need a backup point guard, I'm just cognizant that Frazier may not be that option.

Lavoy Allen played six minutes after missing the previous six games. His presence threatens Luis Scola. That's as far as his reach extends.

Jimmy Butler, who didn't play the game prior to the All-Star break but still played in the exhibition, torched the Pistons for 30 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three three-pointers in 39 minutes. Tony Snell played 15 minutes off the bench, unable to sustain immaculate efficiency beyond a two-game stretch.

Caron Butler started at small forward, and Spencer Dinwiddie made his first start at point guard. Butler notched 20 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 32 minutes. Dinwiddie compiled career-highs of 12 points and nine assists in 31 minutes, the first time he cleared 17 minutes in a game all season. Tayshaun Prince and Reggie Jackson are the metaphorical rain on the parade. Wherever he goes, coaches feel obliged to play Prince rotation-level minutes. Van Gundy could abstain because Prince is deficient from beyond the arc. That was until he decided to shoot 49 percent on three-pointers this season by camping out in the corners, a monkey wrench in the long-term value of Butler. Dinwiddie will also compete with John Lucas III. And seeing how the rookie was only called up from the D-League given the dearth of active players post-trade deadline, his future role is in question.

Udonis Haslem started in place of Chris Bosh (blood clot), and Dwyane Wade returned to the lineup after missing the previous three weeks. Luol Deng will play more power forward in the right matchups, capping Chris Andersen and Haslem to no more than 20 minutes each. The team is also in a decent position - talent wise, not salary wise - to add someone like Brandon Bass once he's waived or bought out. Haslem and Andersen are deep league gambles, but it'll only last a week in my opinion.

Cleanthony Early started over Tim Hardaway, Jr. in All-Star Carmelo Anthony's small forward spot. He picked up two fouls in the first three minutes, deferring to Hardaway and his 17 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals, and three three-pointers in 30 minutes. I'm optimistic about the performance because Hardaway tends to stat-stuff during garbage time, but that wasn't the case this time. I believe Lance Thomas will start the next game versus the Cavaliers because he may be the Knicks best option to guard LeBron James. Nevertheless, you should continue to monitor Early's progress and Hardaway's stat lines in the event either ultimately terminates the platoon.

Gerald Green started at shooting guard. His six assists ties a career-high set back in 2006. Other than a poor shooting night, you're looking at a more consistent Nick Young. That shouldn't instill confidence. He'll split minutes with Marcus Thornton and Marcus Morris. Green's track record commands add consideration, but the minute's crunch and drop off in three-point accuracy classify him a watch list guy while the dust settles.

Alex Len returned to the lineup after missing three games. He compiled 11 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high six blocks in 35 minutes. Even without Miles Plumlee, Brandan Wright played 15 minutes. He's been pigeonholed as a 20-minute max player regardless of roster.

Gary Neal and Adreian Payne made their Timberwolves' debut. Neal's a buyout candidate, and Payne can grab more minutes if Anthony Bennett's injury is severe.

Kevin Love missed one game, but after last night's performance, it feels like two. He provided eight points, six rebounds, three steals, and three assists in 30 minutes.

Kris Humphries returned after missing one game. He grabbed a team-high six rebounds in 18 minutes during the 38-point loss to the Cavaliers. Ramon Sessions suited up and played six minutes in his Wizards' debut. Just informing thee.

Terrence Jones played 30 minutes, third most on the roster. He blocked four shots, scored nine points, and grabbed nine boards. The true test comes tonight. How many minutes does he play the second night of a back-to-back? The All-Star break layover afforded coach McHale the opportunity to test Jones' leg and endurance. Any tweak or setback derails all remaining fantasy value.

Danilo Gallinari garnered first crack at shooting guard against the Bucks, which makes sense given their length. He's played more than 30 minutes once all season and missed a month after suffering a setback with his knee. He played a season-high 36 minutes for the undermanned Nuggets, converting 3-of-12 shots but recording four steals. The caveat with him is health. If he can stay healthy, play big minutes, and power through back-to-backs, Gallinari offers interesting fantasy value. You're not stashing him for the fantasy playoffs because the Nuggets play 10 games during the default timeline, one over of the minimum.

