NYK 108, HOU 106: Amen Thompson Delivers Steady 43.5 Yahoo FP
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate ยท Houston Rockets fan
Rockets Collapse Late, KAT Carries Knicks Past Houston in Thriller
This one stung, man. Not gonna sugarcoat it. The Rockets had this game, were playing better basketball for stretches, and then just... didn't finish. Lost 108-106 to the Knicks in what should've been a W if the fourth quarter execution was even league average.
But that's the thing about fantasy. You take what the box score gives you, and tonight it gave us some interesting stories. Let's dig in.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amen Thompson | 45.0 | 43.5 | 12/10/7 | 17.5/7.6/5.3 | -5.5 |
| Kevin Durant | 31.0 | 37.7 | 30/6/3 | 26.0/5.4/4.4 | +4.0 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 42.0 | 35.9 | 25/7/1 | 19.8/11.9/2.9 | +5.2 |
| Alperen Sengun | 34.0 | 35.2 | 16/6/6 | 20.5/9.2/6.3 | -4.5 |
| OG Anunoby | 40.0 | 34.9 | 20/2/1 | 16.4/5.4/2.3 | +3.6 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 39.0 | 32.3 | 21/4/1 | 15.2/7.1/1.8 | +5.8 |
| Jose Alvarado | 36.0 | 30.2 | 8/1/4 | 8.3/2.8/3.2 | -0.3 |
| Jalen Brunson | 28.0 | 29.6 | 20/3/6 | 27.1/3.4/6.1 | -7.1 |
| Tari Eason | 28.0 | 29.4 | 11/12/4 | 12.0/6.0/1.4 | -1.0 |
| Mikal Bridges | 27.0 | 25.7 | 11/6/5 | 15.8/4.2/4.0 | -4.8 |
Amen Thompson Was The Rockets' Only Hope
Amen Thompson went absolutely OFF on the glass and playmaking. 43.5 Yahoo fantasy points with 12/10/7 plus 3 steals in 41 minutes is exactly what you want from a lead guard when your shooting is struggling. He's up 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists versus his season average, which tells you he was doing everything possible to will this team.
Here's the problem though, he only shot 5-9 and didn't attempt a three. When your best player is getting 10 boards but can't find rhythm on offense, your offense is cooked. The Rockets needed more from him on the scoring end, but you can't fault the effort. This is the kind of line that would look way better in a W.
Jabari Smith Jr. Actually Showed Up
Jabari Smith Jr. went 8-13 from the field with 4 threes for 21 points. That's 5.8 points above his season average, and it's the kind of efficient shooting the Rockets desperately needed. 32.3 Yahoo FP is solid contribution. Dude is still figuring out his role in this offense, but when he gets hot like this, he's viable. The rebounds were down (4 vs 7.1 avg) but the volume and efficiency were there.
The issue is the Rockets' best shooters couldn't carry the load when it mattered most. Jabari did his job. The team didn't.
KAT Had a Masterclass, Then People Overreacted
Karl-Anthony Towns is trending weird right now. He went 10-15 for 25 points and 7 boards, finishing with 35.9 Yahoo FP and +5.2 against his season average. All-NBA Second Team guy showing up in a close game, which is exactly what you pay for.
But here's what I'm seeing in the ownership data, people are getting spooked by OG getting dropped and thinking the Knicks' shooters are suddenly washed. KAT had a great game, not a career-altering one. He's still shooting 42 percent from three on the season. One hot night doesn't change anything. Hold him. He's supposed to do this. The fact that he finally did after underperforming makes him a hold, not a sell.
Kevin Durant's Line Looks Better Than It Was
Kevin Durant scored 30 points on 10-26 shooting. That's 37.7 Yahoo FP, and yeah, it looks good on the stat sheet. But 26 shots is a lot. He was 4-13 from three. When KD needs that many looks to get to 30, it's not the most efficient version of him, even though he's still All-NBA First Team caliber.
The Rockets couldn't guard the three-point line tonight, and that's not entirely on KD being unguardable. It's on Houston's perimeter defense being a step slow. Durant will always get his, but this wasn't his cleanest 30.
Jalen Brunson Underperformed and Nobody's Talking About It
Jalen Brunson put up 20 points on 6-12 shooting with 6 assists. That's 29.6 Yahoo FP and -7.1 against his 27.1 PPG season average. For an All-NBA Second Team guy, 6-12 from the field is not the energy. He got 9 free throws but still didn't look like himself.
If you own Brunson, don't panic. He's still one of the most consistent lead guards in the league. But this game showed he's human. Close wins against tough defensive teams sometimes aren't his night. He'll bounce back.
Tari Eason Ate on the Boards
Tari Eason grabbed 12 boards with 11 points and 4 assists in 34 minutes. That's 6 above his season average for rebounds, which is insane production for a guy who's supposed to be a complement piece. 29.4 Yahoo FP is the kind of line that should get waiver adds, and honestly, he might be getting picked up league-wide because of this.
The question is sustainability. Did Eason tap into something new, or did the Rockets just need bodies and he got opportunity? His season average is 6.0 boards. Going 12 is great, but it's also fluky. If you're in a shallow league and he's available, sure, grab him for the upside. Just know it's a one-game spike.
The Bench Guy Moment (Alvarado)
Jose Alvarado hit some big threes down the stretch (4 steals on 19 minutes) which is why he's getting added. 3.9 percent ownership jumping from nothing tells you people are chasing the moment. He's fine as a deep league streamer when he gets run, but don't overspend FAAB on this. This is classic "he played well in a close game so maybe he's the guy now" energy. He's not. He's a backup.
The Real Story: Houston Choked
Look, I hate saying this as a Rockets fan, but we played better basketball for most of this game. Had chances to close it out. Alperen Sengun went 6-12 with 6 assists but was -4.5 on points (only 16). When your center is that quiet on a night you need offense, that's the problem. He should've been more aggressive attacking the rim.
Sengun's still a hold obviously, but tonight showed the Rockets' inconsistency. Some nights he's dropping 25. Some nights he's getting 16 on 12 shots. That's not the All-NBA Third Team energy we've seen from him other nights. It's close to it, but not quite.
The Takeaway
You're not making major moves off this game. OG getting dropped is noise. KAT staying put is smart. Amen Thompson's line is exactly what fantasy managers need to see from a young lead guard, but it doesn't change his longterm value. Jabari showed promise. Tari had a great night but one game doesn't make a trend.
This was a close game where the Rockets' execution faltered late and the Knicks' stars kept them alive. That's basketball. Fantasy wise, the best performers were the guys who were already good (KD, KAT, Amen), and the role guys had moments but nothing that screams "add immediately."
Hold your studs. Don't chase the Alvarado add. Monitor Eason's minutes next game to see if this board total is real or a blip. And if you're a Rockets fan like me, just take the L and move on.