DEN @ POR: Cue the “Iron Man” theme. Wesley Matthews played 38:42 despite a very sore hip, scored 20 points and inspired his teammates. If you left him on your bench per my advice, sorry. It’s hard enough to bat .500 on predictions, and I whiffed badly on that one. With LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) in a walking boot, Damian Lillard (12 PTS, 10 AST) and J.J. Hickson (18 PTS, 18 REB, 3 BLK) performed as advertised, while Nicolas Batum (22 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST) was everywhere. They played a little team D, too. Nobody scored more than 13 points for the normally high-flying Nuggets. Danilo Gallinari shot a miserable 1-10 and Kenneth Faried, who I’d touted for a big game, played just 17:30 without making much of an impact. Andre Miller (12 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST) and Corey Brewer (13 PTS, 9 REB) did enough off the bench to make fantasy owners smile.
December 21 Games
CHI @ NYK: It’s the Carmelo Anthony show, appearing at MSG with a grizzled supporting cast, and it’s a hit. Melo was out with that slashed finger two weeks ago when the Knicks lost in Chicago, so there’s a team-wide determination to avenge that defeat. Tyson Chandler will have his hands full with “point-center” Joakim Noah, and vice-versa. Given that the Bulls are thin at both guard spots, J.R. Smith looks like a must-start. Again, I’m torn between admiring the courage of Raymond Felton for playing through painful bone bruises on both hands, and wishing he would stop killing my FG% (35.2% over the last five games.)
ORL @ TOR: It’s terrible news for the Magic that Glen Davis (shoulder) will miss at least four weeks but it’s an opportunity for others to shine. Andrew Nicholson, veteran Gustavo Ayon and Josh McRoberts will all get extra minutes, but they can’t replace Big Baby’s scoring. Toronto is on a surprising 4-game win streak, with Jose Calderon leading the way. Journeyman Alan Anderson has provided a boost since returning from a foot injury, averaging 19 points per game in the last three. I like him much better the rest of the season than nominal starter Mickael Pietrus. C-PF Amir Johnson rolled his ankle the other night and may not be 100%; Ed Davis will play big minutes if Amir is limited.
ATL @ PHI: Keep an eye on Twitter for updates on the Sixers’ two best players. It’s progress for Jrue Holiday (foot) just to be listed as a game-time decision after missing the last four. Evan Turner (ankle) has the same status. If neither can play, Dorell Wright becomes a must-start and Nick Young could benefit, but the Hawks would probably win. Al Horford is a strong play against any of the Philly centers, Josh Smith is back in a Smoove groove and Jeff Teague might be hard to stop if Holiday sits out again.
MIL @ BOS: An unexpected lineup shuffle on Wednesday saw Jason Collins start at C for Boston, Kevin Garnett slide over to PF and Paul Pierce become a scoring machine. Tonight will tell us if that’s a fluke or the start of a trend. Not the Truth scoring 40 — we’d be thrilled with 25 — just the new starting five, which pushed Brandon Bass into a bench role. Monta Ellis was brutal (1-of-14) in Memphis on Wednesday and must bounce back for Milwaukee to seriously threaten. Brandon Jennings is the other star for the Bucks, but he’s got Rajon Rondo to deal with this evening.