LaMelo Ball and Bones Hyland Carry the Timberwolves Past Dallas Without Anthony Edwards as VJ Edgecombe Fills In for LeBron James: Thursday NBA Fantasy Notes

Thursday's four-game NBA slate produced two results that matter for fantasy rosters beyond the headline-grabbing 52 from Cade Cunningham. The Minnesota Timberwolves crushed the Dallas Mavericks 133-94 without Anthony Edwards, their most lopsided win of the season and fifth in a row, behind LaMelo Ball and Bones Hyland. And the Philadelphia 76ers erased a 17-point first-half deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 123-112 without LeBron James, with VJ Edgecombe filling the box score. Here is what to take from each game.

Timberwolves 133, Mavericks 94

Minnesota improved to 9-3 while playing without Edwards, who is recovering from right knee arthroscopy, and Donte DiVincenzo, who also sat. Dallas fell to 7-5, ending its own winning streak and opening a road trip on the worst possible note.

LaMelo Ball posted a season-high nine assists to go with six made threes. With Edwards out, Ball is the primary creator, and his usage reflects it. That is the window to start him with confidence in every format. When Edwards returns, Ball's shot volume will come down, but his playmaking role should stay intact.

Bones Hyland led all scorers with 24 off the bench. Hyland is a streaky scorer whose minutes depend on the guard rotation, and with both Edwards and DiVincenzo out he is getting real run. He is a short-term pickup in points leagues and deep categories leagues for threes, with the understanding that his value fades when the rotation gets healthy.

Jonathan Kuminga also drew notice for an all-around night as part of Minnesota's depth. The Wolves' ability to win big without their best player says a lot about a roster that now has multiple capable creators.

Cooper Flagg came back to earth after scoring 43 against Indiana in his previous game, held to 12 points as the game got away early. Blowouts compress starters' minutes, and this one was decided before the fourth quarter. Do not overreact; Flagg remains a weekly starter. The same goes for Kyrie Irving (10 points), who scored 35 in that Indiana win.

76ers 123, Raptors 112

Philadelphia moved to 10-3 with six players in double figures, an encouraging sign of depth on a night LeBron James did not play.

VJ Edgecombe is the fantasy story. With James out, the second-year guard filled every category: 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block, per one report. That is the kind of stat-stuffing line that wins categories weeks. Edgecombe's value is tied to James' availability, but his defensive counting stats give him a floor even when the stars play.

Joel Embiid scored 20 after a scary moment in the first quarter, when Ja'Kobe Walter ran into his knee while trying to avoid a screen. Embiid had been listed as questionable before the game with right foot injury management and was cleared about half an hour before tip-off. He stayed in and played through it, but that pregame designation is a reminder that Embiid will continue to appear on injury reports. Managers need a plan for late scratches.

Tyrese Maxey led the way with 27 and remains Philadelphia's most reliable fantasy asset because he plays every night.

On the Toronto side, RJ Barrett scored 31 and Immanuel Quickley added 25 for a short-handed Raptors team that has lost four of five and sits at 5-7. Both are seeing heavy usage while Toronto works through injuries, which keeps them in lineups.

The other result

The Phoenix Suns beat the Charlotte Hornets 101-96 in the night's lowest-scoring game. Low-possession games like that one cap fantasy ceilings, so it is worth checking pace before starting fringe players from either side in their next matchups.

Betting angle

Minnesota's ability to win big without Edwards stands out. Teams that blow out good opponents while missing their best player tend to be undervalued while that player is out, because markets discount them heavily for the absence. The Wolves' depth suggests the discount is too steep.

In Philadelphia, the 76ers' 10-3 start and their performance without James point the same way. Their depth is real. When James is out, the market typically moves the line significantly; Thursday showed that the 76ers can still cover with Maxey, Embiid and Brown carrying the scoring.

For nightly model picks, see Verdexed's daily NBA picks page and /nba/predictions.

What to do in your league

Add: VJ Edgecombe if he is somehow available, and Bones Hyland as a short-term streamer while Edwards and DiVincenzo are out.

Start: LaMelo Ball with confidence during Edwards' absence.

Hold: Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. One blowout loss does not change their roles.

Monitor: Embiid's foot and knee and James' status before each Philadelphia game.

What's next

Edwards' timeline is the biggest fantasy variable in Minnesota. Until he returns, Ball and Hyland are the beneficiaries. In Philadelphia, James' status will dictate whether Edgecombe's stat-stuffing continues. Check the official injury report before each lock.