CHI 119, WAS 108: Will Riley Wreaks Havoc With 59.3 Yahoo FP
Sarah Kowalski
Orthopedic Nurse ยท Milwaukee Bucks fan
Bulls Steal One in DC: Leonard Miller's Breakout Performance Changes Everything
Bulls 119, Wizards 108
This wasn't pretty, but it was profitable for the right people. The Bulls scraped out an 11-point road win in Washington, and if you had the right guys on your roster, you're probably checking waiver wire priority right now instead of reading this. Let's talk about what actually happened.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Riley | 58.0 | 59.3 | 23/9/7 | 10.1/2.7/1.9 | +12.9 |
| Leonard Miller | 57.0 | 47.7 | 26/11/3 | 7.0/3.6/0.7 | +19.0 |
| Tre Jones | 52.0 | 45.7 | 31/6/3 | 13.8/3.1/5.5 | +17.2 |
| Collin Sexton | 46.0 | 40.6 | 27/3/2 | 15.3/2.3/3.3 | +11.7 |
| Julian Reese | 26.0 | 36.5 | 16/15/1 | 11.4/11.3/2.0 | +4.6 |
| Patrick Williams | 37.0 | 35.6 | 15/8/4 | 6.8/2.9/1.4 | +8.2 |
| Leaky Black | 33.0 | 32.8 | 14/9/0 | 7.0/5.3/1.5 | +7.0 |
| Anthony Gill | 28.0 | 28.1 | 14/3/3 | 5.4/2.8/1.3 | +8.6 |
| Jamir Watkins | 23.0 | 27.7 | 9/6/3 | 7.0/3.8/1.3 | +2.0 |
| Sharife Cooper | 34.0 | 27.4 | 9/2/4 | 7.7/2.1/2.8 | +1.3 |
Leonard Miller Actually Went There
Leonard Miller put on a 26/11 clinic on just 11-14 shooting. Let me repeat that because it matters: he was +19.0 points from his season average while shooting 79% from the field. This isn't a fluke night from volume shooting. This is elite efficiency on the best shooting display of his season.
Miller's 38 minutes and 11 boards suggest he was trusted in the grind. That's your dude right now. In 12-team leagues, if he's available after tonight, you're making a move. In 10-team leagues, he should already be gone. His season average of 7.0 PPG with 3.6 boards looks laughable compared to what he just showed.
The Will Riley Situation
Will Riley posted 59.3 Yahoo points with a 23/9/7 line. Before you get excited, some context: he shot 8-22 (36%). He was still elite because he found his teammates (7 assists is big for a guy averaging 1.9) and he got to the free throw line hard (6-7 FT). That's a volume game masquerading as efficiency.
Riley's been averaging 10.1 PPG. Adding 9 boards and 7 assists? That's not coming again next week. This feels like a one-off performance where the Wizards game plan let him operate. Don't panic-drop him, but also don't trade your future for a guy who just had his ceiling night.
Tre Jones and the Free Throw Clinic
Tre Jones went 31/6/3 on 9-14 shooting, but here's the real story: 12-12 from the free throw line. That's literally perfect from the stripe. He shot 12 free throws in 30 minutes. That's not normal volume, and it's definitely not sustainable.
Stripping away the free throw variance, he was +17.2 points anyway because he was efficient from the field (64% FG). That part you can count on. The 12 free throws? That was tonight's gift. He's still your guy in points leagues, especially if he keeps getting to the line like this, but manage expectations on the FT volume.
What About the Wizards?
This is where I have to be honest with you: the Wizards got shorthanded. Looking at the box score, they had eight players who didn't play or logged zero minutes. That roster sheet looks like a practice squad situation. Will Riley going off makes sense when your team's missing bodies. Same with Julian Reese putting up 36.5 Yahoo points on 16/15 with minimal assist work. He got his because the Wizards couldn't defend him with the crew they had available.
Leaky Black added 14/9 in 40 minutes and grabbed 32.8 Yahoo points. Solid night, but again, opportunity-based. Don't overvalue this when half the Wizards rotation didn't dress.
The Bulls Role Players Actually Contributed
Collin Sexton and Patrick Williams both exceeded their season averages by 11+ points. Sexton went 27/3/2 with solid efficiency (12-21 FG, 1-1 3PM), and Patrick Williams gave you 15/8/4 with three threes in 38 minutes. That's the kind of complementary scoring Chicago needs to win road games.
Bottom Line
Tonight was about depth scoring in the absence of star power. The Bulls had their depth step up (Miller, Sexton, Williams), and the Wizards couldn't keep pace even though Riley and Reese played well. This is the definition of a "next man up" game.
If you're in a league where these guys are available, prioritize Miller and Sexton over waiver wire adds tomorrow. If you own Riley, sit tight but don't overreact to tonight. If you're holding Wizards role players hoping for consistent usage, tonight showed you exactly what happens when injury hits.
Chicago's got real offensive depth. That's worth noting heading forward.