NBA Fantasy Basketball-Starting 5-February 20

Sunday was jam-packed with exciting NBA games as the Association gave us a full 10-game schedule. They top story was the Knicks comeback behind who-else-but Jeremy Lin as Linsanity continued to rage in NYC. The Thunder won a thriller too over the Nuggets in OT behind huge nights from Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka. The Bucks got a big game from Ersan Ilyasova (who we’ve been on for the last week plus) and beat the Nets in Jersey, and the Heat crushed the Magic in the continued “battle for Florida.

If you’re looking for help for the coming week or the latest on the injury front, Fantasy CPR has you covered. Here’s 7 lists of 5 to get you up to speed on all the action last night.

5 Huge Stars

Kevin Durant (35) congratulates point guard Russell Westbrook (0) after the overtime win against the Denver Nuggets at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

1. Kevin Durant-OKC: Durant had a career-high 51 points along with 8 boards, 4 steals, and 3 assists to lead the Thunder to a thrilling overtime win over Denver. The win improved OKC’s record to 24-7 and 12-1 in Oklahoma City. It also earned Durant yet another MVP-for-a-day here at CPR and continues to help his momentum for the year-long award as well.

2. Russell Westbrook-OKC: Westbrook’s 40 points would’ve been the story most night’s but he was ecplised by Durant despite a very nice game of his own. In addition to the 40 points, Westbrook finished with 9 assists, 4 rebounds, and a block.

3. Ersan Ilyasova-Mil: Ilyasova had a monster night finishing with 29 points and 25 rebounds (13 offensive) to go with 1 steal and 1 block as he led the Bucks past the Nets in New Jersey. For a few weeks, he’s been on our “consider adding” lists and if you did congratulations. If you haven’t yet, you’d better hurry since ownership is already up to 75%.

4. Jeremy Lin-NY: Lin scored 28 points while leading New York to a 7-1 record in games he’s started and 16-16 overall. Lin added 14 assists, 5 steals, 4 boards, and a block. He’s not only the story of the season, he’s the best pickup of the year in fantasy hoops as well.

5. Lebron James-Mia: James had 25 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals as he continues to contribute across the board to the Heat and to his fantasy owners. The Heat rolled Orlando to get to 25-7 on the season.

Houston Rockets guard Kyle Lowry (7) attempts a shot in the fourth quarter. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE

5 huge lines

1. Kyle Lowry-Hou: Lowry had a game-high 32 as the Rockets beat the Jass and added in 9 assists a steal and a rebound in his exceptional 38 minutes of play. He made 9-13 overall, 7 three’s, and all 7 of his free throws. The win gets Houston’s record to 18-14

2. Dirk Nowitzki-Dal: Nowitzki’s Mavs fell victim to Linsanity, but Dirk still finished with 34 points with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. The loss dropped the defending champion Mavs to 20-12 on the season.

3. Dwyane Wade-Mia: Wade his 13-23 on his way to a game-high 27 points to go with 3 blocks, 2 steals, 2 assists, and 6 rebounds.

4. Kobe Bryant-LAL: Kobe had 32 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, and 2 steals. He also turned the ball over 10 times as the Lakers fell in Pheonix and dropped to  18-13 on the year.

5. Serge Ibaka-OKC: Ibaka had a triple-double with 15 boards, 14 points, and 11 blocks. He added a steal and shot 6-7 from the field. He’s highly efficient although his numbers aren’t huge aside from the blocks.

5 huge scorers

1. Luis Scola-Hou: Scola made 12-20 from the field on his way to 26 points with 9 boards, 3 assists, and a steal in the Rockets victory ove the visiting Jazz.

Feb 19, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks power forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) at the Prudential Center. Milwaukee Bucks defeat the New Jersey Nets 92-85. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

2. Aaron Afflalo-Den: Afflalo scored a team-high 27 points after struggling to score in his last 2 games. He added 5 assists, 2 steals, and 7 rebounds. Despite his effort, the Thunder came back and beat Denver dropping the Nuggets to 17-15.

3. Deron Williams-NJ: Williams had 26 points, 3 boards, 6 assists, 4 steals, and a block as he tried to lead New Jersey to a home win to celebrate Brook Lopez’s return. Unfortunately, Ersan Ilyasova (see above) and the Bucks had other ideas as they dropped the Nets to 9-24.

4. Jared Dudley-Phx: Dudley had 25 points to lead the Suns and added 4 assists, a steal, 2 blocks, and 3 boards in the Suns victory.

5. Kyrie Irving-Cle: Irving had a team-high 23 points to lead the Cavs to a home win over the Kings running their record to 12-17. Irving added just 1 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 rebounds while struggling to 8-21 from the field.

5 huge on the glass

1. Kevin Love-Min: Love had 15 boards and struggled scoring until the 4th when he lad the Wolves comeback and hit the game-winning free throws with just .1 left on the clock. He ended up with 20 points and 2 assists to go along with his boards as Minnesota got back to .500 with the win at 16-16.

