Welcome to the High Score Perfect Lineup for 2026
As we step into 2026, welcome back to the highly anticipated debut of the High Score perfect lineup for the New Year! Many of you might have set ambitious resolutions for this year, with one in particular being to dominate your fantasy basketball league. For managers of Joel Embiid, there’s a reason to celebrate as the Philadelphia 76ers star finally appears to be hitting his stride this season.
Standout Performances from Week 11
Let’s take a look at the standout performances from Week 11 and break down their contributions:
Cade Cunningham, Guard: With Nikola Jokić expected to miss the next month, the pressure is on for someone to step up and take charge in fantasy basketball. Cunningham, often featured in these weekly highlights, might just be that player. On New Year’s Day, he came close to a triple-double, delivering 31 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, and 5 combined steals and blocks against Miami, although his team couldn’t clinch the win. With teammates Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris battling injuries, Cunningham will need to carry more of the offensive load as Detroit competes with the Knicks for the top spot in the conference.
Tyrese Maxey, Guard: After a short hiatus, Maxey has returned to form, and his performance speaks volumes. Entering the upcoming week, he has scored at least 34 points in his last three outings, including 36 points during Saturday’s victory over the Knicks. On New Year’s Day, he added 34 points, 8 boards, 10 assists, and four defensive plays against Dallas, signaling his importance to the lineup.
Kawhi Leonard, Frontcourt: Leonard is in the midst of what could be the best stretch of his career, particularly since joining the Clippers in the 2019-20 season. His recent play has propelled Los Angeles to a six-game winning streak before it was halted by Jaylen Brown’s 50-point explosion. Last week he amassed 55 points, earning him a remarkable 94 fantasy points, and kicked off 2026 with a strong 45-point showing against the Jazz. Over the past 18 games, he’s been pivotal in lifting the Clippers up from the bottom of the Western Conference.
Deni Avdija, Frontcourt: Avdija continues to impress as a top-tier fantasy option, ranking ninth in points per game with an impressive average of 51.4. His consistency has been a standout feature, as he’s averaging over 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. For the rebuilding Portland team, which is beginning to show competitiveness, Avdija has exceeded 60 fantasy points in four of his last five matches—all victories for the Blazers.
Joel Embiid, Frontcourt: Finally, we turn to Embiid, whose earlier season struggles kept him from featuring prominently until now. Leading up to this week, he had only scored 57 points in a game, but December marked his comeback with notable performances. In seven games last month, he averaged 25.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks over about 31 minutes. Though he has struggled with shooting efficiency in past seasons, he made a splash against the Grizzlies with 34 points, 10 boards, and three defensive stats, reminding us why he’s a valued player.
Derrick White, Utility: This marks the first mention of White in this feature, as he makes the cut by tying with Donovan Mitchell last week. White has stepped up substantially in the absence of Jayson Tatum and offers significant fantasy potential, highlighted by his impressive defensive contributions, averaging nearly three steals and blocks combined this season.
Donovan Mitchell, Utility: Finally, Mitchell makes his comeback, posting a fantasy score of 69 for the first time since the season opener. He scored 34 points to go along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three defensive stats against the Suns on New Year’s Eve. Although the Cavaliers have faced challenges this season affecting his fantasy output, Mitchell seeks volume scoring to boost his performances, given his relative lack of production in peripheral statistics.
