Final reminder: the trade deadline in standard ESPN leagues expires Wednesday, February 25 at 12 PM EST. Get to trading.

WEEKLY STRATEGY

We're three weeks away from Week 21, the unofficial start of the fantasy playoffs. Here's the skinny for Week 18:

• 20 teams play four games, and the remainder scheduled for three
• 22 teams play Wednesday and Friday, nights with at least 12 games each
• Seven teams (CHI, DEN, HOU, PHI, BOS, NOR, LAC) play Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
• Three teams (CHI, DEN, HOU) play four home games
• Seven teams (MIL, UTA, MIA, SAS, MEM, MIN, BKN) play Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
• Three teams (GSW, SAS, BKN) play four road games
• Milwaukee faces the Sixers and Lakers
• Zero teams play Saturday and Sunday
• Three teams (CLE, OKC, GSW) play three games over the final four days
• Wednesday features 12 games, and Friday's slate is comprised of 14 games

If you play in a daily head-to-head league, note the surplus of activity on Wednesday and Friday. Surely, you'll need to decide which players to sit during those busy nights. If you're streaming and will do anything to solidify your position in the standings, target players from Cleveland, Oklahoma City, and Golden State this week. They're the only three teams scheduled for action Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Adding players from these teams almost guarantees you'll maximize your games played. If you're fed up with Spencer Hawes or Lance Stephenson, lost Chris Bosh or Jared Sullinger, consider using players like Iman Shumpert, Harrison Barnes, or Dion Waiters in the interim. Lastly, don't make a transaction for the sake of it. If your roster is loaded and you can't afford to cut someone, play out the week. Decision time is Wednesday since the second to last bullet point specifies that all three teams play a majority of their games starting Thursday.

MR UNRELIABLE

Kevin Durant has been ruled out one week (five games) after undergoing a procedure to replace the screw in his surgically repaired foot. He'll be reevaluated next week, potentially returning Sunday against the Lakers or Wednesday against the Sixers. The team probably doesn't need him for those games, so I'd consider a return the following week more likely. According to the schedule, the Thunder play five games in the first 12 days of March. However, after the Lakers and Sixers games, they play two games in a six-day span. Management may want to rest him for the subsequent games against the Bull and Raptors, signifying a return on March 11th against the Clippers. This is speculative on my part, but the schedule implies at least a two-week respite.

Recently acquired Enes Kanter, D.J. Augustin, and Kyle Singler receive a tentative boost in fantasy value. Dion Waiters, Anthony Morrow, and Mitch McGary will also see an increase in playing time. Calling back to the Weekly Primer, the aforementioned players are valuable this week because of the Thunder's schedule: three out of four games on nights with eight games or fewer on the NBA docket. Those in daily head-to-head leagues can utilize Thunder players for their game scarcity, then discard them when news emerges on Durant.

PELICAN(T)S

Anthony Davis (shoulder) will miss 1-2 weeks (4-8 games), and Ryan Anderson (knee) will miss 2-4 weeks (8-15 games).

The default fantasy playoffs are three weeks way. As noted in the previous Box Score Breakdown, Anderson is shooting a career-low 34.4 percent from distance. He's averaging 1.9 assists/steals/blocks combined. Also, that fourth week overlaps Week 21, the first week of default fantasy playoffs. The Pelicans play four games in Week 21, followed by back-to-back weeks of three games. If you're in a position where you'll earn a first-round bye, you may not get to deploy Anderson until Week 22. His ownership depends on the league size, but dropping him to open a streaming spot in standard leagues helps anyone vying for the fantasy playoffs.

Tyreke Evans averages 18.3 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 2.2 three-pointers in seven games with Davis this season. Alexis Ajinca averaged 14.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in six games without Davis this season. He and Omer Asik both averaged 26.9 minutes per game without Davis, however, the exclusion of Anderson opens up another 36 minutes for coach Monty Williams to propagate. Dante Cunningham and Quincy Pondexter can absorb some power forward minutes in the right matchup. I took a flier on Ajinca in a 12-team roto league, mostly as a speculative add but also to assure no one else added him.

HOSPITAL WARD

Jerami Grant suffered a lower back contusion after getting stuffed by Dewayne Dedmon at the summit. He stayed in the game for a bit before exiting. I don't think he'll be ready to play tonight, but he's young and freakishly athletic, so it could go either way.

