Sorare NBA | Game Week 34 Primer
Welcome to the Sorare NBA Game Week 34 Primer!
The next round of action kicks off today, and we're here to break down all the relevant information for the upcoming slate. Lineups lock at 6:50 p.m. EST — with the upcoming contests running Monday-Thursday.
This is the last Game Week before the NBA All-Star Break — but the platform has some fun competitions up its sleeve for the festivities this coming weekend.
There will be seven All-Star-themed contests, with two centered around the Saturday events (Dunk Contest, Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest) and five competition tiers for the Sunday All-Star Game. For more info on the upcoming formats, check out Sorare’s ASG blog.
Let’s get into all the action from this weekend of hoops:
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Game Week Rewind ⏮
With most eyes focused on the Super Bowl (and a large plate of food), it’s understandable if you weren’t following a ton of the basketball action this weekend. But we had some big surprises at the top of the slate, with Derrick White (71 Sorare Points) and Jalen Duren (69 Sorare Points) outscoring the usual suspects!
Derrick White was feelin' it from deep in the first half:
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 11, 2023
🔥 26 PTS
🔥 9-11 FG
🔥 7-9 3-PT FG (ties Celtics record for threes in a half) pic.twitter.com/pvBueYU4Fa
Some other notable players who provided significant value this weekend included:
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Devonte’ Graham (45 Sorare Points, +31)
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Brook Lopez (57 Sorare Points, +30)
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Zach Collins (49 Sorare Points, +29)
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Talen Horton-Tucker (41 Sorare Points, +28)
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Terence Davis (42 Sorare Points, +27)
Multi-Game Monitor 🗓
In Sorare NBA, having a player with several games during a competition can be a big advantage — with an extra chance at a ceiling performance.
📈 3 Games: Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
⚠️ 1 Game: Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors
Injury & Roster Info 🏥
Here are some notable (not all-inclusive) injury/lineup situations to monitor and plan for ahead of this week's games:
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The New Orleans Pelicans announced that Zion Williamson suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury and now is without a timetable to return. The star forward has been out since Jan. 2 and was initially hoping to be back following the All-Star Break.
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The buy-out market action began this weekend, with the following players finding new homes:
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Terrence Ross — Phoenix Suns
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DeWayne Dedmon — Philadelphia 76ers
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Danny Green — Cleveland Cavaliers
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Players who have been waived but have yet to find a new home include:
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John Wall, Patrick Beverley, Reggie Jackson (plans to sign with Denver Nuggets), Stanley Johnson
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The information below is as of Monday, Feb. 13, but can give broader insights for the rest of the Game Week.
Ruled Out ❌
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Tre Mann, OKC (assigned to G League), Zeke Nnaji, DEN (shoulder), Victor Oladipo, MIA (ankle), Romeo Langford, SAS (adductor), Tre Jones, SAS (foot)
Doubtful 🤕
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Tyler Herro, MIA (knee)
Questionable ❓
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Joel Embiid, PHI (foot), Precious Achiuwa, TOR (ankle), Gary Trent Jr., Alex Caruso, CHI (foot), Kyle Anderson, MIN (back), Kyle Kuzma, WAS (ankle), Andrew Wiggins, GSW (ankle), Jerami Grant, POR (concussion), Rudy Gobert, MIN (groin), Aaron Gordon, DEN (rib), Jamal Murray, DEN (knee), LeBron James, LAL (ankle), CJ McCollum, POR (ankle), Myles Turner, IND (back), Tyrese Haliburton, IND (thigh), Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (hip), John Collins, ATL (hip), Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL (hamstring)
As injury information is breaking at all hours prior to lineups locking, an excellent resource for up-to-date news is the Underdog NBA Twitter account.
