Trail Blazers 117, Kings 110: Deni Avdija posts 51.6 fantasy points
Hiro Tanaka
Physical Therapy Assistant ยท Los Angeles Lakers fan
Russ Turns Back The Clock, But Deni & Donovan Clingan Steal The Show In Portland's Road Dub
Portland's offense went nuclear tonight, and their big three (or really, big four if you count the bench) validated every reason you drafted them. Sacramento? They had their moments, but it wasn't enough. Trail Blazers took it 117-110, and if you owned the right pieces, your fantasy night just got a whole lot better.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deni Avdija | 51.6 | 30/8/8 | 26.1/7.1/6.9 | +3.9 pts, +0.9 reb, +1.1 ast |
| Donovan Clingan | 47.9 | 21/17/3 | 11.1/10.7/1.9 | +9.9 pts, +6.3 reb, +1.1 ast |
| Russell Westbrook | 44.1 | 23/3/7 | 15.1/6.4/7.0 | +7.9 pts, -3.4 reb, +0.0 ast |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 33.4 | 27/7/0 | 21.6/4.5/2.7 | +5.4 pts, +2.5 reb, -2.7 ast |
| DeMar DeRozan | 32.9 | 14/2/7 | 19.1/3.3/3.9 | -5.1 pts, -1.3 reb, +3.1 ast |
| Dylan Cardwell | 32.0 | 12/10/2 | 4.4/6.3/0.9 | +7.6 pts, +3.7 reb, +1.1 ast |
Tonight's Top Performers
Deni Avdija just reminded everyone why he's been sneaky elite this year. 30 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds on an efficient 10-18 from the field and a perfect 8-8 from the line? That's +3.9 points over his already impressive 26.1 season average. This wasn't a crazy outlier night, this was Deni doing what he does. 51.6 Yahoo points is the ceiling, and if you own him, ride that wave. He's closing games and taking usage down the stretch.
Donovan Clingan went absolutely nuclear in the paint. 21 and 17 is a monster night for a young big, especially +9.9 points and +6.3 rebounds over his season averages. Kid finished with 8 of 8 from the line too. The question isn't whether tonight was real, it's whether this is sustainable. He's a 22-year-old center in a run-and-gun system, and nights like this are going to keep happening. Don't panic sell if you have him. This is the floor going up.
The Winners
Russell Westbrook had the most interesting game of the night. 23 points, 7 assists, 3 steals on 9-15 shooting (3 threes made) for 44.1 Yahoo FP. That's +7.9 points over his 15.1 average. Here's the thing though: his rebounding cratered (3 boards vs 6.4 avg), which is odd for Russ. The scoring and assist numbers are legit though. He was clicking offensively, hitting threes at a rate we don't always see from him. Worth monitoring if this becomes a trend, but one great game doesn't flip the narrative on his season. Still, that shooting was encouraging.
Shaedon Sharpe continues his steady climb. 27 points on 8-19 shooting (3 threes, 8-11 FT) is +5.4 over his season average of 21.6. The volume was there (34 minutes), and he's showing real scoring chops against decent defenses. Not a fluke night, just a guy hitting his ceiling. If you're thinking about moving him in a trade, hold tight. He's trending the right direction.
Dylan Cardwell is the real sleeper story here. 12 and 10 in just 25 minutes as a backup center? That's +7.6 points over his 4.4 average. Sacramento's rotation is getting weird in the middle. Cardwell got a real workload tonight, and he didn't waste it. This is the kind of performance that gets guys picked up off the wire. If Cardwell continues getting 20-plus minutes, he's a viable streaming option or bench grab.
The Letdowns
DeMar DeRozan flat-out underperformed. 14 points, 7 assists on 6-11 shooting isn't terrible, but it's -5.1 from his 19.1 average. More concerning? Only 2 rebounds in 34 minutes. That's not how DeRozan usually plays. He was on the court but not in the game, and that doesn't move the needle in fantasy. This is a one-off, but worth watching if Sacramento's offense keeps stalling. DeRozan needs to get his shot more, and tonight he didn't.
Domantas Sabonis was the biggest shock. 8 and 8 in 19 minutes? That's -8.8 points from his 16.8 average. Something's off. Either he's nursing something, or Sacramento limited his workload heading into the second half of the season. As someone who works with athletes in recovery, I'd be watching closely for any injury reports. Sabonis doesn't just disappear like that without a reason. Check the injury wire.
The Trends
Minutes and matchups are key here. Clingan got 36 minutes against a smaller Kings frontcourt. That's the type of situation where young bigs feast. Cardwell getting run is interesting, but probably a one-game thing unless Sabonis' minutes stay limited.
Malik Monk went off the bench for Sacramento (25 minutes) and dropped 23 on 9-15 shooting (5 threes). That's +11.4 over his 11.6 average, which is huge off the bench. Monk's a scorer, and when he gets minutes, he produces. The minutes are the question mark, not the output.
The Moves
Add Dylan Cardwell immediately. He's only owned 8.1% in ESPN leagues, which is insane for a guy who just put up 12 and 10 in 25 minutes. If Sabonis keeps getting limited, Cardwell becomes a must-own backup center. Grab him now before the waiver wire fills him in.
Drop Grayson Allen (Phoenix). Down 0.6% ownership for a reason. He's not providing enough volume, and tonight proved there are better bench options out there. Don't cling to names out of habit.
Trade target: Shaedon Sharpe if you're weak at guard depth. His arrow's pointing up, and his value to the right team (one without three scorers already) could pay off in a two-for-one deal to plug a hole elsewhere.
Next Up
Portland's rolling. Deni and Clingan just showed they can carry games. The question is consistency against better defenses.
Sacramento's got real issues if Sabonis stays banged up or limited. Monitor that injury report religiously. If he's healthy, he rebounds next game. If not, Cardwell just became a league-winner on waivers.