Andre Roberson left the game after Danilo Gallinari poked his eye. I don't believe he returned, contrary to reports that indicated he would return. I could be wrong, but there wasn't any incentive for him to play with the game out of hand in the first half. The Thunder battle the Pacers on Tuesday, providing Roberson at least one recovery day. Dion Waiters may start if Roberson misses extended time.

M.I.A.

• Atlanta
  • Thabo Sefolosha (calf)
• Boston
  • Kelly Olynyk (ankle)
• Charlotte
  • Bismack Biyombo (knee)
  • Kemba Walker (knee)
• Dallas
  • Chandler Parsons (ankle)
• Detroit
  • Tayshaun Prince (DNP-CD)
• Golden State
  • Stephen Curry (ankle)
• Indiana
  • Paul George (leg)
• Memphis
  • Vince Carter (foot)
• Milwaukee
  • Michael Carter-Williams (foot)
  • Johnny O'Bryant (personal)
• New York
  • Shane Larkin (illness)
• Oklahoma City
  • Kevin Durant (foot)
  • Steven Adams (hand)
• Philadelphia
  • Luc Mbah a Moute (personal)
• Portland
  • LaMarcus Aldridge (thumb)
  • Joel Freeland (shoulder)
• Washington
  • Bradley Beal (leg)

ROTATION NOTES

Lance Thomas started over Cleanthony Early in an attempt to guard LeBron James. Early played eight minutes, one game removed from a 23-minute outing in his first career start. Thomas played 23 minutes in the blowout loss. The Knicks take on the Celtics next. Clearly the small forward position operates like a revolving door, so Tim Hardaway, Jr. starting Wednesday wouldn't surprise me.

Alexey Shved played three minutes in his first game with the Knicks. Shane Larkin (illness) didn't play, but when he does, I suspect Shved falls out of the rotation.

Ersan Ilyasova played 15 minutes off the bench after missing one game due to illness.

Miles Plumlee debuted, permitting Jason Kidd to run a three-man center rotation. John Henson played 18 minutes, Zaza Pachulia earned 15 minutes, and Plumlee amassed 15. Henson didn't play in the second or fourth quarter. Even though coach Kidd committed to him as the starting center, abundant playing time isn't part of the job description. You can wait to see how Kidd handles the rotation tonight before dropping Henson. Try not to be too hasty because he has blocked a shot in 20 straight games, the second-longest active streak.

Kevin Seraphin returned to the lineup after missing one game with an illness. His production has been insufficient of late.

Garrett Temple replaced Otto Porter, Jr. in the starting lineup. The waffling between both by coach Wittman and addition of Ramon Sessions allows me to ignore the Wizards' shooting guard until Bradley Beal (leg) returns.

Reggie Jackson made his debut with the Pistons, replacing Spencer Dinwiddie in the starting lineup. After missing his first eight shots, Jackson closed the night 7-of-10 for 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 30 minutes. John Lucas III was excluded from the rotation, conceding the rest of the point guard minutes to Dinwiddie. While we may not have a Brandon Jennings-D.J. Augustin platoon, coach Van Gundy doesn't fear benching his starters if they don't execute the gameplan.

Stephen Curry (ankle) rested as a precaution, thrusting Shaun Livingston into the starting lineup. Coach Kerr considers Curry day-to-day, and the Warriors get Monday off before traveling to Washington.

C.J. Watson started the second half over C.J. Miles after scoring 10 points in the first half. Coach Vogel countered by playing Miles more minutes in the second half anyway. Miles snagged eight of his team-high nine rebounds in the second half.

The Isaiah Canaan Era launched with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and four three-pointers in 29 minutes. I witnessed the team run the offense through the low post in Canaan's debut, accounting for Nerlens Noel's five assists. When Tim Frazier was on the court, it was business as usual. As Canaan learns the offense and his teammates, the fewer dribble handoffs and deferment, resulting in respectable assist numbers for a shooting guard playing the role of point guard.

Henry Sims started in place of Luc Mbah a Moute (personal). He joined the team and should be available for tonight's game in Miami.