Value Plays 🤑
Last Game Week's Value Pick Performances:
Player | L10 | GW 32 Performance
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Collin Sexton, 19 L10, 43 Sorare Points (+24) 🔥🔥
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Zach Collins, 20 L10, 49 Sorare Points (+29) 🔥🔥
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Nassir Little, 11 L10, 15 Sorare Points (+4) 😑
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Jerami Grant, 29 L10, 28 Sorare Points (-1) ❌
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Mark Williams, 20 L10, 32 Sorare Points (+12) 🔥
Game Week 34 Value Picks:
*Note — these selections are based purely on L10 value in lineups — and do not consider the auction or market prices of the players listed.
Devonte’ Graham | 14 L10 and Zach Collins | 20 L10 — What do you get when you put a career microwave scorer that loves to chuck on a tanking team with a bunch of injuries? Production!
Devonte’ Graham has adjusted nicely to his new home in San Antonio, putting up 45 and 30 Sorare Points in his first two games with the new team. While his role might take a step back as more Spurs players return to action, both Tre Jones (foot) and Romeo Langford (adductor) are already ruled out for Monday — meaning the guard rotation will once again be thin.
We saw a preview of Zach Collins’ upside in his 49 Sorare Point performance in Friday’s first game without Jakob Poetl. With a lack of other bigs on the roster and a modest 20 cap, Collins is a good bet for continued value while his L10 remains lower. I’m running it back with Collins and riding him until his cap increases.
Also Consider: Dominick Barlow and Blake Wesley (both 6 L10, dart throws for Underdog lineups), Malaki Branham (20 L10)
Mark Williams | 20 L10 — Freedom!
We cheered the Mason Plumlee trade last week as a chance to finally unleash Mark Williams, and the rookie big started the new era off nicely with a 32-point Sorare performance. While there will be peaks and valleys (which can be a POSITIVE in Sorare as his cap can stay lower) — Williams is a per-minute fantasy monster. And with a path to playing time and on a rebuilding team, I’m running it back again with Williams this Game Week (and for the foreseeable future).
Also Consider: Nick Richards (10 L10), Gordon Hayward (20 L10)
Collin Sexton | 19 L10 and Talen Horton-Tucker | 15 L10 — Call this the run-it-back Game Week, because I’m doubling down on a bunch of my picks from this weekend.
Collin Sexton continued his stellar run this past game week, with a 43 Sorare Point performance. While his numbers took a step back with the return of Jordan Clarkson on Saturday, Sexton still saw 30 minutes of action and remained in the starting lineup — an encouraging sign for his production moving forward.
THT has taken advantage of his insertion into the rotation over the past three games, going for 25+ in each contest (including 41 on Saturday) and seeing around 25 minutes per game. At just a 15 L10, those numbers will certainly play.
Also Consider: None
Bonus Picks:
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Grant Williams | 15 L10 — 25+ in three straight, seeing expanded usage and minutes with Jaylen Brown out until after the ASB.
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Jabari Smith Jr. | 21 L10 — On a heater right now, and locked into 30+ minutes a game on a Rockets team eager to rack up losses.
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Gabe Vincent | 17 L10 — Has been playing well of late and seeing expanded minutes. Tyler Herro is questionable, Victor Oladipo out — leaving Miami potentially thin at guard.
🔒Live Before Lock 🔒
Got last-minute lineup questions? I'll be on Mike Zakarian / Team Hold's Live Before Lock stream every Monday and Friday at 5:30 PM EST, breaking down all the news, lineup questions and value plays right before the Game Week locks. Join us for some fun (and giveaways) tonight!
🚨 Beat Me, Win PRIZES 🚨
Lucky Trader will be giving away a Limited Tier card each Game Week to one random manager who beats ME in the Common Champion in our Lucky Trader League.
Congratulations to user ISTANBOULE, who took home a Limited Collin Sexton prize this weekend!
Leagues are currently capped at 100 participants, so we're all full at the moment — but we've heard rumblings that might be changing soon!
Click here for more info on the Lucky Trader League and how to participate >>>
Follow Ghost on Twitter @Ghost_Z12