Ty Lawson was disciplined for an unexcused absence during Wednesday's practice. Jameer Nelson started and played 37 minutes. I think Lawson plays Sunday, however, forecasting Brian Shaw's maneuvers isn't a forte of mine. If Lawson does return, expect Gallinari's minutes to dip because Shaw's prone to use both Lawson and Nelson on the court together.

Jerryd Bayless, the team's leader in fourth-quarter minutes, started at point guard with Michael Carter-Williams (toe) already ruled out the next one or two games (per his former coach). Bayless is an interesting short-term add considering the Bucks play five games in seven days starting Sunday. Should Carter-Williams rest until March, Bayless' only competition is O.J. Mayo, who tweaked a hamstring, and rookie Tyler Ennis.

Rodney Hood missed the past month with a left foot injury; Joe Ingles sat the previous three games due to back spasms. Both returned the lineup last night. Igles played 31 minutes as the starter, and Hood competed for 11 minutes. Elijah Millsap's emergence docked Dante Exum below 20 minutes for the second time this month against the Blazers, his low since joining the starting lineup.

Rudy Gobert started at center and blocked five shots in 24 minutes. He picked up two fouls in the first four minutes, and the game was out of hand late in the third quarter that his minutes were stifled as a result. Trevor Booker was the down-low winner of the Enes Kanter trade. He's the lone backup big, cemented by Steve Novak's departure. Booker played 22 minutes, a reasonable minute allotment on a typical night. He's a middle of the watch list guy, especially with Derrick Favor's injury concerns.

Chris Kaman played 16 minutes after missing the game before the break with an ankle problem.

Tyler Zeller was gifted the starting center role and didn't disappoint. He scored 22 points, recorded six assists, and grabbed four rebounds in 31 minutes with Jared Sullinger (foot) and Kelly Olynyk (ankle) sidelined. He'll likely perform well Sunday against the Lakers and then again at the end of the month against his brother and the Hornets. I can't promise anything else outside of those two tilts. Brandon Bass will probably stay, especially now that Sullinger's out for the foreseeable future, giving him the edge over Zeller. If Bass accepts the buyout, then Zeller's outlook changes for the better but leans more towards rotisserie leagues. The Celtics have a great head-to-head fantasy schedule, but Sullinger and Olynyk should be on the court by then.

Ray McCallum started at point guard and split minutes semi-evenly with Andre Miller. David Stockton signed a 10-day contract, and with George Karl promoting an uptempo style, the younger generation may earn slightly more minutes in those moments of pace.

Carl Landry started at power forward but played five minutes. He doesn't fit the style of play management and Karl are preaching. Also, Karl wants to play Rudy Gay more at power forward. Omri Casspi tallied a team-high six assists in 31 minutes off the bench. He could fill that Joe Ingles/Evan Turner role until Darren Collison (hip) returns. I'm intrigued and watching from my list, the watch list.

Jordan Hill shot 5-of-15 and double-doubled (12 points, 10 rebounds) off the bench in his return to the lineup. He was alright before the injury, nothing special. If nothing else, Hill was reliable for points and rebounds regardless of playing time. He played 30 minutes as a reserve, potentially paving he way back into the starting lineup. BUT NOBODY KNOWS FOR CERTAIN.

Ronnie Price returned to the lineup and recorded a team-high eight assists. I suspect he's the starting point guard before March. Plan accordingly.

Carlos Boozer and Wesley Johnson earned DNP-CDs. Such is life on Neverland Ranch.

Deron Williams started with Jarrett Jack (hamstring) out of commission. He forged 12 points and 15 assists against the Lakers, so consider the stats null and void. In fact, just throw the whole box score out. Bojan Bogdanovic, replacing Kevin Garnett in the starting lineup, scored 18 points against a team that doesn't play defense.

Thaddeus Young played 12 minutes in his debut. Mason Plumlee played just 17 minutes. *cue the music* I'll take you riiiiiiiiiiiiight innnnnnnntooooooooooooooooo the Danger Zone.

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

DeMarcus Cousins turned the ball over nine times. He also gathered 31 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in 36 minutes. He leads the NBA in turnovers (4.5 per game) and blocked field goal attempts (1.9 per game). If you overlook those deficiencies, Cousins is a top-10 fantasy entity.

