Eric Moody
Multiple Authors
Jaylen Brown delivered one other assertion efficiency Monday night time for the Boston Celtics, erupting for 41 factors in a 120-112 win over the Phoenix Suns. It marked his sixth 40-point sport of the season, the third most within the NBA, and locations him amongst elite firm in Celtics historical past alongside Jayson Tatum, Paul Pierce and Larry Bird (5 instances) as the one gamers with six or more 40-point video games in a single season. Brown has been a top-15 fantasy participant this season and continues to ship elite all-around manufacturing.
Brown was dominant from the beginning Monday and completed 19-of-21 from the charity stripe, probably the most free throws made and tried by a Celtics participant in a sport since 2007. His scoring surge continues what has been a career-best season, as he now has twice as many 40-point video games than any earlier marketing campaign.
Tatum added 21 factors, marking the 192nd time the duo has scored 20-plus in the identical sport, tying the Bird and Robert Parish combo for third most in franchise historical past. Tatum continues to spherical into type after 10 months of rehab from a ruptured proper Achilles, averaging a powerful 38.0 fantasy factors per sport over his first 5 video games this season.
Here are another gamers and traits to watch as you navigate the fantasy playoffs.
Amen Thompson heating up on the excellent time
Thompson leads the Houston Rockets in minutes during the last 9 video games at 37.6 per sport and has been spectacular on each ends throughout that stretch. He has averaged 21.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 5.4 APG, and 1.3 SPG, making him a robust contributor in class codecs. That manufacturing interprets to 42.5 fantasy factors per sport, which additionally leads the group.
Houston nonetheless has loads to play for because it appears to keep away from the play-in event, and Thompson is trending up on the proper time for fantasy managers chasing a championship. Keep him in your lineup.
Cody Williams rising as a ‘foolish season’ league winner
Williams simply dropped 63 fantasy factors in opposition to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, and that type of upside makes him a must-add. With the Utah Jazz leaning on their youthful gamers and coping with accidents to Keyonte George, Ace Bailey and Isaiah Collier, Williams has stepped into an enormous function, taking part in at the least 36 minutes in six straight video games. Over his final 5, Williams averaged 17.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.8 APG and 0.8 SPG, exhibiting well-rounded manufacturing that interprets throughout all codecs.
The former No. 10 total decide within the 2024 NBA draft is lastly getting actual minutes, and that alone makes him price a glance. With this type of quantity, he can swing a playoff matchup. Williams is rostered in 10.0% of ESPN leagues.
Bilal Coulibaly changing into a dependable fantasy possibility
Coulibaly, rostered in 15.0% of ESPN leagues, has averaged 14.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 3.3 APG and 1.0 SPG over his final seven video games, and he is one of many few dependable choices proper now on a chaotic Washington Wizards roster. While the Wizards proceed to rotate minutes unpredictably, Coulibaly stays locked right into a constant function, averaging 30.1 minutes per sport with regular manufacturing throughout classes. He has additionally proven flashes of upside, scoring at the least 40 fantasy factors thrice this month whereas bettering as a shooter and playmaker.
The Wizards’ rotation continues to be impacted by accidents, which ought to preserve Coulibaly’s function safe. We’re at some extent within the season the place consistency is difficult to seek out, which makes Coulibaly stand out as a participant you’ll be able to belief for a stable flooring with sufficient upside to impression your playoff matchup.
Mikal Bridges slumping at worst doable time
Bridges has averaged simply 10.6 PPG over his final 14 outings whereas capturing 41.1% from the sector and 30.4% from 3-point vary, marking a transparent decline throughout a essential stretch of the season. Even more regarding throughout this stoop, Bridges has averaged simply 6.7 PPG over his final six whereas seeing lowered minutes … even getting benched late in video games.
Beyond scoring, his manufacturing has dipped throughout the board, as he has contributed simply 4.8 RPG and 3.0 APG throughout this stretch. A scarcity of aggression has been a serious concern, as Bridges has struggled to create straightforward appears and not often will get to the free throw line. While he stays a robust total participant with stable season-long effectivity, Bridges’ present fantasy manufacturing makes him troublesome to belief in lineups. Managers ought to significantly think about benching him.
Royce O’Neale wanting like a dependable 3-and-D possibility
O’Neale has averaged 3.3 made 3-pointers per sport over his final six outings, making him a robust add for managers in want of perimeter manufacturing. He’s rostered in 17.3% of ESPN leagues and is contributing throughout a number of classes, placing up 24.9 fantasy factors in 28.0 minutes per sport throughout that stretch.
With accidents persevering with to skinny the Suns’ rotation, his function and utilization ought to stay regular. O’Neale’s function is primarily as a spot-up shooter, however with regular minutes and sturdy capturing (44.4% over his final six), he might help stabilize fantasy lineups.
