A ton of dope s*** happened last night. I'll try to encapsulate all of it in essay form.

HOSPITAL WARD

Two straight days without an in-game injury forcing a player to miss the rest of the game heartens me.

M.I.A

• Charlotte
  • Kemba Walker (knee)
• Cleveland
  • Shawn Marion (hip)
• Denver
  • Jusuf Nurkic (ankle)
• Golden State
  • Marreese Speights (DNP-CD)
  • Leandro Barbosa (illness)
• Houston
  • Dwight Howard (knee)
  • Kostas Papanikolaou (ankle)
• Indiana
  • Roy Hibbert (rest)
  • Paul George (leg)
  • C.J. Watson (elbow)
• LA Clippers
  • Blake Griffin (elbow)
  • Jamal Crawford (calf)
  • Matt Barnes (hamstring)
• LA Lakers
  • Nick Young (knee)
• Memphis
  • Vince Carter (foot)
• Milwaukee
  • O.J. Mayo (hamstring)
  • Miles Plumlee (DNP-CD)
• Minnesota
  • Anthony Bennett (leg)
  • Robbie Hummel (hand)
• New Orleans
  • Ryan Anderson (knee)
  • Jrue Holiday (leg)
• New York
  • Jose Calderon (Achilles)
• Oklahoma City
  • Kevin Durant (foot)
  • Steven Adams (hand)
  • Steve Novak (abdomen)
• Orlando
  • Evan Fournier (hip)
  • Luke Ridnour (hamstring)
  • Devyn Marble (eye)
• Philadelphia
  • Robert Covington (elbow)
• Phoenix
  • Gerald Green (DNP-CD)
• Portland
• Sacramento
  • Darren Collison (hip)
• Toronto
  • Kyle Lowry (rest)

ROTATION NOTES

Roy Hibbert was given the night off. His replacement, Ian Mahinmi, played 23 minutes in the blowout win over the Knicks. The Pacers play the Knicks again Saturday, a potential rest day for Hibbert, George Hill or David West. Any player who rests Saturday would have three days off before the Pacers' next game. I'm sure coach Frank Vogel already thought this through.

Cleanthony Early started the game but was replaced by Shane Larkin at the start of the second half. Larkin was the only Knick held scoreless, and Early has recorded at least one steal in five straight games. Sometimes you have to look on the bright side.

Coach James Borrego replaced Channing Frye with Dewayne Dedmon in the starting lineup. Neither was playing more than 20 minutes per game post-All-Star break, yielding power forward minutes to Tobias Harris. However, the Magic have held opponents to 87.8 points per 100 possessions under Borrego with Dedmon on the floor, good for a team-high 11.2 net rating. Dedmon was limited to 21 minutes due to foul trouble, positing a team-high nine plus/minus along with eight points, eight rebounds, one steal, and one block. It's unknown how long the move sticks, but I have to believe Borrego gives Dedmon another chance Friday against the Kings. As long as he can minimize the fouls, Dedmon is a quality block specialist, recording seven fewer than Nikola Vucevic in 1,406 fewer minutes.

Aaron Gordon returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sprained right ankle. He was the first player off the bench but only played 11 minutes. The team won't overexert Gordon after he missed two months following surgery to fix a stress reaction in his left foot. The Magic play 20 games the rest of the season, focusing on Gordon's long-term health versus a few meaningless March games.

Gerald Green picked up his second DNP-CD since the All-Star break. Marcus Thornton and Archie Goodwin split the 18 minutes Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe didn't play. Since Knight made his debut, Green has averaged 15.5 minutes per game, losing playing time to Marcus Morris and the aforementioned Goodwin. It's time to let go of Green the way (MOVIE SPOILER) Rose let go of Jack at the end of Titanic.

