Tuesday night yielded three blowouts, a Rodney Stuckey shooting clinic, and a Pistons loss. We call that the RotoWire Trifecta.

HOSPITAL WARD

Willie Green only lasted nine minutes in his return from a two-game hiatus before suffering back spasms. Green has been flourishing in the backup point guard role, but as realized the previous two games, his absence equates to extended playing time for Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton.

Alan Anderson (tailbone), Markel Brown (ankle), and Sergei Karasev (knee) all left Tuesday's game and didn't return. Anderson and Brown are traveling with the team for tonight's game in Miami, but Karasev isn't. Jarrett Jack becomes the primary beneficiary if all three miss tonight's game, followed by Bojan Bogdanovic. Coach Lionel Hollins may decide to shift Joe Johnson and Thaddeus Young down one spot to start Mason Plumlee or Cory Jefferson if he wants to keep his bench somewhat stocked. If he simply wants to keep rotations the same, Darius Morris is my frontrunner for nominal starting shooting guard. This is a stay tuned situation.

Anthony Davis left in the third quarter after Deron Williams struck him in the face. The game was already decided at that juncture, reducing concern on my part of lingering effects. John Schuman of NBA.com tweeted out that Davis said he passed concussion protocol. The Pelicans don't play again until Sunday, allowing Davis sufficient time to recover should anything linger overnight. Davis was limited to 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting, impeded by the defense of Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez.

Al-Farouq Aminu suffered a left shoulder injury, limiting him to seven minutes. He entered the game with at least four steals in four of the past five games. It was reported that Aminu could have returned, but after the game, Coach Carlisle said he'll undergo x-rays. The Mavericks don't play again until Friday. Any prolonged absence gives Richard Jefferson a bump in playing time.

Devin Harris was hit hard on his injured right hand, the one that held him out of the previous two games. He's set to get x-rays. J.J. Barea, who led the team with five assists, will see an increase in minutes if Harris can't return for Friday's game against the Clippers. If Harris and Aminu rest that game, they'll have another two days to recover since the Mavericks only play one game the next five days.

Tim Duncan got his left arm sandwiched between Tiago Splitter and Amir Johnson with less than one minute remaining, resulting in a hyperextended elbow. Coach Gregg Popovich believes the injury isn't serious. The Spurs play the Cavaliers on Thursday. Duncan has started the past 35 games, most since the beginning of the 2010-11 season. Even if he can go against the Cavs, his omission from either of the subsequent two games feels like a certainty. The Spurs have two days off before facing the Wolves, and the Knicks game is the first of a back-to-back.

M.I.A.

• Cleveland
  • Shawn Marion (hip)
• Detroit
  • Joel Anthony (groin)
• Indiana
  • Paul George (leg)
  • C.J. Miles (foot)
• Los Angeles
  • Nick Young (knee)
  • Robert Sacre (DNP-CD)
• New Orleans
  • Tyreke Evans (ankle)
  • Ryan Anderson (knee)
  • Jrue Holiday (leg)
• New York
  • Tim Hardaway, Jr. (back)
  • Quincy Acy (knee)
  • Jose Calderon (Achilles)
• Orlando
  • Evan Fournier (hip)
  • Devyn Marble (eye)
• San Antonio
  • Manu Ginobili (illness)
• Utah
  • Gordon Hayward (back)

ROTATION NOTES

Nikola Vucevic only missed two games with a sore left ankle. His presence transferred Channing Frye to a reserve role, keeping Dewayne Dedmon in the starting lineup. Vucevic only played 28 minutes in the blowout loss, securing 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. The game was over by the end of the third quarter, and Vucevic didn't even play in the final period.

Damjan Rudez started for the injured C.J. Miles (foot), whose foot flared up on him during pregame warmups. The Pacers don't play again until Thursday, and it doesn't sound like Miles will be out long. Rudez probably earned the start after scoring a career-high 18 points against the Magic late in January. He nearly duplicated that scoring barrage by providing 17 points, five assists, and five three-pointers in 27 minutes. In case you've lost count, in two games against the Magic, Rudez is averaging 17.5 points on 72 percent shooting and 64 percent from downtown. Against the rest of the league, Rudez is shooting 42 percent overall and 36 percent on three-pointers.

Roy Hibbert was limited to 15 minutes. He entered the game with an illness, and previously, Coach Frank Vogel admitted he's trying to reduce Hibbert's minutes. It's fair to assume the illness and blowout nature of the game had a hand in reducing his minute total this time around.

Norris Cole performed well in his 24th start this season, first with the Pelicans. He's filling in for Tyreke Evans (ankle) and supplied 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and four three-pointers in 29 minutes. It was Eric Gordon who led the team with seven assists, and when Cole went to the bench, Gordon was the primary facilitator. We're still waiting for Evans' MRI results, but with the Pelicans off until Sunday, adding Cole is more of a long-term move if you think Evans' left ankle is a serious issue. The Pelicans are currently tied with the Thunder in the standings, sitting outside the playoffs having played fewer games. Wait if you can before adding Cole; otherwise; you're taking a zero the next four days.

