NBA Daily Notes: Klay finds his shot; Top fantasy picks for January 9th

Welcome to another day of the NBA 2018-19 season. Yesterday, we had 8 games to watch and we have another 10 fabulous 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.

Tuesday's recap:

Washington Wizards 115-132 Philadelphia 76ers
Indiana Pacers 123-115 Cleveland Cavaliers
Denver Nuggets 103-99 Miami Heat
Atlanta Hawks 101-104 Toronto Raptors
Minnesota Timberwolves 119-117 Oklahoma City Thunder
Sacramento Kings 111-115 Phoenix Suns
New York Knicks 95-122 Golden State Warriors
Charlotte Hornets 109-128 Los Angeles Clippers

Highlights:

1. Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets): 29 points, 11-21 FG, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 block and 3 TOs.

2. Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves): 40 points, 11-24 FG, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 1 TO.

3. Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors): 43 points, 18-29 FG, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 1 TOs.

Lowlights:

1. Trevor Ariza (Washington Wizards): 2 points, 1-7 FG, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 TO.

2. Alex Len (Atlanta Hawks): 0 points, 0-4 FG, 6 rebounds and 1 block.

3. Damyean Dotson (New York Knicks): 0 points, 0-7 FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals.

Tuesday's takeaway:

The Washington Wizards played against the Philadelphia 76ers in a huge win for the 76ers, 132-115. The Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers faced off in a game where the Cavaliers lost again, 115-123. The Denver Nuggets played out a close contest against the Miami Heat, overcoming them, only just, 103-99.
The lowly Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto Raptors faced each other in a surprisingly competitive match, which the Raptors finally won, 104-101. The Thibodeau-less Minnesota Timberwolves got their first win under Saunders, a huge one, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 119-117. The Phoenix Suns, missing Devin Booker, managed a surprising win over the Sacramento Kings, 115-111.
The New York Knicks went up against the current NBA champions Golden State Warriors, with Warriors blowing them off the court, 122-95, courtesy of a special Klay Thompson performance. The final game of the night was the Los Angeles Clippers against the Charlotte Hornets, which the Los Angeles Clippers won, with ease, 128-109.

Wednesday's games:

Philadelphia 76ers @ Washington Wizards
Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics
Atlanta Hawks @ Brooklyn Nets
Milwaukee Bucks @ Houston Rockets
Cleveland Cavaliers @ New Orleans Pelicans
San Antonio Spurs @ Memphis Grizzlies
Phoenix Suns @ Dallas Mavericks
Orlando Magic @ Utah Jazz
Chicago Bulls @ Portland Trail Blazers
Detroit Pistons @ Los Angeles Lakers

PG 1 - Mike Conley Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)

Memphis Grizzlies are struggling to play good basketball

The Memphis Grizzlies are struggling right now. They had started the season great but have now gone on a six-game losing streak.

They have won just two of their last 10 and have an 18-22 record, lying in the 13th spot. They still are being powered by some great performances by their point guard, Mike Conley Jr.

Conley has been a star all season, averaging more than 20 points per game, along with 6 assists and just over 3 rebounds per game as well.

Conley, even though he is playing through nagging injuries and playing well, hasn't been able to guide the Grizzlies to a win to end their losing streak.

In the loss against the Pelicans, Conley scored a huge 22 points and even dished out 10 assists, along with 2 rebounds and 2 steals.

The Grizzlies will be hoping that Conley and the rest of the team can figure out a way to end this slide down the Western Conference tomorrow against the San Antonio Spurs.

Alternate pick: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)

PG 2 - Kyrie Irving (Boston Celtics)

Boston Celtics need to be playing better

The Boston Celtics have been underperforming all season long and are lying in the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference.

They have a 24-15 record and have been performing better of late, winning six of their last 10 and going on a three-game winning streak. The return of their star guard, will only make them better, moving forward.

