Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija Lead the Blazers Past the Thunder as Giannis Antetokounmpo Plays Through a Wrist Sprain: Tuesday NBA Fantasy Notes

Tuesday's NBA slate delivered a statement win in Portland, another blowout for the red-hot Knicks and a gutsy road performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo in his first season with Miami. The Trail Blazers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 123-103 behind Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija, the Knicks routed Milwaukee 117-85, and the Heat held off Utah 115-109.

Here are the fantasy takeaways from each, plus what to do on the waiver wire and in tonight's lineups.

Blazers 123, Thunder 103: Portland's defense smothers Shai

Portland snapped a two-game losing streak and ended Oklahoma City's four-game win streak with a dominant second half. The game was tied 59-59 at halftime before the Blazers blew it open with a barrage of threes in the third quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points and eight rebounds, but he needed 22 shots to get there, missed all four of his three-point attempts and did not play in the fourth quarter. Portland's coaching staff credited the perimeter defense of Toumani Camara and Sidy Cissoko and the rim protection of Donovan Clingan for keeping him in check.

Fantasy takeaways:

- Deni Avdija continues to be one of the best fantasy values in the league. A 24-6-8 line is close to his season profile: a do-everything forward who fills every category. He should be valued as a core fantasy starter in trade talks. - Jared McCain scored 21 off a strong night. He was among the top waiver adds heading into this week, and Tuesday showed why. If he is still available in your league, add him now. His shooting gives him a weekly ceiling that few players on the wire can match. - Damian Lillard remains a strong source of points, threes and assists. His fantasy value is tied to his health; on nights like this, he is a must-start guard. - Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara are the kind of players who help in category leagues even when the box score looks quiet. Clingan's blocks and rebounds and Camara's steals make both worth rostering in deeper formats.

For Oklahoma City: One bad shooting night does not change anything for SGA, who remains an elite fantasy option. The bigger concern is whether the Thunder's offense can find another reliable scorer when he is contained. The teams meet again on the second night of a back-to-back, and the Thunder's injury report on those nights often comes late, so check the official report before locking in Thunder players.

Knicks 117, Bucks 85: New York keeps rolling

The Knicks won their fourth straight in a game that was never close. Jalen Brunson scored 23 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 16 rebounds. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led Milwaukee with 16.

The Bucks fell to 1-10 with their seventh straight loss. Milwaukee's post-Giannis rebuild is in full swing, and the results show it.

Fantasy takeaways:

- Towns is a fantasy monster when he rebounds like this. A 21-16 night with Brunson running the offense is his ceiling, and it is reachable most nights. - Brunson is a locked-in fantasy starter, and in a blowout he did not need to play heavy minutes. In points leagues, the bigger risk is blowouts limiting his fourth-quarter work. - Jaquez has a big role in Milwaukee, and that role comes with volume. In a rebuilding season, players like Jaquez can be valuable in deeper leagues simply because someone has to take the shots.

Betting note: The Knicks covered a big number against a struggling team. When a team loses seven straight and sits at 1-10, the market eventually overcorrects. Big spreads against Milwaukee are worth watching for signs that the line has finally gone too far.

Heat 115, Jazz 109: Giannis plays through it

Antetokounmpo scored 30 points while playing through a sprained right wrist, and Davion Mitchell added 19 points as Miami won in Salt Lake City. Utah dropped to 1-10 with its ninth straight loss.

Fantasy takeaways:

- Giannis' wrist is the key injury to watch on the Heat. He has been dealing with the sprain for more than a week and keeps playing through it. That is great news for his managers, but a sprained wrist on a shooting hand can linger. Keep an eye on his status before each game. If he sits, Miami's usage shifts to its guards. - Davion Mitchell has turned into a useful fantasy guard in Miami, giving managers points, assists and defense. He is a worthwhile pickup in 12-team leagues if he is available. - The Jazz are in a tough spot, with a 1-10 start and a lot of young players getting minutes. A team on a nine-game skid tends to give up big nights, which helps opposing players' fantasy value. Stream opponents of Utah when you can.

What to do in your league

1. Add Jared McCain if he is available. He is one of the best pickups on the wire. 2. Hold Avdija as a core piece. His all-around game is a fantasy cheat code. 3. Stream Utah's opponents while the Jazz keep losing. 4. Watch Giannis' wrist and check the injury report before each Heat game.

The Verdexed angle

The common thread on Tuesday was the same one the Verdexed model weighs every night: net rating, recent form and injuries. The Knicks' and Celtics' runs, Portland's home win over a top team and Miami's win despite Giannis' wrist injury all fit patterns worth tracking. For the model's view on tonight's slate and every game this week, see the NBA predictions page.