NBA Daily Notes: The Lakers lose again; Top fantasy picks for January 7th

Welcome to another day of the NBA 2018-19 season. Yesterday, we had 7 games to watch and we have another 8 great 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.

The Lakers lost again

Sunday's recap

Los Angeles Lakers 86-108 Minnesota Timberwolves
Brooklyn Nets 117-100 Chicago Bulls
Orlando Magic 96-106 Los Angeles Clippers
Miami Heat 82-106 Atlanta Hawks
Washington Wizards 116-98 Oklahoma City Thunder
Indiana Pacers 105-121 Toronto Raptors
Charlotte Hornets 119-113 Phoenix Suns

Highlights

1. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder): 22 points, 9-23 FG, 15 rebounds, 13 assists, 1 block and 8 TOs.

2. Norman Powell (Toronto Raptors): 23 points, 10-12 FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 0 TOs.

3. Tobias Harris (Los Angeles Clippers): 28 points, 10-21 FG, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 1 TO.

Lowlights

1. Shaquille Harrison (Chicago Bulls): 0 points, 0-7 FG, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 TO.

2. Lonzo Ball (Los Angeles Lakers): 0 points, 0-4 FG, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 TO.

3. Tyler Johnson (Miami Heat): 0 points, 0-7 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 1 TO.

Sunday's takeaways

1. The Minnesota Timberwolves played the Los Angeles Lakers in a drab match where the Timberwolves won easily, 108-86. The Brooklyn Nets played the Chicago Bulls and won their game with ease, 117-100. The Los Angeles Clippers and the Orlando Magic went head to head in a tight game, which the Clippers won 106-96.

2. The Miami Heat suffered a surprise blowout loss against the struggling Atlanta Hawks, 106-82. The Washington Wizards played some impressive basketball to overcome an in-form Oklahoma City Thunder team, 116-98.

3. The Toronto Raptors faced a tough game against the Indiana Pacers but managed to come out on the top, winning 121-105. In the final game, the Charlotte Hornets faced the bottom of the Western Conference team Phoenix Suns, winning a close game, 119-113.

Monday's games

San Antonio Spurs @ Detroit Pistons
Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics
Memphis Grizzlies @ New Orleans Pelicans
Denver Nuggets @ Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz @ Milwaukee Bucks
Los Angeles Lakers @ Dallas Mavericks
Orlando Magic @ Sacramento Kings
New York Knicks @ Portland Trail Blazers

PG 1 - Mike Conley Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)

The Memphis Grizzlies have been playing really bad and are struggling of late. They have won just 2 of their last 10 matches and have lost 5 on the trot. They had started their season exceptionally well but have not been able to sustain their form.

They have an 18-21 record and are in the 12th spot, just 2.5 games behind the playoff spot so all is not yet lost. Mike Conley is the player who should be able to bring them back up to their best.

Memphis Grizzlies have been playing bad lately

Conley has been having a great season as of now, since his return from injury, averaging more than 20 points per game this season, along with 6 assists and just over 3 rebounds a game. In the loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Conley played just 25 minutes but managed to grab 21 points, along with 3 assists and 1 rebound.

The Grizzlies have been in a slump and need Conley to play at his best if they need to try and get a win against the New Orleans Pelicans tomorrow.

Alternate pick: D'Angelo Russell (Brooklyn Nets)

PG 2 - De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings)

The Sacramento Kings have been having an amazing 2018-19 NBA season. They are 10th in a highly competitive Western Conference, with a 19-20 record. They had started the season really well and surprised everyone but a recent 4 game losing streak has pulled them out of the playoff spots.

Still, they are just 2 spots behind the 8th placed Los Angeles Lakers. The improvement in the game of De'Aaron Fox has been one of the main factors why this team is doing so well this season.

Fox has been monumental to the Kings' success, averaging 18 points per game, more than 7 assists a game and 3 rebounds as well. He had started the season in amazing form and kept it going. In the loss against the Golden State Warriors, Fox had a quiet game, scoring only 8 points, with 7 assists and 2 steals. The Kings will be hoping he can bounce back against the Orlando Magic tomorrow.

Alternate pick: Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)

SG 1 - James Harden (Houston Rockets)

If the Houston Rockets are playing, then you are probably obliged to include their star player James Harden into any and every DFS lineup. He has, almost single-handedly, dragged the Rockets back into the playoff spots. They are 5th in the Western Conference, with a 22-16 record and have won 8 of their last 10 games. It's all down to whether Harden shows up on a given night or not.

Houston Rockets are finally back into the playoff spots

Harden has gone ballistic the past 10 games, not having a game below 35 points. He is averaging an eye-popping 33.7 points per game, with 8.5 assists and just under 6 rebounds a game too. With Chris Paul out for an extended period, Harden has taken over the team and dragged them to the playoff spots.

In the loss to the Blazers, Harden had 38 points, along with 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and a block. While he missed the 40 points mark by just 2, the Rockets will be hoping he steps up again tomorrow night against the Denver Nuggets.

Alternate pick: N/A

SG 2 - Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)

The Utah Jazz had a tough start to their 2018-19 NBA campaign. They were unable to get anywhere near the playoffs but have been better once their rustiness seems to have shaken off. They are now in the 9th spot, with a 20-20 record. They have won their last 2 games in a row and have 6 wins in the last 10 matches. The form of Donovan Mitchell is almost always linked to the way Utah plays.

