Dose: Melo Back, Curry Injured
Week 6 Games Played
4 Games: ATL, BOS, DAL, DEN, DET, LAL, MIA, MIL, MIN, NOP, NYK, ORL, PHI, SAS, WAS
3 Games: BRK, CHI, CLE, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, MEM, OKC, PHX, POR, SAC, TOR, UTA
2 Games: CHA
Spurs 111, Celtics 89
The Spurs got a well-rounded effort and were led by Danny Green’s 18 points, four 3-pointers, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block. When he gets it going, he’s a blast to have in your lineup, but his next disappearance is just around the corner. The Spurs are too good and too concerned about going into the postseason healthy to have any single player go off on a nightly basis. Tony Parker says he has a cracked rib, but he played through it and had nine points and nine assists on 3-of-10 shooting.
Tyler Zeller started at center and had seven points, 10 rebounds and a block, while Kelly Olynyk came off the bench and hit just 1-of-6 shots for three points, three boards and a block. If Olynyk’s not starting, he’s not worth having in your lineup. Jeff Green stayed hot with 16 points and Rajon Rondo had 10 assists, but outside of the emergence of Zeller, there’s not much to see in this game’s boxscore. If you need a center and want to pick up Zeller, he’s worth a flier to see if this move sticks or not.
Bulls 102, Nets 84
Pau Gasol went nuts with 25 points, 13 rebounds, a steal and two blocks on 9-of-12 shooting, while Jimmy Butler chipped in with 26 points and a full stat line that included hitting 11-of-13 free throws. The strong play of that duo is a big reason the Bulls look like a team that could win it all. Derrick Rose played 26 minutes for 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, two 3-pointers and four turnovers, and it’s nice to have him back in action. Mike Dunleavy started and had just four points on 2-of-7 shooting. Despite the occasional big game, he’s just not a reliable player. Joakim Noah cooled off with just three points, 10 rebounds, a steal, a block and five turnovers. Not his best effort, but at least he’s playing again. Nikola Mirotic stayed hot with 12 points, 12 rebounds, a steal, a block and a 3-pointer. He’s played very well in two straight games and it will be interesting to see if he keeps it going this week.
The Nets were a mess in this one, led by Bojan Bogdanovic with 13 points and a 3-pointer, while Jarrett Jack came off the bench for 12, Brook Lopez had 11 points and just two rebounds, and Deron Williams had 10 points and three assists on 3-of-12 shooting. Joe Johnson disappeared by hitting 1-of-7 shots for three points, but should bounce back against the Knicks. Mirza Teletovic wasn’t much better, going 1-of-6 for four points in 16 minutes off the bench. It’s amazing that they only lost by 18.
Warriors 104, Pistons 93
Draymond Green led the way with 20 points, six boards and five 3-pointers, while Stephen curry had 16 points and 10 assists before leaving with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative, but the fact they had to take them could be a bad sign and he sat out the final eight minutes of the game. I’d start him this week for now, but owners should watch for updates. Curry’s next game is Tuesday against the Magic. Marreese Speights stayed hot despite low minutes off the bench and had 11 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. He’s worth owning.
Josh Smith jut missed a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists, four steals and a block, but hit just 6-of-18 shots. This was easily Smoove’s biggest line of the season and it would be nice to see him keep it going. Andre Drummond came in hot but fell off a cliff last night, hitting 1-of-8 shots for two points, seven rebounds and two blocks. At least there have been signs of life, so keep him in your lineup. Brandon Jennings is back and had 22 points and an all-around nice game, so the D.J. Augustin experiment is over again. And Kentavious Caldwell-Pope got hot and had 23 points and four 3-pointers in 36 minutes. He’s inconsistent, but the minutes always seem to be there and he’s averaging 20 over his last three games. Greg Monroe has been sent back to the bench but is still worth using, and had 13 points and 10 boards in 31 minutes. Kyle Singler is starting and had nine points, but isn’t someone I’m too interested in most leagues. The Pistons have lost eight straight games so Stan Van Gundy is trying to right the ship. I’m just not sure Singler is the answer.
Grizzlies 97, Kings 85
All five Grizzlies were in double figures, led by Zach Randolph’s 22 points and 12 rebounds. They’re rolling this season and Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are must-starts, Courtney Lee looks like a smart player to own, and Tony Allen is worth a look in deeper leagues.
DeMarcus Cousins was out with an illness, which allowed Reggie Evans to come off the bench and explode for season highs of 17 points and 20 rebounds. He also had a steal and a block and I’m still not sure how his old bones pulled that one off. I see no reason to pick him up. Rudy Gay and Darren Collison are back and healthy, and Ben McLemore stayed hot to hit 7-of-13 shots for 18 points and a 3-pointer, but the Kings didn’t stand much of a chance with Boogie out. McLemore has been playing well and is worth a look in most leagues.
Heat 86, Knicks 79
Dwyane Wade returned from a seven-game absence and had 27 points, five boards, five assists and seven turnovers on 11-of-18 shooting, Chris Bosh scored 20 points and added nine rebounds and two 3-pointers, and Luol Deng hit just 2-of-11 shots for 10 points and 10 rebounds. That rounds up the ‘big’ scorers for the Heat, as starters Shawne Williams and Norris Cole combined for eight points, and Mario Chalmers cooled off from the bench with 1-of-4 shooting, three points and five fouls in 24 minutes. I’m going to chalk this one up to foul trouble, but the return of Wade and a spot off the bench aren’t exactly going to work in Chalmers’ favor, either. Josh McRoberts played 25 minutes and had just seven points, three rebounds, four assists, a steal, a block and two 3-pointers. I’m not sure when it’s going to happen, but it is starting to feel like McBob is getting ready to finally turn the corner.
