Myles

Turner

Turner had some rough outings during their two-game stretch in Boston to close out last week, but he was able to get back on track in this game. He recorded his sixth double-double of the season, three of which have come over their last five games. Turner isn’t a great rebounder for a center, but he has been effective in that regard recently. He didn’t provide his usual dose of multiple blocks in this game, but if he can get back to that and continue grab boards like this, his 9-cat value could rise into the top-50.

Good news for the Pacers as well as fantasy managers as Turner was initially listed as questionable. Indiana avoids having its thin center depth tested with Turner available against the Thunder Thursday.

Turner lands on the injury report, which is bad news for a team lacking depth at the center position. The recently acquired Thomas Bryant and Obi Toppin would be asked to contribute more if Turner cannot play against the Thunder, with Toppin being the far safer streaming option.

Turner briefly left the game and went to the locker room with an undisclosed injury. He returned and hit one of his 3-pointers with 15 seconds left to put the Pacers up five points. Turner was efficient with 23 points on 14 shots and had a double-double. The 28-year-old center also had three blocks. Turner has returned fifth round value to his fantasy managers so far this year, but things have picked up for the big man lately.

Long valued for his defensive ability, Turner has recently been a menace on that end of the floor. Over the past two weeks, he’s averaging 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, one reason why the veteran center has been a top-30 player in 9-cat formats during this stretch. Turner provides 5th-round value for the season in 8- and 9-cat formats. That doesn’t align with his Yahoo ADP (45), but he’s getting closer. The Pacers play four games in Week 9.

Turner has blocked at least one shot in every game he’s played this season except for one, the Pacers’ October 28 loss to Orlando. His four rejections on Sunday were one shy of his season-high, and Turner is averaging 2.4 blocks per game over the past month. While he remains ranked outside the top 50 in 9-cat formats, Turner has been one of the more valuable big men due to his ability to protect the basket.

Turner has blocked at least one shot in every game he’s played this season except for one, an October 28 loss to Orlando. However, he remains just a top-75 player in 9-cat formats due to decreases in scoring and field goal percentage. While the scoring average is only 1.5 points per game lower than his 2023-24 mark, Turner is shooting five percentage points worse from the field. If he can clean up those areas, a top-50 season is well within reach.

Turner had been in a bit of a scoring slump, but fared better on Monday. He scored 17 points on 11 shots and made 2-of-6 attempts from behind the 3-point line. He’s had at least 20 points in only three of 12 games in November, but continues to have good fantasy value thanks to his rebounding and defense.

Turner was questionable, but will ultimately play against the Pelicans in the second night of a back-to-back for Indiana. Turner has been in a bit of a scoring slump recently with 15 or less points in six of his last eight games, but has mostly maintained his fantasy value thanks to his rebounding and defensive production.

Turner may sit out for the second leg of Indiana’s back-to-back set, and this could be a precautionary absence. If he doesn’t go, expect Jarace Walker and Obi Toppin to fill in at center.