NBA Daily Notes:James Harden can't stop scoring; Top fantasy picks for January 15th

Welcome to another day of the NBA 2018-19 season. Yesterday, we had six games to watch and we have six games to review tomorrow.

Let's analyse some of the meaningful performances from the last night, results of the matches and the top players to look out for in the matches tomorrow.

Monday's recap:

Boston Celtics 102-109 Brooklyn Nets
Memphis Grizzlies 94-112 Houston Rockets
Charlotte Hornets 108-93 San Antonio Spurs
Detroit Pistons 94-100 Utah Jazz
Portland Trail Blazers 107-115 Sacramento Kings
New Orleans Pelicans 121-117 Los Angeles Clippers

Highlights:

1. James Harden (Houston Rockets): 57 points, 17-33 FG, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 5 TOs.

2. Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans): 46 points, 16-34 FG, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 1 TO.

Lowlights:

1. Jae Crowder (Utah Jazz): 2 points, 0-6 FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 TOs.

2. CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers): 6 points, 2-14 FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 3 TOs.

Monday's takeaways:

The Boston Celtics kicked it off with the Brooklyn Nets and ended up getting handed a loss, 102-109. The Memphis Grizzlies played against the Houston Rockets and were blown away by James Harden, 94-112. Charlotte Hornets faced off against the San Antonio Spurs in an interesting game, with the Hornets coming away with the victory, 108-93.
The Detroit Pistons went up against the Utah Jazz in an interesting game, with the Jazz coming out on top, 100-94. The Sacramento Kings played a tough match against the Portland Trail Blazers but came out on top, 115-107. In the final game of the night, the Los Angeles Clippers went up against the New Orleans Pelicans, with the Pelicans coming out on top, 121-117.

Tuesday's games:

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns @ Indiana Pacers
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat @ Milwaukee Bucks
Golden State Warriors @ Denver Nuggets
Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Lakers

PG 1 - Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)

Preview:

The Philadelphia 76ers are playing some good basketball of late and have even acquired a star player in Jimmy Butler, strengthening their chances of an Eastern Conference finals run. They are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference, with a 28-16 record. They have of late lost a bit of form, winning just six of their last 10.

Last 3 games:

13/1/2019: Win against New York Knicks, 108-105
11/1/2019: Loss against Atlanta Hawks, 121-123
9/1/2019: Loss against Washington Wizards, 106-123

Player performances and review:

Ben Simmons has been playing some astonishing basketball of late. With Embiid and Butler being in and out of the team due to nagging injuries, Simmons has been playing really well.

He is averaging more than 16 points a game, along with more than 9 rebounds and 8 assists a game.

In the win against the New York Knicks, Simmons had a superb game, scoring 20 points, along with 22 rebounds, 9 assists.

Alternate pick: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

PG 2 - Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Oklahoma City Thunder are playing some great basketball of late

Preview:

The Oklahoma City Thunder are having an amazing season so far and are currently third in the Western Conference. They are sitting on the third spot, with a 26-16 record and were currently in a rough patch, going on a three-game losing streak but winning their latest game.

Last 3 games:

12/1/2019: Win against the San Antonio Spurs, 122-112
10/1/2019 - Loss against San Antonio Spurs, 147-154
8/1/2019 - Loss against Minnesota Timberwolves, 117-119

Player performances and review:

Russell Westbrook is having a great season as of now, averaging a triple-double for the season. He is scoring at an average of 21 points per game, along with just under 11 assists and 11 rebounds per game.

He has regressed while shooting from the three-point line but is still playing at an elite level and making up for it with the huge amount of steals. In the win over the San Antonio Spurs, Westbrook scored 24 points, with 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals.

Alternate pick: Justise Winslow (Miami Heat)

SG 1 - Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers)

Indiana Pacers are playing really well this season

Preview:

The Indiana Pacers have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season. They are currently third in the Eastern Conference, with a 28-14 record. They have won eight of their last 10 matches and will be looking to keep their strong form going.

