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The playoff race in the Western Conference is heating up, with a variety of new players emerging as key performers throughout the league.
This adds a layer of excitement for NBA Fantasy Salary Game participants eager to gain an edge over their rivals as the season heads into its final phase.
Here’s what you need to know as we reach the midpoint of Week 22:
The Houston Rockets (45-25) are at the forefront of a competitive battle for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Four teams are closely vying for position, with the Los Angeles Lakers (43-25), Denver Nuggets (44-26), and Memphis Grizzlies (43-27) all within two games of each other.
Houston is currently riding the longest winning streak in the league, having secured eight consecutive victories after experiencing a rough 5-11 period from January 30 to March 4. This winning streak marks their most successful stretch of the season and has occurred despite the absence of Amen Thompson for the past six games and Fred VanVleet for the initial three of this stretch.
As a result, contributions from Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green have been vital recently. They stand as the top two scorers for the Rockets in terms of total fantasy points (TFP). During this successful run, Green has averaged 40.8 fantasy points per game (FPPG), while Sengun has contributed an impressive 41 FPPG.
Tari Eason is also making significant strides. The third-year forward has recorded over 34 fantasy points in five of his last seven games, including two performances of more than 50 in his last three outings. This is a remarkable improvement from his seasonal average of 29.5 FPPG, as he hadn’t surpassed the 50-point mark since November 2.
Quentin Grimes currently leads the fantasy scoring for the week, having racked up 70.6 fantasy points in a 144-137 defeat of the Philadelphia 76ers (23-46) on Monday. His impressive 46 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists set new personal records for the 2024-25 season. Grimes has been on fire lately, achieving 40 or more fantasy points in six consecutive games, despite having a seasonal average of 24.5 FPPG. With 11 players listed on the injury report for the 76ers, he is poised to remain a key player.
Joining the list of top performers early in the week is Deni Avdija, who, similar to Grimes, has elevated his play. The fifth-year forward scored 64.2 fantasy points in the Portland Trail Blazers’ (31-39) 115-99 victory over the Grizzlies on Wednesday, tallying 31 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists. This performance marked a personal best this season, surpassing his recent high of 62.2 established on March 10. His recent surge has nearly positioned him at the top of the Blazers’ TFP rankings, trailing team leader Anfernee Simons by just 50 points.
Completing the top performers is Green, who contributed 62.9 fantasy points in the Rockets’ win over the 76ers on Monday. He finished the game with 30 points, seven rebounds, and 13 assists, consistently surpassing the 40-fantasy-point mark across four of his last six games. Having produced 30 or more fantasy points in 12 of his last 15 appearances, the fourth-year guard has become a crucial asset for Houston’s success.
In Philadelphia, injuries have created opportunities for various high-value fantasy players. Grimes, Jared Butler, and Justin Edwards could serve as valuable short-term assets with upcoming matchups against the San Antonio Spurs (29-39) and Atlanta Hawks (33-36) on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Grimes has significantly improved from an initial average of 7.7 FPPG during his first seven games. After taking on a larger role with the Dallas Mavericks (33-37), he has excelled with the 76ers, averaging an impressive 50.3 FPPG since March 9, with a salary of only $5.4M.
During the same period, Butler has achieved 27.4 FPPG, while Edwards has logged 22 FPPG. Notably, Butler didn’t break the 30-point barrier in any game until Week 11, and Edwards was not active until Week 5. Butler can be added for $4.4M and Edwards for $4.2M.
