Clippers 110, Wizards 106: James Harden posts 60.9 fantasy points
Tommy Flanagan
Journeyman Electrician ยท Boston Celtics fan
James Harden Just Reminded Everyone Why He's Still The Guy
Look, I know the Clippers lost by four to the Wizards in a game that nobody was really paying attention to on a Monday night. But here's what actually matters: James Harden just put up 60.9 Yahoo fantasy points and absolutely cooked everybody who had him riding the bench. Dude went 36/7/9 with 18-20 from the free throw line. That's not just a good game. That's a "why did you ever consider trading this guy" game.
Let's get real about the context though. Harden's season average is 26.1 points, 4.8 boards, and 8.1 dimes. Tonight he dropped +9.9 points, +2.2 rebounds, and +0.9 assists on his average. In a loss. When the Clippers didn't have half their roster. That's the kind of performance that keeps you in games even when everything else falls apart.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Harden | 60.9 | 36/7/9 | 26.1/4.8/8.1 | +9.9/+2.2/+0.9 |
| Alex Sarr | 47.2 | 28/6/2 | 17.2/7.4/2.8 | +10.8/-1.4/-0.8 |
| Jordan Miller | 40.5 | 16/5/3 | 8.0/3.0/1.6 | +8.0/+2.0/+1.4 |
| Kyshawn George | 37.2 | 18/6/6 | 15.5/5.6/4.9 | +2.5/+0.4/+1.1 |
| Bub Carrington | 32.7 | 17/6/7 | 9.7/3.9/4.6 | +7.3/+2.1/+2.4 |
The Clippers' second unit absolutely went to work here. Harden was the obvious star, but Jordan Miller putting up 40.5 Yahoo points on an 8.0 average is genuinely interesting. That's a +8.0 point game from a guy who's been flying under the radar. Miller played 28 minutes and was everywhere, hitting 6-8 from the line and getting four steals. For a player who's basically been a fill-in, that's the kind of performance that gets you picked up.
On the Wizards side, Alex Sarr came through with 47.2 Yahoo points, +10.8 from his season average. The kid went 10-19 from the field and didn't miss a free throw. That's the kind of efficiency that actually sticks around. Bub Carrington also had a night, going 7-12 with three threes and 37 minutes of work. Those are the kind of minutes that matter. He's getting real usage now.
The Winners
James Harden is obviously the headliner here. 60.9 Yahoo points compared to a 26.1 point average is a "+9.9" night that says he's still got it when the moment calls for it. The free throw shooting was the real story, because that's repeatable volume. 20 free throws is heavy, but this is Harden we're talking about. He hunts those opportunities.
Alex Sarr is the secondary story. The big man's been hovering around 17 PPG but tonight jumped to 28 with perfect free throw shooting and legitimate field goal efficiency. The question is whether this is him finally settling in or a one-off. The fact that he pulled down six boards on a down night for the Wizards suggests some real production, not just empty scoring.
Bub Carrington deserves a mention too. The rookie got 37 minutes and ran the offense with 7 dimes. He's been getting increased responsibility and the Wizards are leaning on him more. If this minutes trend continues, he stops being a waiver wire flier and starts being an actual option.
The Letdowns
Real talk, nobody on the Wizards put up numbers beyond Sarr and Carrington. Khris Middleton (26.5 Yahoo) barely broke double digits in scoring, and while he hit some threes, it wasn't enough volume. For an All-NBA caliber guy, you want more than 11 points even in a loss. Don't panic though. One bad night doesn't sink a ship. But if you're counting on Middleton for 20, you might need a backup plan.
Marvin Bagley III got dropped in leagues after putting up just 19.1 Yahoo points. Honestly, he was already barely rostered, so this just confirms what people already knew. He's not a fantasy factor unless something drastically changes.
The Trends
The real red flag here is the Clippers' roster situation. Kawhi Leonard, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Bradley Beal all didn't play. Derrick Jones Jr. out too. When your big three are missing, role guys get real minutes and production bumps. Ivica Zubac got 30 minutes and put up 27.9 Yahoo points. Kris Dunn played 39 minutes and dropped 26 Yahoo. These are the kind of inflated nights that happen when a team is limping through a game.
On the flip side, the Wizards are leaning hard on young guys. Carrington's 37 minutes and George's 33 minutes suggest they're giving opportunities to see what they have. That's good for fantasy if it sticks.
The Moves
Add Jordan Miller if he's available in your league. 40 Yahoo points on a deep bench role is someone people are sleeping on. He's at 6% ownership and got four steals in 28 minutes. That's a real contributor.
Trade for Bub Carrington if you can buy low. The rookie's getting real minutes and usage, and the Wizards have no better options at guard. He's not Shai, but the upside of a young guy getting 37 minutes a night is worth the speculation.
Drop Marvin Bagley unless you've got two full benches. He's basically done here.
Next Up
Watch how many of these Clippers guys are actually back next game. If Kawhi sits another one, Harden and the bench mob might go off again. For the Wizards, keep an eye on whether Carrington's minutes hold. If he's getting near 40 every night, he's a legit play.