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Box Score Breakdown: Onuaku Flow

There are two days left, and unfortunately, these last couple days feel like we are watching a different sport. A sport when a guy called Arinze Onuaku may become the player who decides a fantasy championship. Strange times indeed. With teams either packing up for the season, or preparing for the next phase, there are basically one or two games each night that have any relevance and that is reflected in the box scores. And if, as J.J. Calle put it yesterday, RotoWire is resting their starters and he is a sixth man, then you are stuck with RotoWire's Arinze Onuaku today, for my final Box Score Breakdown of the season.

M.I.A.

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

  • Rockets
    • Dwight Howard (back-to-back)
  • Hornets
    • Cody Zeller (shoulder
    • Al Jefferson (knee)
    • Mo Williams (DNP-CD)
  • Sixers
    • Jason Richardson (knee)
    • Nerlens Noel (ankle)
    • Luc Mbah a Moute (shoulder)
  • Bulls
    • Joakim Noah (hamstring)
  • Nets
    • Alan Anderson (ankle)
  • Magic
    • Evan Fournier (hip)
  • Hawks
    • Dennis Schröder (rest)
    • Paul Millsap (shoulder)
  • Pelicans
    • Jrue Holiday (rest)
  • Timberwolves
    • Kevin Martin (illness)
  • Trail Blazers
    • Steve Blake (DNP-CD)
    • LaMarcus Trail Blazers (sore foot)
  • Mavericks
    • Chandler Parsons (knee)
    • Monta Ellis (rest)
    • Tyson Chandler (rest)
    • Dirk Nowitzki (rest)
  • Jazz
    • Trey Burke (back)
    • Derrick Favors (rest)
    • Gordon Hayward (Achilles)
  • Lakers
    • Wesley Johnson (ankle)
    • Robert Sacre (DNP-CD)
  • Nuggets
    • Jameer Nelson (hip)
    • Ty Lawson (rest)
    • Danilo Gallinari (rest)
  • Grizzlies
    • Mike Conley (foot)

FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT

If it's not Steph Curry garnering line of the night honors, it's his partner-in-crime, Klay Thompson. Thompson knocked down a Curry-esque eight three-pointers for 42 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and one steal in a performance that didn't even crack 30 minutes. The Warriors are scary.

ROTATION NOTES AND QUIRKS

Mo Williams is officially out of the rotation in Charlotte, meaning Troy Daniels and Brian Roberts are picking up the slack of Williams and Lance Stephenson. Both guys played 28 minutes Monday, with the Roberts the star, scoring 23 points with five three-pointers. There is nowhere near the value Williams brings, and I'd be avoiding them in standard leagues for the most part.

The Cavs regained the services of J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, but Irving lasted just a half before exiting with hip soreness. The chances of seeing these players Wednesday appears minimal, so make your decisions appropriately. Matthew Dellavedova, Iman Shumpert and Tristan Thompson may become worthwhile additions.

With Joakim Noah out, Taj Gibson got a start and excelled, scoring 15 points with nine rebounds and four blocks, forcing Nikola Mirotic into a bigger role, where he scored 26 points with six three-pointers and three steals. Needless to say, if Noah remains out Wednesday, Mirotic and Gibson jump right back into standard league must-add territory.

Bojan Bogdanovic is averaging 31 minutes in his last four games and played another 33 minutes Monday, scoring 17 points with three three-pointers. With Alan Anderson still sidelined, the rookie is worth a look for points and triples, but not much else for Wednesday's action.

Aaron Gordon replaced Dewayne Dedmon in the starting lineup, playing 32 minutes, scoring six rebounds, two steals and two blocks, and he should retain this role for the season finale. If you need defensive numbers, Gordon may be a nice pickup, but beware the percentages.

After tearing apart the Magic on Saturday, Derek Fisher did the only logical thing and played Cole Aldrich just 10 minutes. If there is ever a right move to make, trust in Fisher to do the exact opposite. You can however, place a little trust in Langston Galloway and Jason Smith for the final game, as their output has been stable.

Galloway hit six triples for 26 points with six assists, while Smith had 20 points with nine rebounds and two blocks Monday.

The Hawks, like the Cavs, had the services of their starters Monday, but whether we are treated to that again Wednesday is anybody's guess. If we have wholesale resting, Kent Bazemore, Mike Muscala, Mike Scott, Shelvin Mack, John Jenkins and Elton Brand become interesting guys.

