Luguentz

Dort

Dort was hot from beyond the arc on Monday, shooting 8-of-8 with the eight makes being a career-high. As for the 26 points, that was his highest tally of the season. Dort hasn’t been the most reliable shooter, but he has made strides this season. That progress will be tested if the Thunder are forced to play without Jalen Williams, who exited Monday’s game with a strained right hip. Oklahoma City plays three more games during Week 19, starting with the Celtics on Wednesday in Boston.

Both players sat out Friday along with most other Thunder starters and regular role players, but both will be back in action against Denver. Expect the pair to handle their typical workloads.

Caruso will return to the lineup after a one-game absence, and he should see a substantial boost in playing time with most of the Thunder’s regular starters ruled out.

Multiple players, including Dort, were involved in an altercation that began between Oklahoma City’s Kenrich Williams and Julian Champagnie of the Spurs. When the dust settled, the officials ejected Williams, Champagnie and Dort. Lu finished with nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and one three-pointer in 24 minutes, while Williams tallied three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 10 minutes.

There’s nothing like facing a team ranked 27th in three-point percentage defense when you’re in a slump. Dort entered Friday’s game having shot 2-of-16 from three in his prior four games. He snapped out of that funk in a big way in Atlanta, shooting 6-of-11 from deep and recording his first 20-point game since February 1 (20 vs. Sacramento). Rostered in 17 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Dort has been ranked outside the top 175 in nine-cat formats over the past three weeks. Friday’s effort was a much-needed step in the right direction.

Dort provided solid value on Wednesday, shooting 70 percent from the field and recording a complete stat line. Over the past two weeks, the Thunder wing has provided sixth-round value in eight-cat formats. Dort can be challenging to rely on in category leagues, as the production can be inconsistent. However, he’s made strides this season, providing late-round value in 12-team formats. Dort and the Thunder visit the Timberwolves on Thursday in their final game before the All-Star break.

Wiggins had started OKC’s previous five games, but with the typical starters all finally healthy at the same time, Wiggins returned to a reserve role. However, Wiggins was far more productive than Luguentz Dort, who occupied his typical starting spot on the wing. Wiggins has averaged 23.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, two assists, one steal and 3.5 threes per game over the last six games for the Thunder. He’s on quite the hot streak, which certainly makes him worth considering for a roster spot in standard leagues.

Holmgren (rest) and Dort (back) return to the Thunder starting lineup, with the latter back after a two-game absence. Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso return to the bench, with both players taking hits to their fantasy values. Both will remain in the rotation.

Lu Dort (back) will return following a two-game absence, and Holmgren will be back after one game on the sidelines while resting on the second leg of a back-to-back set. Aaron Wiggins started in place of Dort, and Caruso filled in for Holmgren, but both will presumably shift back to the bench on Monday.

This will be a second straight absence for Dort, which should mean a second straight start for Aaron Wiggins. As a starter on Friday, Wiggins had 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block and one triple in 33 minutes. Isaiah Joe also stepped up and had 16 points with four 3-pointers in 25 minutes off the bench.