The Los Angeles Clippers (44-32) made light work of the New Orleans Pelicans (21-55) cruising to their fourth win in their last five games with a 114-98 rout on April 2.
New Orleans Pelicans Top Performers:
Yves Missi 6 PTS | 12 REB | 3 BLK | 35.4 FPS
Missi has scored in double figures in four of his last five games, but he hasn’t been as productive lately. He didn’t do much on offense today, but he compensated with strong contributions in other areas, including recording his third-straight game with double-digit rebounds. While this all-around performance may not be the norm, he should remain an elite option for rebounds and could also see an uptick in stocks for the remainder of the season.
Jose Alvarado 17 PTS | 10 AST | 1 STL | 33.4 FPS
Alvarado has really been struggling offensively in recent games. While he’s not much of a scorer, he can still be a strong fantasy option for peripherals. He also had an impressive playmaking performance today, but maintaining that level of production will be difficult, especially with a pair of tough games ahead.
Bruce Brown 16 PTS | 5 REB | 2 STL | 27.5 FPS
Brown bounced back strong after a brutal shooting performance against the Hornets, scoring 14+ points for the fourth time in his last six games. He may not always deliver at this level offensively but he can make up for it with strong contributions in other areas. He’s also made significant strides on the defensive end lately, recording 10 stocks over his last three games.
Karlo Matkovic 10 PTS | 5 REB | 2 STL | 24.0 FPS
Matkovic has been getting some minutes off the bench, though his playing time remains limited, preventing him from putting up more substantial numbers. Nevertheless, he’s managed to stay productive, scoring in double digits in each of his last four games, along with modest contributions in other areas.
Kelly Olynyk 12 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 23.3 FPS
KO has emerged as a key contributor in recent weeks, scoring an efficient double-digits scoring performance in six of his last seven games, all while delivering solid lines in multiple areas. He’s been a valuable contributor for his position but his turnovers and inefficiency has put a damper to his fantasy value. Despite that, he remains a solid roster option especially in deeper leagues, now that their starters are out for the remainder of the season.
Los Angeles Clippers Top Performers:
James Harden 21 PTS | 10 AST | 3 BLK | 46.0 FPS
Harden has faced another challenging shooting stretch, hitting just 1-of-6 from three over his last two games. His inefficiency has been a persistent issue all season, but he’s always managed to recover. Despite the inconsistency, he’s maintained a strong overall impact, recording his fifth double-digit assist performance since last month, along with 3 blocks. On top of that, he’s been extra productive on the defensive end lately, tallying 7 steals in his most recent outing. While his shooting struggles may continue, Harden remains a versatile and dangerous threat, capable of delivering standout performances in multiple facets of the game.
Kawhi Leonard 28 PTS | 3 AST | 2 STL | 41.1 FPS
Kawhi has looked like his usual dominant self in recent weeks and had another strong offensive game today, scoring 20+ points for the tenth-consecutive game. He’s been shooting at a high clip both from the field and the free-throw line, while also delivering several standout performances from three—all without sacrificing his strong rebounding and defensive impact. However, he’s still expected to miss some of their upcoming games.
Ivica Zubac 17 PTS | 10 REB | 6 AST | 37.0 FPS
Big Zu is having a career year, recording his 53rd double-double of the season. He’s been a steady threat on offense shooting at 60% and also a dominant presence on the glass with close to 13 rebounds this season. He’s also recently added solid playmaking value to his stat line though his defensive production has been somewhat muted. While he faces tough matchups against the Mavs with a pair of games ahead, he should still be able to finish the week strong.
Kris Dunn 11 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK | 24.9 FPS
Dunn recorded his second double-digit scoring game in his last three in a strong two-way performance. He also remains part of the starting lineup but maintaining consistency has been a challenge all season, so monitoring him for now is the wiser move.
Bogdan Bogdanovic 16 PTS | 1 AST | 1 STL | 20.7 FPS
Bogdanovic has the most fantasy upside in the second unit, but he hasn’t been as productive lately. Despite that, he remains a capable scorer with occasional contributions in other categories. With a back-to-back stretch of games ahead, he should be able to take on a bigger role and see increased production.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Norman Powell 11 PTS | 1 REB | 1 AST
Norm appeared to have found his offensive rhythm with strong scoring performances in his last two games. But he struggled again today and also failed to contribute in other areas to make up for it. Despite this, there’s a promising opportunity for him to regain consistency, particularly with a favorable slate of upcoming games.
