Basketball Pickups: Malik Monk shines as a playmaker

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While Kings guard Malik Monk (54% rostered, Yahoo) is rostered in more than half of all Yahoo leagues, his value has jumped since returning from a sprained ankle that sidelined him for seven games. He’s played 35 minutes or more in four straight games, starting the last two and scoring at least 17 points in all four. Monk’s performance in Tuesday’s win over the Rockets may have been the best of the bunch despite him “only” scoring 17 points.

He was also responsible for a career-high 12 assists, two rebounds, one steal, and four 3-pointers, shooting 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line. Also, Monk did not commit a single turnover on the night. Over the last week, he’s ranked 7th in Basketball Monster’s rankings, averaging 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 5.0 3-pointers per game. Expecting Monk to continue to play at this level would be a bit much. However, the starters’ minutes give him a legitimate chance of being more than a top-80 fantasy player.

Let’s look at some of the other top pickups from Tuesday’s 11-game slate, beginning with a Rockets player on the wrong end of that highly competitive matchup in Sacramento.

Tari Eason (53%), Houston Rockets

Eason’s rostered percentage lags behind fellow Rockets reserve Amen Thompson (81%), but that gap may be closing. Eason finished Tuesday’s loss to the Kings with 16 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, three steals, and one 3-pointer. Given his role and skill set, he continues to provide top-50 per-game value in 9-cat formats, which may not change anytime soon. However, the one concern in Tuesday’s loss’s immediate aftermath was Eason’s reportedly having to be held back from going after a heckler in the stands. We’ll see how that plays out, but a suspension would undoubtedly harm Eason’s fantasy value.

Nick Richards (39%), Charlotte Hornets

Mark Williams made his long-awaited return to the court on Tuesday, but the Hornets wouldn’t take any chances with him. He only played nine minutes in the loss to Philadelphia, with Richards starting and logging 30. Nick was excellent, finishing with 22 points, 14 rebounds, two assists,…

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Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-04 08:13:00

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