Despite all of my gloom and doom when he injured his back, Carmelo Anthony was back in a big way on Sunday, hitting 11-of-26 shots and a 3-pointer for 31 points, eight rebounds, a steal and a block. I’d rather be wrong and have Melo going off than be right and see him in street clothes for the next month. Then again, Melo played through tightness and discomfort, so we may not be out of the woods just yet. Amare Stoudemire was the only other Knick in double figures with 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Iman Shumpert continued to disappoint with six points on 3-of-13 shooting. And speaking of disappointing, J.R. Smith played just six minutes, missed all four of his shots and didn’t even score while battling a flu bug. Smith is going to take a hit with the return of Melo. Jose Calderon is playing well and had nine points, 10 rebounds, six assists and a 3-pointer, but also committed an uncharacteristic five turnovers. Calderon is a fine start now that he’s healthy and playing well.
Magic 93, Suns 90
Channing Frye bottomed out with three points on 1-of-5 shooting in 27 minutes. Facing his former team, many of us were expecting a different kind of revenge performance than this one. The other four starters for the Magic were great, led by Tobias Harris and his 21 points. Harris is rolling this season and might have been the steal of your draft. Evan Fournier is still very relevant and had 15 points and two 3-pointers, and Victor Oladipo is still finding his way, but had 12 points, three rebounds, four assists and a steal. Kyle O’Quinn is healthy and playing again, but five points, six boards and two blocks aren’t going to cut the mustard. He’ll likely need an injury to a teammate to succeed.
Markieff Morris stayed hot with 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, Goran Dragic bounced back with 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three 3-pointers, and Eric Bledsoe added 13 points, six dimes and a 3-pointer, but hit just 5-of-14 shots. Isaiah Thomas missed his third game with an ankle injury, Gerald Green scored 11 points in 26 minutes, and Mile Plumlee played much better than Alex Len. I was coming around on Len, but didn’t like his 0-for-6 and zero points in 16 minutes last night. Green’s kind of a luxury to own, but completely unreliable, so you really have to decide if he’s the guy for you. Thomas remains day-to-day with his injury, so start him at your own risk.
Blazers 107, Wolves 93
LaMarcus Aldridge went off with 26 points and 15 rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting, and Wesley Matthews had 23 points and six 3-pointers in the win. Matthews is on another planet right now, averaging 6.3 3-pointers over his last three games. Damian Lillard played through an illness and had 17 points and eight assists, and Nicolas Batum quietly filled the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocks. He also hit a 3-pointer, but was 4-of-13 from the floor and 1-of-8 from downtown.
Mo Williams stayed hot on Sunday with 21 points, five boards and 11 dimes, Thaddeus Young had 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, and should be good to go this week, and Gorgui Dieng had 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in another start for injured Nikola Pekovic. Andrew Wiggins (flu) and Corey Brewer were both quiet in the starting lineup, but Shabazz Muhammad hit 12-of-17 shots for a career-high 28 points in 30 minutes. I still think Brewer is the guy to own Kevin Martin’s absence (wrist surgery), but Muhammad threw his name in the hat on Sunday. He had four points in Friday’s game. Zach LaVine, who had 28 points on Friday, didn’t even score last night and make no mistake. Mo-Will is the point guard you want to own until Ricky Rubio is back.
Lakers 129, Raptors 122
Kobe Bryant triple-doubled with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, all five Lakers starters scored in double figures, and Nick Young got hot off the bench with 20 points and five 3-pointers as the Lakers beat the Raptors in overtime on Sunday. Jordan Hill had a nice double-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, while Carlos Boozer continued to keep Ed Davis down with 18 points and nine rebounds in another start. Davis played 18 minutes and finished with just one point and six rebounds.
The Raptors got 29 points, six boards, nine assists, three steals and a 3-pointer on 10-of-28 shooting from Kyle Lowry before he fouled out for the Raptors, as his great season continues. Terrence Ross had a season-high 20 points and four 3-pointers, and it’s impossible to figure out when he’s going to have a big game, although the odds improve greatly with DeMar DeRozan shelved with his torn groin. Lou Williams stayed hot with 19 points on 5-of-17 shooting with three 3-pointers, and he should be owned in all leagues with DeRozan out indefinitely. Greivis Vaquez drew the start for DD on Sunday and played well with 19 points, five assists and a 3-pointer on 8-of-16 shooting. He deserves a look in all leagues and should be considered a must-own player as long as he’s starting for the Raps. James Johnson stayed relevant again with eight points and four rebounds before fouling out. He’s working his way back from an injury, but could be a fun, multi-cat player to own once he gets it rolling again. Lastly, Amir Johnson struggled again with six points and four boards, and reinjured his toe, while Patrick Patterson came off the bench for 10 points, 13 boards and a block in 34 minutes. This is a true timeshare, but Pat-Pat looks like the one to own after a pair of double-doubles in his last two games.