Kelly Olynyk played seven minutes off the bench after missing the previous 18 games with an ankle sprain. At that rate, he'll be stuck in 25-minute purgatory come mid-March, the start of the default fantasy playoffs. Jae Crowder started over Brandon Bass in the second half, and the frontcourt minutes broke down like this: Tyler Zeller - 30, Crowder - 33, Jonas Jerebko - 18, Bass - 18, and Olynyk - 7. While Olynyk provides the most diverse stat line, his playing time is the most worrisome aspect. As a starter, he averaged 25.9 minutes per game this season. Coming off an injury, in a crowded frontcourt, under a coach with erratic rotations, Olynyk might be a better add in theory than in practice.

Coach Steve Clifford decided to matchup (matchdown?) against the smaller Nets' lineup, starting Marvin Williams over Cody Zeller. The gambit paid off, returning a 35-15 first-quarter lead. The Hornets coasted from there, securing a 24-point win. Williams provided 18 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one block, and four three-pointers in 26 minutes to Zeller's 13 points in 15 minutes.

Thaddeus Young was thrust into the second-half starting lineup, replacing Markel Brown. This may have been a reaction to the Hornets using a small lineup to matchup with the Nets at tipoff. While I'd prefer Young starting, it matters not as long as he receives starter's minutes.

Tony Allen returned to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension. He produced 12 points, eight rebounds, and two steals in 27 minutes off the bench. Coach Dave Joerger alleges the incident is behind them, and in kind, rookie Jordan Adams went from playing a season-high 23 minutes to not playing at all.

Zach Randolph and Beno Udrih missed Tuesday's game due to an illness, but each resumed their customary role against the Rockets. Randolph went for 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block in 33 minutes; Udrih was held to 15 minutes, converting just 2-of-8 from the field. The Grizzlies begin a stretch of five games in seven nights Friday, so any residual effects may cost these two or any other infected players a precautionary game.

After serving a one-game suspension, James Harden maintained his MVP season with 18 points, 13 assists, four rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and two three-pointers in 41 minutes. His presence booted Corey Brewer back to the bench for an uneventful five points in 26 minutes.

Kevin Martin shot 3-of-15 following a one-game absence with the flu. He only got to the line three times, so I wouldn't be surprised if an imposter put on a Kevin Martin jersey for one game. The Timberwolves don't play again until Saturday, adequate time for Martin to fully recover from whatever's ailing him.

Nikola Pekovic was on a minute restriction after missing one game with a sore right ankle. He started and played 15 minutes. The Timberwolves play six back-to-backs sets the rest of the season, including four times during the default head-to-head fantasy playoffs. Pekovic may get shut down at some point to secure a healthy offseason for the center with troublesome ankles.

Anthony Davis had a successful return after missing five games with a right shoulder strain. And by successful I mean 39 points, 13 rebounds, eight blocks, three steals, and two assists in 42 minutes. It's so good all I can do is tell you his line and move on.

Alexis Ajinca played 23 minutes off the bench, same as Omer Asik, and contributed 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and one block. When Davis was out, Ajinca played 23.0 minutes per game and averaged 14.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 70 percent. I think Ajinca played so much because the Pistons utilize two behemoths in Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe. While Ajinca's short-term value takes a negative hit, it won't be as large if he continues to play 20-24 minutes a night, potentially jostling away the starting gig from Asik.

Russell Westbrook only missed one game after taking an Andre Roberson knee to the face. Even though he required overtime, Westbrook recorded his fourth straight triple-double with a career-high 49 points, career-high 16 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, one block, and one three-pointer in 42 minutes. He scored 10 of the team's 13 overtime points. I'm sure he broke some records in the process, and we won't have to wait long to see him in his mask as the Thunder oppose the Bulls tonight.

Jason Richardson was rested the previous game. It helped Richardson so much, I thought about resting myself. Maybe then I could put up a season-high 29 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and four three-pointers in 36 minutes like Richardson. It's important to remember that the organization hasn't played him the second game of a back-to-back yet or pushed him over 26 minutes in a game. The Sixers engage in a back-to-back set this weekend and I wouldn't be surprised if he rests the first game after playing so many minutes last night. They have three days off after the second game, so it all depends on how coach Brett Brown wants to handle Richardson, assuming he can play Friday.

