Bouncing back from one lackluster game, Carmelo Anthony had 39 points and 10 rebounds, yet Amare Stoudemire still managed 22 & 12, and all the other Knicks starters scored in double figures. A lively Baron Davis (13 PTS, 10 AST) helped them pass this chemistry test. Tyson Chandler (rest) took the day off, so Landry Fields (18) started at SF as both teams went small. Josh Smith (14 PTS, 5 REB, 3 BLK) lined up at C for Atlanta, with unlikely “power forward” Marvin Williams enjoying his best game of the year: 29 PTS, 11 REB, 3 BLK.
In Other Action
OKC @ LAL: It took two overtimes for the Lakers to prevail. The ironically-named Metta World Peace reverted to being a thug, literally knocking out James Harden with an elbow. I will never again use that ridiculous alias. Artest was ejected and faces a suspension; Harden has concussion symptoms, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll miss any playoff games. Kobe Bryant (26 PTS, 8 AST, 6 REB) looks healthy and Kevin Durant scored 35, but it was a brutal 3-22 shooting afternoon for Russell Westbrook (14 PTS, 10 AST) that tipped the scales.
TOR @ DET: Yesterday I called this a “who cares?” game, and the answer wasn’t the Raptors or Pistons. It was boring, low-scoring and of absolutely no significance, even to fantasy owners. Ben Gordon (19) sent the handful of diehard fans home happy with a decisive late bucket and Greg Monroe had 17 rebounds but only eight points. DeMar DeRozan (16) led Toronto by default.
HOU @ MIA: LeBron James scored 32 as the other two-thirds of the Big Three watched from the bench in street clothes. Mario Chalmers (illness) was replaced by Norris Cole (16) but even with three starters out, the Heat won anyway. Houston, now officially eliminated from the playoffs, got 23 from Chandler Parsons.
SAC @ CHA: The Bobcats are really, really horrible. They offered only token resistance as the Kings blew them out of their own gym. The “good” DeMarcus Cousins had 29 PTS, 10 REB and 2 BLK, the “bad” DMC picked up another technical that will earn him a suspension on Tuesday if his appeal is unsuccessful. Jason Thompson had a great line (14 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST, 5 STL) and Tyreke Evans added 22 on 10-of-11 shooting in this cakewalk.
GSW @ MIN: Kevin Love (concussion) and Luke Ridnour (ankle) didn’t play after all, and J.J. Barea (14 PTS, 12 REB) ripped his teammates afterward for not caring. I hope he excluded Nikola Pekovic, who scored 19 and grabbed 16 boards on two painful ankles that require surgery. In the third road game in as many nights for the Warriors, Charles Jenkins (24 PTS, 9 AST) was terrific and Brandon Rush contributed 19 PTS and 9 REB to the surprise win.
CLE @ SAS: Tim Duncan (rest) didn’t play and Tony Parker (6 PTS, 9 AST) got just 21 minutes, but the Spurs’ bench is truly great. Manu Ginobili scored 20 in 22 minutes, and Stephen Jackson added 17 to lead this easy win. Kyrie Irving had 19 and Antawn Jamison 21 for the Cavs.
ORL @ DEN: I didn’t think the Magic would get up for this one, though Ryan Anderson (24 PTS, 9 REB) played well. When Jameer Nelson left in the second minute with a sore calf, it was all over. The Nuggets didn’t need a superb game from anyone in winning by 27, but Danilo Gallinari (17 PTS, 7 REB) and JaVale McGee (17 PTS, 8 REB, 3 BLK off the bench) posted deent numbers.
NOH @ LAC: The big guns were not silenced for the Clippers, they fired: Chris Paul was particularly brilliant (33 PTS, 13 AST, 8 STL) and Blake Griffin (21 PTS, 15 REB) was just fine. The Hornets, with nothing to play for, led after three quarters thanks to former Clip Eric Gordon (17) before they faded late.
Monday, Monday
DET @ IND: There’s a theme in tonight’s six games: one team would prefer to be anywhere else. The Pistons did win at home last night against an opponent that barely showed up, but they are absolutely no match for Indiana. This could be so lopsided that garbage time comes early, or the Pacers could choose to rest someone like Roy Hibbert or David West, but I’m using George Hill and seriously considering Tyler Hansbrough.
CHA @ WAS: It’s all about pride, and the Wizards still have some. If Charlotte was going to rally for one more win in this historically awful season, it would have been yesterday at home. John Wall, Kevin Seraphin and even Cartier Martin will be in my lineups.
PHI @ NJN: This should be the playoff-clincher for the Sixers, though the Nets are celebrating their final home game after 35 years in New Jersey and could be inspired by that. Sundiata Gaines, Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries are decent plays, but so are the usual guys for Philly: Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday and second-unit sparkplugs Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young.
TOR @ MIL: The Bucks aren’t eliminated yet, are at home and facing a tired, mediocre opponent. Start Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova with confidence; Monta Ellis and/or Drew Gooden could also have big nights. Don’t use any Raptors unless you are desperate.
CLE @ MEM: Yet another mismatch between a tired, weak team and a playoff-bound squad that can still earn home-court advantage in the first round. The only Cleveland player I might use is Manny Harris, but any and all of the Grizzlies are solid plays. Just watch for breaking news near game time in case Memphis decides to rest one or two regulars.
POR @ SAS: Portland has nothing to play for. J.J. Hickson and Wesley Matthews are at least startable in fantasy leagues, along with Jamal Crawford, if he goes. Nolan Smith is likely to start again for Raymond Felton. All you can do with San Antonio players is guess, and hope. They are so deep, they can rest different guys each night. Even their 12th man, Patty Mills, can jump up and be productive when least expected.
The Spin is here every day by 8:00 EDT, at least until the playoffs begin, when we might sleep in a little. Follow @SheridanFantasy on Twitter for updates.
DraftStreet Serenade
| Sure Things | Over $14,000 |
| T. Duncan | $16,979 |
| K. Humphries | $15,868 |
| B. Jennings | $15,859 |
| J. Wall | $15,006 |
| Bargains | Under $9,000 |
| N. Smith | $7,971 |
| L. Babbitt | $6,774 |
| O. Mayo | $8,578 |
| G. Forbes | $4,867 |
| Hunches | $9,000 to $14,000 |
| J. Hickson | $13,944 |
| K. Seraphin | $12,573 |
| Ge. Hill | $11,938 |
| E. Brand | $10,895 |
My usual $21 investment (three teams each in $2 and $5 Salary Cap leagues with Guaranteed Prize Pools) was off the mark on Sunday, but Week 7 still ended with a $22 profit, the fourth time in seven weeks that I’ve finished in the black.
Week 8 begins tonight, and with only three more days in the regular season, the $100 bankroll will be distributed more aggressively. I’m going to join a couple of $5 Snake-Drafts this afternoon in addition to my standard plays.
Though traditional fantasy leagues will be ending on Thursday, there will still be single-day leagues on the Street during the NBA playoffs, so this experiment will keep going a while longer. I’m up $122 so far and still enjoying the daily challenge.
Click here to get started on Draft Street. It’s always free to register and no deposit is required — there are also leagues with no entry fees, where the competition is strong and you can earn credits.