DEN 103, BOS 84: Nikola Jokić Navigates Low-Scoring Affair
Tommy Flanagan
Journeyman Electrician · Boston Celtics fan
Jokic Goes Full MVP Mode, Celtics Get Exposed Without Tatum
Look, I'm not happy about this one. Celtics got straight up bullied by the Nuggets 103-84, and it wasn't even close. But here's the thing, this is actually a really useful game for your fantasy roster because it tells you exactly who to trust when everything falls apart.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | 47.0 | 52.4 | 30/12/6 | 28.8/12.5/10.5 | +1.2 |
| Jaylen Brown | 37.0 | 45.7 | 23/11/3 | 29.2/7.0/4.9 | -6.2 |
| Derrick White | 44.0 | 40.7 | 20/6/3 | 17.1/4.5/5.7 | +2.9 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 26.0 | 24.8 | 14/4/4 | 13.9/2.6/1.3 | +0.1 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 29.0 | 24.2 | 11/6/2 | 8.9/5.2/1.3 | +2.1 |
| Cameron Johnson | 20.0 | 20.5 | 11/5/3 | 11.7/3.6/2.3 | -0.7 |
| Bruce Brown | 14.0 | 19.3 | 4/4/5 | 7.8/4.0/2.2 | -3.8 |
| Payton Pritchard | 19.0 | 18.6 | 3/3/4 | 17.4/4.2/5.4 | -14.4 |
| Julian Strawther | 20.0 | 17.7 | 12/1/1 | 7.0/2.2/1.1 | +5.0 |
| Christian Braun | 18.0 | 17.4 | 6/7/2 | 10.2/4.4/3.0 | -4.2 |
Nikola Jokic Reminded Everyone Why He's All-NBA
Nikola Jokic dropped 30/12/6 on 52.4 Yahoo points and honestly, that's him playing at like 75% of his peak crazy. Dude's the reigning All-NBA First Team center for a reason. He shot 11-28 (39% from the field) but still got his, which tells you how much gravity he has. The Celtics threw bodies at him and it didn't matter. Five threes made. Solid free throw percentage. Classic Jokic night where he doesn't need to be perfect to absolutely cook you.
Fantasy truth: If you have Jokic, you're not moving him. Ever. He's putting up nearly 29 PPG and 12.5 RPG on a Nuggets team that's legit. Tonight was just a regular Thursday for an All-NBA guy.
Derrick White Actually Went Off (and We Should Talk About It)
Here's what shocked me. Derrick White put up 40.7 Yahoo points and played a full 32 minutes. 20 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks. Four threes made. This isn't some random blow-up game either, he's +2.9 versus his season average in points and +1.5 in rebounds.
Derrick White might legitimately be one of the most underrated fantasy assets in the league right now. He's a two-way monster (All-Defensive First Team last year), and when the Celtics are in trouble like they were tonight, he actually gets more opportunities to create. Without Jayson Tatum in the lineup (zero minutes, and I'm assuming he was out), White had to step up. And he actually did.
Add White in 12-team leagues if he's available. He's getting consistent minutes, he's not going to blow up for 50, but 35-40 Yahoo points as a guard playing alongside a missing star? That's the definition of a low-key pickup.
Jaylen Brown Did What He Could With Nothing
Jaylen Brown finished with 23/11/3 for 45.7 Yahoo points. On the surface, that looks fine. But here's the issue, he shot 7-21 from the field. That's 33%. He was -6.2 from his season average in points. Yeah, he grabbed 11 boards (which helped), but when Jaylen's offense isn't there, he's basically a rebounder, and the Celtics got run off the court so bad that even his boards couldn't save the day.
This game matters for fantasy because it shows you that Jaylen needs the rest of the squad functioning to eat. When Tatum's out and the team's getting demolished, Jaylen's not gonna carry you. He's a 29 PPG guy, but he was 6 points below average tonight. Hold him, obviously, but understand his ceiling drops significantly when Tatum isn't out there.
Payton Pritchard Completely Disappeared
Payton Pritchard had 3/3/4 on 1-6 shooting. That's -14.4 from his season average in points. He's normally putting up 17.4 PPG and was the Sixth Man of the Year last season, so when he's shooting 17% from the field, something's wrong. Could be the matchup. Could be the Celtics' offensive system breaking down when they're getting blown out. Either way, if Pritchard's on your bench waiting for Tatum to come back, that's probably the right move. He's not a reliable fantasy asset when the team's struggling like this.
The Denver Role Players Had a Great Night
Tim Hardaway Jr. (14/4/4), Julian Strawther (12/1/1, +5.0 from average), and Christian Braun (6/7/2) all hit their spots. Bruce Brown (4/4/5) was a monster on the glass and with assists, even though his shooting was rough (1-8). Jonas Valančiūnas only got 12 minutes but was efficient (11/6/2).
Here's the thing: these guys are complementary pieces. Don't go crazy adding Strawther or Braun to your roster because they had decent games in a blowout. Blowouts inflate bench numbers. What matters is whether they get minutes when the game's tight. Bruce Brown is the only one I'd monitor because that steals count (2) and the assists (5) could be a pattern if Denver keeps him in the lineup, but I'd wait for another game before making a move.
Bottom Line
Denver's legit. They beat the Celtics by 19 at home with Jokic playing normal minutes and their bench contributing. The Celtics are gonna be fine once Tatum gets back, but tonight was a reminder that without him, they're just another team.
For your fantasy lineup: Hold your Nuggets pieces, especially Jokic. White's a sneaky add if he's still available. Don't panic about Jaylen, he's just in a bad spot without his co-star. And honestly, if you were watching this game and thinking about your lineup, you already know what moves to make.