Fantasy Basketball Daily: Acuff Drops 34 and 14 as Boozer Notches His First Triple-Double

Thursday night was a three-game NBA slate, and the biggest fantasy line of the night came from a rookie on a winless team. Darius Acuff Jr. scored 34 points with 14 assists as Sacramento lost 132-120 at New Orleans, and that line is the add of the day.

Darius Acuff Jr.'s 34 points with 14 assists in a 132-120 loss at New Orleans is the kind of line that changes a fantasy roster at The Sports Nus fantasy basketball page. The Kings are 0-5, and a rookie putting up 34 and 14 on a team with nothing to lose is not a fluke line. It is usage, and usage on a bad team is the most reliable fantasy currency there is. Add him in points and assists leagues if he is available, and watch him everywhere else until the role is confirmed again.

New Orleans got its first win behind Jeremiah Fears, who scored 22 points with 13 assists, and Zion Williamson, who scored 22. Fears is a Watch name after a 22-and-13 night, because the Pelicans need a guard to run the offense and Fears just did it in a win.

Cameron Boozer is the other rookie to know. Boozer posted his first career triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists as Memphis beat Portland 124-103, and the Grizzlies are 5-0. A rookie triple-double on an unbeaten team is an Add in deeper leagues and a Watch everywhere else, because the minutes are real and the winning team keeps playing him.

Onyeka Okongwu posted season highs with 29 points and 12 rebounds as Atlanta beat Cleveland 114-111, snapping a three-game skid. Okongwu is a Start when he produces like this, and the Hawks need his scoring with the schedule turning to Cup games. Aaron Wiggins scored 20 points with 7 rebounds off the bench for Atlanta and is a Stream while the Hawks sort out their wing rotation.

Deni Avdija scored 24 points with 9 rebounds and 7 assists for Portland, and he is the injury watch of the night. Portland's Ja Morant left in the fourth quarter with a left hamstring injury after scoring 14 points against his former team, and if Morant misses time, Avdija's usage climbs again. Do not overstate it until Portland makes the status official, but Avdija is a Watch name with real upside attached to that injury report.

Friday is a 10-game NBA Cup night, and every game counts for the standings and the Cup. Set lineups early, check Portland's injury report before the weekend, and do not leave a 34-and-14 rookie on the wire because his team lost.

Start every morning by checking whether Darius Acuff Jr.'s 34-point, 14-assist night is the new baseline for your lineup at The Sports Nus fantasy basketball page.