ROOKIE OF THE NIGHT

Clearly, Michael Carter-Williams' presence hindered Nerlens Noel. How else do you explain the 12 points, nine rebounds, career-high nine blocks, and four steals in 33 minutes? Well, no Carter-Williams or K.J. McDaniels on the perimeter alters the defensive acuity, allowing players to penetrate at a higher rate. Those attackers were met with a Nerlens No-no. He's a sub-par offensive assett whose averaging 2.8 blocks and 1.9 steals in his last 11 games. Rebounding still isn't a strong suit, but without Carter-Williams swooping in for boards, Noel's capable of pulling down double-digits as the starting center. Just don't expect this type of performance consistently.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH

Tyreke Evans fell two rebounds shy of a triple-double. He's got at least another three weeks (10 games) as the team's primary facilitator after Jrue Holiday aggravated the stress reaction in his leg. Three weeks is a soft timetable since a re-evaluation doesn't guarantee immediate return. In fact, if the team falters (currently two games back of the eighth seed), resting Holiday the final four weeks may be the best course of action. Their first-round pick belongs to Houston Rockets unless it lands in the top three or outside the teens. As always, my only contention with Evan is his style of play, which will inevitably lead to an ankle injury. Until then, poor percentages and a triple-double watch are a nightly occurrence.

Elfrid Payton missed out by three boards. It's the first time he reached double-digit assists since January 23rd. With the defensive philosophy James Borrego emphasizes, the Magic reverted back to a bottom-five pace team, contrary to their final days under Jacque Vaughn. While the tone doesn't change Payton's role, fewer possessions and minutes curtail his fantasy value. It's also wise to remember he's a rookie who had an entire week off, sans the Rising Stars game. The first few games out of the break, especially the next one against the Sixers, may not reflect his actual value moving forward. He leads the NBA in games played (57), exceeding the minute total from his last season at Louisiana-Lafayette by game 47.

Ricky Rubio needed two rebounds for a triple-double. Please disregard his 2-of-10 shooting, because all but one of those attempts was outside 19 feet. He's hesitant to attack the rim for fear of injuring another ankle, hampered by his ineffectiveness around the basket.

BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

Evan Fournier attempted 16 shots for the first time since December 19th, which coincides with the last time he played at least 38 minutes. Tobias Harris (knee) missed his third straight contest, concerning since that dates back to February 9th. He's a restricted free agent at season's end, so expect him to get back to the court as soon as possible. On the other hand, the Magic are sixth and half games back of the playoffs. It's a situation worth monitoring, not one that warrants immediate reaction.

All the Pacers' starters, minus C.J. Miles, failed to score at least 10 points against the Sixers. Miles scored 14 of his 17 points in the first quarter, and the bench helped build a 58-40 halftime lead. Any game against the Sixers will likely run the same script: opponents jump out to large lead, starters play fewer than 25 minutes, opponent's bench throws up starter-type stat lines, and the Sixers make a furious comeback in the fourth quarter.

Don't freak out about Robert Covington's 2-of-10 shooting display, including an 0-of-5 from downtown. He was just fine in the three games Michael Carter-Williams missed before the All-Star break, and his shooting splits when Carter-Williams is on the floor versus on the bench are negligible, slightly favoring his presence on the bench.

The Hawks were bad, collectively, in the second half. Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague, and Paul Millsap all scored a team-high 11 points. The starters combined to shoot 16-of-50. The team shot 21 percent from downtown.

Lou Williams scored 26 points and hit a career-high seven threes against his former team. I don't know that you can sell high on him after back-to-back 26+ points games, so just ride out the hot streak and make some hot chocolate for the impending cold spell.

Pau Gasol's double-double streak was snapped at 15 games. Derrick Rose was limited to 2-of-9 shooting, missing his final seven attempts, and Mike Dunleavy was held scoreless in 18 minutes. It was a bad night.

Andre Drummond went for 18 points and 20 rebounds, recording five boards in the span of five seconds before he finally converted the fifth putback. Jodie Meeks has converted 14 of his last 76 three-point attempts, dropping him to 30 percent for the season. Sadly, that's a better mark than Reggie Jackson (28 percent).

Jose Calderon missed more free throws last night (2) than he missed all season (1). Langston Galloway scored a team-high 19 points, boosted by a halfcourt heave at the end of the game that banked off the glass. I'm all in on Galloway despite Calderon's 11 points and nine assists as lead guard.

Mario Chalmers registered 13 points, eight steals, seven assists, and six rebounds. Shabazz Napier tallied a career-high 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and seven turnovers. Tyler Johnson scored 14 points. This is all moot once Goran Dragic joins the team.

