Dwyane Wade missed a free throw. Jerryd Bayless won the jump ball against Michael Beasley. Zaza Pachulia blindly threw the loose ball towards the three-point line. Lastly, Khris Middleton hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer. That's how the Bucks snapped a six-game losing streak. Dirk Nowitzki grabbed his 10,000th rebound, and the Warriors clinched the Pacific Division title, moving four and a half games ahead of the Hawks for best record in the league with 11 games to play.
HOSPITAL WARD
Kyle Lowry couldn't finish the game after aggravating the back spasms that held him out the previous two games. He was quoted, "It's probably the same injury, so I'm going to have to take my time and get it right." If we hypothetically rule him out the rest of this week (two games), he'll miss as many days as he did when the issue first cropped up on March 18. Since he wants to be more cautious, I wouldn't think he'll return next Monday against the Rockets and he shouldn't have to play next Wednesday against the Timberwolves. By my estimation, Lowry will miss at least the next four games before returning next Friday in Brooklyn. That means he'll miss at least two of the Raptors' four games next week, potentially more. Greivis Vasquez likely suits up as the starting point guard while Lowry recovers. I was anti-Vasquez before Lowry returned, but with upcoming games against the Lakers and Timberwolves, I'm cool with a stream of him. He's limited in what he'll provided, assists and three-pointers, removing him from must-add contention. The Raptors don't play on the weekend, so you might be dropping him as quickly as you added him in a fit of desperation.
Hassan Whiteside suffered a laceration of his right hand, limiting him to 12 minutes. The cut required 10 stitches between his middle and ring finger. He confessed, "I don't know if I am going to be able to play tomorrow. I can't feel my hand at all right now. We'll see how it feels tomorrow and go day-to-day." I remember Amar'e Stoudemire missing one playoff game after requiring stitches for punching a fire extinguisher case with his nonshooting hand. It's the only comp I could come up with; boding well for Whiteside that Stoudemire missed just one game. He may not be able to play tonight against the Celtics, pushing his return closer the weekend, missing two games if he returns Sunday against the Pistons. Coach Erik Spoelstra ran Mario Chalmers, Henry Walker, Michael Beasley, and Chris Andersen all 27 minutes off the bench. Those are your hodgepodge replacements in the interim with Andersen likely starting.
M.I.A
- Dallas
- J.J. Barea (ankle)
- Detroit
- Greg Monroe (knee)
- Golden State
- Shaun Livingston (rest)
- Los Angeles
- Nick Young (knee)
- Jordan Hill (DNP-CD)
- Carlos Boozer (DNP-CD)
- Miami
- Tyler Johnson (illness)
- Milwaukee
- Jared Dudley (knee)
- Oklahoma City
- Kevin Durant (foot)
- Serge Ibaka (knee)
- Andre Roberson (ankle)
- Nick Collison (ankle)
- Philadelphia
- Jason Richardson (rest)
- Portland
- LaMarcus Aldridge (hand)
- Nicolas Batum (back)
- Chris Kaman (shoulder)
- Sacramento
- Darren Collison (hip)
- San Antonio
- Aron Baynes (ankle)
- Toronto
- James Johnson (DNP-CD)
ROTATION NOTES
O.J. Mayo played six minutes in his return to the lineup after missing four games with a sore hamstring. The same ailment sidelined him 11 of the last 14 games. He barely plays 24 minutes a night when healthy, meaning you can wait to add him until he's fully integrated back into the rotation. He could have played more with Michael Carter-Williams fouling out in 26 minutes, but the extra playing time was given to Jerryd Bayless, who finished with 10 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in 37 minutes. Carter-Williams matched his turnovers (6) to his fouls, and every other stat fell shy of both negative categories.