Jared Dudley commandeered Ersan Ilyasova's spot in the starting lineup after relinquishing the same role six games ago. Coach Jason Kidd affirmed the lineup change was necessary with new roster, implying Ilyasova isn't as vocal on the court. Ilyasova outplayed and outperformed Dudley, producing 13 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and three three-pointers in 35 minutes. The Warriors used Draymond Green at center in the fourth quarter, and Dudley was struggling from the field, factors in Ilyasova's increased playing time even after the demotion. The Bucks play the Wizards next, meaning we'll likely see Zaza Pachulia for more than 25 minutes and John Henson more than nine minutes. It also stands to reason Miles Plumlee won't receive a DNP-CD.

BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

Andrea Bargnani? More like Andrea Bargnasty. The Knicks were blown out for the second straight night, but Bargnani didn't venture a repeat performance. In a season-high 38 minutes, he deposited 25 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks, one steal, and two three-pointers. He and Tim Hardaway, Jr. each attempted 17 shots with varying levels of success. Bargnani is stealing shine from my boy Langston Galloway, and doing so with fantasy relevant lines. I can feel the calf aggravation coming, but until then, Bargnasty has actually shot the ball efficiently inside the three-point line.

George Hill scored a season-high 21 points, C.J. Miles recorded 14 of his 16 points in the first half, and Rodney Stuckey added 15 of his 17 points in the first half. The Pacers were up 65-41 at halftime and paced to a 105-82 win.

The Suns were the first team to score 100 points against the Magic since James Borrego replaced Jacque Vaughn. Eric Bledsoe missed out on a triple-double with 13 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, three steals, one block, one three-pointer, and seven turnovers. P.J. Tucker scored all 19 of his points in the second half, and Brandon Knight and Markieff Morris combined for 51 points. Alex Len's three first-half fouls limited him to 22 minutes the entire night, affording Brandan Wright 23 minutes for the first time since January 19th.

Victor Oladipo scored a career-high 38 points, grabbed four rebounds, dropped three assists, and recorded three steals in 43 minutes. He lived in the paint the first three quarters, abusing defensively inclined Eric Bledsoe off the dribble on multiple occasions. Once the fourth quarter came, so did the fatigue and Bledsoe clamps, transforming Oladipo into a jump-shooting fiend.

Elfrid Payton bounced back in a huge way after coach James Borrego limited him to 13 minutes the previous game. Even though he only shot 4-of-11 from the floor, Payton added nine points, 10 assists, five steals, and four rebounds in 33 minutes. If you're in a rotisserie league, can take the hit in percentages, and need to make up assists, rebounds and steals, Payton has proven throughout his tenure as starting point guard to be proficient in those three categories. Head-to-head league managers need to be aware of the Magic's subpar fantasy playoff schedule. The only time during the nine games from Week 21-23 the Magic play on a night with less than eight games is their first game of Week 21. Almost every other time the Magic play, you'll have to decide if Payton is worth a spot on your active roster.

Rudy Gobert hauled in another 16 rebounds and blocked three shots. Trey Burke was triple-double bound with 16 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in 32 minutes, rebounding from a four-point performance against the Grizzlies. Dante Exum has only played in 19.4 minutes per game post-All-Star break, dropping significantly since Rodney Hood returned to the lineup. Burke will continue to lead the team in shot attempts off the bench at a terribly inefficient rate, accumulating decent assist numbers, making him palatable for some fantasy managers. Trevor Booker contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes. His best performances have come against the Eastern Conference this year. The Jazz's next three games are against the Sixers, Nets, and Knicks. If you're looking for sneaky value in a weekly matchup, Booker's presence as the lone backup big in Utah affords him short-term appeal given the nature of the upcoming schedule.

