If you didn't see the Cavaliers take on the Spurs, you missed out on one of the most entertaining regular season NBA games in recent memory and fans, like you and me, would be very lucky to see that matchup again in the NBA Finals. Also, Rudy Gobert is unfair.

M.I.A.

These guys all sat out Thursday's action, for one reason or another.

• Bucks
  • Jerryd Bayless (ankle)
  • O.J. Mayo (hamstring)
• Pacers
  • Roy Hibbert (elbow)
  • Paul George (leg)
• Grizzlies
  • Marc Gasol (rest)
  • Tony Allen (rest)
  • Zach Randolph (rest)
  • Mike Conley (ankle)
• Wizards
  • Nene (personal)
  • Kris Humphries (groin)
• Spurs
  • Aron Baynes (DNP-CD)
• Rockets
  • Dwight Howard (knee)
• Knicks
  • Quincy Acy (personal)
  • Jose Calderon (Achilles)
• Lakers
  • Robert Sacre (DNP-CD)
  • Nick Young (ankle)

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

It would be hard to look else than Kyrie Irving's bonkers performance against the Spurs. Irving had an NBA season-high 57 points (20-32 FG, 7-7 3Pt, 10-10 FT), with three rebounds, five assists and four steals and would've give fantasy owners huge bumps in multiple categories, especially with those stellar percentages. Irving has been a surprise star this season in fantasy circles, who hardly anyone able to predict that he would be a borderline top 10 candidate.

ROTATION NOTES AND QUIRKS

Roy Hibbert sat out with an elbow infection, so Ian Mahinmi started and was quite productive, with eight points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, but don't go rushing to add him. Hibbert's injury isn't considered severe, so Mahinmi's starts will be limited, bur even with Hibbert active, Mahinmi is getting enough minutes to have some use in deeper formats.

The less spoken about the Grizzlies the better, with Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen all resting. With such a melange of starters, there is nothing that can be gleaned from the results, except to say that if we have an injury to Gasol or Conley misses any time, Kosta Koufos and Beno Udrih will be the pickups as they started on this designated rest day. Rookie Jarnell Stokes started as well, and impressed, adding 13 points, eight rebounds, three steals and one block.

Nene and Kris Humphries both were sidelined, so journeyman Drew Gooden made the spot start, going for 13 points and five rebounds. We've seen in past years, if Gooden gets minutes he's worth owning, but this was an injury issue, also compounded by Kevin Seraphin's ejection after just seven minutes. You can pass on Gooden.

Houston decided to go small in their loss to the Jazz, playing Donatas Motiejunas, Josh Smith and Terrence Jones just 62 minutes. Joey Dorsey got 16 minutes, but the play of Corey Brewer, who scored 25 points in 32 minutes, allowed Houston to run their rotation very differently to usual. As fantasy owners, it's frustrating, but nothing can be capitalised upon.

Gordon Hayward returned from a one-game absence and starred, scoring 29 points with seven assists, while Rodney Hood replaced Elijah Millsap as the starting shooting guard. Hood drilled three three-pointers on his way to 20 points and if Hood sticks as a starter, and there's no reason he shouldn't, he may become valuable, especially if you need three-pointers. He's averaging 2.1 three-pointers per-36 minutes and that could be a nice addition down the stretch. Trey Burke also moved back to the bench, and struggled his way through 22 minutes, missing all eight of his field goal shots for just two rebounds and two assists. Dante Exum played 34 minutes in comparison, and if Hood emerges as a three-point threat consistently, we could see the end of Burke's usefulness in fantasy leagues.

BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

We got a flashback to Philadelphia Michael Carter-Williams, with the reigning rookie of the year posting a very fantasy friendly line of 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals and that;s now two straight games that MCW has gone back to filling the stat sheet. Maybe talk of his fantasy demise were a little premature.

Ersan Ilyasova also notched a double double after two sub par performances and has value in all leagues at this point.

Rodney Stuckey's improbable run of form continued, scoring 25 points with six rebounds and six assists and needs to be owned as well, at least until he realises he is, in fact, Rodney Stuckey. Luis Scola is now averaging 7.4 rebounds in his last seven games off the bench, in 22 minutes and that sort of production makes him not totally ignorable. It's hard to play him in 12 team leagues, but with David West struggling, it's a case of watch this space.

Marcin Gortat's hot streak continued as he tallied three blocks and three steals, to go with 22 points and nine rebounds and has turned around his form, which, not coincidentally, has been occurring when he's gotten decent minutes. Funny that.

Once again, Tristan Thompson outplayed Timofey Mozgov in terms of time on he court, getting 30 minutes to Mozgov's 23. It doesn't make Thompson a great option, but it does reduce Mozgov's viability. Thompson had 12 points and nine rebounds, while Mozgov had 10 points with six rebounds.

Danny Green blocked four more shots, and hit five triples and is one of the most underrated players in not only fantasy basketball, but in the NBA as a whole. Green is averaging 1.2 blocks a game, ludicrous for a guard, and has now had three games with at least four blocks. I know for a fact that Green is not owned in all active leagues. If that is your league, can you please do me a favor, and rectify it?

Rudy Gobert was one of the top fantasy performers of the night - in the first half alone. When the teams retired to their locker rooms, Gobert had 14 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks. He struggled in the second half, ending with 19 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks, but to say he would escape the top 30 in drafts next season feels like a massive lie. He is averaging 3.2 blocks in his last 12 games, which paired with 13.3 rebounds and a 64 percent field goal percentage. It's hard to argue with picking him that high.

Alexey Shved was at it again, scoring 14 points with 11 rebounds and six assists, and at this point, it's hard to find a reason not to own him. In his last two games, Shved has averaged 17.5 points, 2.5 three-pointers, 10.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks and with almost no NBA-caliber talent in New York, he has as much opportunity as anyone in the league for the stretch run.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. Kyrie Irving, G, CLE, 57 points
2. LeBron James, F, CLE, 31 points
3. Tony Parker, G, SAS, 31 points

Rebounds

1. Rudy Gobert, C, UTA, 22 rebounds
2. Luis Scola, F, IND, 15 rebounds
3. Zaza Pachulia, C, MIL, 12 rebounds

Assists

1. Tim Duncan, F, SAS, 8 assists
2. LeBron James, F, CLE, 7 assists
3. Kawhi Leonard, F, SAS, 7 assists
4. Gordon Hayward, F, UTA, 7 assists
5. Jeremy Lin, G, LAL, 7 assists
6. James Harden, G, HOU, 7 assists

Steals

1. Kyrie Irving, G, CLE, 4 steals
2. Michael Carter-Williams, G, MIL, 4 steals
3. Marcin Gortat, C, WAS, 3 steals
4. Jarnell Stokes, F, MEM, 3 steals
5. James Harden, G, HOU, 3 steals
6. Ed Davis, F, LAL, 3 steals
7. Jordan Adams, G, MEM, 3 steals

Blocks

1. Rudy Gobert, C, UTA, 4 blocks
2. Tim Duncan, F, SAS, 4 blocks
3. Danny Green, G, SAS, 4 blocks
4. Derrick Favors, F, UTA, 4 blocks
5. Ian Mahinmi, C, IND, 4 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Kyrie Irving, G, CLE, 7-7 3Pt
2. Danny Green, G, SAS, 5-10 3Pt
3. Tim Hardaway, G, NYK, 5-7 3Pt

Minutes

1. Kyrie Irving, G, CLE, 47 minutes
2. Khris Middleton, F, MIL, 45 minutes
3. LeBron James, F, CLE, 44 minutes
4. Kawhi Leonard, F, SAS, 44 minutes