LAC 115, DEN 114: Bennedict Mathurin Torches Defense for 38
Marcus Thompson Jr.
Fire Lieutenant · Golden State Warriors fan
Clippers Steal One in OT: Mathurin Goes Nuclear, Jokic Can't Carry Denver
This one hurt to watch as a Warriors guy, but I'll give credit where it's due. LA pulled off a one-point road win against the defending MVP, and it came down to some seriously clutch basketball in the final minutes. The Clippers got contributions from everywhere, but one dude absolutely lost his mind on the scoreboard.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennedict Mathurin | 60.0 | 56.0 | 38/5/4 | 18.1/5.4/2.4 | +19.9 |
| Jamal Murray | 43.0 | 46.6 | 20/8/8 | 25.6/4.5/7.6 | -5.6 |
| Nikola Jokić | 32.0 | 45.4 | 22/17/6 | 28.5/12.4/10.6 | -6.5 |
| John Collins | 44.0 | 41.4 | 11/12/4 | 13.8/5.2/1.0 | -2.8 |
| Bruce Brown | 35.0 | 32.0 | 19/5/6 | 7.7/4.0/2.2 | +11.3 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 26.0 | 30.3 | 23/4/3 | 27.8/6.4/3.7 | -4.8 |
| Kris Dunn | 26.0 | 26.6 | 2/8/8 | 7.9/3.0/3.5 | -5.9 |
| Cameron Johnson | 28.0 | 26.3 | 18/4/3 | 11.7/3.6/2.3 | +6.3 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 25.0 | 26.1 | 22/3/1 | 10.5/2.6/1.2 | +11.5 |
| Julian Strawther | 32.0 | 24.2 | 18/1/2 | 6.7/2.0/1.0 | +11.3 |
Bennedict Mathurin Just Declared War on Opposing Defenses
Look, I've been doing this for 15 years, and I know what a breakout night looks like. Bennedict Mathurin didn't just show up tonight, he showed out. 38 points on 12-22 shooting with 12-13 from the line? That's not luck, that's a dude entering the paint with a chip on his shoulder and making defenders pay.
The stat that matters most here is the shooting efficiency. He was aggressive early, got to the line, and never lost confidence. That 56 Yahoo FP is +19.9 over his season average, which tells you he didn't just have one hot quarter. This was a full 33-minute statement. He's a scoring wing who can create his own shot, and tonight he did exactly that when LA needed buckets late.
Here's the real question: Is this sustainable? Mathurin's season average sits at 18.1 PPG, so he nearly doubled his output. That's not typical, but it's also not impossible. If he's got a favorable matchup coming up, I'm checking if he's owned in your league. Right now he's probably flying under the radar in 12-team formats.
Bruce Brown and the Bench Depth Saves LA
Bruce Brown was the unsung hero here. 19 points on 6-9 shooting with three triples off the bench is exactly what championship teams need when their starters are having to battle. He was +11.3 vs his season average (only 7.7 PPG), but unlike Mathurin, this feels more sustainable. Brown's always been reliable when given minutes, and the Clippers are running him more this season than in previous years.
The reason I mention him: if you need depth scoring, Brown's a guy to monitor. He went 32 Yahoo FP tonight but his season average keeps him from being a league-wide add. But in deeper formats, he's got flex appeal when LA needs to win games.
Jokic and Murray Couldn't Quite Close
Two things stood out watching the reigning MVP. Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 17 rebounds, which is vintage Jokic, but the numbers tell the story. He shot 9-22 and went scoreless from three. That's a -6.5 points vs his season average, and when your MVP is underperforming, you feel it down the stretch.
Jamal Murray went for 46.6 Yahoo FP with a double-double (20/8/8), but like Jokic, he underperformed his season average by 5.6 points. Both Denver guys were passive in crucial moments, and LA's defense locked in when it counted.
For fantasy purposes, don't panic on either of them. You don't sell MVPs after one bad game, and Murray's usage will bounce back. This was just a night where Denver's shots didn't fall and LA made theirs.
John Collins Reminds Everyone He's Still a Rebounder
John Collins is the kind of guy who doesn't get flashy headlines, but 12 rebounds with 4 assists on just 5-10 shooting? That's +6.8 on the boards over his season average. He was doing his job on the glass and helping set the tone for the Clippers defensively.
The only concern: he didn't shoot well and had minimal scoring (11 points). In a blowout, that's fine. In a one-point game like this, you need him to be more aggressive on offense. He's still a hold, but don't expect 12-board nights every time.
Derrick Jones Jr. Came Alive
Derrick Jones Jr. dropped 22 points on efficient 7-15 shooting with good free throw volume (6-7). That's +11.5 vs his season average of 10.5 PPG, and it's the kind of game that makes you remember why he's in rotation. He's been inconsistent this season, but when he gets hot, he can take over a quarter.
The fantasy relevance: DJJ is still low-owned in most leagues, but in PPR formats with games like this, he's worth a deeper look if you're punting something else.
Bottom Line
Clippers stole one, and Mathurin's breakout is the story everyone's going to talk about tomorrow. But the real takeaway is that LA's got multiple scoring threats when it matters. Murray's still your guy, Jokic's still a franchise player, and Brown proved depth scoring can win road games. Sometimes the best team doesn't win, sometimes the deepest bench does.