Last 3 games:

11/1/2019: Win against New York Knicks, 121-106
9/1/2019: Loss against Boston Celtics, 108-135
8/1/2019: Win against Cleveland Cavaliers, 123-115

Player performances and review:

Victor Oladipo has been playing some solid basketball this season. Apart from missing a bunch of games due to a knee injury, he has stayed fairly healthy and is playing at the level he did last season as well.

He is averaging just under 20 points per game this season, along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists a game.

They have been more unpredictable of late and in the win against the New York Knicks, Oladipo just played 28 minutes, scoring 19 points, along with 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal.

Alternate pick: Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)

SG 2 - Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)

Chicago Bulls are one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference

Preview:

The Chicago Bulls are not one of the teams that will even remotely be looking to compete for anything this year.

They are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference and have a 10-33 record. They have won just two of their last 10 games and are on a seven-game losing streak right now.

Last 3 games:

12/1/2019: Loss against Utah Jazz, 102-110
11/1/2019: Loss against Golden State Warriors, 109-146
9/1/2019: Loss against Portland Trail Blazers, 112-124

Player performances and review:

Zach LaVine has been one of the brightest lights in an otherwise drab and dull season for the Chicago Bulls.

He has been playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging just under 24 points a game, along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists a game.

He has stayed clear of injuries too for the most part, which has helped his case. In the loss against the Jazz, Lavine had 21 points, with an assist, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and a block, all in 29 minutes.

Alternate pick: Jimmy Butler (Philadelphia 76ers)

SF 1 - Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Oklahoma City Thunder are playing some lovely basketball this season

Preview:

The Oklahoma City Thunder are having an amazing season so far and are currently 3rd in the Western Conference. They are sitting on the 3rd spot, with a 26-16 record and won their latest game. They have won only five of their last 10 games and will be looking to improve on that record.

Last 3 games:

12/1/2019: Win against the San Antonio Spurs, 122-112
10/1/2019 - Loss against San Antonio Spurs, 147-154
8/1/2019 - Loss against Minnesota Timberwolves, 117-119

Player performances and review:

Paul George has been playing out of his mind recently and has exceeded all expectations of this season.

He is averaging a career high in scoring, just under 27 points a game. He is also pulling down a huge 8 rebounds a game and also has dished out at least 4 assists a game.

In the win over the Spurs, George couldn't really find his shot, scoring just 18 points but managed to grab a double-double, getting 11 rebounds, along with 4 assists and 2 steals.

Alternate pick: TJ Warren (Phoenix Suns)

SF 2 - Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors)

Golden State Warriors are finally getting into a rhythm

Preview:

The Golden State Warriors are slowly and steadily looking like a championship caliber team that they are.

They have been either pulled down by injuries or just a lack of motivation to play sometimes, they are not at the top of the Western Conference as expected.

They are second, with a 29-14 record right now. They have won seven of their last 10 games and are on a four-game winning streak.

Last 3 games:

13/1/2019: Win against Dallas Mavericks, 119-114
11/1/2019: Win against Chicago Bulls, 146-109
8/1/2019: Win against New York Knicks, 122-95

Player performance and review:

Kevin Durant has been the glue guy for this Warriors team this season. Everyone has been dealing with injuries or a loss in form apart from Kevin Durant. He has been the most consistent player on the Warriors roster.

He is averaging over 28 points per game, along with at least 7 rebounds and 6 assists a game. In the most recent game, a win over the Dallas Mavericks, Durant had a solid game, scoring 28 points, along with 5 assists, 7 rebounds, a steals and 2 blocks.

Alternate pick: Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)

PF 1 - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

Milwaukee Bucks are playing way better than most expected

Preview:

The Milwaukee Bucks are playing some superb basketball this season and have truly surprised a lot of people. They are currently in second place with a 30-12 record.

