Jamal Murray has been lighting it up for the Nuggets. (Peter Creveling-Imagn Images)
This week, OKC has seized control of its series, but has lost Jalen Williams (hamstring) again; Devin Booker didn’t mince words about how shoddy he thinks the refs have been in Phoenix’s series; and Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff ripped into his team at halftime and they responded with a desperately needed win to square the series. Other Fantasy basketball stuff we’re checking out…
Jamal Murray Piling Up the Points
Last season was a bit of a disappointment for the Denver Nuggets as they slipped to 50 wins and were again dispatched in the Western conference semi-finals.
In 2025-26, Denver bounced back to 54 wins and has its sights set on getting back to the conference finals for the first time since its 2022-23 championship season, but it’s not going to be easy.
After taking the series opener against the Timberwolves, the Nuggets blew a 20-point lead in losing Game Two and now head to Minnesota having surrendered home court advantage. And while Nikola Jokic has recorded 19 dimes so far, he could have a lot more if his teammates would just sink their bucket attempts.
After being part of the problem in Game One when he shot under 32 per cent, Jamal Murray was back in form for the second match, canning 44 per cent from the floor en route to his second straight 30-point effort, leading the team in both games. He added seven boards, six treys and a steal, so clearly did his part — even if the Wolves have been doing a great job defending him (see video below).
You may recall that Murray was sick in the playoffs last season, but shook it off to help Denver take OKC to the limit. That painful loss must have lit a fire under him as he had a career season, setting personal bests almost the board. Murray stayed healthier, playing in his most games since 2018-19, while expanding his three-point game — both from a volume and efficiency standpoint.
Over the last three seasons, he’s taken the next step as a Fantasy asset, recording a career high 38.6 Yahoo Fantasy points per game in 2023-24, matching that last season, and then upping that mark to 42.9 this season.
Murray is a top 30 dynasty league asset who may somehow be a bit overlooked simply because he shares the court with the biggest stud in Fantasy basketball. Coming out of Kentucky, this Canadian’s best skill was his jumper, but he was bit undersized as a combo guard. Fortunately, Murray has been able to stick at PG since his rookie season.
Will Washington Be Any Better?
The Washington Wizards made a tiny bit of progress last season (if you want to call a gain of three wins progress), but gave one of those back this season (to finish dead last in the NBA) for its third straight campaign of under 20 wins.
This rebuild is taking its sweet time, making us wonder what the odds are that Washington will be any better in 2026-27.
Of course, much of that immediate fortune will be decided by the draft lottery on May 10. The Wizards have the best odds (14 per cent – the same as Indiana and Brooklyn) – to land the No. 1 overall pick, and however things play out, they can’t fall out of the top five.
So this much we know: unless Washington goes off board, it’s likely walking away with one of AJ Dybansta, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr. or Keaton Wagler. So no matter what, the Wizards are going to land a top-end talent to help shift this thing from tank mode to rebuild mode.
One of the biggest questions here is whether Anthony Davis wants to stick around for this process. Dealt to Washington in a February blockbuster, he never actually suited up for the Wizards because of a finger injury that ultimately ended his season early (but at least he was no longer in Dallas to feel the ire of fans because of the ill-fated Luka Doncic trade).
Davis is saying all the right things about helping Washington win immediately, but he turned 33 last month and chances of him earning a second ring are getting longer by the season. He likely knows that unless the Wizards win the lottery, it’s not happening with them any time soon.
Limited to just 20 games this season, it was a very difficult campaign for Davis. His bucket count dipped for the second straight time, and his three-point game regressed (not that it’s ever been good). Worst of all was the fact that Davis managed his fewest points from the line since his rookie season way back in 2012-13.
He’s probably still a top 30 dynasty league asset, but there are a lot of Fantasy owners who took him in the first round this season who are probably so pissed that they won’t touch him again under any circumstances. That could make him a sleeper… if he can stay on the court long enough to prove anyone wrong, that is.
Waiver Wire Pick of the Week
Sandro Mamukelashvili, PF/C, Toronto Raptors (ESPN: 21.9 per cent; CBS: 26 per cent): Mamukelashvili showed flashes of value in his first season in San Antonio, but had too small a role to be of use the next three seasons. He’s been set free a bit more in Toronto (even earning Sixth Man of the Year votes) and after getting eight boards in the playoff opener, he posted a double-double in Game Two vs. Cleveland as the Raps opted to go small. If Jakob Poetl’s minutes are limited again, Mamukelashvili will be the primary benefactor.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Chic was formed by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. In 1977, they released “Everybody Dance,” which reached No. 9 on the UK Singles chart and is considered one of the top songs of the disco era.