POR 127, IND 119: Donovan Clingan Paces Fantasy With 53.6 Yahoo FP
Hiro Tanaka
Physical Therapy Assistant ยท Los Angeles Lakers fan
Trail Blazers Escape Indy Behind Clingan and Avdija's All-Star Showcase
The Donovan Clingan and Deni Avdija show was too much for the Pacers to handle last night, as Portland took down Indiana 127-119 in a game that delivered some genuinely elite fantasy performances buried in what should've been a closer contest.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Clingan | 56.0 | 53.6 | 28/13/2 | 12.0/11.6/2.2 | +16.0 |
| Deni Avdija | 42.0 | 50.7 | 32/11/5 | 24.0/6.9/6.7 | +8.0 |
| Jalen Slawson | 56.0 | 46.4 | 17/7/4 | 5.3/4.0/2.8 | +11.7 |
| Jrue Holiday | 40.0 | 35.6 | 15/3/8 | 16.3/4.6/6.2 | -1.3 |
| Ivica Zubac | 29.0 | 34.1 | 18/8/3 | 14.0/10.7/2.2 | +4.0 |
| T.J. McConnell | 32.0 | 29.0 | 7/5/10 | 9.3/2.2/5.0 | -2.3 |
| Jarace Walker | 25.0 | 26.4 | 10/7/2 | 11.3/5.1/2.4 | -1.3 |
| Quenton Jackson | 32.0 | 26.0 | 13/0/6 | 8.5/2.2/2.4 | +4.5 |
| Toumani Camara | 31.0 | 23.9 | 17/2/1 | 12.7/5.3/2.6 | +4.3 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 22.0 | 22.1 | 15/3/1 | 13.6/4.3/2.0 | +1.4 |
Clingan Is Cooked (In The Best Way)
Look, I know I'm bias as a Laker fan, but Donovan Clingan just dropped a 28/13/2 masterclass in 24 minutes. That's not a typo. The dude was so efficient (10-19 from the field) that Portland basically decided to ease off the gas and let him rest. He's averaging 12.0 PPG on the season, so +16 tonight is a legit explosion, not some random hot shooting night.
The concerning part? This was the kind of performance you'd expect from a guy getting 30+ minutes, not 24. If Portland's blowing out teams enough to bench their best players early in the fourth, that's actually a problem for fantasy consistency going forward. You can't count on Clingan dropping 50+ Yahoo points every time he touches the ball. That said, on nights when the game stays close, he's showing he's got All-Star upside. He's already 97.3% owned, so no adds available, but if you have him, don't panic about load management. This validates the pick.
Avdija Had His Best Game Since, Well, Probably Last Month
Deni Avdija with 32 points, 11 boards, 5 dimes on 13-16 from the line is the kind of stat line that makes you want to tab out and check if he got hurt or something. Dude went nuclear in the fourth quarter when it mattered. He's only averaging 24.0 PPG on the year, so the +8 isn't insane, but the efficiency from three-point range (1-3 on the night, but that 13-16 FT line carries the load) shows he was attacking the rim hard.
The real story here is he played 31 minutes and got the usage to back up a 50.7 Yahoo performance. That's the version of Avdija you drafted for. He's now at 97.3% ownership after this game (up 0.1%), which means if you're in a deeper league and he somehow cleared waivers, grab him. He won't stay available long at this rate.
Jalen Slawson Is Getting Paid in Indy
Here's what jumped off the board for me, personally. Jalen Slawson with 17/7/4 and 4 blocks in 37 minutes is the kind of night that gets a guy extended or paid. The dude is averaging only 5.3 PPG, so going +11.7 on a night when the Pacers needed literally everyone is massive.
This isn't a breakout you can count on week-to-week because his season average tells you everything. But in a blowout loss, when your star players are limited (more on that), sometimes the third or fourth option gets real minutes and real usage. Slawson took advantage. In 12-team leagues, if he's somehow on wire, grab him as a stash. In 10-team or shallower, he stays a waiver watch. The Pacers clearly trust him in big moments, though, so don't sleep on him if injuries hit Indiana's frontcourt.
The Pacers Injury Situation Is Worse Than The Box Score Shows
This is where my PT background kicks in and I gotta be real with you: the Pacers' box score is missing some names that should've been huge. Pascal Siakam (24.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG average) didn't play. Neither did Tyrese Haliburton (the All-NBA Third Team point guard). That's your best player and your go-to setup man gone.
When your two primary offensive engines are out, guys like Quenton Jackson (13/0/6 in 20 min, +4.5 vs avg) and T.J. McConnell (7/5/10 in 20 min) get elevated usage. McConnell looked like the old version with those 10 dimes, but he only dropped 7 points. That's not sustainable. Ivica Zubac put up 18/8/3 in limited minutes, which tells me Indiana was okay with letting him eat on the glass, but he wasn't the focal point.
The question everyone's asking: when do Siakam and Haliburton return? I'm working with limited info here, but if either one is dealing with more than a one-game absence, grab their backups now. This game showed what Indy looks like without their stars, and it's not pretty.
Don't Chase Last Night's Winners
Jrue Holiday is All-Defensive and All-NBA Second Team for a reason, but 15/3/8 on 5-13 shooting is basically his floor, not a ceiling. He still contributed the way he always does, but this wasn't some statistical explosion that justifies buying high. His 35.6 Yahoo points is right around his range.
Similarly, Toumani Camara (17/2/1 on 7-11 shooting) had a great night, but he's a role player. Don't start a waiver war for him on wire. He's not going anywhere in Portland's rotation, and last night was him playing well within his role.
The guys you should actually be targeting this morning are the mid-range role players who got exposed as the actual fantasy plays when things broke Portland's way. That's Clingan and Avdija, and they're already owned everywhere that matters.
Bottom Line
Portland's got the talent and proved it last night. If you have either Clingan or Avdija, you're fine. Just don't expect 50+ Yahoo every game. If you're holding Slawson in a deeper league, feel good about it. And if the Pacers' injury report shows Siakam or Haliburton's out for more than a few games, their role players become emergency adds worth the bench spot.