Jeremy Lin and Ryan Kelly replaced Wayne Ellington and Jordan Hill (DNP-CD) in the starting lineup. I need to reiterate that Bryon Scott is away from the team for at least one more game after the passing of his mother. What happened last night may not occur Friday against the Raptors. Hill and Carlos Boozer were hit with the DNP-CD, and Ed Davis only played 16 minutes. You shouldn't read much into the benching because Hill and Boozer are some of Scott's favorite players, at least in my opinion. The Lakers claim the fourth-worst record in the league, two games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for third worst. Their goal is to lose as many times as possible in order to retain their top-5 protected pick. Players like Jabari Brown, Robert Sacre, and Tarik Black will play excessive minutes for the good of the franchise.
Clarkson scored a career-high 30 points to go along with seven assists, four rebounds, three blocks, one steal, and two three-pointers in 36 minutes. He attacked the basket all night, made easier by Kelly and Lin spacing the floor. Clarkson threw down a number of thunderous dunks, utilizing his speed to create shots at the rim. Also, the dude's athletic enough to thwart the advances of Enes Kanter and Mitch McGary.
Lin countered with 19 points, seven assists, two rebounds, and two three-pointers in 30 minutes. The team doesn't have a backup point guard, so don't be surprised if, when Byron Scott returns, Lin gets demoted until the final 10 games.
Kyle Singler slotted into the starting lineup for the injured Andre Roberson (ankle). He contributed eight points, three rebounds, one assist, one block, and two three-pointers in 25 minutes. He played fewer minutes than Anthony Morrow, Singler's only competition for playing time. Morrow scored 12 points on four three-pointers, failing to produce another usable stat. Neither is a must own, but Morrow edges out Singler due to his prolific three-point shooting. He can help you win a category almost singlehandedly.
Manu Ginobili returned to the team after missing four games with an ankle injury, playing 16 minutes in the loss. The Spurs don't play a below .500 team until next week, decreasing the chances of Ginobili resting this week against the Thunder tonight, Mavericks, and Grizzlies.
Jason Richardson was given the first night of a back-to-back off. He'll play tonight against the Nuggets and then sit once more on Sunday or Monday. Sir Robert Covington, Richardson's replacement, scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, banging in five three-pointers in 27 minutes. The luster has worn off Covington's armor, and a move back to the bench Wednesday devalues his application in head-to-head leagues. The Sixers have one more back-to-back after this weekend, and Covington has been neutralized in a reserve role.
LaMarcus Aldridge (hand) and Nicolas Batum (back) were unable to go against the Warriors, and their availability beyond Tuesday's game is questionable. You figure if they couldn't tough it out against the number one team in the West, the injuries require time to heal. As I mentioned last time, perhaps on a different platform, the Blazers could fall from fourth to seventh by next week. However, that would require the Thunder to win out because the Blazers are locked into the four seed as Northwest Division leaders. Alonzo Gee and Dorell Wright were tasked with starting, neither providing enough to mention. I believe the starting lineup changes tonight against the Jazz to matchup with their frontline, moving Joel Freeland or Meyers Leonard in over Wright or Gee. Neither replacement starter played in the fourth quarter.
C.J. McCollum stepped up with a career-high 23 points off the bench on 18 shots, second most team attempts behind Damian Lillard. McCollum assuaged his scoring with three steals, two assists, one rebound, and three three-pointers in 29 minutes. He's an interesting short-term investment if you need help in points. Otherwise, don't concern yourself with McCollum. He's an inefficient scorer not fond of passing the ball. The Blazers play tonight, Friday, and Saturday with no guarantee Aldridge and Batum miss extensive time. Even so, there are 13 NBA games on Wednesday and Friday, forcing you to play McCollum if you add him.
FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT
After I incorrectly predicted DeMarcus Cousins would rest against the Sixers, he tallied 33 points, 17 rebounds, four steals, four blocks, and three assists. To be fair, he was held to 8-of-27 from the field. On the flip side, Cousins knocked in 17-of-18 from the foul line. The Kings are likely to retain their top-10 protected draft pick this season, increasing the chances of random rest nights for the battered Cousins. He's averaging 4.2 turnovers per game, second to Russell Westbrook. A decent percentage of those turnovers are offensive fouls. Once he learns to limit such transgressions, Cousins' only negative category will be three-pointers, a nonfactor at the moment.
