Jalen

Green

After scoring 26 points on 50% shooting in Friday’s win over Portland, Green was limited to 23 minutes on Sunday. The priority was to get less experienced players more run in the second half, and the third-year guard was excellent after the All-Star break. In 28 post-break games, he averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 3.3 3-pointers, shooting 44.1% from the field and 80.9% from the foul line. Green was more productive and more efficient, with his offensive rating (117.1) being nearly six points higher than his pre-break number (111.9). Green benefitted from the changes made by the Rockets, most notably the hiring of Ime Udoka as head coach and the addition of point guard Fred VanVleet. That makes him an intriguing fantasy option for 2024-25.

Green only played 19 minutes in their last game, with Ime Udoka benching him because he couldn’t get anything going. Udoka even went back to him for a couple of minutes before benching him again. He was asked about it after the game on Thursday and said he wanted to “see if he could get a spark going. Was not aggressive offensively and another defensive error. When I saw nothing changed, I went back to who was playing well.” Green was far more effective in this game, and he’ll look to end the season on a high note on Sunday. The results were mixed this year for Green, and he will be a polarizing player in fantasy drafts next season.

VanVleet is out after scoring a season-high 42 points and playing 40 minutes in Thursday’s loss to the Jazz. Aaron Holiday’s minutes will increase as he’s the player likely to move into the starting lineup. VanVleet’s absence also impacts Amen Thompson and Jalen Green, who will have more opportunities to serve as primary playmakers.

VanVleet came out red-hot, scoring 20 points in the first quarter alone. But Utah was able to cool him down considerably after that hot start, and Mr. Bet on Yourself made only three of his 17 2-point attempts on the night. The overall stat line was excellent, especially the nine 3-pointers on 13 attempts, but VanVleet’s field-goal percentage took a significant hit. He did what he could to compensate for Jalen Green’s poor showing, as he shot 1-of-7 from the field and finished with three points, one rebound, one assist, and one 3-pointer in 19 minutes.

VanVleet finished Sunday’s defeat with his first double-double since March 16, and the 12 assists were the most in a game for him since March 21 (12 vs. Chicago). He was one of three Rockets to score at least 21 points, with Dillon Brooks (29) and Jalen Green (21/6/8/2/1 with two 3-pointers) being the others. The Rockets have been officially eliminated from postseason contention, which may impact how they approach Week 24. Fantasy managers whose leagues run that long should consider Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson if they are available on the waiver wire.

Green led Houston in the scoring department and posted another loaded stat line. He shot a poor 6-of-18 from the field, but Green was otherwise solid. Over his last 15 games, he’s averaged 26.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.5 dimes, 1.1 steals and 3.7 triples while providing fantasy managers with top-30 per-game value. Green was a drop candidate in category leagues at various points throughout the season, but he’s turned things on at the right time.

A top 40 player in 9-cat formats over the past two weeks, Green struggled on Thursday as Houston’s hopes of earning a play-in spot took a significant hit. During Houston’s three-game losing streak, he’s failed to crack 15 points twice, with Tuesday’s loss to Minnesota (26 points) being the outlier. Before this run, Green tallied at least 26 points in eight straight games, earning his first Western Conference Player of the Week honor during that stretch. Fred VanVleet also struggled against the Warriors, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, nine assists, and five steals, shooting 2-of-7 from the field and 6-of-6 from the foul line.

Green really struggled in their last game, which was part of the reason that Houston’s 11-game winning streak was snapped. However, he got back on track in this one, even if they weren’t able to get back in the win column. He struggled with his deep-range shooting (2-of-11), though the entire team was ineffective from beyond the arc (14-of-48). They have a big game coming up against the Warriors on Thursday, which will be vital in determining who gets the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. Green will look to keep up this excellent scoring stretch.

Green had been one of the best players in fantasy basketball during Houston’s 11-game winning streak, specifically during the final eight games of the streak. However, that all came to a screeching halt on Sunday, with their win streak ending and Green struggling to maintain elite production. Though the streak is over, that doesn’t mean that this is the end of a Linsanity run for Green. He has taken a step as a player and will look to bounce back against the Timberwolves on Tuesday. They host Golden State on Thursday, which will be an important game when it comes to determining who will get the final Play-In spot in the West.

Green’s superb run continues, as he has scored 30 points or more in five of his last ten games. Over the past month, he has averaged 29.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 4.3 3-pointers per game, shooting 48.8% from the field and 78.2% from the foul line. That production has been good for top 15 per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats, a far cry from Green’s season-long value. The Rockets will look to extend their win streak on Sunday when they host the Mavericks.