John

Collins

With John Collins (head, neck) unavailable, there were additional opportunities for multiple Clippers on Sunday. Kobe Sanders (7/2/2/1 in 26 minutes) was the choice to fill the void in the starting lineup, but Miller also saw his opportunities increase. After logging 25 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Lakers, he played 23 against the Magic, putting up a solid points tally on good percentages. Of course, fantasy managers will want to see more from Miller in the other categories before committing. Plus, with the Clippers off until Thursday, there’s no need to add Miller or Sanders following Sunday’s defeat.

The Clippers won’t have Collins on Sunday, as he was injured during the second quarter of Friday’s loss to the Lakers. He’ll be replaced in the lineup by Sanders, who’s had some good moments as a spot starter this season. Whether he’s worth the risk as a streamer depends on Kawhi Leonard (ankle), who is a game-time decision.

Collins was injured during the second quarter of Friday’s loss to the Lakers, when a hard fall led to a laceration over his eye and a sore neck. Bennedict Mathurin moved into the lineup to begin the third quarter, and that could be his role for Sunday’s game as well. Mathurin is already rostered in most leagues, but 10-team league managers need to ensure that he isn’t sitting on the waiver wire.

Collins took a hard fall during the second quarter of Friday’s game, hitting the side of his head on the court after being bumped by Lakers center Jaxson Hayes while in mid-air. The Clippers’ forward was helped off the floor immediately and did not return. If Collins enters the concussion protocol, Benedict Mathurin appears to be the most likely replacement in the starting lineup.

Over the past two weeks, Collins has been a top-100 player in eight-cat formats, which exceeds his season-long value. Due to the trades of James Harden and Ivica Zubac, Collins boasts a higher fantasy ceiling than he did before those moves were made. However, for him to make good on that potential, he has to be more productive as a defender than he was against the Rockets. Hopefully, Collins can record a few steals and blocks in Wednesday’s rematch.

While the overall line was modest, Collins has reached double figures in each of his last 11 games. Over the past three weeks, the Clippers forward has offered sixth-round per-game value in nine-cat formats, according to Basketball Monster. With James Harden and Ivica Zubac no longer in the picture, there should be more opportunities for Collins offensively, even after Darius Garland (toe) is healthy enough to play.

The Clippers needed a big win to stop their two-game skid, and they got it on Friday, with Collins’ 22 points being a key reason why. The veteran power forward was good on the glass in his 34 minutes and functioned well as a secondary scorer alongside Kawhi Leonard. Collins concluded as one of two Clippers to score at least 20 points, as his run as an efficient scorer continues. His fantasy basketball value could receive a boost with the departures of two highly featured starters ahead of the trade deadline.

Fantasy managers who have Collins on their rosters received solid value in points, rebounds and percentages, but nothing else. With James Harden no longer in the picture and it being unclear when Darius Garland (toe) will be healthy enough to play, Collins should have more opportunities to score. However, this won’t do much for his fantasy value if he puts up relatively empty stat lines like the one he recorded on Wednesday.

Collins’s first season with the Clippers started off slow, but he has been more productive over the past month. This was an efficient, well-rounded performance for him, which is what has made him effective in fantasy basketball as of late. The numbers don’t pop off the page, but he is able to contribute a little bit of everything without turning the ball over or missing many shots. He should remain a strong option for the rest of the season, especially now that the Clippers are playing much better as a team.

Collins is averaging 5.0 rebounds on the season, but he had none in 24 minutes against the Bulls on Tuesday. The 28-year-old power forward’s line lacked meaningful contribution in every category but points and three-pointers. It was a down game for Collins, who has provided second-round per game value over the last two weeks. The Clippers will play the Lakers and Nets at home later this week.