It was a night to remember as Luka Dončić notched a triple-double against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, helping the Los Angeles Lakers secure a gritty 107-99 victory. Luka posted 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, continuing to flash his all-around brilliance. Dončić had a few signature moments, notably his filthy no-look pass to Austin Reaves.
Luka, staring down Mavs GM Nico Harrison and the LA crowd chanting, “Thank You, Nico,” also stood out. Despite the memorable performance, Dončić has been shooting just 38% from the field since donning the purple and gold, while his shot attempts have dropped by six per game from his time in Dallas. I’m not worried and fantasy managers shouldn’t be either.
Meanwhile, LeBron James continues to roll back the clock with 27 points, 12 rebounds and an effortless ability to take over the game. Fantasy managers should also take notice of Austin Reaves, who has thrived as a steady third option. He chipped in 20 points, 5 assists, and 3 triples, proving his value across all formats. Just know that Luka won’t shoot 38% much longer and Reaves shot volume could dip in time.
Conversely, the Mavericks relied heavily on Kyrie Irving, who scored 35 points and made five threes. However, with limited scoring support besides Klay Thompson, Dallas struggles to find consistency. Fantasy players in deeper leagues should hold Max Christie and PJ Washington (Mavericks) despite their combined 4-for-22 performance on Tuesday.
Here’s the breakdown of other key fantasy insights from Tuesday’s seven-game NBA slate.
Ty Jerome – Efficiency shines through
Ty Jerome has been a hidden gem for Cleveland, filling in admirably for Darius Garland. On Tuesday, Jerome posted a hyper-efficient 20 points with 4 threes, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. His ability to blend playmaking with shooting efficiency (20/3/3 on 59% from the field in his last three games) makes him a valuable hold in all 12-team leagues. Keep him rostered until Garland returns and there’s some rest-of-season appeal here.
Jaylen Brown’s Knee Injury – Celtics’ rotational shakeup
Brown exited late in the Celtics’ win with a knee issue, leaving fantasy managers in limbo for Wednesday’s contest. It’s worth noting that Boston is on a back-to-back set, so expect heavy usage for Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard if Brown sits out. Monitor Wednesday’s injury report because we don’t know if Kristaps Porziņģis (illness), Jrue Holiday or Al Horford (rest) will be in action after being inactive on Tuesday. Pritchard has proven capable of stepping up after dropping 20/7/2 with 4 3s in Tuesday’s win over the Raptors.
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