2. Dwight Howard-Orl: Howard shot a woeful 2-10 from the line bug finished with 12 points, 14 boards, 3 assists, a steal, and a block. Orlando couldnt’ keep up with the Heat and fell to 20-12 with the loss in Miami.

3. Al Jefferson-Uta: Jefferson had 23 points and 11 boards along with 2 blocks and 2 assists, but the Jazz again lost on the road dropping their record to 3-10 away from Salt Lake City and 15-15 overall.

4. Roy Hibbert-Ind: Hibbert finished with 18 points and 14 boards  in just 26 minutes on 7-8 shooting to lead the Pacers to a laugher of a win over the Bobcats as they ran their record to 19-12 on the year.

5. Marcin Gortat-Phx: Gortat again faired well agains the Lakers bigs scoring 21 points while adding 15 rebounds an assist and a steal.

5 huge helpers

Feb. 19, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash (13) drives the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE.

1. Steve Nash-Phx: Nash continued his incredibly high-assist pace with another 14 to go with 8 points, 1 steal, and 2 rebounds in the Suns win over LA. The Suns record improved to 13-19 with the home-win over the Lakers.

2. Andre Miller-Den: Miller came off the bench for the Nuggets and scored 21 points while dishing out 10 assists with a rebound, steal, and block.

3. Rajon Rondo-Bos: Rondo had 10 assists, 2 rebounds, and 5 points as he was well on his way to another huge game when he was ejected for throwing the ball at the referee in Detroit. The Celtics couldn’t win without him as they slid to 15-15 overall and just 4-7 on the road.

4. Ricky Rubio-Min: Rubio had 22 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds, and a steal against Philadelphia as he continued his strong (and long-awaited) rookie season.

5. Darren Collison-Ind: Collison played just 29 minutes but finished with 11 points, 6 assists, 2 boards, a steal, and a +/- of +47 as the Pacers demolished Charlotte.

5 huge disappointments

1. Hedu Turkoglu-Orl: Turkoglu struggled shooting 0-4 and finishing with just 1 point in 25 minutes and 3 turnovers to go with 3 assists.

2. D.J. Augustin-Cha: Augustin connected on just 3 of 12 shots from the field whil scoring 9 points to go with 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and a +/- of -44 in his 32 minutes on the floor.

3. MarShon Brooks-NJ: Brooks has never been afraid to take the shot and now back from injury with his shot failing he continues to throw them up and hurt percentages. Last night he shot 3-14 for 12 points with 5 boards, 4 assists, and a steal. His owners and the Nets would rather he shoot less and/or make more.

4. Rodney Stuckey-Det: Stuckey scored 16 points with 12 coming from the charity stripe and shooting just 2-10 from the field. His 4 steals will help offset the hit his owners took in shooting % from his follow-up game to his 36-point explosion against Sacramento.

5. Lamar Odom-Dal: Odom shot 1-6 in New York last night finishing with just 2 points, 3 assists, and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes of action. It was another disappointing night in a disappointing season for the former-Laker.

5 (possibly) huge additions

Feb 19, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Omri Casspi (36) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

1. Isaiah Thomas-Sac: Thomas again got the start for the Kings and again looked very good in Sacramento’s new-look lineup. The Kings have lost both the games Thomas has started but they’ve been very close games and Thomas has played well. Last night he played 43 minutes while dishing 11 assists and scoring a team-high 23 points. He added a block and 8 rebounds. He may be the next big addition so jump in early while he’s still just owned in  .9% of leagues.

2. JR Smith-NY: If Smith is still available in your league (65%) get him quickly. He played 30 minutes in his Knicks debut and scored 15 points to go with 3 boards, 2 assists, and a steal. His role is still TBD when ‘Melo returns, but he should be a help statistically through the rest of the season.

3. Tristan Thompson-Cle: Thompson played 30 minutes off the bench for Cleveland and finished with 15 points and 12 boards to go with an assist, a steal, and 3 blocks. He’s had double-digits his last 2 games with 2 or more blocks in 4 of his last 5. With Anderson Varejao still sidelined Thompson should continue to see increased time and could be worth an add in the 98% of leagues where he’s available.

4. Shaun Livingston-Mil: Livingston played well for Milwaukee in 34 minutes despite shooting a dreadful 1-9. He still had 10 points and team-high 6 assists with 3 rebounds. If he sticks in the lineup and with the high-level of minutes, he’ll be worth owning in way more than the 0.2 percent he’s owned in now

5. Chris Wilcox-Bos: Wilcox had 14 points and 6 boards while getting the start for the absent KG. Wilcox will return to a bench role when Garnett returns but brings an energy the C’s need and should continue to be around double digits scoring at least until Brandon Bass returns. Wilcox is owned in just 0.8% of leagues

Tags: Ersan Ilyasova, fantasy basketball advice, Isaiah Thomas, Kevin Durant, NBA Recap, Oklahoma City Thunder, popular, Starting 5, Waiver Wire