Tobias Harris jumped back into the starting lineup after missing three games, compiling a season-low four points on six attempts in 25 minutes. Channing Frye scored 12 of his 15 points in the first quarter, and Nikola Vucevic matched his season-high 24 shot attempts, limiting Harris' touches in the process. Coach Borrego held him out of the previous game even though he'd been cleared to play, suggesting a cautious approach. The team doesn't play again until Wednesday against an undersized Heat, an ideal time for Harris to reclaim his standard playing time.

Ty Lawson rejoined the starting lineup following a one-game suspension. He scored 17 points in 24 minutes and matched a season-low four assists. The last five games have opened up a sell-high opportunity with Lawson averaging 22.8 points on 58 percent shooting.

King Joffrey Lauvergne played his first game with the Nuggets, producing eight points in 18 minutes off the bench. He's an agile, 6'11" center who'll most certainly snake minutes from Jusuf Nurkic.

Will Barton played 25 minutes off the bench in his first game as a Nugget. The game was over in the first quarter, casting doubt on the duplicative nature of his actual role and playing time.

Amar'e Stoudemire suited up for the first time as a Dallas Maverick and then dominated the Hornets' interior for 14 points in 11 minutes. He's not the ideal fantasy player, but the Mavericks only have four back-to-back sets the rest of the season. Conversely, they play a league-low 13 games in March. Stoudemire is someone the Mavericks want healthy for the NBA postseason, and they'll monitor his minutes accordingly. If he starts to climb up near 20-24 minutes a night, Stoudemire enters the conversation of relevancy. Until then, expect great per-minute production and stellar efficiency in short bursts.

Chandler Parsons (ankle) will miss at least the next two games, paving the way for Richard Jefferson to start in his place. Jefferson added 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 33 minutes. He reminds me of Caron Butler, in that I don't want him on my fantasy team. Al-Farouq Aminu played 24 minutes off the bench, blocked three shots, and couldn't score after posting 17 points the previous game. That's the one flaw in his game, zero offensive characteristics. Parsons could return Saturday against the Nets, barring setback. If he's still agitated by the ankle, the Mavericks are gifted with just six games the first 15 day of March. Even if he misses significant time, his games missed will be minimal.

LaMarcus Aldridge (thumb) didn't play after spraining his right thumb Friday. Meyers Leonard started and scored 11 points in 17 minutes, converting 3-of-5 three-pointers. The Blazers return to action Wednesday against the Spurs, a likely return date since coach Stotts confirmed the sprain wasn't a serious issue.

Arron Afflalo debuted off the bench for the Trail Blazers. He played 24 minutes and the starters played their typical minute allotment. It's difficult to judge if the playing time was derived from Aldridge's absence, his first game as a Blazer, or a true indication of his role on the team from this point forward. If Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, and Nicolas Batum are going to play 35 minutes each like they did last night, the return of Aldridge jeopardizes playing time in the mid-20s for Afflalo. We'll likely find out Wednesday how the true rotation shakes out.

After suffering a DNP-CD the previous game, Carlos Boozer started over Tarik Black. I couldn't tell you how long the move sticks. Wesley Johnson, the other DNP-CD casualty from Friday, played 32 minutes off the bench and scored a season-high 22 points. Because the goal is to lose as many games as possible, coach Scott will continue to shuffle his starting lineup, benching players on a whim. It's a situation I'm avoiding.

Isaiah Thomas made his Celtics' debut and was ejected after picking up two technical fouls in the span of seconds. He came off the bench and supplied 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 25 minutes. His sixth man legacy lives on.

Not only do you get to receive a Celtics' frontcourt update, now you get to find out what's going on in the backcourt, too. Tyler Zeller played 36 minutes and Brandon Bass played 40 minutes. Zeller underwhelmed (eight points, 11 rebounds) and Bass was alright (15 points, five rebounds) against a disastrous Lakers' frontline. Avery Bradley played 42 minutes, and Marcus Smart played 31 minutes before fouling out. Thomas' presence pilfers minutes from Smart because he's not tall enough to guard shooting guards, Bradley's role. Those three are also sharing minutes with James Young, so a three-way split of 96 backcourt minutes can't transpire.