Nikola Pekovic played 36 minutes, scored 16 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked two shots, and had his shot blocked five times. Coach Saunders ran his core five at least 36 minutes, justified by a long break and two days off before their next game. Playing Pekovic that many minutes will backfire eventually. And when it does, Shabazz Muhammad and Adreian Payne inherent minutes.

Markieff Morris supplied his first 30-point game in over a month. Once the calvary joins the team, Morris' chances of attempting 21 shots diminish, unless he encounters a weak frontline, i.e. the Timberwolves or Kevin Love. Eric Bledsoe struggled without an additional playmaking guard, a departure from the norm.

Devin Harris outperformed Rajon Rondo and outplayed him, 30 minutes to 21 minutes. The Rockets were down 20 going into the fourth quarter, staged a faint rally, and made the final score closer than what actually played out. Coach Carlisle may have decided to rest Rondo or maybe the matchup against Patrick Beverley required the stylings of Harris. In the previous meeting, Rondo was held scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting in 34 minutes. This time around, Harris provided 17 points, including 12 in the third quarter. Rondo hasn't been standard league relevant for over a month, recently solidified by the facial fracture he suffered.

Wilson Chandler attempted 20 shots in 38 minutes for the first time since December, sans Arron Afflalo. Ty Lawson (suspension) was also missing, bumping up the shot attempts. Jusuf Nurkic contributed 11 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and two assists in 33 minutes.  He held the size advantage over John Henson and the tact advantage over Zaza Pachulia. I'm not positive the minute trend sticks, regardless of foul trouble. Sunday's game against the Thunder, a team Nurkic played 34 minutes against four games ago, can alleviate those concerns. And Kenneth Faried was terrible again, in case you were wondering.

Evan Turner led the team with eight assists and shot 3-of-12 from the floor. Avery Bradley scored 28 points in 41 minutes, and Marcus Smart finished with 16 points and five steals, converting just 2-of-9 from downtown. As mentioned earlier (like 15 minutes ago if you read every word), I fear Brad Stevens brings Isaiah Thomas off the bench. Turner could opt for a buyout, however unlikely, but I get the feeling he likes his role on the Celtics as primary ballhandler. He tried his hand as eighth-man off the bench for a contender; it did not turn out well. Regardless, the glut of guards creates a Phoenix-lite atmosphere, negatively impacting all parties.

Aron Baynes played a team-high 25 minutes for the Spurs and locked up a double-double. That's the story from the Spurs' side.

Jeremy Lin scored a team-high 18 points. Ed Davis added 16 points and 14 rebounds in Carlos Boozer's DNP-CD. Volatility. Volatility. Volatility. Davis is cool though if you neglect free-throw percentage.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. DeMarcus Cousins, C, SAC: 31 points
2. Markieff Morris, F, PHX: 31 points
3. Rodney Stuckey, G, IND: 30 points
4. Jimmy Butler, G, CHI: 30 points

Rebounds

1. Andre Drummond, C, DET: 20 rebounds
2. DeMarcus Cousins, C, SAC: 15 rebounds
3. Jusuf Nurkic, C, DEN: 15 rebounds

Assists

1. Deron Williams, G, BKN:15 assists
2. Ricky Rubio, G, MIN: 14 assists
3. Elfrid Payton, G, ORL: 11 assists
4. Stephen Curry, G, GSW: 11 assists

Steals

1. Mario Chalmers, G, MIA: 8 steals
2. Marcus Smart, G, BOS: 5 steals
3. Eight players with four steals

Blocks

1. Nerlens Noel, C, PHI: 9 blocks
2. Alex Len, C, PHX: 6 blocks
3. Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 5 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Lou Williams, G, TOR: 7-10 3Pt
2. Joe Johnson, F, BKN: 5-7 3Pt
3. Stephen Curry, G, GSW: 4-8 3Pt
4. Shabazz Napier, G, MIA: 4-5 3Pt
5. Trevor Ariza, F, HOU: 4-11 3Pt
6. Andre Iguodala, F, GSW: 4-6 3Pt

Minutes

1. Avery Bradley, G, BOS: 41 minutes
2. Jared Dudley, F, MIL: 41 minutes
3. Ben McLemore, G, SAC: 41 minutes