Both Justin Hamilton and Chase Budinger couldn't finish the game, putting their status for Wednesday in doubt, leaving the Timberwolves with the aforementioned Arinze Onuaku as a potential NBA starter. Onuaku played 16 minutes Monday, scoring nine points with eight rebounds and two blocks and if you need center number you could do worse than someone who has literally no competition.

Robbie Hummel will also play more minutes, after he scored a double double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes Monday.

Meyers Leonard nailed five triples in a start for LaMarcus Aldridge, and with Chris Kaman also doubtful for Wednesday, Leonard and Joel Freeland, who had 16 points, become guys who may need to log big minutes.

The Blazers also suffered injuries to C.J. McCollum and Nicolas Batum, thinning out their wing rotation. McCollum is a chance to play Wednesday, but it is exceedingly unlikely that Batum suits up, so with Arron Afflalo already out, Alonzo Gee and Allan Crabbe will see more run. Crabbe had four points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes, while Gee scored 11 points with five boards in 24 minutes.

Tim Frazier, formerly of the Sixers, played 27 minutes and with Steve Blake sitting out as a DNP-CD, an add of Frazier for assists only, may be a sneaky move for Wednesday.

With Dallas sitting all starters bar Rajon Rondo, it was 2005 throwback night in Utah, with Charlie Villanueva, Richard Jefferson and Amar'e Stoudemire all starting. If the resting continues, Charlie, plus Al-Farouq Aminu become interesting guys. Aminu double-doubled with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Charlie V had three triples in his 22 minutes.

Utah is also shutting down Gordon Hayward, Trey Burke and Derrick Favors, likely for the season, so Rodney Hood, Trevor Booker and to a lesser extent, Joe Ingles become intriguing. Booker had 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Hood struggled to score just six points, but he did take 11 shots. Those two are must own, while Ingles is a near lock for two three-pointers per night, averaging exactly 2.0 triples in his past seven games.

The Lakers' backcourt is almost thinned to the point of ridiculousness, with Jordan Clarkson the latest to succumb, spraining his ankle after playing 47 minutes. He thinks he'll be okay to play Wednesday, but there's a chance he doesn't push it. At the two, Jabari Brown played 46 minutes, scoring 18 points with seven assists and the minutes should be there again, making him a must-add player and if Clarkson misses, recently signed Vander Blue will have to log big minutes. Blue played 26 minutes for seven points and two steals, but his opportunity could skyrocket.

Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer returned to the rotation and will likely persist there Wednesday and I'd be adding Hill and Ed Davis. Davis grabbed 14 boards, while Hill had 18 points and six boards.

The Nuggets rested Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari for the 2016 playoffs, forcing Erick Green and Gary Harris into the starting lineup. Randy Foye is a must-own, scoring 16 points, with seven rebounds and eight assists, but if you are struggling for threes, Harris is a nice addition.

NIGHTLY LEADERS

Points

  1. Klay Thompson, G, GSW, 42 points
  2. Russell Westbrook, G, OKC, 36 points
  3. Wilson Chandler, F, DEN, 32 points

Rebounds

  1. DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC, 21 rebounds
  2. Rudy Gobert, C, UTA, 17 rebounds
  3. Kenneth Faried, F, DEN, 17 rebounds

Assists

  1. LeBron James, F, CLE, 11 assists
  2. Chris Paul, G, LAC, 9 assists
  3. Jeff Teague, G, ATL, 9 assists
  4. Ish Smith, G, PHI, 9 assists

Steals

  1. Jordan Clarkson, G, LAL, 5 steals
  2. Victor Oladipo, G, ORL, 4 steals
  3. 11 players tied with 3 steals

Blocks

  1. Anthony Davis, F, NOP, 6 blocks
  2. John Henson, C, MIL, 6 blocks
  3. Hassan Whiteside, C, MIA, 5 blocks
  4. Justin Hamilton, C, MIN, 5 blocks

Three-Pointers

  1. Klay Thompson, G, GSW, 8-10 3Pt
  2. J.R. Smith, G, CLE, 8-13 3Pt
  3. Langston Galloway, G, NYK, 6-6 3Pt
  4. Wilson Chandler, F, DEN, 6-10 3Pt
  5. Nikola Mirotic, F, CHI, 6-11 3Pt
  6. Caron Butler, F, DET, 6-9 3Pt

Minutes

  1. Jordan Clarkson, G, LAL, 47 minutes
  2. Jabari Brown, G, LAL, 46 minutes
  3. Zach LaVine, G, MIN, 45 minutes