ROOKIE OF THE NIGHT
Nerlens Noel blocked six shots and hit 4-of-5 free throws. Tack on 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists in 29 minutes for good measure. The Sixers have the eighth best Defensive Rating since the All-Star break, tied with the Milwaukee Bucks. One team has Michael Carter-Williams; the other boasts the point guard platoon of Ish Smith and Isaiah Canaan. The improvement in Noel's game has landed him just outside of the top-10 fantasy players over the last 30 days in 9-category value. Forget Rookie of the Night, give this man Rookie of the Year.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH
Zaza Pachulia, a name synonymous with triple-double, contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds, a team-high seven assists, a career-high five steals, and one block in 33 minutes. Michael Carter-Williams, as noted earlier, was limited due to foul trouble, allowing Pachulia more creativity within the offense. Hassan Whiteside's injury also played a role in the all-around effort. Blocks and steals aren't Pachulia's forte but do expect pristine percentages and north of 30 minutes until Jared Dudley (back) returns. The Bucks play two more game this week, Thursday against the Pacers and Saturday against the Warriors, two of the top five defensive teams since the All-Star break.
Draymond Green totaled 14 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks, and one three-pointer in 37 minutes against a depleted Blazers roster. Because the Warriors were forced to march a comeback, 37 minutes is the most he's played since March 4th. Even in limited run, he's the only player averaging at least one steal, one block, and one three-pointer per game since the All-Star break.
BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES
DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors in points (22), rebounds (10), assists (4), and minutes (42). He's the go-to-guy for as long as Kyle Lowry (back) rests. Lou Williams added 19 points and a terrible, inexcusable end-of-game 27-foot three-point attempt for the win. He can hit threes in bunches, rarely providing more than points and steals to boot. Williams was integral to the offense when DeRozan missed two months, and his minutes are expected to climb.
Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope combined for 54 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds, seven three-pointers, and one steal. If we're being honest, Greg Monroe (knee) sitting out a few games has been the best remedy for both Jackson and Caldwell-Pope. Inserting Anthony Tolliver, who scored all 11 of his points in the first quarter, has opened up the floor for both guards to operate.
Over the past five games, KCP has averaged 22.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 three-pointers while shooting 54 percent from the field and 41 percent from downtown in 38.4 minutes per game. Caldwell-Pope isn't relying solely on the long ball, attempting a majority of his shots without Monroe inside five feet of the basket. When the opposition closes out, he has the wherewithal to attack the basket. When his defender ball watches, Caldwell-Pope slips behind them for a quick dump off pass.
Jackson exhausts every possession with an Andre Drummond pick-and-roll. He's averaging 12.2 assists per game and shooting a respectable 46 percent by slithering to the rim without Monroe clogging the paint. His jump shot is still suspect, a deficiency he'll need to improve in the offseason. The Sixers did a serviceable job forcing Jackson to hoist mid-range jumpers, consistently going under the screen in the Pistons' only loss in their last five games. Nerlens Noel's presence also helped deter Jackson's forays to the rim.
Ersan Ilyasova and Giannis Antetokounmpo each compiled a double-double. Ilyasova had a team-high 19 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, one steal, and two three-pointers in 29 minutes. Antetokounmpo added 16 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and six turnovers in 39 minutes. Both gentlemen maintain top-80 production over the last month with similar numbers, three-pointers and blocks inversed. Khris Middleton, game-winner aside, was held to 5-of-17 shooting, mostly of his own accord, missing eight of 11 uncontested shots.
The Thunder faced the Lakers. Stats were inflated, feelings were hurt, and Dion Waiters seemed like a competent basketball player, scoring 23 points in 35 minutes. The Thunder out rebounded the Lakers 49-28 and outscored them 66-58 in the paint. This game was a glorified layup line. Enes Kanter dropped 25 points and 16 rebounds, and Steven Adams provided 16 points with 10 boards. Russell Westbrook, perhaps in protest of revoked triple-double from Sunday's game, corralled just two boards in 30 minutes, supplemented by 27 points and 11 assists.
