As soon as the Timberwolves announced Sunday evening that starting center Rudy Gobert would not be available for their game against the Warriors due to illness, fantasy managers knew what was coming. Naz Reid, who’s rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues, would get the opportunity to start, a role in which he’s excelled more often than not this season. In 10 starts, he’s averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.9 blocks, and 1.5 3-pointers in 25.1 minutes, shooting 49.2% from the field and 64.3% from the foul line.
Reid took things to another level in the Timberwolves’ 109-104 loss, scoring a career-high 30 points while also putting up nine rebounds, three assists, five steals, two blocks, and four 3-pointers in 36 minutes. He shot 12-of-22 from the field and 2-of-5 from the foul line, but the free throw struggles were outweighed by everything else on Reid’s stat line. He’s providing 11th-round, per-game value in 9-cat formats over the last three weeks, with three of his nine appearances during this stretch being as a starter.
With Minnesota off until Tuesday, fantasy managers who added Reid will want to hold off on dropping him until Gobert is officially cleared to return for that night’s game against the Clippers. Also worth noting is the back-to-back that Minnesota will finish its Week 19 slate with, as they visit the Lakers on Friday and the Kings the following night. With Reid out of the way, let’s take a look at a few other quality pickups from Sunday’s slate.
Delon Wright (25%)
Wright made his third start of the season Sunday afternoon, as Monte Morris had been ruled out due to lower back soreness. Wright did not record any assists in his spot start, but he did shoot 6-of-7 from the field, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds, and two 3-pointers in 28 minutes. The lack of assists and defensive stats made Wright’s line a bit underwhelming, but he’s now 7-of-10 from three in his last two games. While Wright’s career numbers make it difficult to buy into this recent “surge,” he is worth keeping an eye on, especially if Morris misses additional time. Washington begins its four-game Week 19 Tuesday night in Atlanta.
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Dennis Schröder (30%)
Another injury-related pull, as Schroder was thrust into the starting lineup after D’Angelo Russell sprained his ankle during Thursday’s win over the Warriors. Schroder played 35 minutes in the Lakers’ comeback win over the Mavericks, finishing with 16 points, one rebound, and eight assists in 35 minutes. While his fantasy value has taken a significant hit since being replaced in the lineup by Russell, Schroder will be of value until the Lakers’ starting point guard is cleared to return.
Justin Holiday (1%)/Josh Green (18%)
Jason Kidd made a change to his starting lineup for Sunday’s game, moving Holiday into the starting lineup with Green returning to the bench. Holiday shot 2-of-5 from three, finishing with six points, two assists, and three blocked shots in 28 minutes. Green offered a little more offensively, scoring nine points on 3-of-6 shooting while also accumulating three rebounds, one assist, and three 3-pointers in 16 minutes. Green has scored 11 points or fewer in each of his last four games, so the luster has worn off. But is Holiday worth adding with his move into the starting lineup? Not yet, but he is worth keeping an eye on.
Isaiah Joe (12%)
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle, hip) ruled for a second consecutive game, Joe remained in the starting lineup. And he flourished, scoring 24 points with three assists and four 3-pointers in 28 minutes in Oklahoma City’s loss to Sacramento. Joe has scored 52 points in his last two games, shooting 10-of-20 from three against the Suns and Kings. The Thunder begin a four-game Week 19 at home against the Kings on Tuesday, and Joe will be worth adding if SGA remains sidelined. He won’t offer much beyond points and 3-pointers, but those are important in category leagues.
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Jonathan Kuminga (14%)
Kuminga was in the Warriors’ starting lineup for a third consecutive game on Saturday, as Golden State was once again without Andrew Wiggins (personal). Kuminga was solid in the comeback win, scoring 13 points with five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 27 minutes. Kuminga would be worth a look in deeper leagues until Wiggins and/or Draymond Green (knee) is cleared to play. That said, Donte DiVincenzo (42%) and Kevon Looney (52%) are better fantasy options if available in your league.
Matisse Thybulle (21%)/Cam Reddish (21%)
With Damian Lillard and Jerami Grant back in action after missing Thursday’s loss to the Kings, there were still two voids to fill in the starting lineup. Thybulle and Reddish were given the opportunity to start Sunday night, with both being overshadowed by Lillard going off for 71 points. Neither offered much offensively, combining to score 17 points in 5-of-11 shooting from the field. Thybulle and Reddish combined to score 17 points in Sunday’s win over the Rockets, with the former finishing with eight points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, and two 3-pointers. As for Reddish, he produced a line of seven points, two rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 31 minutes.
