Around the Association: KD Dazzles, Suns Keep Winning, COVID Still Raging

This article is part of our NBA Daily Recap series.

Welcome to Around the Association!  Five days per week (Monday through Friday), this article will serve as a comprehensive recap of the previous night's NBA action, taking you through all of the biggest performances, notable box scores, injury updates and any other fantasy-relevant headlines from around the league.

It was just a four-game slate last night, but here is everything you need to know:

Nightly Notables
 

KD continues to lead short-handed Nets

• As the NBA deals with their COVID circus, the Nets were once again without Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge, James Harden and more when they faced the 76ers on Thursday.  Despite not being even close to full strength, Brooklyn was still able to win 114-105 behind another strong performance by Kevin Durant. The MVP candidate finished with 34 points (13-24 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 9-11 FT), 11 rebounds, eight assists and a block.  Durant is on an absolute tear right now, posting 37.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game over his last four appearances.
  • Blake Griffin dropped 17 points (7-16 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds and two assists over 32 minutes of action. The veteran forward has started each of the last two games for Brooklyn and played seen over 30 minutes in each of those appearances.
• Despite losing to a very weak Nets' roster, Joel Embiid still had a monster showing in the defeat. The All-Star center stuffed the stat sheet with 32 points (11-20 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 9-11 FT), nine rebounds, six assists and a steal. Embiid ranks as the No. 6 overall nine-category fantasy option on a per-game basis over the past week.
  • Seth Curry also had a strong showing in the losing effort. The sharpshooting guard dropped 29 points (13-21 FG, 3-9 3Pt), four assists, three rebounds and a steal. Curry's 29 points marked a new season-high for the 31-year-old who is averaging career-highs in practically every statistical category here in his eighth season.

A Depleted Knicks roster gets the dub in Houston

• The Nets were not the only Big Apple team to be dealing with COVID, as the Knicks were without RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin and more during their contest against Houston. Despite being short-handed, the Knicks still defeated the Rockets 116-103. Immanuel Quickley dropped a game-high 24 points (7-13 FG, 7-10 3Pt, 3-4 FT), four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one blocked shot over 32 minutes of play off of the bench. The second-year scorer could be in line for even more work as Derrick Rose (ankle) left the contest early.
  • After posting five straight games scoring less than seven points, Evan Fournier finally got back in rhythm with 23 points (8-12 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 4-7 FT) three assists and one rebound in 27 minutes.
  • Julius Randle: 21 points (6-18 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 6-6 FT), six rebounds, six assists and one steal over 32 minutes.
• Daniel Theis had one of his better outings as a Rocket during the defeat as Christian Wood (knee) was sidelined for his second straight contest. The big dropped in 22 points (8-12 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist, two blocked shots and one steal over 33 minutes. Theis should continue to see additional usage if Wood remains out of the lineup, but when Wood is healthy Theis has been a DNP-CD in recent weeks.
  • Jae'Sean Tate: 20 points (6-8 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 6-8 FT), six assists and three rebounds over 29 minutes

Suns match Warriors for NBA's best record

• The Phoenix Suns beat the Washington Wizards by a score of 118-98 to improve their record to 23-5, matching the Golden State Warriors to be tied atop the entire NBA. As we have seen recently with Devin Booker (hamstring) out of the lineup, it was a beautifully balanced effort for the Suns during the win with eight different players reaching double-figures, yet not one of them topping 17 points.
  • Deandre Ayton had a nice all-around performance with 15 points (6-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists and one block across 24 minutes. This marked the center's second straight double-double.
  • JaVale McGee finished the victory with 17 points (6-8 FG, 5-5 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and two steals over 16 minutes. Here is a fun fact: McGee currently has a 26.7 PER, which is good for sixth in the entire league to begin the year.
• This was one of Bradley Beal's better scoring performances of the season as the All-Star guard finished with 26 points (11-18 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-4 FT), three rebounds, five assists and one steal in 31 minutes. Beal now has six straight games posting over 19 points and is averaging 25.8 points per game over that span. Could this be a sign that Beal is finally getting back into his rhythm?
  • Montrezl Harrell finished the defeat with 12 points (4-7 FG, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal across 26 minutes. After starting the season playing at an extremely high level, Harrell has certainly cooled off as he hasn't dropped a double-double in nearly a month.