Mitchell has had a bit of resurgence of late, averaging more than 20 points per game, along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists as well. He had a great game against the Detroit Pistons last time out, scoring 26 points, along with a clutch shot to seal the game. He even had 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and a block, filling up the stat sheet. The Jazz will be hoping his game continues and he can keep it going tomorrow as well, against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Alternate pick: DeMar DeRozan (San Antonio Spurs)

SF 1 - Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)

The Milwaukee Bucks have been playing really well this season and are at the 2nd position in the Eastern Conference. They have a 27-11 record and have won 8 of their last 10 games. Apart from the stellar display of their star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton has been playing some really great basketball this season.

Milwaukee Bucks are playing really well this season

Middleton has had a great year, scoring at an average of just under 18 points per game, along with more than 5 rebounds and just over 4 assists per game too. His 3-point sharpshooting has helped the Bucks create a lot of space in the paint for Giannis to exploit.

In the loss against the Toronto Raptors, Middleton had an average game, scoring only 14 points off 46 percent shooting, but managed to dish out 9 assists, grab 2 rebounds and a steal as well. He was in foul trouble throughout the night and that seems to have affected his game. The Bucks will be hoping he can bounce back tomorrow against the Utah Jazz and bring the Bucks back on a winning run.

Alternate pick: Gordon Hayward (Boston Celtics)

SF 2 - Bogdan Bogdanovic (Sacramento Kings)

The Sacramento Kings, as we read in one of our earlier slides, has been playing really well this season. They have a 19-20 record and are just 2 spots behind the 8th placed Los Angeles Lakers. They had started the season really well and surprised everyone but a recent 4 game losing streak has pulled them out of the playoff spots. Since his return from injury, Bogdan Bogdanovic has been amazing for the Kings.

Sacramento Kings seem to be the real deal this season

Bogdanovic has been playing really well, mostly leading the 2nd unit this season for the Kings. He is averaging just under 16 points per game, along with 4 assists and more than 3 rebounds per game.

In the last game, a loss to the Golden State Warriors, he scored a good 17 points along with 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals too. He has improved his playmaking abilities this season and the Kings will be banking on him to help break their 4-game losing streak and grab a win against the Orlando Magic.

Alternate pick: Harrison Barnes (Dallas Mavericks)

PF 1 - Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons)

The Detroit Pistons are a team that has been struggling for quite a few games, unable to find a rhythm. They are now in the 9th place in the Eastern Conference with a 17-20 record. They have won only 3 of their last 10 games and have to get something going for them if they want to get back to the playoffs. One player who is trying his best to make this happen is Blake Griffin.

Detroit Pistons are not playing well lately

Griffin has been playing some really great basketball this season, a throwback to his dominant years. He has even become an elite playmaker and 3-point shooter, making him even more versatile. He is averaging 25 points per game, with just under 9 rebounds per match and more than 5 assists each game. In the loss against the Utah Jazz, Griffin played really well, scoring 34 points, along with 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, almost getting a win but it wasn't meant to be. The Pistons will be hoping Griffin keeps his form up against the San Antonio Spurs tomorrow.

Alternate pick: LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs)

PF 2 - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

Just like James Harden, if the Milwaukee Bucks are playing one of the top teams in the NBA, then you cannot miss out on Giannis Antetokounmpo on your DFS team. He has got to be one of the first names down on your roster.

There are probably 5 must-play players each night and Giannis is one of them. The Bucks have been playing really well this season and are at the second spot in the Eastern Conference. They have a 27-11 record and have won 8 of their last 10 games.

Milwaukee Bucks are one of the best teams in the NBA right now

Antetokounmpo has become a force to reckon with this season, taking another leap, averaging more 26 points per game, along with more than 12 rebounds and just over 6 assists a game too. He has been playing some amazing defence as well, averaging well above a steal and a block per game.

In the loss to the Raptors, he had a massive 43 points, along with 18 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. His teammates were unable to back him up as well and the Bucks will be hoping he plays at the same level against the Utah Jazz tomorrow.

Alternate pick: N/A

C 1 - Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)

Talking about a player who needs to be on your DFS list no matter what, Anthony Davis is another star you cannot miss out on. The New Orleans Pelicans might be struggling a lot to really get going this season, but Anthony Davis just cannot stop playing like the MVP. Pelicans are 14th in the West, with an 18-22 record having won just 3 of their last 10 games, even with Davis playing at such a high level.

New Orleans Pelicans need to start stringing some wins together

Davis has been a monster this season, seemingly getting over his injuries and performing like an MVP contender.

He is averaging more than 28 points per game, along with 13 rebounds and 4 assist as well. He is one of the best defenders in the NBA, averaging just under 2 steals and 3 blocks a game.

In the win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Davis only had 20 points in just 29 minutes, pulling down 10 rebounds and 3 assists. He managed to grab 4 steals and 2 blocks as well and the Pelicans will be hoping he comes with all guns blazing tomorrow against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Alternate pick: N/A

C 2 - Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

The Denver Nuggets have been playing some exceptional basketball this NBA season. They are at the top of the Western Conference, with a 26-11 record. They have won 8 of their last 10 games and have gone on a 5-match winning streak. They are enjoying the game out there and playing to win each game and Nikola Jokic is to be one of the players who seems to have a point to prove this season.

Denver are at the top of the Western Conference

Jokic has been playing so well that he has catapulted into MVP discussions of late. He is averaging just under 19 points per game, along with 10 rebounds and over 7 assists a game, which is amazing for a big man.

In the win over the Charlotte Hornets, Jokic had a killer game, scoring 39 points, along with 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block. His numbers have been amazing and the Nuggets would love for Jokic to continue playing at this level tomorrow as well against the Houston Rockets.

Alternate pick: Clint Capela (Houston Rockets)