Pacers 123, Heat 99: Andrew Nembhard posts 55.7 fantasy points
Tommy Flanagan
Journeyman Electrician ยท Boston Celtics fan
Nembhard Dropped a Dagger, Pacers Showed the Heat How It's Done
Andrew Nembhard just turned a mid-January game in Indianapolis into a fantasy basketball masterclass. 29 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds on 10-16 shooting. That's 55.7 Yahoo fantasy points and a +11.6 eruption above his season average. The Pacers absolutely demolished Miami 123-99, and Nembhard was the conductor orchestrating the whole thing. This wasn't some random hot night either, this was Nembhard looking like a legit fantasy asset in a way he hasn't all season.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Nembhard | 55.7 | 29/6/9 | 17.4/2.6/7.2 | +11.6 pts, +3.4 reb |
| Tyler Herro | 41.4 | 21/7/4 | 21.9/4.7/2.7 | -0.9 pts, +2.3 reb |
| Jarace Walker | 43.8 | 13/9/4 | 9.0/4.2/1.9 | +4.0 pts, +4.8 reb |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 27.4 | 16/7/2 | 15.9/5.1/4.6 | +0.1 pts, +1.9 reb |
| Bam Adebayo | 24.8 | 13/9/2 | 17.0/9.5/2.7 | -4.0 pts, -0.5 reb |
| Pascal Siakam | 27.9 | 11/7/5 | 23.6/6.9/3.9 | -12.6 pts, +0.1 reb |
Look, I'm a Celtics guy first and always, but I've got to give it to the Pacers here. They came out and played a complete game. Nembhard's performance was the headline, but the depth on that roster showed up when it mattered.
The Winners
Andrew Nembhard just went supernova. 55.7 fantasy points, and more importantly, he crushed his season average by nearly 12 points. The thing that jumps out? He shot 10-16 from the field and 4-6 from deep. That efficiency is rare for him. The assists and boards also came up big at 9 and 6 respectively. This is what happens when a point guard gets actual scoring opportunities in a flowing offense. If you were sitting on Nembhard in the later rounds, this game reminds you why you drafted him.
Jarace Walker had himself a night too, finishing with 43.8 Yahoo FP while exceeding his season scoring average (+4.0 pts) and absolutely crushing the rebounding board (+4.8 boards vs average). He was a problem on both ends. The Pacers were getting contributions from everywhere, and Walker is starting to look like a guy who belongs in these lineups more often.
The Letdowns
Pascal Siakam came out and laid an egg. 11 points on 4-15 shooting is brutal, and that's 12.6 points below his season average. He's been a reliable scorer all year, sitting at 23.6 PPG, so this is the kind of game that makes you ask questions. Don't panic yet, but if Siakam comes out flat again next game, then we have a conversation about whether something's off.
Norman Powell got cooked too. 6 points on 2-12 shooting, and that's a 17.9 point drop from his 23.9 season average. That's not just missing shots, that's getting the looks but not converting. The Heat got absolutely worked in this one, so roll with it as a bad night rather than a warning sign.
The Trends
The Pacers' bench went absolutely nuclear. Micah Potter pulled down 4 threes off the bench. Jay Huff was splashing. This wasn't just Nembhard carrying the load. The whole offense was clicking, and Miami's defense looked cooked. Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo struggled to find a rhythm despite grabbing 9 boards. He's usually more of a presence offensively, and being down 24 points probably didn't help matters.
Here's what concerns me about the Heat: Norman Powell getting 22 minutes and putting up a dud, plus Bam underperforming on scoring, means their offensive flow gets disrupted. Tyler Herro held it down with 41.4 FP, but one guy can't carry a team that gets blown out by 24.
The Moves
Add: Jarace Walker if he's somehow still available in your league. He's now proven he can produce on both ends and the Pacers are giving him consistent minutes in the high 20s. He's the definition of a deep league dart throw that's starting to hit.
Drop: Bam Adebayo buyers should relax. This was one bad game in a blowout. The dude is still a first-round talent in reality and an anchor in fantasy. Don't panic sell after one stinker. Hold unless you're desperate for immediate returns.
Monitor: Andrew Nembhard if he goes in waivers after this performance. The question is whether this scoring explosion is sustainable or a one-off. The good news is his assist and rebound numbers were solid even before tonight, so he's got a floor. The ceiling just got higher.
Next Up
The Pacers get right back to it, and we'll see if Nembhard can sustain this offensive flow. Miami needs to figure out why their defense got shredded. Herro showed up, but everyone else looked lost. If the Heat can't tighten up defensively, their playoff hopes take a hit faster than we'd like to see.