Talk about fickle. Jonas Valanciunas played four minutes in the second half, tallying 21 total, and James Johnson played a team-low five minutes. Valanciunas picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and never returned. Johnson didn't play the entire second half. This is where I ask you to not shoot the messenger. The Raptors scored 66 points in the second half, including 17 points from Kyle Lowry in the fourth quarter. Johnson becomes an easy drop. Valanciunas is still a hold, even after three mediocre games.

Trey Burke slipped into the starting lineup after Gordon Hayward (back) missed his first game this season. Burke shot an uninspiring 1-of-11 in 28 minutes. Coach Quin Snyder said Hayward was dealing with the issue for quite some time, potentially reflected in the fact he hasn't blocked a shot since the All-Star break after averaging 0.4 beforehand. His shooting has tailed off as well, dropping six percent from the field and 14 percent from downtown on similar attempts. The Jazz aren't going to make the playoffs, and Hayward signed a lucrative extension this offseason. While it feels like the team just wanted to rest him one game against the worst time in the league, don't put it past them to shut Hayward down at some point in order to protect their long-term investment.

Elijah Millsap earned the start over Joe Ingles and picked up five fouls in 14 minutes. Ingles played 36 minutes off the bench and added 15 points and five assists. Without Hayward, Rodney Hood matched his career-high with 17 points. All are beneficiaries if Hayward needs to sit a bit longer, but remember the minutes were heavily skewed in Ingles favor because of Millsap's foul trouble.

Reggie Jackson finally had my stamp of approval, and then he scored two points on 1-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes against the Lakers, summoning Spencer Dinwiddie for 19 minutes before fouling out. Jackson scored his only points at the six-minute mark of the first quarter. The Pistons conclude a three-game road trip against the Warriors, Trail Blazers, and Jazz. It could be a brutal week for your field goal percentage considering Jackson was erratic against the Lakers. Since moving into the lead role, Jackson's percentages have declined and the only noticeable statistical increase this season is in points and assists, not to mention turnovers.

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

George Hill returned to the Pacers on January 23rd. Since that day, the Pacers have the third best record at 14-5 and sit four games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the sixth seed. Prior to Hill's consistent presence in the lineup, Rodney Stuckey was shooting 42 percent from the floor and 33 percent from downtown. In the last 19 games, 12 off the bench, Stuckey has improved to 51 percent shooting and 48 percent marksmanship from downtown. When Stuckey shares the court with Hill this season, he shoots 57 percent from the field and 52 percent from beyond the arc. With Hill on the bench, Stuckey reverts closer to his career norms, shooting 43 percent overall and 37 percent on three-pointers.

I preface with those splits to try and help explain Stuckey's game against the Magic: season-high 34 points, seven assists, six rebounds, one steal, one block, and a career-high six three-pointers. He scored 25 points in the first half on a bunch of contested jumpers. Literally everything he threw up went in. He was able to attempt 19 shots because he was so hot and C.J. Miles (foot) didn't play. As long as Hill is the starting point guard for the Pacers, feel confident in owning Stuckey. As soon as C.J. Watson or Donald Sloan are forced to run the ship, potentially moving Stuckey back into the starting lineup, look elsewhere.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH

Alexey Shved was probably the most added player after last night's performance. In 41 minutes, he provided 21 points, a career-high 10 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, one steal, and four three-pointers. Tim Hardaway, Jr. (back) was unavailable, and Langston Galloway was in foul trouble early and often. That didn't leave the Knicks with many options. I find Shved's dominance inspirational knowing it came against the number one defense since the All-Star break. However, he only attempted one shot in the paint, relying on unsustainable accuracy from beyond the arc. Coach Derek Fisher said he's hopeful Hardaway can return for Thursday's game, and the Knicks are one of 15 teams with three games remaining this week, making Shved less valuable than when the week started. It's fine to add him as long as you don't expect near triple-doubles on the reg. All you have to do is revisit Monday's game against the Nuggets where Shved scored 19 points, grabbed one rebound, and dished one assist in 26 minutes. Jose Calderon (Achilles) will be reevaluated next week, and if he returns, Shved loses minutes and touches. Ride him while the opportunity exists, and hope it lasts longer than this week if you're counting on Shved to help bring you a crown.

BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

Half of last night's games were over in the third quarter. The Pacers defeated the Magic by 32. The Pelicans defeated the Nets by 20. The Cavaliers defeated the Mavericks by 33. This section is an amalgamation of noteworthy lines that caught my eye.

Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo shot a combined 9-of-25 against the second best defense post-All-Star break. Tobias Harris has now recorded at least two steals in five of the last six games, scoring a team-high 22 points to boot.

