The second evening of the 2026-27 NBA season gave us an 11-game slate, 22 groups and an entire lot of basketball on a Wednesday evening. Listed below are the 5 fantasy takeaways from evening 2 of opening week within the Affiliation:
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Greatest performances: Anthony Edwards and Ty Jerome
Edwards placed on a present in his season opener, lighting up Miami for 45 factors on 16-of-29 taking pictures with 9 3s in 33 minutes. He added 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block for 66.5 fantasy factors, probably the most on the slate. Ant-Man was in assault mode all evening. He scored 23 of his 45 factors unassisted and he completed the competition with an absurd 40.2% utilization price. That is the amount I used to be betting on once I predicted he’d win the scoring title and end top-12 in 9-cat codecs.
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Jerome was the evening’s shock star. He went nuclear, posting 64.4 fantasy factors after scoring a career-best 45 factors on an uber-efficient 17-of-25 taking pictures in Wednesday’s win over the Jazz. The shot-making was unbelievable — hitting from all three ranges and placing on a clinic of robust heat-check buckets. He added 7 boards and 6 assists, 5 3s and a block in 32 minutes. Fourteen of his 17 discipline objectives have been self-created, showcasing how dynamic he was as the first scorer for the Grizz. Congrats if you happen to landed Jerome at his wildly low ADP after choose 100 on Yahoo. If he can keep wholesome, we may very well be wanting on the worth of the season.
Welcome again, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard
Haliburton scored 23 factors on 8-of-15 taking pictures and went 5-of-5 on the line, with 12 assists, a steal and three turnovers in 34 minutes. That is 43.4 fantasy factors in a 123-120 win over New Orleans. He was the engine of the offense, with 7 of his 8 made baskets unassisted, and his 12 assists led to 26 factors for Indy.
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He was clutch too, making two driving floaters within the remaining 2 minutes to assist seal the win. Pascal Siakam (30 factors) and Ivica Zubac (16 factors, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks) each delivered, whereas Obi Toppin scored 20 off the bench with 4 3s. That is the model of Haliburton we wished to see. He appeared each bit price a late-first, early-second-round choose.
Lillard led the Blazers’ rout of the Suns with 25 factors on 7-of-12 taking pictures, 6-of-10 from past the arc, plus 6 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal in simply 23 minutes. The blowout stored his minutes down, however his effectivity and playmaking have been on level. Like many, I doubted how Dame and Ja Morant would match collectively. On Wednesday evening, it appeared seamless. With so many ball-handlers and creators on the ground, Portland continually pressured the Suns’ protection inside and outside. They dominated the paint and hit 19 3s at a 40% clip. Jrue Vacation would be the odd man out, however Lillard’s position seems to be safe and he is poised to place up the numbers we’re used to seeing earlier than his Achilles harm.
Walker Kessler was good in his Lakers debut
The prized free-agent middle proved his price in his first evening as a Laker in opposition to an excellent mild Golden State frontcourt. Kessler went 12-of-12 from the sector for 26 factors, 9 rebounds and a couple of blocks in 29 minutes in a 127-105 rout of the Warriors. These have been the best seems to be Kessler’s acquired, with 8 of his 12 baskets coming from both Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves within the paint.
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The Warriors appeared terrible, however the way in which Kessler migrated and hovered across the paint has me considering he may push for the league’s highest FG% this season. It may very well be an overreaction, but when Shaq believes he is the very best true massive man within the recreation, I am taking some inventory in that (he not often says something complimentary about any massive man, even Dwight Howard). The Lakers paid Kessler to be that man to carry down the paint and he greater than checked the field in his debut.
Dončić (28 factors on 7-of-18, 5-of-12 from 3, 9-of-9 on the line, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and three steals) and Reaves (23 factors, 6 assists, 10-of-10 on the line) did the remainder. The loudest a part of Luka’s recreation was chirping at Yaxel Lendeborg all recreation. Golden State by no means received going. Stephen Curry scored 23 in 21 minutes on 7-of-15 taking pictures, however the remainder of the Dubs appeared mediocre. The Warriors face an extended season. Fantasy managers higher hope Curry can final.
Worst efficiency: the Phoenix Suns
Portland jumped out to a 21-0 lead within the opening body and did not look again; the Suns did not rating till 5:54 left within the quarter, and Phoenix misplaced 124-83, trailing by as many as 52. The Suns shot 36% and went 6-of-31 from 3. Devin Booker was the lone vibrant spot (if we even need to name it that), scoring 34.8 fantasy factors. He went for 23 factors, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, with a steal and block in 29 minutes. All seven of his discipline objectives have been unassisted and he completed -43. That is a priority: no one was setting him up. Dillon Brooks (10 factors on 4-of-11), Miles Bridges (8 factors on 3-of-11, 0-of-5 from 3) and Jalen Inexperienced (10 factors on 4-of-12) all shot poorly, and Collin Gillespie went 0-of-8 from 3. Blowout minutes make everybody’s line look worse than it’s. However this group struggled to attain in opposition to a Portland group led by Lillard and Morant, massive yikes.
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Honorable mentions: Two rookies had debuts to neglect. Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson completed -45, tied for the second-worst in Bulls franchise historical past. Sixteen factors on 7-of-21 taking pictures with 9 turnovers is a line you anticipate to see in Summer season League, not an NBA recreation.
Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. shot 5-of-24 (20.8%) and 0-of-7 from 3, the second-lowest discipline purpose proportion in a rookie debut in NBA historical past amongst gamers with a minimum of 20 makes an attempt, in keeping with Underdog NBA. Solely Sidney Wicks (18.5% in 1971) was worse. He did add three steals and three assists for 25.1 fantasy factors. Not all hope is misplaced; they will be wonderful — most likely simply nerves from their respective debuts.
Late-round bigs make an affect: Missi, Diabaté and Hayes
Yves Missi had 13 factors, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and three blocks in half-hour in Wednesday’s loss to the Pacers. Missi scored 51.3 fantasy factors and he’s nonetheless accessible within the majority of leagues. Shallow league managers, you realize what to do.
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Like Missi, Moussa Diabaté’s ADP was round 115 in Yahoo drafts, however he overdelivered in his season opener. Popping out to 17 factors, 8 boards and 5 steals, tallying 42.1 fantasy factors.
Jaxson Hayes got here out of nowhere, swatting 6 pictures in 26 minutes because the Jazz starter. With that sort of rim safety, he’ll proceed to begin rather than the injured Jusuf Nurkić.
I believe Diabaté (33% rostered) is the very best add of the group, adopted by Missi (31% rostered) and Hayes (3% rostered). The trio of facilities is rangy and athletic bigs who get shares. That is what you need out of your late-round gamers.
Fast hits
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Anthony Davis and Trae Younger (Wizards) each had double-doubles. Davis put up 34 factors and 12 rebounds in his debut (60.4 fantasy factors), and Trae had 20 factors and 13 assists for 44.5 fantasy factors.
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Darius Garland (Clippers) scored 30 factors on 11-of-19 taking pictures with 4 assists in 32 minutes, 37.2 fantasy factors in a 121-96 win over Sacramento. He is the alpha of the Clips.
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Cooper Flagg scored 32 factors on 11-of-13 free throws with 4 turnovers: 49 fantasy factors.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 factors with 9-of-14 free throws and a 40% utilization price earlier than fouling out in half-hour, 43.7 fantasy factors. Seven of his 13 made baskets have been assisted.