On December 20th, Monta Ellis scored a season-high 38 points against the Spurs. Last night, Monta Ellis scored 38 points against the Spurs. It was a nice departure from his 4-of-22 performance Sunday against the Suns. Yes, he's resorted to inefficient Monta with Rajon Rondo in the mix, shooting 40 percent from the field since the beginning of February. However, Ellis has always been someone you could count on to not miss a game over the past three seasons. That's peace of mind in today's NBA climate.
Kawhi Leonard, 19 points, and Danny Green, 17 points, were the only Spurs in double figures. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan sat the entire fourth quarter. Leonard added four steals to the cause, climbing quickly up the Defensive Player of the Year list. In case you haven't heard, he leads the NBA with 2.3 steals per game.
Ish Smith and his terrible shooting touch were on the verge of triple-double, contributing 13 points on 14 shots, eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and seven turnovers in 30 minutes. Isaiah Canaan is no more, scoring 13 points and hitting two three-pointers in 19 minutes.
Thomas Robinson scored a career-high 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out two assists, and blocked a shot in 21 minutes of action. He saw increased playing time with Jason Richardson resting. I'm tired of explaining why Robinson won't play 20+ minutes a night. Get Mitch McGary if you want consistent points and rebounds tied to useful playing time.
Andrew Bogut had his first double-double since February 11th, requiring 24 minutes to record 10 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, and one steal. He's only played more than 30 minutes twice since the All-Star break, and with the Warriors on the verge of clinching the West, he'll be resting a few times over the next three weeks. The same can be said about Andre Iguodala, who provided 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three three-pointers in 31 minutes. He saw an uptick in minutes because Klay Thompson is being limited to 25 minutes a night, a benchmark he eclipsed by 12 seconds last night.
Stephen Curry finally played big minutes in the fourth quarter, finishing with 33 points, 10 assists, two rebounds, one steal, and five three-pointers in 35 minutes. He's attempting a league-high 8.2 three-pointers per game since the All-Star break and converting them at a 49 percent clip. Think about that for a second. He's averaging at least four made threes per game while shooting 96 percent from the free-throw line over the past 18 games. His team in 16-2 over that stretch, and he's boasting a league-high positive 13.3 plus/minus. Curry missed two games since the All-Star break, both losses.
NIGHTLY LEADERS
Points
- Monta Ellis, G, DAL: 38 points
- DeMarcus Cousins, C, SAC: 33 points
- Stephen Curry, G, GSW: 33 points
Rebounds
- Andre Drummond, C, DET: 18 rebounds
- DeMarcus Cousins, C, SAC: 17 rebounds
- Enes Kanter, F, OKC: 16 rebounds
- Andrew Bogut, C, GSW: 16 rebounds
Assists
- Russell Westbrook, G, OKC: 11 assists
- Stephen Curry, G, GSW: 10 assists
- Reggie Jackson, G, DET: 9 assists
Steals
- Zaza Pachulia, C, MIL: 5 steals
- DeMarcus Cousins, C, SAC: 4 steals
- Kawhi Leonard, F, SAS: 4 steals
Blocks
- Nerlens Noel, C, PHI: 6 blocks
- DeMarcus Cousins, C, SAC: 4 blocks
- Five tied with three blocks
Three-Pointers
- Damian Lillard, G, POR: 6-11 3Pt
- Stephen Curry, G, GSW: 5-9 3Pt
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, DET: 5-9 3Pt
- Robert Covington, F, PHI: 5-6 3Pt
Minutes
- DeMar DeRozan, G, TOR: 42 minutes
- Rudy Gay, F, SAC: 41 minutes
- Monta Ellis, G, DAL: 40 minutes
- Chandler Parsons, F, DAL: 40 minutes
- Goran Dragic, G, MIA: 40 minutes