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Spencer Aguiar highlights three fantasy basketball takeaways from the NBA's March 22nd slate. This recap focuses on Nemanja Bjelica, John Collins and Karl-Anthony Towns
Welcome to the RotoBaller NBA Recap. In this feature, we highlight three fantasy basketball takeaways from last night's slate of NBA games. Saturday featured a comeback in Charlotte, a game-winner in Atlanta and a franchise record in Sacramento. Since we are on the topic, let's begin there. The Sacramento Kings kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 112-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns, putting them 5.5 games back of the San Antonio Spurs for the eighth seed out West. Buddy Hield led the way 25 points and was able to break Peja Stojakovic's franchise record of 240 three-pointers in a season.
The Charlotte Hornets roared back from nine points down entering the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics to claim a 124-117 win. Kemba Walker just missed a triple-double, scoring 36 points to go along with 11 rebounds and nine assists. Walker has been sensational this season, but the Hornets still find themselves 2.5 games back of the Miami Heat for the final spot in the East. The team doesn't face the easiest schedule by having to face the Toronto Raptors (two times), Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz but aren't mathematically eliminated quite yet with 10 games remaining.
And the Atlanta Hawks pulled off a stunner against the Philadelphia 76ers by a score of 129-127. Trae Young scored 32 points to go along with six rebounds, 11 assists, one block and four three-pointers, but it was his game-winning floater with 0.1 seconds that stole the show. Young has contributed three straight double-doubles to go along with six consecutive games with 20 or more points. While it still seems likely that Luka Doncic will win this year's Rookie of the Year race, Young has given voters some hesitation. Our three main takeaways of the night are still to come, so without further ado, let's dive into the March 23rd slate.
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Nemanja Bjelica scored 13 points on Saturday night, adding 17 rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block and two three-pointers. The forward has now reached double figures in rebounds four times this month and is currently ranked just outside the top-100 in nine-category leagues this season.
The Sacramento Kings play four times next week, and Bjelica is worth consideration due to his schedule. However, it must be noted that the 30-year-old has averaged just 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds away from home this season, and all four games next week will be away from Sacramento.
John Collins Has Found His Defense
John Collins scored 13 points with nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer in 30 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Collins has struggled for the past two nights on the offensive end but has turned a corner defensively.
The 21-year-old has stoled at least one ball in three straight games, which matches his season-high, Not to mention he has three games with at least two blocks so far in March, which is more than he had in the entire season entering this month. Collins' defensive outburst has placed him inside the top-45 in nine-category leagues over the past two weeks and is an encouraging sign that he no longer has any lingering concerns with his ankle.
Karl-Anthony Towns Posts Sixth 20/20 Game
After a quiet start at the beginning of the season, Karl Anthony-Towns has turned it into another gear as of late. Towns led the Timberwolves with a stat line of 33 points, 23 rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers. The performance gave him his sixth game of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game this season, and he has only failed to reach double figures in rebounds once since the All-Star break.
Towns has been a top-five nine-category league player this year and should enter next season as a top-five selection once again. The removal of Jimmy Butler from Minnesota has given KAT a second life, and the 23-year-old has handsomely rewarded his owners this year.
