Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Shines off bench in title win
    Reaves recorded 28 points (9-15 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 10-12 FT), two rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes during Saturday's 123-109 victory over the Pacers.

    Advice: Anthony Davis and LeBron James were massive for the Lakers in this title-clinching win, but an argument could be made to say the Lakers wouldn't have won this easily hadn't Reaves delivered such a massive boost with his play off the bench. He came through every time the Lakers needed him, and he finished as the Lakers' second-best scorer behind Davis. Reaves has cleared the 15-point mark in each of his last four outings. Rotowire.com Today, 3:34 am
     
  • Scores 20 points off bench
    Mathurin ended Saturday's 123-109 loss to the Lakers with 20 points (5-11 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 9-9 FT), two rebounds, one block and one steal across 30 minutes.

    Advice: The Pacers struggled to get things going against the Lakers and never really found themselves on the court the way it happened against Boston and Milwaukee, but Mathurin tried to provide a spark off the bench and finished the game as one of the team's top scorers. Mathurin has been far more consistent since returning to a bench role of late, averaging 13.7 points per game and shooting 46.2 percent from the field since being removed from the first unit. He was averaging 13.0 points and shooting 41.9 percent from the field as a starter. Rotowire.com Today, 3:25 am
     
  • Double-double not enough
    Haliburton finished with 20 points (8-14 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 2-3 FT), one rebound, 11 assists, one block and one steal over 35 minutes during Saturday's 123-109 loss to the Lakers.

    Advice: Haliburton was coming off two masterful performances against the Celtics and Bucks, but he couldn't get the job done this time, and his contributions were not enough as the Pacers came up short in the title game. However, that shouldn't take anything away from how good Haliburton was during the In-Season Tournament, as he did nothing but cement his superstar status around the league. Haliburton should lead the Pacers against the Pistons on Monday. Rotowire.com Today, 3:21 am
     
  • Bennedict Mathurin puts up 20 PTS off the bench
    Bennedict Mathurin shot 5-of-11 from the field and 9-of-9 from the foul line in Saturday’s 123-109 loss to the Lakers, scoring 20 points with two rebounds, one steal, one block, and one 3-pointer in 30 minutes.

    Advice: Mathurin is ranked well outside the top 200 in 9-cat per-game value this season. His performance in Saturday’s In-Season Tournament final was one of his best in what has been a brutal campaign, but none of the numbers officially count. What could boost Mathurin’s value in the short term is that the Pacers open Week 8 in Detroit on Monday, with the Pistons losing 19 straight games. That said, Mathurin’s rostered percentage in Yahoo leagues (52%) is too high, given the production issues and his coming off the bench. On Saturday, he picked up the slack for Bruce Brown, who accounted for four points, two rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in 19 minutes. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:14 pm
     
  • Tyrese Haliburton tallies 20 points, 11 assists
    Tyrese Haliburton logged 35 minutes in Saturday’s 123-109 loss to the Lakers, scoring 20 points (8-of-14 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs) with one rebound, 11 assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: The Lakers looked to pressure Haliburton throughout Saturday’s In-Season Tournament final, and while they were able to do so, he still recorded a points/assists double-double. The Pacers’ star point guard did commit three turnovers, but those won’t count against his season statistics (no stats from Saturday’s final count). Haliburton’s been a top 5 player in fantasy basketball this season, and that’s unlikely to change, given how well he’s playing. The Pacers play four games in Week 8, beginning with a trip to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Monday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:08 pm
     
  • Austin Reaves drops in 28 points vs. Pacers
    Austin Reaves shot 9-of-15 from the field and 10-of-12 from the foul line in Saturday’s 123-109 win over the Pacers, scoring 28 points with two rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes.

    Advice: As a team, the Lakers shot 2-of-13 from three, with their offensive focus being on dominating the paint and getting to the foul line. That approach impacted the action on both ends of the floor, as the Lakers shot 53.4% from the field, and the frequent trips to the foul line kept the game’s pace in check. Reaves came up with a big performance off the bench, joining Anthony Davis and LeBron James as Lakers with at least 24 points scored. The Lakers, inaugural champions of the In-Season Tournament, are scheduled to play three games in Week 8. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:53 pm
     
  • Andrew Nembhard (knee) out for at least one week
    Andrew Nembhard (bone bruise, right knee) will be re-evaluated in one week.

    Advice: Nembhard injured his knee during Thursday’s In-Season Tournament semifinal win over the Bucks. Already ruled out for Saturday’s final against the Lakers, the second-year point guard will be re-evaluated in one week. This leaves T.J. McConnell as the lone backup to Tyrese Haliburton, but that won’t change the veteran guard’s fantasy outlook very much. Rotoworld Yesterday, 4:14 pm
     
  • Out at least one week
    Nembhard (knee) will be re-evaluated in one week, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

    Advice: Coach Rick Carlisle doesn't believe Nembhard is dealing with a long-term injury, but it sounds like the Pacers will be taking a cautious approach, as the franchise is calling him week-to-week. Nembhard will miss at least the next five games for the Pacers, and he should be considered questionable at best for Dec. 18 against the Clippers. T.J. McConnell is expected to pick up some minutes in the meantime. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 4:06 pm
     
  • Diagnosed with heel contusion
    Irving has been diagnosed with a right heel contusion, and he doesn't yet have a timetable to return.

    Advice: NBA writer Marc Stein reported that Irving won't travel to Memphis for Monday's game against Dallas, but we won't know his status for Tuesday's home game against the Lakers until he's further evaluated. It appears Irving has avoided a serious injury and has already begun treatment. In the short term, the Mavericks will likely turn to Dante Exum, Seth Curry and Tim Hardaway to pick up some minutes. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:20 pm