The Orlando Magic secured a surprising win against the LA Clippers on Tuesday, ending a 14-game losing streak against them. In the days after the team's fire sale at the trade deadline, the Magic have been led on offense by red-shirt rookie Chuma Okeke.
The Auburn product suffered a serious knee injury in the 2019 NCAA Tournament and missed his entire first season in Orlando, but he has surfaced as the team's primary frontcourt scorer since Nikola Vucevic was dealt. Okeke has averaged 17.8 PPG in the past four games.
Okeke is a free agent in more than 70% of ESPN leagues and seems likely to be a starting fixture for Orlando the rest of the way. Joining Okeke as a helpful free-agent target is guard Michael Carter-Williams, who flirted with a triple-double on Tuesday while producing five combined steals and blocks.
Tuesday recap
Highlights
Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets: 26 points (9-19 FG), 11 rebounds,
Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets: 27 points (11-16 FG), 12 rebounds, 4 assists
Lowlights
Will Barton, Denver Nuggets: 4 points (0-7 FG), 7 rebounds, 6 assists
Seth Curry, Philadelphia 76ers: 8 points (3-10 FG), 0 rebounds, 1 assist
Tuesday takeaways
Atlanta couldn't pull off the road upset in Phoenix last night, but Bogdan Bogdanovic did show serious signs of life as a high-leverage creator for the Hawks. The combo guard led the team with 18 shots and 22 points while netting four steals and dishing six dimes. Coach Nate McMillan is featuring Bogdanovic at times. Meanwhile, the guard is rostered in just shy of a third of ESPN leagues.
Denver's Porter was efficient in blitzing the Sixers with shots. The young forward is now averaging a career-high 20.3 PPG in March. Newly acquired Aaron Gordon wasn't quite electric in this matchup for the Nuggets, but most teams won't have Philly's defensive size at the wing.
Hayward delivered his 14th 25-point game of the season after having 13 such games in his career as a Celtic. The Hornets are getting more from Devonte' Graham in the wake of LaMelo Ball's injury, while Terry Rozier remained brilliant with a team-high 27 points against Washington last night. Malik Monk missed another game to injury, but he's worth targeting for volume scoring once he's back in the fold.
Injuries of note
Since the guard still dealing with an illness, Victor Oladipo's debut with the Heat will be delayed once again. Goran Dragic figures to play a larger creation role.
Jaylen Brown is questionable to play for the Celtics this evening due to a hip contusion. Tristan Thompson is out for Boston. With Thompson out, Robert Williams III is in a great spot as the team's primary center.
Christian Wood is listed as probable for the Rockets in tonight's matchup against the Nets. John Wall is listed as questionable due to a knee ailment.
Zach LaVine is questionable to play for the Bulls due to an ankle injury.
Analytics advantage for Wednesday
Wayne Ellington and Dennis Smith Jr. are both expected to miss Detroit's game against Portland tonight. Saben Lee has averaged 13.9 points and 6.7 assists per 36 minutes with both Ellington and Smith off the floor this season. Given how depleted Detroit's perimeter depth chart could prove tonight, Lee might play a major role for the Pistons.
Top players to watch on Wednesday
With Darius Bazley, Luguentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined for the Thunder tonight, and with Al Horford no longer with the team, Moses Brown becomes a premier building block in daily fantasy and a top streaming option in redraft formats. Brown has averaged an absurd 16.7 points and 16.3 rebounds per 36 minutes with these three teammates off the floor this season.
With Dort out, guard Theo Maledon is a solid value, given he's averaged 15.3 PPG his past three outings and has scored 15.5 points per 36 minutes with Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, and Bazley off the floor this season.
