The Denver Nuggets got huge performances on Thursday from exciting young perimeter options that don't normally have the opportunity to feature on the team. Nikola Jokic is the franchise centerpiece, but missed out again with an ankle injury. Paul Millsap remained sidelined after his wrist surgery and instant offense Will Barton was out with a back issue. This seemed to bode ill for the Nuggets heading into their Wednesday game, on the road against a Boston Celtics squad sporting the best team defensive rating in the NBA this season (101.5 points allowed per 100 possessions). But, the Celtics sat Al Horford to rest, which weakened the defense and gave the Nuggets a chance to stay in the game. That opportunity was embraced by Gary Harris (available in 33.7 percent of leagues) and Jamal Murray (available in 88.3 percent of leagues).
Harris broke out for 36 points (16-25 FG, 1-1 FT), 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 3-pointers, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, while Murray popped for 28 points, 9-17 FG, 6-6 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 3-pointers, 3 steals, 5 turnovers.
Harris, in his fourth season, just turned 23 years old in September. Murray, in his second season, is only 20. They, along with the 21-year old Emmanuel Mudiay, have been given the chance to prove themselves worthy of more prominent roles in the future. Mudiay is a better floor general than either but he struggles with his shot, which makes him a very streaky performer.
Murray has traditionally been streaky as well, but thus far is averaging 19.4 points with 3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks through seven December games with four efforts over 20 points and only one bad game. Harris showed last season that he could consistently score when called upon, and he has built upon that this season with averages of 18.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 2.4 3-pointers in his last 14 outings.
Jokic should be back soon, and presumably Barton will as well, but if Harris and Murray keep shooting like this, they should continue to be useful to fantasy teams. Murray, in particular, has nice upside to go from the free agency wire to a startable commodity, if he can keep it up.
Wednesday recap
Highlights
Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics: 33 points (12-19 FG, 5-6 FT), 7 assists, 4 3-pointers, 2 blocks, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 3 TO
Lou Williams, LA Clippers: 31 points (11-22 FG, 6-8 FT), 8 assists, 3 3-pointers, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 TO
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz: 32 points (15-26 FG), 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, a 3-pointer, a block, 3 TO
Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls: 29 points (11-18 FG, 4-4 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 3-pointers, 2 steals, 2 TO
Chris Paul, Houston Rockets: 31 points (10-18 FG, 6-6 FT), 11 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 TO
Dwight Howard, Charlotte Hornets: 26 points (9-20 FG, 8-11 FT), 18 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 4 TO
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors: 37 points (12-24 FG, 13-15 FT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 TO
Troy Daniels, Phoenix Suns: 32 points (11-16 FG, 3-3 FT), 7 3-pointers, 3 rebounds, 1 block
Lowlights
Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City Thunder: 12 points (4-14 FG, 2-4 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 3-pointers, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 1 TO
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers: 9 points (3-11 FG, 1-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 2 3-pointers
Wednesday takeaways
Irving did a good job carrying the offensive load for the Celtics on Wednesday, leading the team to a win even with Al Horford resting. He got a lot of help, though, with Jaylen Brown contributing 26 points (9-12 FG, 5-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 3-pointers, 2 steals, a block and an assist while big man Aron Baynes (available in 97.3 percent of leagues) stepped up big with 17 points (8-11 FG, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds and 2 assists in Horford's absence.
Williams has already been the most consistent perimeter engine for the Clippers, and he becomes just the most recent example of a lead guard torching the porous Orlando Magic perimeter defense. Milos Teodosic started his second game since returning from injury and flirted with a triple-double with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 3-pointers, a steal and a block in 25 minutes.
The Suns continue to look for perimeter offense in the absence of Devin Booker, and on Wednesday it was Daniels (available in 99.5 percent of leagues) who stepped up huge. Tyler Ulis (available in 96.3 percent of leagues) also had a strong game with 16 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in 29 minutes, as he outplayed backup Mike James for the first time in three games.
