CHA 103, POR 101: Miller Clutch in Heart-Stopper
Destiny Williams
Math Teacher & Basketball Coach · Atlanta Hawks fan
Hornets Steal One in Portland, But Brandon Miller's the Real Winner Here
The Hornets just pulled off a two-point road win in Portland, and yeah, the final score matters for the standings, but what actually matters for your fantasy roster is this: Brandon Miller put on a clinic, the Blazers' depth got exposed, and there are some serious waiver moves brewing.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Miller | 43.0 | 44.8 | 23/9/4 | 20.7/5.1/3.4 | +2.3 |
| Donovan Clingan | 38.0 | 39.7 | 11/11/3 | 11.8/11.5/2.1 | -0.8 |
| Deni Avdija | 37.0 | 37.3 | 22/4/7 | 24.3/6.9/6.7 | -2.3 |
| Moussa Diabaté | 35.0 | 34.8 | 7/9/4 | 8.2/8.7/1.8 | -1.2 |
| Jerami Grant | 38.0 | 32.1 | 24/3/3 | 19.0/3.5/2.3 | +5.0 |
| Robert Williams III | 29.0 | 29.0 | 6/10/0 | 6.9/6.7/1.1 | -0.9 |
| Kon Knueppel | 34.0 | 28.8 | 15/4/2 | 19.2/5.3/3.4 | -4.2 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 32.0 | 27.7 | 13/6/1 | 8.0/5.9/0.8 | +5.0 |
| LaMelo Ball | 22.0 | 24.8 | 14/4/4 | 19.2/4.8/7.2 | -5.2 |
| Sion James | 24.0 | 22.9 | 11/7/1 | 5.5/3.5/1.9 | +5.5 |
Miller's Breaking Through
Look, I've been saying Brandon Miller was underrated all season, and tonight he proved why. 44.8 Yahoo points on a 36-minute shift, shooting 7-18 but making it count with 3 threes and a perfect 6-6 from the line. That's elite efficiency when it matters. The key stat here isn't the 23 points, it's the 9 rebounds. He came in averaging 5.1 boards per game and grabbed 9 tonight, +3.9 from his average. In a close game like this, that's winning basketball.
The efficiency is real too. He's not jacking up shots. He's getting meaningful touches in the offense, and it's translating. If you've been sitting on him on the waiver wire or hesitating on a trade, stop. This isn't a one-game spike. This is a player clicking into a role.
The Blazers Depth Got Cooked
Here's what jumped out at me watching this one. The Blazers had five guys put up decent fantasy numbers (Clingan, Avdija, Grant, Robert Williams III, Camara), but none of them were clicking together. That's a red flag.
Deni Avdija had 37.3 Yahoo points but shot 8-18 and went -2.3 from his scoring average. He got his assists (7) and that's cool, but he's not your fantasy rock like he was earlier in the season.
Jerami Grant was the closest thing Portland had to a "cooked" performance, dropping 24 points on 7-10 shooting with perfect free throws. +5.0 vs his average is legit. But here's the thing, he's not a reliable scorer week-to-week. Tonight worked. Tomorrow might not.
The real issue is Jrue Holiday looked cooked. I'm talking 4 points on 2-8 shooting, -12.5 vs his normal 16.5 points per night. All-Defensive Second Team member from last season just vanishing when it matters. That's a sell-high opportunity if someone in your league thinks last year's accolades still apply.
Clingan's Still Your Guy
Donovan Clingan put up 39.7 Yahoo points with a quiet double-double (11/11) and 3 blocks. Yeah, he was -0.8 from his season average on scoring, but here's why it doesn't matter: he did his job. 11 boards in 26 minutes. That's elite rebounding rate. In deep leagues, he's must-own. In 10-team leagues, he's your safety net at center.
The blocks (3) showed he's still doing the defensive work too. Not a flashy line, but a reliable one.
Waiver Wire Moves That Actually Matter
Ryan Kalkbrenner is getting added in leagues where people actually pay attention (96% of y'all are sleeping). He went off for 27.7 Yahoo points in just 17 minutes, 6-8 from the field. That's not sustainable at that volume, but if the Hornets are going to ride him in garbage time or he's getting real rotation minutes, that's a league-winner candidate in 12-team leagues.
Moussa Diabaté continues to do glue-guy things. 34.8 Yahoo points, 9 boards, 3 steals in 30 minutes. He's not dropping 15 a night, but he's not bleeding fantasy points either. If your center rotation is paper-thin, he's the perfect 4th or 5th guy to grab.
The trending adds list has Deni Avdija at +0.4% ownership, which means maybe 10 people nationally added him. That's wild because even in an off night, he's putting up 37 fantasy points. Stop sleeping.
The Trade-Up Candidate
LaMelo Ball shot himself in the foot tonight. 14 points on 6-16 shooting, and more importantly, only 4 assists when he averages 7.2. He went -5.2 on scoring and -3.2 on assists. That's the kind of game where your league mates panic and trade him for pennies. If you can flip a middling player and get him for cheap, do it. He's elite when he's clicking, and this was just an off night.
Bottom Line
The Hornets grind out wins like this, and that means Brandon Miller is going to keep getting opportunities. Charlotte's not flashy, but they're functional, and Miller's the functional part making fantasy happen.
Portland's got talent, but they're not clicking as a unit. Grant had one great night, but don't confuse the win with consistency. This Blazers team is feast or famine for fantasy.
Add Kalkbrenner if you're desperate. Hold your guys if they played well. And maybe, just maybe, stop doubting Miller.