fBasketballBlog

Behold, a sleeper awoken. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Beast of the Night: Paul George posted 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two three-pointers in a win over the Pistons. He shot 40 percent (6-15) from the floor and 87 percent (13-15) from the free-throw line, and had one turnover. Though George has been a bit unsteady this month, for the season he’s been a top 40 fantasy basketball asset. He should be viewed as that, if not a bit more, heading into next season’s drafts.

Lines for Discussion:
Greg Monroe: 8-15 FG (53%), 2-6 FT (33%), 18 Pts, 12 Reb, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 5 TO; Monroe gives fantasy owners everything they want from a center; the only thing holding him back from stud status is his 2.5 turnovers per game, which outweighs his 2.3 assists per game

Tony Allen: 6-9 FG (67%), 1-2 FT (50%), 13 Pts, 8 Reb, 1 Ast, 8 Stl, 1 Blk, 1 TO; Allen’s primary fantasy basketball virtue is his exceptional thieving

Wesley Matthews: 9-24 FG (38%), 3-3 FT (100%), 3 threes, 24 Pts, 6 Reb, 2 Ast, 4 Stl; Matthews, who’s been a top 50 asset this season, is finishing the season on a strong note, thanks in part to injuries on that Blazers roster

Waiver-Wire Watch (four stars = must add; one star = keep an eye on him):
Jason Maxiell: 10 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 Blk (*)

Charlie Villanueva: 13 Pts, 3 threes, 3 Reb, 1 Stl, 1 TO (****)

Jan Vesely: 16 Pts, 6 Reb, 1 Ast, 4 Stl, 1 TO (**)

Leandro Barbosa: 13 Pts, 1 three, 9 Reb, 2 Ast, 4 Stl, 1 TO (***)

MarShon Brooks: 18 Pts, 1 three, 2 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 TO (****)

Danny Green: 18 Pts, 4 threes, 2 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Blk, 2 TO (****)

Injuries:
George Hill (shoulder, rest): will play in Wednesday’s finale

Roy Hibbert (rest): ditto

Danny Granger (rest): won’t play Wednesday

Quincy Pondexter (knee): out

Malcolm Lee (illness): day-to-day

Luc Mbah a Moute (knee): day-to-day

Elton Brand (rest): won’t play in the Sixers’ final two games

Andre Iguodala (rest): ditto

Channing Frye (shoulder): questionable tonight

Jamal Crawford (knee): day-to-day

DeMarcus Cousins (suspension): monitor his status

Matt Barnes (ankle): monitor his status

Dwyane Wade (finger): uncertain that he’ll play in Miami’s final two games

Carlos Delfino (groin): day-to-day

Luke Ridnour (ankle): won’t play in the Timberwolves’ final game Thursday

Jordan Farmar (groin): day-to-day

Shelden Williams (knee): day-to-day

Deron Williams (calf): day-to-day

Tyson Chandler (knee): plans to play Wednesday

Grant Hill (knee): uncertain for tonight

For Tonight:
See if Derrick Favors and Shannon Brown can have big nights, as the Suns visit the Jazz.