Houston

Rockets

Şengün sat out Monday’s loss to the Lakers, but he’ll be back in action for Wednesday’s rematch. Şengün’ return will push Clint Capela back to the bench after Capela started on Monday.

Thompson was one of Houston’s most productive players against the Lakers. On the offensive end, he excelled in his role as a combo guard, scoring as well as nearly any other Rockets player while concluding with a team-high in assists. Thompson didn’t wow with his defensive stats in terms of being disruptive with steals and blocks, but he rebounded well en route to his 16th double-double of the season. Wednesday’s rematch against the Lakers will give him a chance to outdo himself.

Smith Jr. led the Rockets in scoring on Monday, despite some struggles from behind the three-point line. He scored the ball fairly consistently throughout the game, but never had any major scoring runs. The fourth-year forward also made an impact on the glass and finished as the only starter not to commit multiple turnovers. Smith wasn’t otherworldly on Monday but did well in his minutes.

Durant logged an unspectacular game on Monday, relative to his usual production. He scored under 20 points and failed to make a three-point shot for the second time in the last three games, each coming in Houston losses. And even beyond the low scoring total, his struggles against this Los Angeles defense can be seen in the seven turnovers he committed. Durant lacked his usual production, but he will have an opportunity to bounce back on Wednesday in a second straight matchup with the Lakers.

After sitting out Friday’s win over the Pelicans, Şengün has been ruled out for a second straight game. However, it will be Capela who replaces him in the starting lineup after Dorian Finney-Smith did so the last time out. The matchup dictated the change, as the Lakers start a true center in Deandre Ayton while New Orleans did not.

Şengün did not play in Friday’s win over the Pelicans, with Dorian Finney-Smith receiving the starting nod. Finney-Smith was not productive enough to affect fantasy basketball, and there’s no reason to consider streaming him if Şengün remains out on Monday.

Thompson’s stat line on Friday was arguably his best since the All-Star break. The Rockets’ guard/forward finished two assists shy of a triple-double, and he’s scored 20 points or more in four of his last five appearances. Since March 1, Thompson has provided third-round value in eight-cat formats. After a relatively slow start to the season, Amen has upped the production at the right time, with the fantasy playoffs in many leagues right around the corner.

Durant made the biggest shot of Friday’s game, as his mid-range jumper with 7.6 seconds remaining gave Houston a one-point lead. The future Hall of Fame forward would make two free throws to seal the victory, capping his first 30-point game since March 2. Houston’s Week 20 schedule is complete, and the Rockets are scheduled to play four games in Week 21.

The Rockets won’t have Alperen Şengün for Friday’s game, as he sits with a back injury. However, instead of replacing him with a center, the Rockets are going small, with Finney-Smith moving into the starting lineup. Clint Capela may pick up a few more minutes off the bench, but not starting eliminates what little streaming value he had.

Şengün’s absence creates a spot in the Rockets’ starting lineup, with Clint Capela the likely replacement. The veteran backup is worth streaming in this spot, especially for managers needing rebounds.