Alexis Ajinca and Quincy Pondexter each scored 17 points. Ajinca scored 11 in the second quarter, and Pondexter scored 14 in the fourth quarter. Omer Asik contributed 12 points and 15 rebounds in the Pelicans' decimation of the Nets.

Brook Lopez and Jarrett Jack each scored a team-high 15 points. Joe Johnson and Thaddeus Young were the only Net starters to play in the fourth quarter, each registering two minutes. Brooklyn is stuck in one long vortex of suck with no end in sight.

All five Cavalier starters scored at least 17 points, four of them recording at least 21. Iman Shumpert notched six steals, three of which occurred in the fourth quarter. It was a blowout. What else do you want me to tell you?

Dirk Nowitzki resides in Funky Town because he's in a funk. Over the past 12 games, he's shooting 39 percent from the field and 30 percent from downtown, scoring 12.8 points per game. He's still shooting a respectable 43 percent from mid-range, and even though it's above league average, Nowitzki is used to shooting 50 percent from that area of the floor. Much of his drop off has transpired behind the three-point line. I'm not blaming Rajon Rondo, but it's difficult to ignore his return 11 games ago coinciding with the slump.

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for 53 points and nine assists, each playing over 38 minutes. Amir Johnson compiled his first double-double since January 18th, finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds in 33 minutes. DeRozan has been playing better of late, making me look like an idiot for siding with Andrew Wiggins. Lowry shot better than 50 percent for the first time since February 6th.

Kawhi Leonard played 39 minutes for the second straight contest. He recorded his fifth straight 20+ point game, providing 24 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, one assist, and one block. Coach Gregg Popovich didn't rest him post-All-Star break last season, and the way Leonard's playing, there's no need to rest him this season as the six-seeded Spurs are just two games back of the four seed. Tony Parker played 37 minutes because Manu Ginobili (illness) didn't participate. It resulted in 23 points, nine assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one three-pointer. I was an idiot again for assuming Kyle Lowry could stop him because the Raptors' pick-and-roll defense was abysmal.

I don't mean to be crass, but Cole Aldrich pooped all over Rudy Gobert. His utilization of the hook shot neutralized Gobert's length. Aldrich closed with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Andrea Bargnani supplied a team-high 20 points, three rebounds, and one assist in 33 minutes. Therein lies the problem with Bargs: his scoring trumps everything else he does on the court, to the point where he's allergic to rebounds. Once the efficiency regresses, you're left with a scorer who doesn't attempt many three-pointers.

Without Gordon Hayward (back), the Jazz only tallied 87 points against the Knicks. Derrick Favors scored a game-high 29 points to go along with 12 rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes. Ever since Enes Kanter was traded, Favors has been manning the power forward position, drastically reducing his workload on the defensive end next to Rudy Gobert. The trade opened up extra shots and made the Jazz the number one defense in the league.

Andre Drummond grabbed 21 rebounds for the second time in three games, and Greg Monroe continues to help in every category except three-pointers and free-throw percentage, finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in 39 minutes.

Seven Lakers scored in double figures led by Jordan Hill's 16 points. Carlos Boozer grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, and Jordan Clarkson recorded a career-high eight assists. Wayne Ellington played a team-high 40 minutes, and Jeremy Lin scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Ellington and Clarkson are the only players consistently above 30 minutes per game, and the rest fall in line with decent production in reduced roles.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. Rodney Stuckey, G, IND: 34 points
2. Kyle Lowry, G, TOR: 32 points
3. Derrick Favors, F, UTA: 29 points

Rebounds

1. Andre Drummond, C, DET: 21 rebounds
2. Omer Asik, C, NOP: 15 rebounds
3. Kevin Love, F, CLE: 14 rebounds
4. Amir Johnson, F, TOR: 14 rebounds
5. Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 14 rebounds

Assists

1. Tony Parker, G, SAS: 9 assists
2. LeBron James, F, CLE: 8 assists
3. Jordan Clarkson, G, LAL: 8 assists

Steals

1. Iman Shumpert, G, CLE: 6 steals
2. Kawhi Leonard, F, SAS: 5 steals
3. Norris Cole, G, NOP: 3 steals
4. Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 3 steals
5. Alexis Ajinca, C, NOP: 3 steals
6. Victor Oladipo, G, ORL: 3 steals

Blocks

1. Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 4 blocks
2. Anthony Davis, F, NOP: 3 blocks
3. Brook Lopez, C, BKN: 3 blocks
4. Victor Oladipo, G, ORL: 3 blocks

Three-Pointers

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Photo via Ron Hoskins[/caption]

Minutes

1. Kyle Lowry, G, TOR: 43 minutes
2. Alexey Shved, G, NYK: 41 minutes
3. Wayne Ellington, G, LAL: 40 minutes