The Bucks have won eight of their 10 matches and people are finally realizing that they are a legitimate contender for the Eastern Conference title.

Last 3 games:

13/1/2019: Win against the Atlanta Hawks, 133-114
11/1/2019: Loss to the Washington Wizards, 106-113
9/1/2019: Win against the Houston Rockets, 116-109

Player performance and review:

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of those players you just cannot leave out of your team unless he is injured. He is the frontrunner for the MVP title this season and is playing like one too.

He is averaging under 27 points per game, along with more than 12 rebounds a game and just under 6 assists as well. In the win over the Hawks, Giannis had a huge 33 points, along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block, all in 31 minutes.

Alternate pick: N/A

PF 2 - Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers)

Indiana Pacers have another candidate for Most Improved Player of the year

Preview:

The Indiana Pacers have been one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season. They are currently third in the Eastern Conference, with a 28-14 record.

They have won eight of their last 10 matches and will be looking to keep their strong form going.

Last 3 games:

11/1/2019: Win against New York Knicks, 121-106
9/1/2019: Loss against Boston Celtics, 108-135
8/1/2019: Win against Cleveland Cavaliers, 123-115

Player performances and review:

Domantas Sabonis was considered just another young player when the Thunder gave him up along with Victor Oladipo for Paul George, but how he has proved them wrong.

He is playing some amazing basketball this season, making heads turn. Sabonis is averaging just under 16 points a game, along with almost 10 rebounds and 3 assists a game.

With Myles Turner out injured, Sabonis is handling most of the load and in the win over the Knicks, he scored 22 points, along with 15 rebounds and 3 assists.

Alternate pick: Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers)

C 1 - Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

Denver Nuggets are one of the best teams in the Western Conference

Preview:

The Denver Nuggets have enjoyed one of their best seasons till now in recent memory. They are currently on top of the Western Conference. They have a 29-13 record and have won 8 of their last 10 matches.

Last 3 games:

13/1/2019: Win against the Portland Trail Blazers, 116-113
12/1/2019: Loss against the Phoenix Suns, 93-102
10/1/2019: Win against the Los Angeles Clippers, 121-100

Player performance and review:

Nikola Jokic is one of best big men in the league at this point in time. His vision and playmaking ability is one that is unmatched by any other big man in the league right now. He has been vaulted into MVP discussions based on his amazing play this season.

He is averaging just under 20 points a game, along with 10 rebounds and more than 7 assists a game.

His ability to find a teammate is unmatched and with his great three-point shooting ability, he spaces the floor like no other center. In the win over the Blazers, Jokic exploded for 40 points, along with 10 rebounds and 8 assists.

The Nuggets will be hoping this play continues and leads them on towards a Western Conference title.

Alternate pick: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

C 2 - Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Minnesota Timberwolves are a team caught in flux

Preview:

The Minnesota Timberwolves having a rollercoaster of a season. From Jimmy Butler calling out the front office and his teammates, to him finally getting traded, they have gone through a lot of off-court drama.

They are currently 11th in the Western Conference, even after all this, their on-court chemistry seems intact. They have a 21-22 record and won six of their last 10 matches.

Last 3 games:

1. 12/1/2019: Win against the New Orleans Pelicans, 110-106

2. 11/1/2019: Loss against the Dallas Mavericks, 114-119

3. 8/1/2019: Win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 119-117.

Player performance and review:

Karl-Anthony Towns has started playing at an amazing level this season after Jimmy Butler was traded to the 76ers.

He has been going off lately and has improved his defense as well. He has been averaging more than 22 points per game, along with just under 13 rebounds as well and 3 assists a game as well.

His improved defense has been a long time coming and is now showing. In the win over the New Orleans Pelicans, he scored 27 points, along with 27 rebounds and 3 assists as well. He had 2 steals and 4 massive blocks as well, winning the duel against Anthony Davis.

Alternate pick: Steven Adams (Oklahoma City Thunder)