MARCH 18, 2023•NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Pelicans prepare for critical Round 2 against RocketsThe wild swings of momentum did little to provide a clear view of the pending result, but for the New Orleans Pelicans, their arrival at the...
Houston takes home win streak into matchup with New Orleans
Houston comes into a matchup with New Orleans as winners of three games in a row at homeMARCH 18, 2023•ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boban Marjanovic - Cameo appearance FridayMarjanovic chipped in one rebound across two minutes during Friday's 114-112 win over the Pelicans.
ImpactMarjanovic played for the first time in almost two weeks, logging two minutes in the win. Head coach Stephen Silas opted to go with Marjanovic for the final play of the game, utilizing his size to defend the inbounds play. A deflection resulted in the Rockets holding on for a third straight victory. While this is a bit of a feel-good story, there is obviously nothing to see here from a fantasy perspective.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Kenyon Martin Jr. - Empty production FridayMartin produced 14 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 5-6 FT) and six rebounds in 30 minutes during Friday's 114-112 victory over New Orleans.
ImpactMartin continues to log heavy minutes for the Rockets, scoring in double digits for the fifth straight game. However, he failed to record a defensive stat, souring what was otherwise another decent performance. Martin has been somewhat of a surprise this season, putting himself on the radar thanks to consistent playing time and serviceable production. He is by no means a must-roster player but typically does just enough to maintain value no matter the format.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Jabari Smith Jr. - Lands game-winning three-pointerSmith produced 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), eight rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 29 minutes during Friday's 114-112 win over New Orleans.
ImpactSmith was relatively passive on the offensive end Friday but landed the killer blow, a dagger three-pointer from distance. After a disappointing start to his career, Smith has come alive over the past two weeks, putting up top-60 value thanks to averages of 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 triples and 1.6 combined steals and blocks. Perhaps more importantly, he has connected on 54.7 percent of his shots from the field, well up from his 40.4 percent mark on the season.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Naji Marshall - Scores 13 points in 19 minutesMarshall amassed 13 points (4-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-5 FT), one rebound, one assist and one steal over 19 minutes during Friday's 114-112 loss to the Rockets.
ImpactMarshall was moderately productive off the bench Friday, scoring in double digits for just the second time in the past six games. With the return of Brandon Ingram, Marshall has moved back to the second unit, limiting his opportunities. Given what we have seen from Marshall when he is playing a limited role, managers can safely affix their gaze elsewhere for now.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Larry Nance Jr. - Offers little in lossNance posted two points (1-2 FG), one rebound, two assists and one steal over 14 minutes during Friday's 114-112 loss to Houston.
ImpactNance barely troubled the official scorers, continuing what has been a rough six-week period. He is well outside the top 250 over the past month, falling off the radar even in slightly deeper leagues. He is someone to keep an eye on given what he can do in limited minutes, although based on what we have seen recently, an uptick in production seems unlikely.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
