Daequan

Cook

Russell Westbrook added 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting (including two threes) with five rebounds, six assists, and a steal, and fantasy spot-starting candidate Daequan Cook was fairly quiet with eight points, two threes, three boards, a steal, and a block.

Sefolosha isn’t even two weeks into a four-week timetable. He’s not taking jumpers and is not considered close. Backup Daequan Cook has averaged 7.3 points and 1.7 3-pointers in 15 starts this season.

Sefolosha has been out for nearly seven weeks, so he’s going to need plenty of time to get back up to speed. Cold-shooting Daequan Cook will remain in the starting lineup for now, but super-sub James Harden is the Thunder’s real shooting guard.

It looks like a severe sprain, but with Russell Westbrook and Thabo Sefolosha healthy, and the possible arrival of Derek Fisher, Cook had no fantasy value even if healthy.

Beat writer Darnell Mayberry said that it “didn’t look good,” and that he would be surprised if Cook played again in March. It looked bad when Cook went down and we’ll likely get official word on his diagnosis at some point on Wednesday. There is no fantasy value here.

Harden is being called day-to-day, and Thabo Sefolosha, Daequan Cook, and Derek Fisher will be called upon to pick up the slack. None of the trio are safe bets in fantasy leagues, but will be worth a desperation look in deep formats.

Keeping in mind the Kings’ defense was awful tonight, Cook was the clear winner between he and Thabo Sefolosha (three points, four boards, 23 minutes) tonight. James Harden (knee) is day-to-day.

With James Harden unlikely to play again on Wednesday, Fisher might be a sneaky play in that one, but it was Daequan Cook who got hot on Tuesday, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 19 points in 21 minutes.

Cook and Derek Fisher saw more run tonight with James Harden out with a concussion, and both guys might be worth a look for Wednesday’s finale against Denver, as Harden’s not expected to play in that one, either.

Cook’s role in the rotation has been inconsistent of late, but he got hot on Tuesday and scored 19 points with four treys. He admitted that he’s “not fully healed,” nor did he give a percentage as to how strong his knee was. Regardless, he’s playing through it and should continue to do so moving forward.