IND 123, BKN 94: Jarace Walker Posts 42.8 Yahoo FP
Tommy Flanagan
Journeyman Electrician ยท Boston Celtics fan
Pacers Blow Out Nets 123-94: Role Players Go Off in Blowout Beatdown
The Pacers came into Brooklyn and absolutely dismantled the Nets, 123-94. This wasn't close. This wasn't competitive. This was the kind of game where backups put up numbers that make you check the box score twice to make sure it's real.
Here's the thing about blowouts in fantasy: they're messy. Starters sit early. Bench guys get garbage time. Role players who averaged 5 points all season suddenly look like All-Stars. So before you panic or start adding everybody, let's break down what actually happened and who you should actually care about.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarace Walker | 39.0 | 42.8 | 14/9/8 | 11.5/5.1/2.5 | +2.5 |
| Obi Toppin | 49.0 | 41.3 | 26/9/3 | 10.7/4.2/2.3 | +15.3 |
| E.J. Liddell | 42.0 | 38.5 | 26/10/1 | 4.0/2.1/0.8 | +22.0 |
| Micah Potter | 36.0 | 37.8 | 18/14/2 | 9.4/4.5/1.5 | +8.6 |
| Jay Huff | 45.0 | 35.9 | 14/7/3 | 9.5/3.8/1.4 | +4.5 |
| Ethan Thompson | 41.0 | 35.4 | 15/7/6 | 6.0/1.9/1.4 | +9.0 |
| Ben Saraf | 36.0 | 35.0 | 19/5/6 | 6.9/2.0/3.2 | +12.1 |
| Trevon Scott | 28.0 | 32.3 | 11/9/1 | 6.0/5.0/2.0 | +5.0 |
| Jalen Slawson | 33.0 | 30.9 | 12/7/5 | 7.9/4.3/2.4 | +4.1 |
| Malachi Smith | 26.0 | 29.6 | 11/8/6 | 7.2/2.5/2.3 | +3.8 |
The Real Winners
Obi Toppin didn't just have a good game, he had an insane game. 26 points on 11-14 shooting in just 18 minutes. That's not "blowout noise." That's legitimately efficient basketball. He came off the bench and absolutely cooked. The only catch? He usually doesn't get this many minutes. Season average of 10.7 points tells you everything. This is a one-time playoff explosion, not a trend. Don't trade your whole team for the guy, but he's worth adding in deeper leagues if he's sitting there.
E.J. Liddell is the real story here. Dude's averaging 4 points a game and just dropped 26 on 10-16 shooting. That's a +22 point swing from his season average. Look, it's a blowout. It happens. But 36 minutes of run and 10 boards? That's legitimately interesting. If the Nets start giving him consistent minutes, he's got NBA-level talent. Not saying he's a league winner, but he's worth watching.
Jarace Walker for the Pacers came through with a balanced line, 14/9/8 with 2 steals in 29 minutes. That's exactly what you want from a young wing. Nothing flashy, but he's doing the job. He's a hold if you got him.
The Nets Situation is Ugly
Look, half the Nets roster didn't even suit up. Ben Saraf got 27 minutes and 19 points because literally everyone else was either out or checked out. Malachi Smith played 40 minutes and got his 11/8/6 line in an absolute bloodbath. These are garbage time performances dressed up as normal games.
Trevon Scott chugged along with 11/9, but he was in there getting run because the game was over by the third quarter. Again, blowout noise.
Here's the real talk: if you own any of these Nets guys as your primary option, you already have problems.
Pacers Role Guys Had Their Moment
Ethan Thompson went 6-12 from three with 15/7/6. That's a real stat line, not just garbage. 37 minutes in a blowout means he was getting legit run early.
Jay Huff went 6-6 from the field with 3 blocks in 24 minutes. Perfect efficiency. He looked good. If he keeps getting 20+ minutes, he's a deeper league add.
Micah Potter actually played well with 18/14 on 8-15 shooting. A 14-rebound night is solid. But again, 23 minutes in a game that got out of hand.
The Bottom Line
Great fantasy nights happen in blowouts all the time. They also mean absolutely nothing most of the time. You add Obi Toppin if he's still available and you're desperate, but don't expect 26 points on 18 minutes to become his normal. E.J. Liddell deserves a longer look if the Nets actually plan to give him consistent minutes, but one massive game doesn't change his NBA trajectory.
For everyone else, this is what it was: a bad Nets team playing out the string, and role players getting their shot. Enjoy the fantasy points, don't overreact, and move on.