Irving, who has just returned after an eye injury, has been playing really well of late. He is averaging just under 23 points per game, along with more than 6 assists and 5 rebounds per game as well.

After returning from his eye injury in the last game, Kyrie seemed a little rusty, scoring 17 points along with 6 assists, 2 rebounds and 3 big steals.

He was great in the 28 minutes he had on the court and he and the Celtics will be hoping to get their fourth win on the trot tomorrow against the Indiana Pacers.

Alternate pick: Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)

SG 1 - James Harden (Houston Rockets)

The Houston Rockets are a two-man show, with James Harden stealing all the limelight there is from Clint Capela. Rockets are climbing fast up the Western Conference and are already at the fifth spot, with a 23-16 record.

They have won eight of their last 10 matches and are now just 3.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets at the top. One man who is responsible for most of their meteoric rise to the playoff spots, its James Harden.

Harden has been having a golden stretch. He is playing some very high-level basketball and is averaging just under 34 points per game for the season, with 9 assists and 6 rebounds as well.

In his past three games, he's averaged 38 points and 12 assists with 7 rebounds and a steal and a block, which are some crazy numbers. The Rockets will be hoping Harden continues this amazing streak he is on tomorrow against the Milwaukee Bucks and gets them the win.

Alternate pick: N/A

SG 2 - DeMar DeRozan (San Antonio Spurs)

San Antonio Spurs are playing some superb basketball of late

The San Antonio Spurs are a team that are also rising up the Western Conference standing, steadily. Popovich seems to have figured out the best lineup and tactics and is making use of them in the best way possible.

The Spurs are sixth in the West, with a 24-17 record. They have won eight of their last 10 and are on a massive five-game winning streak.

DeRozan has been the star player that is leading their charge into the playoff spots, averaging more than 22 points per game, along with a career-high 6.4 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game as well.

He has become the star ball handler as well as a scorer for the San Antonio Spurs this season.

DeRozan, in the win over the Detroit Pistons, had a great game, scoring 26 points, along with 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks, filling up the stat sheet. The Spurs would want him playing at the same level tomorrow against the struggling Memphis Grizzlies.

Alternate pick: Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)

SF 1 - TJ Warren (Phoenix Suns)

Phoenix Suns are going to stay at the bottom of the West

The Phoenix Suns are one of the worst teams in the NBA this season. They are at the bottom of the Western Conference and are struggling to get wins.

They have a 9-32 record and have lost eight of their last 10 matches. Even with Booker and Warren returning from their respective injuries, they were only able to sustain the run for a few games. It's back to square one for the Sun's again.

Warren, even in the face of a bad season for the Suns, is playing some really good basketball. He is the second scorer after Booker in this team and is averaging a sweet 19 points per game, along with 4 rebounds but just 2 assists.

He is also a great defender and manages to get a steal a game as well. In the win over the Sacramento Kings, Warren was the main scorer in the absence of Devin Booker, scoring 21 points, along with 4 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal as well.

As long as Booker is out, Warren's value to the Suns becomes a lot more and you can expect him to take on a big role against the Dallas Mavericks if Booker does not make in onto the floor.

Alternate pick: Otto Porter Jr. (Washington Wizards)

SF 2 - Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)

Milwaukee Bucks are on top of the Eastern Conference

The Milwaukee Bucks have been playing great basketball this season, exceeding expectations and are currently at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 28-11 record.

They have won eight of their last 10 and won their previous matchup against the Utah Jazz, 114-102. Khris Middleton has been one of the top contributors to this run that the Bucks have put together this season.

Middleton has been playing really well this season as the 2nd scorer for the Bucks, averaging just under 18 points per game, along with more than 5 rebounds and just over 4 assists per game as well.

He is still a great defender and manages to average more than a steal per game for the Bucks.

In the win against the Utah Jazz, Middleton managed to score 14 points on some shoddy shooting but managed to grab 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a quick steal as well, making up for his missed shots with some good all-round display.