Anthony, Russell Westbrook and Paul George were all struggling with their shots on Wednesday, going a combined 10-for-45 from the field. But, Westbrook still managed a triple-double and George still did a better job of filling the box score against his old team, while Anthony did very little else while turning in more field-goal attempts than makes for the fifth time in his last six games.
Turner has been playing well of late, but struggled with his shot Wednesday. However, as just alluded to, that Pacers vs. Thunder game was just a defensive, ugly game in which almost no one played well on offense. He should be expected to bounce back.
Injuries of note
Barton was probable to play on Wednesday with a back injury, but ultimately was held out. There is speculation that he may have experienced some sort of setback leading up to tipoff, but for now consider him day-to-day moving forward. As seen on Wednesday, Harris and Murray are the two perimeter players (along with Mudiay) who are most likely to benefit from Barton's absence.
Horford was held out of Wednesday's game to rest. This opened the door for Baynes (available in 97.3 percent of leagues) to shine, but Horford should return for their next game.
Jusuf Nurkic missed Wednesday's game with an ankle injury, after he was unable to go full speed in shootaround. Nurkic's absence opened things up for Al-Farouq Aminu (available in 77.8 percent of leagues) to drop a 15-point/13-rebound double-double with five treys in 37 minutes.
Tyreke Evans was unable to play through right hip soreness on Wednesday, and should be considered questionable for Friday's game. His absence led directly to the big game of Andrew Harrison (available in 99.3 percent of leagues) on Wednesday, when he scored 20 points (6-9 FG, 7-8 FT) with 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 3-pointer in 30 minutes.
Markieff Morris was scratched before Wednesday's game with a hip injury. This was the first that I heard of the injury, so consider him day-to-day for now.
Tyler Johnson sat out on Wednesday with a migraine headache. Justise Winslow strained his left knee on Wednesday and did not return. Their absences opened things up for Wayne Ellington (available in 98.7 percent of leagues) to shine with 24 points, 7 3-pointers, 4 boards, 2 steals and a block in 32 minutes off the bench on Wednesday. Winslow should be considered day-to-day until more information is released, but Johnson's absence should be short term.
Tyson Chandler missed Wednesday's game for personal reasons, his second such absence recently, and this allowed Greg Monroe (available in 61.1 percent of leagues) to pop for a monster double-double on Wednesday.
Austin Rivers left Wednesday's game with a concussion and has already been ruled out for Friday. C.J. Williams started the second half of the Wednesday game with Rivers out, but more information on who might replace him Friday likely won't come until closer to game time.
Analytics advantage for Thursday
The Los Angeles Lakers (102.4 possessions per game) and Brooklyn Nets (102.1 possessions per game) play the two fastest paces in the NBA. Meanwhile, their respective opponents on Thursday each have efficient per-possession offenses, with the Cavaliers ranking third (113.7 points per 100 possessions) and the Knicks ranking 12th overall (108.1 points per 100 possessions) but likely better in the games that Kristaps Porzingis has been healthy, as he is on Thursday. These dynamics could produce some good fantasy numbers for the Cavs and Knicks, making them all relatively better fantasy options than usual on Thursday.
Top players to watch tonight
Kevin Durant has posted big numbers in the three games that Stephen Curry has missed, including two in which Draymond Green sat as well, with averages of 33 points, 10 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 3.3 blocks in those contests. Green is doubtful on Thursday with his shoulder injury, leaving Durant and Klay Thompson to carry the load against the Mavericks.
The Sacramento Kings have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to centers this season, which could allow Karl-Anthony Towns to go big on Thursday.
Will Jahlil Okafor make his Nets debut on Thursday? He was available Tuesday, but Nets coach Kenny Atkinson didn't play him, and stated he will have to earn his minutes. Okafor is unfamiliar with the Nets' offense, but had another potential practice day on Wednesday, so I'll be watching to see if he can at least get on the court on Thursday even in a minor role.
