Dose: Triple Double Russ
Friday night provided fans with a slew of noteworthy performances. The Knicks frontcourt came alive while the Raptors backcourt failed to show up. DeAndre Jordan and Terrence Jones led their squads with big performances as did Mo Williams and Isaiah Thomas. But the king of the night was undoubtedly Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook rules the evening
Playing without Kevin Durant, the Thunder gave the Blazers everything on Friday, just coming up a bit short. Russell Westbrook looked like a man possessed out there, scoring 40 points with 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Amazingly, this was Westbrook’s third straight triple-double and fifth of the campaign. Unfortunately, the point guard suffered a face injury towards the end of the game and could miss some time because of it. D.J. Augustin would become the beneficiary if Westbrook were to miss significant time.
Knicks frontcourt puts up big numbers
Both Andrea Bargnani and Louis Amundson had fantastic lines for New York. Bargnani scored a season-high 25 points and 12 rebounds while Amundson also set season-high marks with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Neither of these guys is particularly trustworthy but with the Knicks in shambles, they seem to be getting big minutes so they could be used in the short term. However, don’t be surprised if the wheels fall off.
Jordan boards all night
DeAndre Jordan eclipsed the 20 rebound mark for the seventh time this season on Friday as he pulled down 22 of them, adding 15 points and three blocks for good measure. The big man has been on fire during the month of February, averaging 16 points and nearly 17 rebounds. Hopefully, he can keep his mojo heading into March.
Jones continues to dominate
Terrence Jones capped off his fantastic week with a tremendous showing. The power forward scored a season-high 26 points with 12 boards on 11-16 shooting. Jones is now averaging close to 18 and 12 over his last three and is firmly in the midst of a hot streak. If he’s somehow still on a waiver wire, he shouldn’t be, and if you can acquire him via trade, now is a good time.
Butler bears the load
With Derrick Rose likely out for at least a few months, Jimmy Butler now has full authority in the Bulls backcourt. Playing without Pau Gasol as well, Butler put up 28 points with 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. His 11-19 shooting was also a nice boost. After three straight mediocre performances, this was a nice showing for Butler owners.
Williams and Thomas both shine in Boston
Mo Williams and Isaiah Thomas both put up big numbers on Friday. Mo Williams led Charlotte to the victory with 31 points, seven boards, four assists, and six triples. With Kemba Walker not set to return until mid-March, Williams’ hot streak should continue. Meanwhile, Thomas scored 28 points with seven boards and two triples. Thomas has found a real groove as Boston’s sixth man and is getting consistent minutes which is great for fantasy owners.
Porter continues to produce
Otto Porter once again looked solid filling in for Paul Pierce on Friday. The small forward had one of his best games this season, scoring 19 points with two triples, three boards, and two assists. Porter scored 13 points on Wednesday and is definitely a low end scoring option to consider as a plug and play going forward. Meanwhile on the other side of the court Nerlens Noel impressed with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks. Noel has greatly improved both his scoring and shot-blocking numbers since the All-Star break and looks locked in going forward.
Alexis bags season-high
Suddenly, Alexis Ajinca is a go-to guy for the Pelicans. He came off the bench for a season-high 24 points on 9-10 shooting. He added eight rebounds and three blocks. Yes, the shooting was spectacular and unlikely to be duplicated but with Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson sidelined, Ajinca has stepped up. Over his last three, he’s averaging 16 points and seven rebounds. His run likely won’t last too long but he’s worth a look in the short term.
Hill goes big for Pacers
With both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving nursing injuries, the Pacers took full advantage and defeated the Cavaliers thanks in large part to the play of George Hill. The point guard notched his first triple-double of the season with 15 points, 12 assists, and 10 boards. He also added two steals and one block to round out a great line. He only shot 4-15 from the field and didn’t hit a triple but it’s hard to pick nits on a triple-double.
Raptors flop in blowout
It was a tough night if you owned a Toronto Raptor as the squad got thumped by Golden State. Kyle Lowry scored just four points on 1-7 shooting while DeMar DeRozan shot just 4-16 from the field. Patrick Patterson started over Amir Johnson but failed to make an impact, scoring just four points with two rebounds. It was simply a tough night but Lowry’s play in particular is alarming. He admittedly has been playing poorly as of late, averaging just 13 points and six assists since the All-Star break. He should get back on track and if your league’s trade window is still open this is a nice buy low window.
