Suns 112, Wizards 93: Alex Sarr posts 48.5 fantasy points
Hiro Tanaka
Physical Therapy Assistant ยท Los Angeles Lakers fan
Royce O'Neale Reminded Us He's Actually a Shooter, But Alex Sarr Just Broke the Internet
Look, the Suns won by 19, which is cool. But here's what actually matters for your lineup: Alex Sarr just put on a center clinic that had me thinking about recovery protocols all night. The kid dropped 48.5 Yahoo points on a 16.9 point season average. That's +31.6 points. Not a typo. A 7-footer who went 7-15 from the field, grabbed 15 boards, and hit all five free throws in 27 minutes. For context, that's the kind of performance that makes you wonder if Sarr just unlocked another level or if Washington's defense was genuinely that exploitable down low.
But the real story? Royce O'Neale woke up.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Sarr (WAS) | 48.5 | 19/15/1/1/3 | 16.9/7.6/2.8 | +2.1 pts, +7.4 reb |
| Royce O'Neale (PHX) | 36.4 | 19/7/4/2/0 | 10.5/5.1/2.9 | +8.5 pts, +1.9 reb |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 31.6 | 17/3/8/0/0 | 25.2/4.1/6.5 | -8.2 pts |
| Mark Williams (PHX) | 31.4 | 11/7/2/0/3 | 12.2/8.3/1.1 | -1.2 pts |
| Collin Gillespie (PHX) | 28.7 | 2/6/5/4/0 | 13.3/4.1/4.8 | -11.3 pts |
| Tre Johnson (WAS) | 27.5 | 19/5/3/0/0 | 12.4/2.9/1.9 | +6.6 pts, +2.1 reb |
The Winners
Alex Sarr just had the game of his young season, but I need to pump the brakes on hype here for a second. Yes, 48.5 points is insane. Yes, 15 rebounds is elite. But look at the matchup context, because it matters. Sarr got 27 minutes and went to work on a Wizards team that had issues protecting the paint. The +7.4 rebound differential tells you everything, though, that's legit. This wasn't a fluke night where he shot 60% from three, he dominated in his wheelhouse, hard fouls in the post and finishing. If he keeps getting 25+ minutes, this is a guy whose floor just went up.
Royce O'Neale is the move nobody saw coming. The man went from averaging 10.5 points to dropping 19 on 60% shooting from deep (5-9 from three). That's +8.5 above his season average. For a role player on a contender, this matters because it shows the Suns are giving him real offensive opportunities. He's not just a corner three guy anymore, he's getting ball movement. In deeper leagues, O'Neale just became a must-own rotation anchor.
Tre Johnson popped off for the Wizards with 19 points on a 12.4 average, +6.6 above norm. Young guy looking like he's settling into a legit role. Worth eyeing if he's available.
The Letdowns
Devin Booker laid an egg. 17 points on 5-14 shooting, just 8 assists when he averages 6.5. That's -8.2 below his season average, which for a dude dropping 25 a night is brutal. He only played 25 minutes though, so don't panic. This looks like a "blowout game management" situation where Phoenix got up early and cruised. Booker didn't need to go nuclear. Still, the 5-14 line stings.
Collin Gillespie went 0-6 from the field with only 2 points. His season average sits at 13.3, so that's a -11.3 point crater. The 5 assists and 6 rebounds kept him from completely tanking, but yeesh, that shot chart was rough. He still got 29 minutes though, so the opportunity was there.
The Trends
This is where it gets interesting. Gillespie got more minutes than Booker, which could signal the Suns are being cautious with their star or just mixing lineups late in the season. Mark Williams was solid (31.4 FP) but right around his average, so nothing's changing there.
For Washington, Sarr's 27 minutes are the number to watch. If he's breaking 25 consistently, he's a hold everywhere. Bub Carrington got 32 minutes and stayed around his average (26.3 FP), which is solid Point Guard production.
Grayson Allen got added by 1.4% of leagues after dropping 28.4 FP, up from his 16.4 average. That's +12 above the norm. He's gaining ownership and might actually have some run now.
The Moves
Add: Grayson Allen if he's still sitting in your league. He's only 42.8% owned and just proved he can go off when given chances. Depth piece with upside in a top-four seed.
Drop: Collin Gillespie in shallow leagues. One 0-6 game doesn't tank him, but his role feels muddy right now with Booker there. In deeper formats, hold and see.
Trade Target: Royce O'Neale. If you have depth at wing, move him while he's hot. His value just spiked and this could've been a one-game thing. Sell high to someone panicked about their scoring.
Next Up
Watch if Sarr keeps getting 25+ minutes, that's the entire story. Booker will bounce back against any team that doesn't have a 19-point lead at halftime. And track whether O'Neale gets this kind of offensive usage again or if last night was a one-off. The Suns aren't running him as a primary scorer, so temper expectations.