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

Russell Westbrook registered 21 points, a career-high 17 assists, eight rebounds, and two three-pointers in 27 minutes. His usage rate without Kevin Durant is 42.2 percent. He's second in points per game (26.1), second in steals per game (2.1), fifth in assists per game (8.0), first in fast break points per game (7.4), leads all guards in points in the paint per game (11.0), and first in usage rate (36.1%). Sadly, his streak of consecutive made free throws ended at 45 last night.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH

Elfrid Payton was intentionally fouled late in the fourth quarter. He's still a liability in that department as the Sixers turned a 12-point deficit into a one-point game with under two minutes to play. In 36 minutes, Payton provided 10 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and one steal. That free-throw percentage peaked at 68 percent in January before normalizing to 54 percent in February on 3.5 attempts per game.

BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

The Cavaliers built a 30-point lead and rested their starters in the fourth quarter. Kevin Love provided 16 points, 16 rebounds, and another great opportunity to trade him on the heels of a big performance. J.R. Smith scored 17 points in his return to Madison Square Garden. I don't agree with the notion that he's a better player in Cleveland. Detractors too often focused on his antics, not his play. In an additional six minutes per game, Smith's numbers are nearly identical in both settings. He's attempting four more three-pointers per game and converting at a similar rate with the Cavaliers. His role changed from creator to catch-and-shoot specialist, but check the numbers below if you reject my assertion.

My boy Langston Galloway led the Knicks in minutes and scoring for the second straight game following All-Star Carmelo Anthony's season-ending surgery. In both games, Galloway was the only player to surpass 30 minutes. Andrea Bargnani played his third straight game for the first time since last January. I'm not concerned about him, banking on an injury surfacing sometime this week. The Knicks play back-to-back games heading into the weekend, a turning point in Bargnani's season if he can play big minutes in both contests.

The Hawks consistently produce whether they win or lose. And every time my only advice is to trade them in head-to-head leagues because a). coach Budenholzer has already shown he'll rest the starters and b.) the Hawks play 10 games during the default fantasy playoffs. Paul Millsap's outburst for 23 points and 16 rebounds presents an opportune time to flip him if you're preparing for a title run. Please disregard that advice in rotisserie leagues.

O.J. Mayo is having the same statistical season he had last season. Here's the proof:

He's a solid piece in the second unit with directives to score, justifiably ownable during his hot streaks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton each scored 19 points, the latter accumulating a team-high five assists and the former recording his thirteenth straight game of at least 30 minutes played (longest streak on the Bucks over the past two seasons). The fill-in point guard, Jerryd Bayless, is more of a scored than a facilitator. Nonetheless, he's a decent short-term add, especially if Michael Carter-Williams' evaluation today returns negative results.

Marcin Gortat devastated Andre Drummond for a season-high 24 points, 10 rebounds, one block, and one assist in 31 minutes. Even with a performance of this caliber, he failed to play more than five minutes in the fourth quarter. Only Garrett Temple averages fewer fourth-quarter minutes per game than Gortat's 4.4. It's an epidemic that's deteriorated in 2015, dropping all the way to 3.5 fourth-quarter minutes (dead last on the Wizards). A Nene Hilario injury conveys those minutes back to Gortat, but until such time, his minutes are capped by the likes of Rasual Butler and Kris Humphries.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 26 points and hit six threes points on 13 attempts. I'm not buying what he's selling. We have a 56-game sample this season of erratic, voluminous shooting with some steals sprinkled in. It's watch-list worthy, nothing more.

Klay Thompson deposited a team-high 39 points without Stephen Curry (ankle). Dismally, only Andre Iguodala joined him in the double-figure scoring club. After a 38-point first quarter, the Warriors averaged 20 points per quarter the rest of the way in their six-point loss to the Pacers.

Rodney Stuckey scored 30 points in consecutive games for the first time in his career. Similar outbursts from fantasy irrelevant players over the last four seasons include: Gerald Henderson, Chris Copeland, and Michael Beasley. Over his last 11 games, Stuckey's shooting 56 percent from the field, 41 percent from three-point land, and 94 percent from the free-throw line, drastic deviations from his typical efficiency. George Hill's return to the lineup coincides with Stuckey's abnormal resurgence. In fact, Stuckey is shooting 60 percent from the field with Hill on the court versus 43 percent with him on the bench. Even though Stuckey's assisted baskets increased by thirteen percent over the past 11 games, Hill is responsible for just one of those buckets.