With the Bucks playing the Rockets tomorrow, look out for Middleton to answer the Rockets' 3s, with some of his own.

Alternate pick: Harrison Barnes (Dallas Mavericks)

PF 1 - Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons)

Detroit Pistons can't seem to get a bunch of wins together

The Detroit Pistons are struggling to get anything going for them this season. After an amazing start to their season, they have limped to the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference, with a 17-21 record.

They have lost seven of their last 10 matches and are on a two-game losing streak as well. All this even after some absolutely majestic performances by their star forward, Blake Griffin.

Griffin has been absolutely amazing for the Pistons this season. He has been playing better than ever, averaging a career-high 25 points per game, along with more than 8 rebounds per game and just over 5 assists as well, enjoying a superb season.

He has started off January on fire, averaging 31 points per game, along with 6 assists and 7 rebounds. In the loss against the San Antonio Spurs, Griffin scored a huge 34 points, dished out 8 assists but grabbed just 2 rebounds.

Griffin will be hoping to break the Pistons out of their slump tomorrow against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Alternate pick: John Collins (Atlanta Hawks)

PF 2 - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

Milwaukee Bucks are leading the Eastern Conference

As we read in one of our previous slides, The Milwaukee Bucks have been exceptional this season, currently at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 28-11 record.

They have won eight of their last 10 and won their previous matchup against the Utah Jazz, 114-102. One man has been dragging them throughout matches to their wins and it is the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Giannis has been truly unstoppable this season for the Bucks and is also the front runner for the MVP title this season, as per most experts. He is averaging a solid 26 points per game, along with more than 12 rebounds and 6 assists a game this season.

In the win over the Utah Jazz, Giannis was somewhat unstoppable, scoring 30 points in 35 minutes and grabbed 10 rebounds.

He even had 2 assists, a steal and 2 big blocks, before getting fouled out. Bucks will be hoping Giannis brings his A-game against the Houston Rockets, who have been red-hot this past month.

Alternate pick: N/A

C 1 - Clint Capela (Houston Rockets)

Houston Rockets are really on fire right now

The Houston Rockets have been on a tear recently and are already at the 5th spot, with a 23-16 record.

They have won eight of their last 10 matches and are now just 3.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets at the top. Even though James Harden has received a lot of the credit and deservedly so, his partner in crime, Clint Capela is playing like an absolute monster as well.

Capela has been quietly putting up some amazing numbers during this stellar rise of the Houston Rockets. He is averaging just under 18 points a game, along with 13 rebounds and just over an assist a game.

His rim protection has been elite, as he has managed to get 2 blocks a game as well over the course of this season.

In the win over the Denver Nuggets, Capela scored a massive 31 points off 72% shooting from the field and had 9 rebounds, along with 2 assists and 2 steals.

His game has just improved leaps and bounds and the Rockets really need him if they want to beat Giannis and the Bucks.

Alternate pick: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

C 2 - Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)

New Orleans Pelicans are finally playing better now

The New Orleans Pelicans are finally moving up the Western Conference. They have struggled to put wins together and get on a streak but that has largely been due to injuries to their starters.

With now Payton back to full fitness and Mirotic close to returning, Anthony Davis and the Pelicans finally have some players to put around Davis. The Pelicans are now 12th in the Western Conference, with a 19-22 record and have gone on a 2 game winning streak.

Davis has been carrying the Pelicans all season long, is averaging just under a massive 29 points per game, along with more than 13 rebounds and just over 4 assists a game as well.

Apart from being one of the MVP favourites, he is also a defensive player of the year favourite, averaging 2 steals and over 2 blocks a game.

In the win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Davis scored a huge 36 points, along with 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 huge blocks, shooting 70% from the field.

He is certainly fired up and if the Pelicans keeping winning, he has a great chance at becoming the MVP this season.

Alternate pick: N/A