DAL 123, BKN 114: Nic Claxton Powers Through for 42.3 Yahoo FP
Jake Morrison
Computer Science Student ยท Dallas Mavericks fan
Mavs Survive Brooklyn Chaos: Bagley's Monster Debut Steals the Show
Alright, real talk. The Mavericks just scraped out a 123-114 win against the Nets and honestly, it was messier than it needed to be. But here's the thing, I'm not even mad because Marvin Bagley III showed up and reminded everyone why he was worth the roster spot in the first place. This game was pure chaos energy on both sides, which means there's actual fantasy gold buried in here.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nic Claxton | 51.0 | 42.3 | 16/4/9 | 12.6/7.3/4.1 | +3.4 |
| Naji Marshall | 41.0 | 39.5 | 21/5/7 | 15.2/4.9/3.0 | +5.8 |
| Brandon Williams | 48.0 | 37.2 | 19/1/10 | 12.8/2.8/3.9 | +6.2 |
| Noah Clowney | 38.0 | 34.0 | 22/5/0 | 12.9/4.2/1.7 | +9.1 |
| Nolan Traore | 30.0 | 29.6 | 8/3/6 | 7.9/1.6/3.7 | +0.1 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 34.0 | 29.5 | 26/0/3 | 24.6/7.0/3.2 | +1.4 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 32.0 | 28.5 | 22/5/1 | 10.6/6.1/1.4 | +11.4 |
| Terance Mann | 28.0 | 22.7 | 17/1/3 | 7.6/3.2/3.2 | +9.4 |
| P.J. Washington | 24.0 | 21.8 | 13/4/2 | 14.3/7.1/1.9 | -1.3 |
| Klay Thompson | 26.0 | 21.4 | 17/2/2 | 11.6/2.4/1.4 | +5.4 |
The Bagley Bomb: This Needs to Happen Again
Listen. Marvin Bagley III just dropped 22 points on 10-13 shooting in 19 minutes. That's 28.5 Yahoo FP, which is +11.4 points above his season average. Let that sink in for a second. The man was efficient as hell and basically made a statement that he belongs in the rotation.
I'm watching the ownership tick up already (now at 10.2% on ESPN, climbing from 10.0%) and honestly, I get it. But here's where I pump the brakes a little bit. Bagley played 19 minutes tonight. That's decent but not exactly ironclad. If Dallas keeps him in the mid-20s going forward, he's a legit add in 12-team leagues, especially if you need frontcourt depth. But if this was a one-game minutes spike because of matchup favorability, don't blow your waiver priority.
The move: Add him in 14-team leagues immediately. 12-team leagues, wait one more game to confirm the minutes are real.
Brandon Williams: The Assist Machine You Weren't Ready For
Here's a name that probably wasn't on your radar until tonight. Brandon Williams put up 19/1/10 with 2 blocks in just 29 minutes. 37.2 Yahoo FP. That's +6.2 above average and frankly, the assists are what matter here because he was running the offense like a point guard in a big man's body. 10 dimes from a guy who's averaging 3.9 is the kind of outlier you need to investigate.
The question is whether this is sustainable or a one-off against a Nets team that played with the cohesion of my roommate's fantasy team on a Tuesday night. I'm leaning towards "interesting but not a must-add yet." Bookmark him though, because if Dallas continues leaning on him as a facilitator off the bench, he's a sneaky playoff-time plug.
Naji Marshall: Your Dude Is Fine, Chill Out
Naji Marshall was solid. 21/5/7 on 7-13 shooting with 7 free throws made. 39.5 Yahoo FP and yeah, that's above his season average (+5.8), but we're not talking about some massive breakout here. This is just Marshall being Marshall, which for fantasy purposes means he's reliable depth. The 7 assists tell me he got the offense flowing, which is good for the entire Mavs ecosystem.
No panic, no hype. Just steady production. Keep him on your roster, plug him in your lineup, move on.
The Nets Got Schemed: Claxton Did His Thing But It Wasn't Enough
Nic Claxton was legitimately incredible tonight with 16/4/9 and 3 steals in 32 minutes. 42.3 Yahoo FP. That's a really solid outing and he did exactly what you want from a top-tier center, but look at that box score. The Nets got shredded. Michael Porter Jr. dropped 26 points and just couldn't get the team over the hump.
This is the thing about fantasy games where teams lose by 9 points. Individual performances can still look great, but you feel like they should've had more usage. Claxton's 9 assists were phenomenal, but Brooklyn never really got in a rhythm offensively. For your roster, Claxton is still who he is. Keep rolling with him.
The Bench Guys Who Went Absolutely Feral
Noah Clowney put up 22/5 with 4 threes in 32 minutes for Brooklyn. That's +9.1 above his season average. Terance Mann similarly went off with 17 points in 18 minutes, also +9.4 above average. These are bench guys who just got their lives tonight and honestly, it screams opportunity.
The problem? I don't trust that either of these dudes is going to get consistent run. Mann especially only played 18 minutes. If Clowney's minutes stay around 30+, he's worth a speculative add, but I'm not getting excited about either of these unless they get featured again next game.
The Nets' bench is too crowded and too unpredictable. Pass for now.
One More Thing: Klay's Back
Klay Thompson going 6-12 from three with 17 points in 23 minutes is exactly what you want to see. 21.4 Yahoo FP and he looked sharp out there. This is a guy who needs to stay healthy and involved, and tonight proved he's still got it. Nothing crazy, just keep him in your lineup and let him cook.
The Bottom Line
Dallas wins the game, Bagley becomes a story, and the Nets lose another one despite some individual heroics. For your fantasy lineup, the moves are simple: add Bagley if your league is deep, hold everyone else, and bookmark Brandon Williams for later. It was a good night for Mavericks fantasy assets overall, which as a die-hard Mavs fan, I'm absolutely here for.