Evan Turner: two points, two rebounds, two assists, two fouls, and too legit to quit.

Mo Williams registered nine of his 14 assists in the first quarter, finishing with 14 points, three rebounds, two three-pointers and one turnover in 31 minutes. Kemba Walker (ankle) was cleared to resume basketball activities, certainly signifying the final weeks of Williams' must-own status. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist rendered 10 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double in five games. He hasn't shot worse than 50 percent from the field since January 24th, a 12-game stretch. The Hornets are one of six teams with a maximum 23 games remaining, reason enough to add Kidd-Gilchrist with the hope he boosts your rebounds and field goal percentage.

Joe Johnson was held to 1-of-6 shooting, courtesy of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's defense. Deron Williams, Mason Plumlee, and Bojan Bogdanovic were the only Nets to reach 10 points, barely squeaking over the minimum.

LeBron James scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, making just 8-of-13 from the free-throw line to go along with 14 assists, six rebounds, and three three-pointers. Since the All-Star break, James is shooting 57 percent from the charity stripe, the lowest mark for anyone scoring at least 17 points per game. James Jones added a season-high 14 points on four three-pointers and two free-throws. Kyrie Irving provided 26 points and eight assists, Kevin Love supplied 22 points and 10 rebounds, and J.R. Smith furnished 15 points and eight rebounds. Love has reclaimed last year's version of himself, hitting three-pointers above 40 percent and pulling down rebounds at a decent rate. His recent stats are bloated with Irving missing two games and James missing one post-All-Star break. Today is the final day of the trade deadline in standard Yahoo! leagues, expiring at 11:59 PM EST. Either you want him the rest of the season, or you can move him while his value is trending in a positive direction for someone with a more favorable rest-of-season schedule.

Lou Williams scored 21 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Greivis Vasquez accounted for 13 assists, Jonas Valanciunas attempted a season-high 17 shots, and DeMar DeRozan failed to score in the final period after contributing 25 points beforehand, adding one rebound and one steal to his stat line. The team is without Kyle Lowry (rest) for an undermined amount of time, adding excessive pressure to the rest of the players.

Marc Gasol made the game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds left, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and one block in 34 minutes. Mike Conley shot better than 50 percent for the first time in nine games, against Patrick Beverley no less. He's dealt with a sprained left wrist and sprained ankles since January, reason enough for his perceived dip in production. Jeff Green's presence also plays a role in the depressed assist numbers, using more possessions than Tayshaun Prince removes the ball from Conley at a higher rate.

Donatas Motiejunas scored all 10 of his points in the first half, playing just 21 minutes overall. Coach Kevin McHale shied away from Motiejunas in the fourth quarter, preferring to shift Trevor Ariza up to power forward as a mechanism to bring Zach Randolph to the perimeter. Terrence Jones scored a team-high 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked two shots, dropped two dimes, and collected a steal in 36 minutes, reason enough to keep Motiejunas on the bench. Since replacing Joey Dorsey in the starting lineup, Jones is shooting 64 percent from the field and converting an absurd 72 percent of his shots in the restricted area.

I don't believe in hocus pocus, and I don't believe in Kenneth Faried. Yet here we are, trying to convince ourselves that two excellent games against Zaza Pachulia and Gorgui Dieng (a shot blocker who lacks proper defensive technique) accurately reflect Faried's value. In 32 minutes, he provided 18 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks. I take nothing away from the performance, but his numbers, much like his muscles, are popcorn. He missed so many bunnies last night, unable to finish through contact, that I implore you to lower your expectation from this point moving forward. Four of the Nuggets' next five opponents are top-six in defensive efficiency.

