Around the Association: Sabonis Shines, Lakers Tumble, Jazz Cruise

This article is part of our NBA Daily Recap series.

Welcome to Around the Association!  Four days per week (Monday through Thursday), 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 another great day in the league -- here is all you need to know:

Nightly Notables

 Sabonis energizes Kings to victory

•  The Sacramento Kings looked like a completely different team during last night's 132-119 win over the Timberwolves. Much of this is due to the new addition of Domantas Sabonis. The freshly acquired forward chipped in 22 points (10-19 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 14 rebounds, five assists and one steal over 33 minutes in his first appearance in Sacramento. While the Kings are catching a lot of heat for trading Tyrese Haliburton, Sabonis instantly boosts the team's offense and should be able to help push for a play-in spot.
  •  De'Aaron Fox looked solid in his first action with his new teammate. The 24-year-old ended with 27 points (10-20 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 5-5 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 36 minutes. In his first two appearances since missing eight straight games with an ankle injury, Fox is averaging 28.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
  • Harrison Barnes: 30 points (8-11 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 10-10 FT), eight rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes.
• D'Angelo Russell was on one despite the losing effort. The guard totaled a game-high 29 points (10-20 FG, 6-13 3Pt, 3-4 FT), four rebounds, 10 assists, one block and one steal in 36 minutes. Russell was locked in from deep all night while this performance garnered him his 10th double-double of the year.
  • Anthony Edwards came into the contest a game-time decision due to a knee issue, but you would have no idea based on his explosive play in the defeat. The second-year budding star produced 26 points (10-25 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 3-4 FT), one rebound, one assist and one block over 38 minutes. This was his ninth time crossing the 25-point mark since the start of the new year.
  • Karl-Anthony Towns: 21 points (9-17 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, eight assists and one block across 34 minutes

Lakers down REAL bad

• Just when you thought things could not get much worse for the Lakers... they did. The Portland Trail Blazers just shipped out CJ McCollum and were coming off a brutal loss to the Magic when the Lakers came into town. However, Portland had a strong second half and ended up upsetting the Lakers by a score of 107-105.
• Anfernee Simons shined in the win, finishing with 29 points (11-23 FG, 5-11 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and five assists across 38 minutes. This was the young guard's first 20-point game in his last five showings, but Simons should have the clear keys to the offense with McCollum out of the picture and Damian Lillard (abdomen) still on the sideline.
  • Greg Brown is really starting to stand out in his extended playing time as the Trail Blazers shuffle their roster. The athletic forward put in 11 points (3-5 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds and one block across just 16 minutes. Brown is averaging 12.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game over his last three contests.
  • Jusuf Nurkic: 19 points (8-11 FG, 3-5 FT), 12 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes.
• It really is crazy that this is one of the highest levels that LeBron James has ever played at, yet his team cannot capitalize alongside with him. James dropped 30 points (13-22 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 37 minutes. James' 29.1-points-per-game scoring average would be his fourth-best mark of his entire career.
  • Anthony Davis is also playing decent basketball as well, but the Lakers just can't find the win column as of late. Davis presence ended with 17 points (8-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-4 FT), seven rebounds, six assists, five blocks and one steal across 41 minutes. Davis currently ranks as the ninth overall nine-category fantasy option this season
• The Golden State Warriors got off to a 12-0 lead against the Jazz, but Utah roared back and crushed the Warriors 111-85. Donovan Mitchell led the way with a near-triple-double, posting 14 points (5-14 FG, 4-10 3Pt), 10 rebounds, eight assists and one block across 33 minutes.
• In his first three games back since returning from his concussion, Mitchell is averaging 24.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. Utah is starting to find its groove as they still await the return of Rudy Gobert. 
  • Hassan Whiteside continues to come off the bench in place for Udoka Azubuike, but the veteran center had a spectacular game in the win. Whiteside ended with nine points (4-5 FG, 1-2 FT), 17 rebounds, two assists, a season-high seven blocks and two steals in 29 minutes during Wednesday's 111-85 win over the Warriors.
• Jordan Poole played decent as he got the start for the Warriors as Klay Thompson sat out due to rest. The Michigan product scored a team-high 18 points (5-14 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one steal over 32 minutes.
  • Stephen Curry: 16 points (5-13 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds and two assists across 30 minutes.

