SAS 112, POR 101: Fox Outduels Toumani Camara in Fantasy Showdown
Destiny Williams
Math Teacher & Basketball Coach ยท Atlanta Hawks fan
Spurs Steal One in Portland: Fox Goes Off, But It's Deni Avdija Who Should Own Your Waiver Wire
The Spurs held on for a 112-101 win in Portland tonight, and while De'Aaron Fox lit it up for 25 points, the real story is buried deeper in the box score. This game had some major fantasy implications nobody's talking about yet.
Top Performers
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De'Aaron Fox | 50.0 | 46.5 | 25/5/7 | 18.5/3.8/6.1 | +6.5 |
| Toumani Camara | 52.0 | 41.8 | 18/4/6 | 13.5/5.2/2.5 | +4.5 |
| Donovan Clingan | 48.0 | 40.7 | 11/11/5 | 12.0/11.6/2.1 | -1.0 |
| Deni Avdija | 39.0 | 39.2 | 29/6/6 | 24.0/6.9/6.7 | +5.0 |
| Keldon Johnson | 38.0 | 38.1 | 20/8/1 | 13.1/5.4/1.4 | +6.9 |
| Scoot Henderson | 37.0 | 37.6 | 20/3/2 | 14.4/2.8/3.8 | +5.6 |
| Jrue Holiday | 30.0 | 34.3 | 13/9/7 | 16.3/4.6/6.2 | -3.3 |
| Luke Kornet | 43.0 | 34.0 | 10/5/6 | 6.6/6.1/1.9 | +3.4 |
| Dylan Harper | 33.0 | 33.2 | 13/6/4 | 11.8/3.4/3.9 | +1.2 |
| Carter Bryant | 40.0 | 31.0 | 17/5/4 | 4.0/2.4/0.6 | +13.0 |
Fox Had His Best Night, But Don't Panic If You Don't Own Him
De'Aaron Fox went 10-for-20 from the field and dropped 25 points with 7 assists. He was the most efficient guy on the floor and nearly single-handedly kept the Spurs in it. The thing is, this tracks with his season. He's been averaging 18.5 PPG with solid assist numbers, so +6.5 points isn't some crazy outlier, it's just a good night at the office. If you're thinking about trading for him, don't overpay. This is his ceiling on a given night, not proof he's finally breaking out.
Deni Avdija: The Real Trade Target Right Now
Here's what jumped out at me. Deni Avdija went 13-for-21 from the floor, scored 29 points, and grabbed 6 assists. That's +5 points above his season average. More importantly, he took 37 minutes and was the focal point of the Blazers' offense down the stretch. This dude shot it 62% from the field. If he's still available in your league, add him. If he's on someone's bench, start thinking about what you'd offer. He's been reliable all season at 24 PPG, and nights like this show he can carry a team. That's all-star material waiting to happen.
Keldon Johnson Outperformed in Limited Minutes
Keldon Johnson was a steal tonight. 20 points on 8-15 shooting in just 28 minutes, plus 8 boards. That's +6.9 points above his season baseline, and honestly, the minute restriction is the only thing holding him back from being a top-30 fantasy guy. If he ever gets 32-35 minutes consistently, he's going to be a monster in points leagues. Mark him as a buy-low candidate if someone got frustrated with him.
Luke Kornet Did the Dirty Work
Here's a teacher's pet observation for you. Luke Kornet isn't flashy. 5-6 from the field, 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in 26 minutes. That 34 Yahoo FP might not blow you away, but look at the efficiency and the assist total for a big man. He's a glue guy who won't win you weeks, but he won't lose you them either. If you're streaming centers or looking for a reliable plug-and-play, Kornet's your guy. He's averaging 6.6 PPG and 6.1 RPG, which means he's getting real minutes for San Antonio.
Carter Bryant Is NOT a Waiver Flyer
Real talk, don't get cute with Carter Bryant. 17 points on 6-9 shooting with 5 threes in 24 minutes. That's +13 above his 4-PPG season average. This is a ceiling game, full stop. His season average tells you everything, he's a deep bench guy who won't see consistent minutes. One hot night doesn't change that. Moving on.
The Elephant in the Room: Where's Everybody Else?
Victor Wembanyama (All-NBA Third Team) didn't play. Stephon Castle (last year's Rookie of the Year) didn't suit up. Shaedon Sharpe (averaging 21.4 PPG) was nowhere near the court for Portland. This game had more missing star power than a all-star draft lottery. That's why some role guys got opportunities to shine, and why Toumani Camara (41.8 Yahoo FP) and Donovan Clingan (40.7 Yahoo FP) put up numbers. When your best guys are out, the minutes get weird and waiver guys go off. That's fantasy basketball.
Bottom Line
If you're shopping for upgrades, Avdija is the name to watch. Fox had a great night but he's already owned everywhere. Kornet is steady if you need a backup big. And if Carter Bryant is somehow in your league, let someone else get burned on him. The real lesson here is to keep an eye on lineups before tip. Missing stars create opportunities, and tonight proved it.