Weekend Basketball Overview
As head-to-head basketball leagues wrap up their weekends, the stakes have never been higher. With 14 teams slated for double-header games, including powerhouses like the Celtics, Nets, and Mavericks, players need to seize the opportunity to maximize their contributions and secure victory. Notably, a key strategy lies in focusing on these teams to enhance total games played, especially in points and category leagues.
Must-Start Players
This weekend features a blend of must-start players, among them Naji Marshall, who has emerged as a premier streaming talent in fantasy basketball when given a starting role. In the past fortnight, he has delivered impressive averages of 21 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, alongside excellent shooting efficiency of 57.3%. With the Lakers and Bucks coming up on the schedule—two teams struggling defensively—Marshall could deliver explosive performances.
Rising Stars in the Backcourt
A key player to watch is Cam Spencer from the Memphis Grizzlies, who steps into a significant role with Ja Morant sidelined due to an elbow injury. Spencer has shown capable scoring and facilitating skills, averaging 11.4 points and 9.3 assists in his starts. This weekend, he faces defenses in the Pelicans and Nuggets, who have been lackluster as of late.
Ryan Rollins of the Milwaukee Bucks also stands out, particularly with fellow guard Kevin Porter Jr. expected to miss time due to an injury. Rollins excels when given the reins with averages of 18.4 points and 6.2 assists per game without Porter, making him a desirable pick against the Nuggets on Friday.
Meanwhile, Mavericks guard Max Christie is on a scoring spree, posting an average of 23 points over his last three outings. His performances come at a crucial time with matchups against the struggling Lakers and Bucks on the horizon.
Forwards on the Rise
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jaylon Tyson has been stepping up in light of injuries within the team. His recent output includes 23 points and 7.3 rebounds, making him a valuable asset as they face the Kings and Magic. Sam Hauser from the Boston Celtics also brings considerable shooting prowess, hitting 56.1% from the field and averaging close to 18 points over the past two weeks, making him a strong choice against the Nets and Bulls.
Centers to Monitor
Potential starts for centers lead with Sandro Mamukelashvili of the Toronto Raptors, who could shine if Collin Murray-Boyles remains out. With robust averages when given minutes, including over 17 points per game, Mamukelashvili should capitalize against a poor rebounding Thunder team this weekend.
Mark Williams from the Phoenix Suns faces manageable defenses in the Hawks and Heat that have struggled with rebounding, thereby increasing his chances of a productive weekend.
The status of Celtics’ Neemia Queta, currently questionable with an illness, is something to watch closely as he could capitalize against a Nets team deficient in rebounding if he plays.