DeRozan keeps rolling

• The Bulls were able to pull away from the Hornets en route to a 121-109 win in Charlotte. DeMar DeRozan continued his scoring dominance during the win, finishing with 36 points (13-19 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 7-10 FT), five rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes. Since the start of the new year, DeRozan is averaging 28.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while he continues to shine in his first season in Chicago.
  •  Zach LaVine was cheffing up in the win, as well. The upcoming three-point contest participant finished with 27 points (8-18 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 6-7 FT), seven rebounds and five assists over 40 minutes. After missing two straight games with a back injury, LaVine is averaging 29.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in his first two showings back.
  • Nikola Vucevic: 18 points (9-13 FG), 15 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks over 38 minutes.
•  LaMelo Ball had a strong third quarter while finishing with 33 points (12-25 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 4-6 FT), nine rebounds, five assists and four steals in 38 minutes. This just marks Ball's second time reaching the 30-point mark in his last 25 appearances.
  • Miles Bridges: 22 points (7-16 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 6-6 FT), five rebounds, five assists and one steal over 38 minutes.

LeVert wins in his Cavs debut

• Caris LeVert made his first appearance with the Cavaliers since being traded for earlier this week. The former Net came off the bench and finished with 11 points (4-11 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound two assists and one steal over 28 minutes while pushing Cleveland to a 105-92 win over the Spurs. There was a noticeable connection between him and Jarrett Allen when on the court together as the two of them did play in Brooklyn with each other for over three years. 
  • The real star for Cleveland was Darius Garland. The All-Star guard ended with 27 points (12-15 FG, 3-3 3Pt), five rebounds, six assists and one steal across 30 minutes. This was also Garland's first game back after missing four contests with a back issue. The Vanderbilt product looked like he hadn't missed a beat in the win.
  • Evan Mobley: 18 points (6-15 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 6-7 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 33 minutes.
• Devin Vassell was one of the few Spurs players that impressed me during the team's loss to the Cavs. The second-year wing ended with 18 points (8-16 FG, 2-7 3Pt), three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 28 minutes. Vassell's 16 shot attempts tied a season-high while he currently ranks as the 88th nine-category fantasy option on a per-game basis over the past week.
  • Dejounte Murray: 16 points (7-17 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds and nine assists over 33 minutes. 

Raptors too much for OKC

• The Toronto Raptors ran over the Thunder by a score of 117-98 behind a strong showing from Pascal Siakam. The dynamic forward posted 27 points (13-17 FG, 1-3 3Pt), 16 rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal across 40 minutes. Siakam is quietly having perhaps the best season of his career, averaging career highs in rebounds, assists and blocks.
  • Fred VanVleet: 21 points (7-17 FG, 6-14 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six assists and two steals in 36 minutes
• While it was a pretty ugly loss for the Thunder, Aleksej Pokusevski had his best game of the season Wednesday. The second-year forward tied for a team-high with 18 points (7-9 FG, 4-5 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist, two blocks and four steals across 30 minutes. 
  • Theo Maledon: 18 points (7-16 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), two rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal over 31 minutes.

Best and Worst of the Night

• Best of the Night: DeMar DeRozan - 36 points (13-19 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 7-10 FT), five rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes. 
• Worst of the Night: Damion Lee - Zero points (0-7 FG, 0-4 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and three steals over 32 minutes.
• Rookie of the Night: Davion Mitchell: 18 points (7-12 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block over 34 minutes. 

A Look Ahead to Thursday

• The trade deadline strikes at 3 p.m ET!
• The Nets look to snap their losing streak when they travel to Washington to face the Wizards.
• Luka Doncic looks to stay hot as the Clippers come into town.
• CJ McCollum looks to make his Pelicans debut when the Heat travel to New Orleans.
• We get a Finals rematch of the Bucks and the Suns in Phoenix.