JaKarr Sampson scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Somehow, someway, he's shooting 50 percent from the field since the beginning of December and 38 percent from downtown in 2015. Props to Brett Brown and the development staff for turning him into a serviceable player in less than four months. Jeremi Grant's injury opens up minutes, just not enough for Sampson to warrant serious fantasy consideration.

Kenneth Faried was terrible, again. The Nuggets were down by as many as 33, and no one played more than 29 minutes. Danilo Gallinari scored 16 points in 19 minutes, supplemented by three three-pointers and two rebounds. Everyone on the Nuggets participated, and the reserves hoarded the second-half minutes.

Enes Kanter and Serge Ibaka dropped 20 apiece. Kanter recorded a double-double, and Ibaka blocked eight shots. Mitch McGary added 10 points and seven boards, D.J. Augustin led the team with 30 minutes, and Dion Waiters scored 17 points on 15 shots in 27 minutes. They lapped the haphazard Nuggets, so recalibrate expectations a smidge.

Mo Williams scored a team-high 22 points, and Al Jefferson snagged a season-high 17 rebounds. I'm trying to acquire Jefferson before the trade deadline because the Hornets play a maximum 26 games from March through the end of the season. Lance Stephenson had a good game, and a good game for him is 11 points, five assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes. Don't expect similar performances moving forward. We have mounds of data intimating Stephenson doesn't mesh with the Hornets. He posted almost exact same numbers three weeks ago against the Wizards, then lost playing time. In all fairness, he's been playing hurt all season, fighting off knee tendinitis and a pelvic sprain.

Jeremy Lin scored a season-high 25 points and dished out six assists in 30 minutes. Nick Young conjured up 19 points and his first block since January 2nd. I'm not adding either based off one atypical game. Jordan Clarkson took a backseat due to Lin's hot shooting, and Young is splitting minutes with Wayne Ellington and Wesley Johnson for a coach that doesn't care for his antics. I mentioned it before, but the objective is to lose games, which is why 11 players played at least 11 minutes in their overtime win. Scattering lineups and disfiguring continuity gives the Lakers the best chance of retaining their top-5 protected draft pick.

Evan Turner chipped in 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, and two steals in 36 minutes. Over the past nine games, he's averaging 6.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, annihilated by his 26 percent field goal mark and 10 percent accuracy from distance. Don't succumb to his juicy assist numbers. You'll only feel heartache and regret.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. Klay Thompson, G, GSW: 39 points
2. Nikola Vucevic, C, ORL: 31 points
3. Rodney Stuckey, G, IND: 30 points

Rebounds

1. Al Jefferson, C, CHA: 17 rebounds
2. Paul Millsap, F, ATL: 16 rebounds
3. Andre Drummond, C, DET: 16 rebounds
4. Kevin Love, F, CLE: 16 rebounds

Assists

1. Russell Westbrook, G, OKC: 17 assists
2. John Wall, G, WAS: 12 assists
3. Evan Turner, F, BOS: 12 assists

Steals

1. Jeff Teague, G, ATL: 4 steals
2. Devin Harris, G, DAL: 4 steals
3. Nick Calathes, G, MEM: 4 steals
4. Ronnie Price, G, LAL: 4 steals

Blocks

1. Serge Ibaka, F, OKC: 8 blocks
2. Marc Gasol, C, MEM: 3 blocks
3. Draymond Green, F, GSW: 3 blocks
4. Al-Farouq Aminu, F, DAL: 3 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, DET: 6-13 3Pt
2. Klay Thompson, G, GSW: 5-13 3Pt
3. Kyle Korver, G, ATL: 4-9 3Pt
4. Isaiah Canaan, G, PHI: 4-9 3Pt
5. Steve Blake, G, POR: 4-4 3Pt
6. Avery Bradley, G, BOS: 4-10 3Pt

Minutes

1. Avery Bradley, G, BOS: 42 minutes
2. Brandon Bass, G, BOS: 40 minutes
3. Nikola Vucevic, C, ORL: 38 minutes
4. Mo Williams, G, CHA: 38 minutes
5. Langston Galloway, G, NYK: 38 minutes
6. Victor Oladipo, G, ORL: 38 minutes