Fantasy NBA Daily Notes: Cole Anthony’s magic touch
Anthony has been the key positive for Orlando since the team dealt away three starters at the March trade deadline. With Markelle Fultz being injured and Nikola Vucevic‘s high-usage game now taking place in Chicago, Anthony has averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists over his last nine games, all starts.
The versatile guard should be busy again this evening in a matchup against the Pistons and fellow rookie lead guard Killian Hayes. Anthony is rostered in the neighborhood of 50% of ESPN leagues, yet has the potential to deliver a clutch finish to the season for your fantasy roster.
Highlights
Saturday
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks: 31 points (12-23 FG), 12 rebounds, 20 assists
Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards: 42 points (17-30 FG), 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals
Sunday
CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers: 33 points (12- 20 FG), 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors: 39 points (15-26 FG), 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Lowlights
Saturday
Theo Maledon, Oklahoma City Thunder: 8 points (2-14 FG), 1 rebound, 2 assists
Josh Richardson, Dallas Mavericks: 8 points (3-11 FG), 0 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 TO
Sunday
Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets: 5 points (2-7 FG), 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Tristan Thompson, Boston Celtics: 2 points (1-6 FG), 4 rebounds, 4 assists
LaMelo Ball returned to the NBA floor on Friday after a six-week absence and was immediately productive. Ball finished with 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Charlotte outscored Detroit by 19 points in the 28 minutes he was on the floor. Unfortunately, Ball struggled a bit with his shot on Sunday in a loss to the Heat, but it’s still great to see the likely Rookie of the Year back on the court.
De’Aaron Fox is sidelined and Tyrese Haliburton will be undergoing further tests on a knee injury suffered during Sunday’s action. No need to worry, as Sacramento’s Marvin Bagley III stepped up with 23 points and nine rebounds in the win over Dallas. Bagley quickly ramped up his workload in his second game back from a broken hand and could be a worthy fantasy pickup for the final two weeks of the season.
With a huge line on Saturday, Doncic became just the fourth player with a 30-point, 20-assist triple-double in NBA history, joining Westbrook, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson. Doncic also committed just a single turnover in the performance, making him the first player since individual turnovers have been tracked (1977-78) with 30 points, 20 assists, and fewer than two turnovers in a game.
While he’s been less consistent than last season’s breakout as an elite shooting specialist, it’s worth noting that Miami’s Duncan Robinson became the fastest player to 500 career 3-pointers over the weekend. It took just 152 games for Robinson to reach this threshold. His fantasy value remains highest in rotisserie formats given his singular ability to drive 3-point volume.
The Pacers list both Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb as questionable for tonight’s matchup against the Wizards. T.J. McConnell becomes a must-start option if Brogdon ends up being sidelined.
The Pelicans won’t have either Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Josh Hart this evening, and center Steven Adams is questionable to play. If Adams is indeed sidelined, Willy Hernangomez becomes a viable streamer.
For the Bulls, Vucevic is questionable and Zach LaVine is doubtful to play against Philadelphia this evening.
Utah will be without both Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell against the Spurs. Joe Ingles becomes a more valuable source of assists, while Jordan Clarkson‘s scoring floor and ceiling both become more impressive with his teammates sidelined.
Detroit is resting Jerami Grant, Cory Joseph, and Mason Plumlee this evening. Josh Jackson is an obvious plug-and-play option given he’s averaged more than 24.0 points (per 36 minutes) with Grant and Plumlee off the floor. However, it’s really Isaiah Stewart who becomes a fantasy force in such scenarios. Expectations are high for a double-double making Stewart, who has averaged 2.4 blocks and 11.4 rebounds (per 36 minutes) without Grant and Plumlee, a top target this evening.
After missing several games due to a back injury, Domantas Sabonis returned for the Pacers over the weekend and became the first player in the last 25 seasons with a 20-point triple-double by halftime. I’ll be watching to see not only how Sabonis follows up this awesome performance this evening against the Wizards, but also how teammate Oshae Brissett produces in a prominent frontcourt role for Indiana.