Ty Lawson missed all nine shots, chipped in nine assists, and grabbed seven rebounds in 25 minutes. The Nuggets were up 60-43 at halftime, allowing coach Melvin Hunt to rest his veterans in the fourth quarter. Will Barton reemerged from a one-game slump to score 17 points, grab six rebounds, and dish out two assists in 30 minutes off the bench. He played the entire fourth quarter, boosting his totals slightly. The roadblock to minutes is Randy Foye. Once that pillar falls, Barton should be a good bet for 30ish minutes regularly.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored eight points on 11 shots in the first quarter. He didn't score the rest of the game. His counterpart, Jodie Meeks, added a team-high 20 points off the bench, and Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe combined for 26 points and 33 rebounds, the former blocking six shots himself. Reggie Jackson was good for 14 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and two steals in 33 minutes, hitting 7-of-16 from the floor. Outside of one near-triple-double against the Cavaliers, Jackson's ride in Detroit has been tumultuous at best. He's still learning his teammates, so the 11 assists is more positive than his poor shooting was a negative in my eyes. The Pistons don't have another elongated break until the first week of default fantasy playoffs, casting the ol' trial by fire adage.

I all but wrote Isaiah Canaan's eulogy Sunday. On Wednesday, Canaan rose from the ashes by hitting his first five shots, all three-pointers, en route to a career-high 31 points, career-high seven rebounds, six assists, one steal, and a career-high eight three-pointers in 42 minutes. His offensive success relegated former Thunder Ish Smith to 15 minutes. While this game was a coming out party for Canaan, it likely signifies his high for the rest of the season. The six assists matches a career-high he set last week, an attribute he can hopefully carry forward.

Nerlens Noel is going to fetch a pretty penny when the Sixers trade him. Last night, he compiled eight points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, four steals, and one assists in 40 minutes. In the eight games post-All-Star break, Noel leads the NBA with 3.5 blocks per game and is tied for eighth at 2.0 steals per game while shooting 75 percent from the foul line. All the front office had to do for him to be successful was run the offense through him in the lowpost, removing usage rate monsters like Michael Carter-Williams and Tony Wroten. It'll be a travesty if we don't get to see Noel and Joel Embiid on the court together.

Luc Mbah a Moute deposited 18 points (on 21 shots), 14 rebounds, and five assists. Jeremi Grant scored 14 points before fouling out. All those extra shot attempts can be traced back to Sir Robert Covington (elbow) sitting on the sideline.

Dion Waiters exacted a bit of revenge upon the team he was going to start against before being traded to the Thunder, accumulating 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists off the bench in 39 minutes. D.J. Augustin scored 17 points in 37 minutes, and Serge Ibaka was limited to two points, four blocks, and two rebounds in 31 minutes before fouling out. Besides Russell Westbrook, the rest of the starters scored a combined 12 points, spearheaded by Enes Kanter's eight. Anthony Morrow scored all 11 of his points in the four minutes he played in the first quarter.

Seven Lakers scored at least 10 points but no more than 14. Jeremy Lin led the team with nine assists and four steals in 29 minutes, solidifying his worth to the team and fantasy leagues. The only problem I foresee is the return of Nick Young (knee), who'll pilfer minutes if coach Byron Scott plays him at all. Jordan Hill grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, and Ed Davis blocked a team-high two shots to go along with 12 rebounds and three steals. Wayne Ellington played a team-high 42 minutes and attempted a team-high 15 shots. It was a true team effort in their six-point loss to the Heat.

Goran Dragic, statistically, is almost the same player he was in Phoenix this season following his 21 points, six assists, four rebounds, three steals, and one block in 36 minutes against the Lakers. Let's check the numbers:

We're dealing with a small sample size in Miami, but you need to remember he's playing next to Dwayne Wade, cultivator of the fourth highest usage rate this season, a number that dipped slightly since Dragic was acquired. A red flag is Dragic's 88 percent free-throw rate in Miami, an outlier for a career 75 percent shooter. Back spasms have derailed Dragic a bit since the trade, but as I pointed out when the trade when down, last year's Phoenix team without Eric Bledsoe was the perfect cocoon of low usage players and Channing Frye. If Wade were to miss extended time, which I'm dubious of since the Heat plays a minimum three back-to-backs the rest of the season, Dragic has the chance to recreate last season's magic.

