Luka Doncic is on fire, Daniss Jenkins has a big opportunity and Ayo Dosunmu is rocking for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have different visions, Aaron Gordon is preparing for the playoffs and Mikal Bridges isn't doing much right now.
With just three weeks left in the NBA regular season, enjoy the latest Up and Down column of the season. It has been a pleasure!
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elevators
2:32
Stephen A. defends Luka Doncic winning the NBA MVP
Stephen A. Smith explains why Luka Doncic is “a leading candidate” for this season's MVP.
Luka Doncic, PG, Los Angeles Lakers (100% enrolled in ESPN leagues)
Doncic has been on a historic eight-game streak and capped it off with a 60-point bonanza in a win over Miami on Thursday night, the Lakers' 11th win in their last 12 games. Doncic has averaged 50 points the last two days/games and has scored at least 30 points in eight straight, all of them Lakers wins.
The fact that he averaged 50 points in a back-to-back set in March is mind-boggling, and he had averaged 34.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 5.0 three-pointers in the month leading up to Thursday's game. He then hit nine 3-pointers and had five steals in that one, and he's leading fantasy teams right now.
He's the first Laker to score 60 since Kobe Bryant did it in the “Mamba Out” game, and his fantasy managers have been on easy street during that streak. The only question left in fantasy is: did it peak too soon? Unfortunately, the answer is probably “yes,” as the fantasy playoffs are just getting ready to begin for most of us. The good news is that the Lakers will continue to try to maintain third place in the West, so Luka should continue putting up stellar numbers until the end of the season. And if he keeps playing like this, he could end up with some MVP hardware, while his fantasy managers could end up with some hardware of their own.
Daniss Jenkins, PG, Detroit Pistons (21.0% on roster)
Cade Cunningham left Tuesday's game after just five minutes with what was originally reported as spam in his back, but turned out to be a serious injury in the form of a collapsed lung. He'll be reevaluated in two weeks, which is some of the worst fantasy news I've heard this season.
Jenkins replaced Cunningham on Tuesday and finished with 15 points and seven assists in 21 minutes, then started Thursday. Unfortunately, he made just 3 of 16 shots to finish with nine points and nickels in a win over Washington. But the good news is that he started, played 34 minutes, took more shots than anyone on his team and even had a block.
Jenkins, who played well when given the opportunity this season, was likely drafted into 12-team leagues as soon as the Cunningham news broke thanks to his potential to help in most categories, including steals, blocks and three-pointers. But regardless of what size league you play in, check and make sure it's not already available. He's about to have a two-week tear, if not longer.
Ayo Dosunmu, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves (33.0% on roster)
Dosunmu will have a big opportunity due to Anthony Edwards' right knee inflammation, which will cause him to miss one to two weeks. Dosunmu has already played two games without Edwards and has been stellar, posting 21 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 3-pointers in two wins for the Wolves.
Dosunmu gets a bad rap in fantasy circles thanks to a lack of steals, blocks and 3-pointers, and much of it is deserved, but he had three steals Thursday night and should play about 34 minutes per game over the next two weeks.
Flip a coin to see if he or Jenkins are the better choice right now.
Falleros
1:32
Shams reveals the latest on Giannis' comings and goings with the Bucks
The 'Get Up' team analyzes the tension between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks for keeping him out for the rest of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks (98.3% on roster)
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday that the Bucks and Antetokounmpo disagree over whether or not he should play again this season. To his credit, Antetokounmpo wants to play, despite currently having a hyperextended knee. The reality is that while the Bucks haven't been mathematically eliminated yet, they aren't going to make the playoffs…and Antetokounmpo isn't healthy.
Even if he plays again this season, how many minutes will the Bucks be willing to give their franchise player in meaningless games? And what kind of damage will this impasse cause to his relationship and future with the franchise? I guess the team will get its way in the end and I'll put Antetokounmpo's over/under for games played the rest of the season at 2.5.
With those kinds of odds, I'm afraid he should probably be on the waiver wire, assuming you don't have an injured reserve spot available on your roster. Keep Antetokounmpo as long as you can, but if you need to leave him out to make the playoffs, or to win in the playoffs, it makes sense.
Bobby Portis (55.9% of roster) has been playing very well for the Bucks lately, while Ousmane Dieng (1.8% of roster) should be widely available and have a great opportunity heading into the final weeks of the season.
Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, New York Knicks (96.0% of roster)
The Knicks sit comfortably in third place in the East and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. And while they haven't played much competition, they did get a big win in Denver on March 6. But the Knicks player who isn't getting much attention on SportsCenter, or anywhere else right now, is Bridges.
Over his last seven games, Bridges is averaging just 7.0 points, 1.0 three-pointers, 0.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks while shooting a terrible 32% from the floor. Most of his fantasy appeal comes from his efficiency and ability to steal, block and make 3-pointers, but that's not happening for him right now. And with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns doing all the heavy lifting for the Knicks, I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Bridges still has some fantasy appeal, but now is crunch time in fantasy and tough decisions need to be made. If your team with Bridges is struggling, or if you're in a battle for field goal percentage, dropping Bridges isn't a far-fetched idea. He'll come out of his funk at some point, but the fact is he'll probably be the fifth offensive option in New York the rest of the way.
Aaron Gordon, PF, Denver Nuggets (71.1% on roster)
Gordon is returning to play for the Nuggets after a hamstring injury, but Peyton Watson (hamstring) should return any day now. That will leave the Nuggets loaded up front with Gordon, Watson and Spencer Jones all needing minutes, not to mention Christian Braun, Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. And the only thing the Nuggets should really care about is having Gordon healthy for the playoffs.
Gordon is struggling in his last five games, averaging just 13 points and 5.4 rebounds on 42% shooting. Meanwhile, Watson was playing at a fairly high level when he suffered his injury. I expect Gordon and Watson to be on a timeshare, at best, over the final weeks of the season and I can imagine Gordon's minutes will be closely monitored in hopes of having him at 100% by the start of the playoffs.
Gordon is more important to the Nuggets than his fantasy team and it makes sense for managers to look for a potential “dumb season” hero with potential for a playoff run. I'd drop Gordon off to pick up Jenkins, for example.
