Clippers 126, Nets 89: Kawhi Leonard posts 42 fantasy points
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate ยท Houston Rockets fan
Kawhi & Harden Cruise Past Nets, But The Real Story Is Danny Wolf Going Absolutely Crazy
The Clippers just demolished Brooklyn 126-89 and honestly, this game was never close. But here's what matters for your lineup: Kawhi Leonard did his MVP thing, James Harden underperformed his season average, and a kid named Danny Wolf just put up 34.4 Yahoo points on a 7.8 average. That's a +6.2 spike. We need to talk about him.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawhi Leonard | 42.0 | 28/5/2/1/1 | 28.1/6.2/3.4 | -0.1 |
| James Harden | 39.2 | 19/6/8/1/1 | 25.6/4.9/8.1 | -6.6 |
| Danny Wolf | 34.4 | 14/7/4/1/1 | 7.8/4.3/1.8 | +6.2 |
| John Collins | 33.5 | 18/5/1/3/0 | 13.4/4.9/0.8 | +4.6 |
| Day'Ron Sharpe | 31.2 | 8/6/2/4/1 | 7.8/6.2/2.3 | +0.2 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 16.4 | 9/2/4/0/0 | 24.9/7.3/3.2 | -15.9 |
The Winners
Kawhi Leonard just hit 42 Yahoo points on an on-brand night. 28 points, 5 boards, 2 assists in 25 minutes. The reigning MVP stayed locked in and matched his season average almost perfectly, which honestly is the floor we expect from him. He's a hold no matter what, but this game was vintage Kawhi efficiency. Nine of 17 from the field, 8-9 from the line. Elite stuff.
Danny Wolf is the guy we're actually talking about tomorrow. This dude went 14/7/4 and hit 34.4 Yahoo points, a massive +6.2 above his measly 7.8 average. He's getting 25 minutes and showing he can contribute on both ends. The increased scoring volume combined with solid rebounding and playmaking is real. If he's available in your league, he just moved into the "add immediately" category. The Clippers are giving him meaningful run and he's producing with it.
John Collins showed up with 33.5 points, +4.6 above his 13.4 average. Eighteen points on 7-14 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 steals in 26 minutes. That steal count is clutch in Yahoo scoring and he's trending toward more consistent opportunities. Not a fluke either. The man is rotating into a better role and fantasy managers are sleeping on it.
The Letdowns
James Harden dropped 39.2 Yahoo points but underperformed his 25.6 point average by 6.6. Wait, that sounds contradictory, right? Here's the deal: he had 19 points on 3-8 shooting. That's rough efficiency from a guy averaging 25.6. He hit 10-10 from the line and had 8 assists which kept the floor from collapsing, but the volume shooting was ugly. Don't panic yet, but if Harden keeps shooting 37% from the field, we need answers fast.
Michael Porter Jr. got bodied. Nine points on 3-11 shooting, missing 15.9 points from his season average. Only 21 minutes of run and he couldn't find rhythm against Clippers defense. This is one bad game and not a trend, but I'd monitor his next outing before getting nervous.
The Trends
The Nets got absolutely smoked and it shows in the role changes. Noah Clowney and Cam Thomas didn't play, which is worth noting if they're on your roster. Check the injury report before your next waiver move.
Day'Ron Sharpe is getting legitimate minutes (20 tonight) and fantasy points are following. He pulled 31.2 Yahoo points with 4 steals in limited action. That steal rate is elite and he's worth stashing if your league is deep.
The Clippers got healthy contributions from Jordan Miller (28.4 points, +7.3 above average) showing role expansion. Fewer DNPs this game across the board.
The Moves
Add Danny Wolf immediately. He's getting 25 minutes in a playoff rotation and just proved he can fill a stat line. That +6.2 spike isn't luck, it's opportunity.
Drop whoever you're holding at the end of your bench for Day'Ron Sharpe if he's still out there. Four steals in 20 minutes is insane upside and steals are scoring gold in Yahoo.
Trade for John Collins if you can. He's emerging as a consistent contributor and your league mates probably still think he's mid. Strike now while the valuation is down.
Next Up
Clippers face the Rockets next (no bias here but let's just say Houston's defense is special this year). Watch if Kawhi stays at this volume or if Pop manages minutes heading into the stretch.
Nets need answers on Cam Thomas and the rest of that squad. If they're dealing with injuries, the bottom of their rotation becomes waiver gold for deep league guys. Keep watch.