Fantasy basketball daily notes for Monday: Anfernee Simons remarkably consistent all month long
It’s not surprising that Simons sank five 3-pointers against Chicago, as he’s actually leading the entire NBA in shots made from beyond the arc since the calendar flipped to 2022. It was also encouraging to see CJ McCollum produce a game-high 29 points in the loss, his most in a game since returning from a collapsed lung that sidelined him for multiple weeks.
Fantasy managers should pay more attention to Simons’ surge as a shooting and scoring force, especially as he’s still somehow a free agent in nearly half of ESPN leagues.
Highlights
Saturday
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat: 37 points (14-26 FG), 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings: 38 points (11-19 FG), 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals
Sunday
Malik Monk, Los Angeles Lakers: 33 points (12-19 FG), 10 rebounds, 5 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: 31 points (10-17 FG), 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals
Lowlights
Saturday
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards: 9 points (2-11 FG), 2 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 TO
Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat: 0 points (0-5 FG), 1 rebound
Sunday
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic: 5 points (2-10 FG), 1 rebound, 5 assists
• Brooklyn has faced a series of injuries and unique challenges to its roster this season, but one consistent element has been the play of veteran floor-spacer Patty Mills. The Aussie combo guard is posting a career scoring season at age 33 thanks to taking (and making) the most 3-pointers per game in his career. During his last two games, Mills has compiled 45 points and 10 assists, signaling he can step up his production when asked.
• Malik Monk has become an important part of the Lakers’ rotation. In a loss to the Hawks, Monk shined as a complementary playmaker with his fourth career 30-point game and his first with Los Angeles. For as long as LeBron James is ailing, Monk should play a big offensive role.
• The other team in Los Angeles has enjoyed some strong play from Luke Kennard. The southpaw out of Duke has averaged 18.6 points with strong rebounding and passing results during his last five games. The short-handed Clippers need his scoring and creation from the perimeter, making Kennard a solid waiver target to open the week.
• Detroit’s Cade Cunningham registered his second career triple-double while Saddiq Bey tallied 31 points, as the Pistons have now won five of their last seven home games. Cunningham is rostered in most leagues, but Bey remains a free agent in roughly 37% of ESPN leagues.
• Chicago’s rising rookie Ayo Dosunmu dished a career-high 11 dimes on Sunday and tied DeMar DeRozan for the team lead with 34 minutes. With both Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball sidelined for some time, Dosunmu should continue to play an important role for the Bulls.
• Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. has been on a scoring binge of late, as he netted 33 points on a team-high 28 shots in a thrilling triple-overtime win over the Heat on Saturday. Trent also swiped five steals and now sits third in the league in steals per game.
• In Saturday’s win over the Pacers, the Mavericks’ Kristaps Porzingis left the floor after just 11 minutes of action due to knee soreness. Maxi Kleber posted a big line on Saturday, but it’s possible that Marquese Chriss is the player to target if Porzingis misses time. Chriss filled the box score in just 19 minutes of playing time on Sunday and could become helpful in deeper leagues if he earns more run.
• An ankle sprain will keep Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from seeing the court until after the All-Star break. Josh Giddey becomes a strong pickup in the interim.
• Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram are listed as questionable to play for the Pelicans due to respective injuries. Rookie Herbert Jones should play a large role for New Orleans if either of his veteran peers sit.
The Pacers won’t have starters Malcolm Brogdon or Myles Turner in the lineup this evening. Given so many injuries to the rotation, the team has recently turned to rookie Chris Duarte as a key starter and backcourt scorer.
The Oregon product has responded with 15.1 points and eight combined assists and rebounds per game during his last eight appearances. The team has sported an offensive rating of 119 points scored per 100 possessions with him on the floor during this recent eight-game sample, evidence he can help both Indiana and fantasy managers this evening.
Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder: This teenage triple-double threat could shine with more touches and creation duties now that Gilgeous-Alexander is sidelined. The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, have allowed 48.5 DraftKings points per game to point guards.
Luke Kennard, LA Clippers: The Pacers are one of the friendlier matchups in the league lately, as Indiana ranks last in the league in defensive efficiency during the last 10 games. Kennard, meanwhile, has played at least 27 minutes in five straight as one of the team’s primary perimeter scorers.