Thanks to Anfernee Simons emerging as a productive playmaker, the Portland Trail Blazers finally have some momentum. Simons set a new career-high with 11 dimes on Monday, as Portland downed the favored Brooklyn Nets last night to secure consecutive wins without Damian Lillard in the lineup for the first time this season.
Kyrie Irving played his second game of the season and tallied 22 points on 21 shots, while James Harden rested. Irving tweaked his ankle during the game, but continued to play. Kevin Durant produced 28 points and 15 combined rebounds and assists in the loss and has now scored at least 25 points in 11 straight games.
Simons is the name fantasy managers need to know, as he's become a statistical star since joining the starting lineup in place of Lillard last week. During his last four games, Simons has averaged 29 points and 6.8 dimes while making nearly six 3-pointers per game during this stretch.
Highlights
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics: 26 points (11-26 FG), 15 rebounds, 6 assists
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons: 29 points (10-17 FG), 1 rebound, 8 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Lowlights
Killian Hayes, Detroit Pistons: 5 points (2-8 FG), 2 rebounds, 3 assists
Julius Randle, New York Knicks: 2 points (1-7 FG), 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 TO
Monday takeaways
The Kings have lost five straight games, their longest losing streak this season, but seem to have unearthed a statistical star since making significant coaching and rotation changes. Alvin Gentry took over as head coach in late November and early in December installed Tyrese Haliburton as the team's lead playmaker, ushering in a new role for De'Aaron Fox, as well. Since the beginning of December, including last night's 21 points and eight dimes in a close loss to Cleveland, Haliburton has averaged 16 points, 8.5 assists, 2.7 3-pointers and 2.2 combined blocks and steals as the team's point guard. This is top-25 fantasy production and a real glimmer of hope in another down season for Sacramento.
Joel Embiid helped extend the Sixers' winning streak to a season-high seven games. Embiid joined Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain as the only 76ers with seven straight 30-point games. In fact, Embiid has finished with exactly 31 points for four straight games, joining Bob McAdoo as the only players in NBA history to score exactly 31 points in at least four straight games.
An actionable fantasy outcome from Philadelphia's win in Houston was the strong play of Matisse Thybulle, who swipped three steals and now has scored at least 10 points in consecutive games after doing so just twice during his first 28 appearances this season. If Thybulle can ever even become a league-average floor spacer, his elite defensive metrics could erupt.
Cunningham tallied a new career scoring last night for Detroit, giving the top pick four games this season with at least 25 points and five assists, the most by a Pistons rookie since Grant Hill tallied 13 in 1994-95. Saddiq Bey was also brilliant for Detroit in upsetting Utah, as he tied Cunningham's 29 points and finished with the best net rating in the game.
Injuries of note
• The Golden State Warriors will be without Draymond Green for Tuesday's marquee matchup in Memphis. Jordan Poole's usage rate and fantasy production both see a sizable jump whenever Green is off the floor this season.
• The Nuggets won't have playmaking wing Will Barton in the lineup tonight, which could lead to more value for Monte Morris, Facundo Campazzo, and Austin Rivers as streaming options.
Analytics advantage for Tuesday
Paul George won't suit up for the Clippers this evening against the Nuggets due to a lingering elbow ailment. With Kawhi Leonard recovering from a serious knee injury, this leaves Marcus Morris as the team's primary frontcourt scoring threat against Denver this evening.
Morris appears up to the task; he's consumed a robust usage rate of 27.5% during his last eight games, all starts. Compare this to the 19.9% clip he sported in his first 12 appearances this season and we realize Morris is playing a much larger role for Los Angeles in recent weeks. With at least five rebounds in five of his last seven games and a realistic shot at 20 points, Morris is a strong plug-and-play option ahead of tonight's five-game slate.
DFS discussion
Darius Bazley, Oklahoma City Thunder: Both Bazley and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl present value in daily fantasy play for Tuesday given a sweet matchup with a Washington Wizards team that lacks size and depth in the frontcourt.
Josh Hart, New Orleans Pelicans: This do-everything combo guard should thrive in a busy role this evening for the short-handed Pelicans. As one of the best rebounding guards in the league, Hart's fantasy floor is uniquely high for a player with a modest scoring reputation
