The Lakers’ LeBron put together a pair of signature performances in Week 12.
We were treated to an enjoyable first full week of NBA action in the new calendar year in Week 12. Despite injury and even one big-name trade keeping things interesting, when the dust settled, the top five was populated by some of the most prominent fantasy mainstays across the league.
The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week (one-game minimum):
#1. (Tied) Cade Cunningham, Pistons
Last Week: 67.0 FP/G Season Rank: 3 (59.2 FP/G)
A wrist injury limited Cunningham to just one Week 12 game, but the star guard made good use of his sole opportunity on the floor. Cunningham delivered a 29-point, 13-assist double-double that included three rebounds, two blocks and one steal across 29 minutes in a 31-point thumping of the Knicks last Monday, a game where he shot a blistering 11-for-17, including 3-for-4 from behind the arc. The stellar effort extended Cunningham’s streak of 20-point-plus performances to seven games, and it served as his fifth double-double in that span.
#1. (Tied) Jamal Murray, Nuggets
Last Week: 67.0 FP/G Season Rank: 16 (48.9 FP/G)
Murray had a very similar week to Cunningham, as he too played in just one game, with an ankle issue and illness accounting for his three absences during Denver’s four-game scoring period. However, he also delivered a stellar double-double effort in his one time on the court, generating 22 points, 17 assists, eight rebounds and one steal across 37 minutes in a 114-110 victory over the Celtics on Wednesday. Nikola Jokić’s ongoing absence due to his knee injury is naturally opening up plenty of additional opportunity, and Murray is likely to continue capitalizing whenever he’s on the floor.
#3. Luka Dončić, Lakers
Last Week: 64.9 FP/G Season Rank: 2 (65.5 FP/G)
Dončić typically doesn’t stray too far from the upper echelon of the top five, and Week 12 was no exception. With backcourt mate Austin Reaves still sidelined by his calf injury, Dončić put together another ultra-high-usage week that included averages of 30.7 points (on 24.3 shot attempts per game), 9.7 assists, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals across 37.0 minutes per contest. The sample included a 38-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that featured 50% shooting in an otherwise ugly loss against the Spurs, and it was preceded by a 30-point, 10-assist double-double against the Pelicans a night earlier in an eight-point win for Los Angeles.
#4. LeBron James, Lakers
Last Week: 63.5 FP/G Season Rank: 23 (46.4 FP/G)
Luka’s exploits weren’t the only ones that stood out for the Lakers during a 1-2 week, as LeBron put together a pair of signature performances that were sandwiched around an absence in the aforementioned loss to San Antonio due to his foot and back issues. James opened Week 12 by hitting the 30-point threshold for the second time in three games in Tuesday’s eight-point victory over New Orleans, and he followed it up with a 26-point, 10-assist double-double against the Bucks that also included nine rebounds and three steals. The future Hall of Famer carried a hot hand from the field into the scoring period and maintained it, as he shot 50% overall, including 41.7% from 3-point range, during the two-game sample.
#5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Last Week: 57.6 FP/G Season Rank: 6 (55.5 FP/G)
Antetokounmpo was another fantasy stalwart that delivered the goods in Week 12, after already coming into the period with three straight 30-point-plus performances. Giannis kept it rolling with a 34-point, 10-rebound double-double that included five assists and 15-for-22 shooting in a win over Stephen Curry and the Warriors on Wednesday, and he capped his week with a 31-point, 11-assist tally that was complemented by eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal over 33 minutes against the Nuggets on Sunday. Antetokoumpo also furnished a solid performance against the Lakers in between those contests, finishing the week with a well-rounded 28.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals in 31.7 minutes per game, as well as 68% shooting.
This week’s preview:
The following players are top fantasy point producers and play at least three games next week with fewer than two matchups against top-10 defenses:
Luka Dončić, Lakers (65.5 FP/G) – @SAC, ATL, CHA, @POR, TOR
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers (51.1 FP/G) – UTA, @PHI, @PHI
LeBron James, Lakers (46.4 FP/G) – @SAC, ATL, CHA, @POR, TOR
Michael Porter Jr., Nets (44.0 FP/G) – @DAL, @NOP, CHI, @CHI
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks (40.0 FP/G) – BKN, DEN, UTA, UTA
