DeMarcus

Cousins

We’re not concerned with the fantasy viability of either of these players, as both figure to offer minimal fantasy contributions. Instead, we’re reading between the lines at what this says about Anthony Davis’ availability. Davis is still without a timeline for return, but the fact that Los Angeles is grasping at straws with Cousins and Zeller means that AD likely isn’t close to returning.

Gordon did almost all of his damage in the first half and didn’t score after the break. He played solid defense on Steph Curry for much of the night but the Nuggets ran out of gas down the stretch on the road. Boogie Cousins scored 19 points in 15 minutes, Will Barton had 14 points and two 3-pointers and Monte Morris played well, also scoring 14 points with six dimes and two 3-pointers in 36 minutes. This series would likely have looked different if Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were available, but they both had lost seasons due to injury. Bones Hyland disappeared in this one, missing all six of his shots and scoring four points in 19 minutes. Cancun, here they come.

Nikola Jokic was in foul trouble and dealing with a right hamstring injury for most of the second half and Boogie gave the Nuggets some awesome minutes off the bench in his stead. But in the end, the home court, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Gary Payton II were too much for the Nuggets to overcome. It’s hard to believe that 19 points is Boogie’s career high in the postseason but it’s true. Aaron Gordon had a big first half but failed to score in the second half, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Jokic was in foul trouble after picking up four of them in the third quarter and then picked up his fifth in the fourth quarter. He was also dealing with a right hamstring injury and spent a lot of time on an exercise bike while DeMarcus Cousins was having the best playoff game of his career. Jokic will have plenty of time to recover from the hamstring injury this summer as the Nuggets are headed to Cancun.

With the Nuggets not getting much offensively from starters Will Barton and Jeff Green, the bench needed to step up if the team’s season was to continue. And that’s exactly what happened, with Nuggets reserves combining to score 35 points on the afternoon. Hyland and DeMarcus Cousins (10/4/2) were the most productive from a scoring standpoint, but the contributions of JaMychal Green (seven points, two rebounds) and Austin Rivers (3/0/3/5 with one 3-pointer) should not be overlooked, either. Hyland can be a bit erratic when it comes to his decision-making, but the rookie’s fearlessness is an asset that the Nuggets can’t do without. He’ll look to build on this performance in Game 5 Wednesday night in San Francisco.

Cousins picked up two quick technical fouls after his attempt to take a charge went uncalled. After being assessed the first for arguing the no-call, it didn’t take very long for Cousins to be given a second by Scott Foster. Cousins played 10 minutes before the ejection, tallying seven points (2-of-5 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), two rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot, and one 3-pointer.

Since the Jazz also won tonight, the Nuggets are confirmed to be in the sixth spot in the Western Conference, where they’ll draw a matchup with the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Jokic was among four usual Nuggets starters that took the night off, so the lineup was funky to say the least, funky enough that they managed to miss their final 12 shots of the game and all eight FGAs in overtime. Boogie Cousins has always been great on a per-minute basis but it doesn’t help that he backs up the highly durable and elite Jokic, meaning this is more of a once in a blue moon situation. He went off for 31 points and nine boards in his lone start this season before tonight, and he wasn’t that good, but he still got the job done if you decided to steam him on the final day of the regular season. Bryn Forbes started and scored 24 points with five 3-pointers, Bones Hyland posted a 17/4/6 line with three swats and Jeff Green scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

It’ll be a battle of the benches in Denver tonight with the majority of starters on both teams hitting the sidelines, and the most intriguing players in this particular unit are Hyland and Cousins. Hyland should not lack for touches and should have no issue eclipsing the 30-minute mark, and we know what Cousins can do when he’s given generous minutes. Forbes could be a fine streamer for some triples as well.

Denver will rest most of its starting lineup Sunday night, including the reigning MVP. With Jokic, the first player in NBA history to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season, sidelined, DeMarcus Cousins is a very good choice as both a fantasy streamer and DFS roster fill-in. Denver will need a Utah loss in addition to a win over the Lakers in order to move into fifth in the West, and the Jazz are playing a terrible Portland squad.

Green will miss consecutive games with a personal issue, meaning JaMychal Green should get another start. DeMarcus Cousins should play more minutes off the bench.