PHX 126, CLE 113: Brooks Headlines With 37.9 Yahoo FP
Destiny Williams
Math Teacher & Basketball Coach ยท Atlanta Hawks fan
Suns Survive Without Book, Role Players Steal The Show in 126-113 W Over Cavs
The Phoenix Suns had to get creative tonight without Devin Booker, and honestly, they made it work. Role players stepped up, bench scoring went crazy, and a talented Cavs team without key rotational pieces just couldn't hang. Final score: 126-113, but this game tells a way different story than a 13-point blowout.
Let's talk about what actually happened here because the waiver wire implications are spicy.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon Brooks | 44.0 | 37.9 | 27/2/3 | 21.1/3.6/1.8 | +5.9 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 40.0 | 32.5 | 17/5/1 | 8.6/4.7/2.3 | +8.4 |
| Collin Gillespie | 39.0 | 30.9 | 16/2/5 | 13.5/4.1/4.7 | +2.5 |
| Jarrett Allen | 34.0 | 29.9 | 12/7/3 | 13.3/7.8/1.9 | -1.3 |
| Mark Williams | 30.0 | 28.4 | 10/7/2 | 12.1/8.1/1.0 | -2.1 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 27.0 | 28.1 | 17/3/1 | 14.0/4.2/2.1 | +3.0 |
| Grayson Allen | 28.0 | 27.5 | 13/5/5 | 16.5/3.1/3.9 | -3.5 |
| Thomas Bryant | 32.0 | 27.2 | 9/6/6 | 4.9/2.7/0.6 | +4.1 |
| Nae'Qwan Tomlin | 30.0 | 26.5 | 14/5/1 | 6.5/3.2/0.9 | +7.5 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 29.0 | 25.3 | 16/4/3 | 13.9/5.5/2.4 | +2.1 |
The Dillon Brooks Clinic
Dillon Brooks went absolutely nuclear. 27 points on 9-14 shooting with 7-8 from the free throw line? That's 37.9 Yahoo FP, the best performance of the night. The thing is, he was +5.9 points above his season average of 21.1, so this wasn't just a normal Brooks game. He attacked the paint, got to the line, and the Cavs couldn't contain him.
Here's what matters for your roster: Brooks is shooting 65% from the field tonight. That's not sustainable. But the aggression? The free throw attempts? That's real. He's a guy you drafted in the middle rounds who can give you 25 on any given night. Tonight he was the star the Suns needed without Booker. Hold him.
Jordan Goodwin's Breakout Nobody Saw Coming
Jordan Goodwin just entered the chat. 17 points and 5 three-pointers in 22 minutes off the bench. He was +8.4 from his season average (8.6 PPG), which is absolutely massive for a reserve. 5-11 shooting overall with that much volume from deep tells you he got hot at exactly the right moment.
Real talk: This could be noise. But it also might be real opportunity. If Grayson Allen stays in the rotation (he played 26 minutes tonight), Goodwin probably doesn't get 22 minutes. Monitor the next game. If he gets 20+ minutes again, he's worth a waiver add in 12-team leagues. He's currently only 53.2% owned and just got bumped +0.7% tonight. Move fast if you like what you saw.
The Waiver Wire is Texting You About Grayson Allen
Speaking of Allen, he went up +0.7% in ownership just by putting up 13/5/5 in 26 minutes. Look at that stat line though. Those are basically his season averages (16.5/3.1/3.9), except he added the 5 assists. He's still down -3.5 from his average scoring-wise, which means he had an off night by his standards but still got value through ball movement.
Here's the real question: Where is Devin Booker? If Book is sitting extended time due to injury, Allen's minutes and role could spike hard. At 53.2% owned, he's still available in most leagues. Don't overshoot your waiver priority on Allen alone, but if he's sitting on your wire and Booker's status is unclear, grab him for depth.
Cleveland's Role Players Kept Them Close
The Cavs didn't have their star power tonight (massive absences that hurt their output), but role players showed up. Jarrett Allen pulled down 7 rebounds and chipped in 12 points, 29.9 Yahoo FP. He's 84.6% owned and doing exactly his job. De'Andre Hunter went 7-15 but got his 17 points and 3 steals, hitting 28.1 Yahoo FP. Both were solid if not explosive.
Thomas Bryant is the real story though. 9 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 three-pointers. 27.2 Yahoo FP in just 24 minutes. That's +4.1 from his season average of 4.9 PPG. For a guy averaging 4.9 points a night, this is a massive breakout. Problem is, his volume is too low to trust this as repeatable. Bryant was probably a DNP in your league rotation yesterday. Don't burn a waiver pick here yet.
Nae'Qwan Tomlin went 6-9 with 14 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. He was +7.5 from his season average (6.5 PPG), which is huge. But again, volume. These role players got opportunities because key guys weren't available, and they took advantage. That doesn't mean they're league-winners. It means they got a chance and didn't embarrass themselves.
What This Means Going Forward
The Suns won without their best player, which is the kind of thing that keeps teams in playoff position. The depth came through. But it also means when Booker comes back (assuming that's the case), all these backup minutes disappear. Collin Gillespie (39 ESPN / 30.9 Yahoo) put up solid numbers, but he's a third-string piece who got real run. Jamaree Bouyea (18.5 Yahoo FP) and Oso Ighodaro (22.2 Yahoo FP) both had decent nights in increased volume.
None of these guys should be panic-added. They should be monitored. If Booker is healthy next game, they all shrink back to their normal roles.
The Play
Add Jordan Goodwin to your watch list. Keep Grayson Allen on your radar if Booker's injured. Don't overreact to the other bench contributions. The Cavs got an effort, but missing key rotation pieces hurt them enough that the Suns could get by on depth and role player shooting.
Sometimes the best fantasy takeaway from a game isn't who you should add. It's who you shouldn't panic about losing.