Best and Worst of the Night 

• Best of the Night: Kevin Durant -- 34 points (13-24 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 9-11 FT), 11 rebounds, eight assists and a block over 39 minutes
• Worst of the Night: Daniel Gafford -- Zero points (0-3 FG), five rebounds, two assists and one block over 20 minutes.
• Rookie of the Night: Cade Cunningham -- 19 points (8-16 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal over 34 minutes.

Quick Hitters

• COVID continues to put up prime Wilt Chamberlain numbers as Isaac Okoro, Russell Westbrook, Bobby Portis, De'Aaron Fox, Jordan Poole, Al Horford and more have all found themselves joining their peers in protocols. This is quickly going from bad to worse.
  • Anthony Edwards, Al Horford, Grant Williams and Jordan Poole are among the players who entered protocols Friday morning.
• The Pacers got a much need 122-113 win over the Pistons after falling to a short-handed Milwaukee roster in the team's last appearance. Caris LeVert led the way with 31 points (12-18 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 7-9 FT), three rebounds, five assists, one block and two steals in 38 minutes during Thursday's 122-113 victory over the Pistons. This marked the Michigan product's seventh straight outing with at least 15 points.
  • Myles Turner: 16 points (7-12 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, one assist and four blocks over 28 minutes.
• Saddiq Bey had perhaps his best outing of the season during Detroit's defeat to Indiana. The second-year pro totaled 28 points (9-17 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 7-7 FT), 10 rebounds and five assists across 36 minutes
  • Frank Jackson: 18 points (7-11 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds and one assist over 25 minutes off of the bench.

Rookie Spotlight

• Cade Cunningham: 19 points (8-16 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal over 34 minutes.
  • The No. 1 overall pick had a very solid outing during Detroit's loss to the Pacers. Cunningham has been impressive throughout his first season in the league and is averaging 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals. and 1.0 blocks over his last seven appearances. Although he has certainly been inefficient at times, it seems like the Pistons got a good one here
• Chris Duarte: 15 points (5-13 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 7-9 FT), nine rebounds and four assists over 29 minutes.
  • After starting the last seven contests for the Pacers, the rookie out of Oregon moved back to the bench with Justin Holiday back in the lineup. However, Duarte still had one of his better outings of the year, posting a new career-best in rebounds. Duarte continues to be one of the best rookies to begin the season.
• The Brooklyn Nets
  • Cam Thomas, David Duke, Kessler Edwards and Day'Ron Sharpe all have seen additional usage with the Nets dealing with their COVID situation. It has been Duke who has been filling into the starting lineup as of now and the Providence product has averaged 8.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists during that span.
  • Kessler Edwards has actually been the leading scorer out of the three with 13.0 points per game over his last two outings. This seemed like a prime opportunity for Cam Thomas but the rookie out of LSU has only scored 7.5 points across 23.5 minutes per game over his last two showings. Still, if I had to rank the four rookies in terms of season-long value going forward, I would go with: 1. Thomas 2. Duke 3. Edwards 4. Sharpe.
• Miles McBride: 15 points (6-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-1 FT), nine assists, three rebounds and four steals over 36 minutes.
  • The Knicks are struggling with their own COVID situation and to make matters worse, Derrick Rose (ankle) left Thursday's matchup early. However, his departure paved the way for Miles McBride to have the best performance of his short career thus far. After not playing pretty much all season long, the point guard has now seen 28.0 minutes per game over his last two appearances. If Rose is forced to miss time and the Knicks are still rummaged with COVID, McBride does emerge as a high-risk, high-reward DFS play.
• Josh Christopher: 14 points (5-9 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and two steals over 32 minutes
  • The rookie out of Arizona State is starting to find his groove as of late in his first season with the Rockets. The wing is averaging 11.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 23.8 minutes per game over his last five times taking the court.

A Look Ahead to Friday Night

• One of my favorite things about basketball is that stars can come in all shapes and sizes. The shifty Trae Young will look to take down Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets at home.
• Can the Warriors move back into sole possession of the best record in the league when they travel to Boston to match up against the Celtics?
• LaMelo Ball has a chance to return when the Hornets travel to Portland to play Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers.