Much like the UFC card siguised as a Suns-Heat matchup, I'm ready to punch my way through today's Box Score Breakdown and really see how you can make a push to your league's championship.

DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY

With big names going down like flies, such as the recent diagnosis on Jimmy Butler's elbow, fantasy owners have been left scrambling for replacement players on many a waiver-wire. One such player, Tyler Johnson, had himself a career night against the Suns on Monday, scoring 26 points (10-13 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT) with one rebound, one assist and three steals in 26 bench minutes. The reason I'm highlighting Johnson here is that one game does not make a breakout player. Johnson was a DNP-CD the previous three games and had played seven minutes in the two games prior to that, meaning this sort of night is likely just one out of the box. The artist formerly known as Bill Walker, Henry Walker, had been the man at backup shooting guard in the games before and this game from Johnson, feels slightly fluky, especially the 10-for-13 shooting. For reference, the last two times Johnson topped double-digits in points, he added five points in the four games following those mini-explosions. All in all, don't get fooled by one big game from the likes of Tyler Johnson, especially in a standard format league.

M.I.A.

These guys all sat out Monday's action, for one reason or another.

• Raptors
  • Kyle Lowry (rest)
• Sixers
  • Jason Richardson (rest)
  • Robert Covington (elbow)
• Clippers
  • Matt Barnes (hamstring)
  • Blake Griffin (elbow)
• Timberwolves
  • Nikola Pekovic (ankle)
  • Kevin Martin (illness)
• Pelicans
  • Ryan Anderson (knee)
  • Anthony Davis (shoulder)
  • Jrue Holiday (leg)
• Mavericks
  • Raymond Felton (DNP-CD)
  • Chandler Parsons (ankle)
  • Tyson Chandler (hip)

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

When Blake Griffin went down, a lot of people, myself included, thought that perhaps the Clippers' playoff chances would take a hit. But the remaining stars, like Chris Paul, who lifted their collective games about five notches. Paul, who hasn't missed a game all season, had 26 points with 14 assists and three steals against the Timberwolves. In his last seven games, Paul has averaged 22.4 points, and 12.6 assists, well up on his seasonal averages and is close to his best season, fantasy wise, except for his drop off in steals, where he is under 2.0 steals per game for the first time since 2006-07. All in all, if you drafted Paul, you have been more than rewarded with another excellent season.

ROTATION NOTES AND QUIRKS

Once again, Dwane Casey hampered the frontcourt minutes, restricting starters Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas to under 28 minutes each, while Patrick Patterson had 30 minutes off the bench, scoring 15 points with a couple of triples. Valanciunas has been the best bet of all three guys, but Casey continues to restrict him for reasons only known to him. Valanciunas remains the only guy who is a must own player.

With Jason Richardson and Robert Covington out, JaKarr Sampson and Henry Sims made their way back into the starting lineup, but could not crack 25 minutes each. Despite Sampson swatting three shots, you don't want anything to do with him in your league, despite the possibility of an extended absence for Covington.

Both Alex Len and Markieff Morris were ejected from Monday's game, resulting in both guys getting less than 30 minutes. Len still managed a double-double, but both guys may be facing the wrath of the NBA's disciplinary committee for the roles in the fracas Monday. Despite Len and Morris getting turfed, Brandan Wright played just three minutes, effectively ringing the death knell for his fantasy value this season.

Goran Dragic shook off his back issue to start, but played only 15 minutes, due to the five fouls he accumulated in that time. He still scored 21 points in those 15 minutes and we shouldn't be too worried about Dragic. Hassan Whiteside was also ejected, but was still awesome in his 26 minutes. With Whiteside gone, Michael Beasley played 26 minutes, adding 12 points, six rebounds , one steal and one block, and with a massive gap in the Heat's frontcourt, Beasley has his third chance to show he can stick in Miami. I'd be adding him in deeper leagues and watching intently in standard leagues, but that's all at this stage. Henry Walker lasted just one game in the starting lineup, replaced by Udonis Haslem. Neither guy was good at all and I wouldn't be adding either despite their role.

Despite the close nature of the Warriors-Nets game, only Klay Thompson went over 30 minutes for the Warriors as they took things a little bit easy, which ended up in them losing.

Markel Brown's hot streak is petering out a little, playing only 24 minutes for four points and four rebounds, and has now gone under 25 minutes in his last two. His numbers were astonishing, but unlikely to persist and that appears to be the way it is playing out. If you added him in standard leagues, you may be able to find better options.

With Matt Barnes out, Jordan Hamilton started and played 26 minutes for 10 points with three rebounds, but you don't want any part of him, even considering Jamal Crawford's calf injury he sustained Monday. Crawford was limited to just 11 minutes, scoring nine points and at this point, we don't know the severity of the injury. Austin Rivers would see additional run as well.

Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin were both out, in a throwback to January, with Gorgui Dieng and Gary Neal entering the starting lineup. Dieng had 10 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks and with Pekovic maybe done for an extended period of time, Dieng must be owned everywhere (and conversely, dropping Pekovic is totally viable.)

Bernard James replaced J.J. Barea as the Mavericks went back to a more traditional lineup, but that has no impact on your fantasy lineups. James didn't score, but added six rebounds and two blocks, while Richard Jefferson started in place of Chandler Parsons again, scoring 16 points. Jefferson is limited to daily fantasy value while Parsons is out.

BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES

DeMar DeRozan had himself a decent night without Kyle Lowry around, scoring 35 points with nine rebounds and five assists. He's had a drop in nearly all statistical categories, but will be looking for a strong second half after missing a big chunk of games. His owners certainly hope so, anyway.

Nerlens Noel hit all seven of his field goal attempts and scored 17 points with two steals and one block and is a very solid and very reliable fantasy player now and is giving off the sings of being a stud in years to come.

The point guard position is worrying, with Isaiah Canaan being outplayed by Ish Smith again. Canaan had 14 points with four three-pointers, while Smith had 19 points with nine assists. If the minutes continue to be distributed this way, neither guy is a must-own in standard leagues, at least until one guy establishes himself at over 30 minutes a night.

P.J. Tucker was huge again for Phoenix, scoring 20 points with 14 rebounds. He's underrated and should be owned just about everywhere. Brandon Knight played through his hip pointer, and added seven assists with 13 points. He's definitely not at the level of his play in Milwaukee, but you can't drop him.

Deron Williams had established himself as the starting point guard again, finally, in Brooklyn, scoring 22 points with four three-pointers, four rebounds and four assists. He is outplaying Jarrett Jack, but that doesn't mean Jack has no value. In his last four, Jack's averaged 10.5 points with 4.3 assists, which isn't great, but it's worth holding in some circumstances.

DeAndre Jordan is now averaging 18.0 rebounds per game in his last 14 games, an entire month's worth of action. Combine that with 14.6 points, 1.7 blocks and a phenomenal field goal percentage of 67 percent, Jordan has been a top 10 head-to-head player lately. I don't see it dropping off, even when Blake Griffin returns, which could be this weekend.

Ricky Rubio had his fourth career triple-double, with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists and congratulations if you held him through the injury. Since returning, Rubio is averaging 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists, with 2.4 steals. He will win some teams their leagues.

Gary Neal scored 19 points with nine rebounds in 41 minutes replacing Kevin Martin, but with Martin out only with an illness, Neal should return to the bench very soon.

Alexis Ajinca double-doubled in 25 minutes off the bench, with 13 points, 12 rebounds and one block and continues to be valuable without Anthony Davis. When Davis returns, Ajinca goes back to doing nothing.

Rajon Rondo had a night out, scoring 19 points, but had just two assists and there is no way Rondo goes 9-for-15 from the field again. If I see Rondo on my waiver-wire, I am not adding him as he is such a limited player, and even now, he's not giving you assists or steals, the only categories in which he is great at traditionally.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

1. DeMar DeRozan, G, TOR, 35 points
2. Chris Paul, G, LAC, 26 points
3. Steph Curry, G, GSW, 26 points
4. Tyler Johnson, G, MIA, 26 points
5. Brook Lopez, C, BKN, 26 points

Rebounds

1. DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC, 18 rebounds
2. P.J. Tucker, G, PHX, 14 rebounds
3. Ricky Rubio, G, MIN, 12 rebounds
4. Alexis Ajinca, F, NOP, 12 rebounds

Assists

1. Chris Paul, G, LAC, 14 assists
2. Ricky Rubio, G, MIN, 11 assists
3. Ish Smith, G, PHI, 9 assists
4. Dwyane Wade, G, MIA, 9 assists

Steals

1. Tyler Johnson, G, MIA, 4 steals
2. Dwyane Wade, G, MIA, 4 steals
3. Al-Farouq Aminu, F, DAL, 4 steals

Blocks

1. Andrew Bogut, C, GSW, 3 blocks
2. JaKarr Sampson, G, PHI, 3 blocks
3. Seven players with 2 blocks

Three-Pointers

1. Steph Curry, G, GSW, 6-12 3Pt
2. Eric Gordon, G, NOP, 4-7 3Pt
3. Deron Williams, G, BKN, 4-7 3Pt
4. J.J. Redick, G, LAC, 4-9 3Pt
5. Isaiah Canaan, G, PHI, 4-8 3Pt
6. Terrence Ross, F, TOR, 4-7 3Pt

Minutes

1. J.J. Redick, G, LAC, 44 minutes
2. Andrew Wiggins, F, MIN, 42 minutes
3. P.J. Tucker, G, PHX, 41 minutes
4. Gary Neal, G, MIN, 41 minutes