Hassan Whiteside grabbed 25 rebounds, blocked four shots, and scored 18 points in 33 minutes. He could've scored more had he not shot 6-of-13 from the foul line.

The Spurs ran the Kings off the court, 112-85. DeMarcus Cousins picked up three fouls in the first half. Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum were the only starters on either side to play in the fourth quarter. Marco Bellineli scored 11 of his 13 points in the last period. Kawhi Leonard was the player of the game with 21 points, five rebounds, three steals, one assist, one block, and two three-pointers in 29 minutes. It's the second time in one week the Spurs defeated the Kings.

Draymond Green turned 25 years old Wednesday. Then he registered a double-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals, three blocks, and four three-pointers in 40 minutes. That's definitely worth Fantasy Line of the Night, disregarding his 1-of-6 showing from the free-throw line. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 36 points (11-32 FG), 16 assists, five steals, and nine three-pointers.

Damian Lillard missed his first 12 shots, finishing 1-13 after making his only basket in overtime. However, he grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds, one fewer than DeAndre Jordan. That's a great buy-low moment, except even before the game, Lillard was shooting a career-low 34.4 percent from downtown, plagued by sprained fingers on his shooting hand. Nicolas Batum almost met triple-double criteria with 20 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and four three-pointers in 40 minutes, wiping away the memory of Sunday's two-point outing. LaMarcus Aldridge scored a team-high 29 points on 30 shots in 44 minutes, and Arron Afflalo was one of six Trail Blazers to play at least 31 minutes, eclipsing Robin Lopez, who sat the entire overtime.

Chris Paul gets no love for MVP consideration, yet Blake Griffin (elbow) can earn third place adulation last season when Paul missed 20 games. Adding to his resume, Paul supplied 36 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, and one steal in 42 minutes. He's the fourth-ranked player in per game value all season. J.J. Redick was the only other Clipper to score in double figures, closing the night with 26 points in 47 minutes. DeAndre Jordan snatched 19 rebounds and shot 2-of-10 from the foul line. Hedo Turkoglu was fourth on the team in minutes played. Austin Rivers was fifth in minutes played. Hedo Turkoglu and Austin Rivers. Where's the Chris Paul MVP advocates?

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. Russell Westbrook, G, OKC: 49 points
2. Anthony Davis, F, NOP: 39 points
3. Victor Oladipo, G, ORL: 38 points

Rebounds

1. Hassan Whiteside, C, MIA: 25 rebounds
2. DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC: 19 rebounds
3. Andre Drummond, C, DET: 18 rebounds
4. Damian Lillard, G, POR: 18 rebounds

Assists

1. LeBron James, F CLE: 14 assists
2. Mo Williams, G, CHA: 14 assists
3. James Harden, G, HOU: 13 assists
4. Greivis Vasquez, G, TOR: 13 assists

Steals

1. Elfrid Payton, G, ORL: 5 steals
2. Nerlens Noel, C, PHI: 4 steals
3. Jeremy Lin, G, LAL: 4 steals
4. Nick Calathes, G, MEM: 4 steals
5. Andre Iguodala, F, GSW: 4 steals

Blocks

1. Anthony Davis, F, NOP: 8 blocks
2. Andre Drummond, C, DET: 6 blocks
3. Nerlens Noel, C, PHI: 5 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Isaiah Canaan, G, PHI: 8-13 3Pt
2. Stephen Curry, G, GSW: 6-13 3Pt
3. Ten tied with four three-pointers

Minutes

1. J.J. Redick, G, LAC: 47 minutes
2. DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC: 45 minutes
3. LaMarcus Aldridge, F, POR: 44 minutes