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Daniel Benjamin highlights three fantasy basketball takeaways from the NBA's November 28th slate. This recap focuses on Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, and Danilo Gallinari.
Welcome to the RotoBaller NBA recap. In this feature, we highlight three fantasy basketball takeaways from the previous night's slate of NBA games. Following the usual light schedule on Tuesday, there was a lot of action on Wednesday with 1o games on the docket. While there were three fewer games than last week, it marked the sixth time this year that at least two-thirds of the league's teams have had a midweek game.
Last night was, by far, the least competitive of the seven Wednesday sessions this season as seven of the games were decided by double-digits. Still, there were plenty of highlights. Joel Embiid, who continues to lead the league with 21 double-doubles, produced his sixth straight game of at least 20 points and 11 rebounds as the 76ers improved to a league-best 11-1 record at home with a 117-91 victory over the Jazz. Meanwhile, James Harden racked up his first triple-double of the season and 35th of his career, which ranks third among active players, in a blowout loss to the Mavericks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, Jusuf Nurkic and Tim Frazier registered double-doubles and at least 40 fantasy points according to NBA.com. Let's get to the top fantasy basketball takeaways Wednesday, November 28th.
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Lillard had a career night and helped the Blazers overcome an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat the Magic 115-112, snapping a three-game losing streak. The 6-foot-3 point guard set a franchise record for three-pointers made as he drilled 10 of 15 from long distance.
After tallying 14 points in the first half, Lillard got hot in the third quarter. He knocked down a franchise record seven three-pointers in the period, misfiring on just two shots from the field (both three-pointers) during the 12 minutes that he was on the floor. The 28-year-old scored 22 of the team's 40 points in the quarter while also grabbing two rebounds and doling out a pair of assists. Portland outscored Orlando by 19 points during this stretch.
Lillard cooled off in the fourth quarter, making just one of five shots, but he still finished with 41 points -- one fewer than his season high. He was 13-for-22 from the field and 5-for-7 from the free throw line. It was the fourth 40-point game of the season and 20th of his career, which is also the most in the Blazers' history. The seventh-year pro has now tallied 40 or more points at least four times every season since 2015-16. Lillard also contributed eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.
The former Weber State star came into the game having missed 19 of 26 from long distance during the Blazers' three-game losing streak. Lillard ranks seventh in the NBA in scoring, 12th in field goal makes, seventh in three-pointers makes, seventh in three-pointers attempted, sixth in free throws makes, as well as ninth in free throw attempts.
Lillard has scored at least 20 points in a season-high six straight games, averaging 30.8 points along with 3.8 triples, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists during this stretch.
Danilo Gallinari - First Double-Double Of Season
Gallinari is a major reason why the Clippers are the most surprising team in the NBA and leading the Western Conference with a 14-6 record overall. The Italian native turned in his best performance of the season with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one block in a 115-99 victory over the Suns. With the win the Clips are a conference-best 9-1 at home, having run off nine straight wins after losing their home opener to the Nuggets.
It was the first double-double of the season for Gallinari, who knocked down seven of 10 shots from the field including all four of his three-point attempts. He also set season highs in points, rebounds as well as blocks. The 30-year-old has now topped the 20-point plateau 10 times this season.
The 6-foot-10 forward has shot the ball well over his last five appearances. Gallinari, who has dumped in at least 20 points in three of the five games, is shooting 48.2 percent from the floor and 59.3 percent on three-point attempts while making 3.2 triples a game during this stretch.
Gallinari is having a career-season compiling 24.4 points, 3.2 three-pointers and 7.9 caroms per 40 minutes. His true shooting percentage of 62.2 percent ties a career best.
Russell Westbrook - Ties Jason Kidd On All-Time Triple-Double List
Westbrook continues to be the best stat stuffer in the league. The 6-foot-3 point posted his second straight triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists in the Thunder's 100-83 win over the Cavaliers. He is the only player this season with more than one triple-doubles, as he has three.
Westbrook, who is averaging his fewest amount of shots in the last three years, was 10 -for-17 from the field and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc. He had a double-double by halftime with 10 points and 12 rebounds as well as seven assists. The 30-year-old picked up the triple-double in the third quarter.
With the performance, Westbrook tied 2018 Hall of Fame Inductee Jason Kidd for third place in NBA history with 107 career triple-doubles. He is now just behind two other Hall of Famers' Magic Johnson (138) and Oscar Robertson (181). It was his fourth triple-double with at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists.
While the former UCLA star has struggled with his shot lately, the 11th-year pro is averaging a triple-double over his last five games with 21.8 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. He is only shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from beyond the arc and 58.3 percent from the free throw line during this period.
