Around the Association: DeRozan Carries Bulls, Giddey Takes Down Knicks, Blazers Win Again

This article is part of our NBA Daily Recap series.

Welcome to Around the Association!  Four days per week (Monday through Thursday), this article will serve as a comprehensive recap of the previous night's NBA action, taking you through all of the biggest performances, notable box scores, injury updates and any other fantasy-relevant headlines from around the league.

It was a great nine-game slate -- here is all you need to know:

Nightly Notables

DeMar gets his revenge

• DeMar DeRozan faced off against the Spurs for the second time this season after San Antonio won its first matchup against the Bulls last month. The Spurs got off to a good start and were leading 89-83 after three quarters. However, DeRozan got into his bag and dropped 19 points in the fourth, leading Chicago to a 120-109 win.
• The All-Star starter continues to go scorched earth, as he finished with 40 points (16-24 FG, 8-8 FT), three rebounds and seven assists across 35 minutes. DeRozan is averaging an absurd 37.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game over his last six showings. 
  • Coby White is starting to play some of his best basketball of the season. The third-year guard ended with 24 points (6-11 FG, 5-6 3Pt, 7-8 FT), five rebounds and six assists over 34 minutes. White is averaging 20.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game over his past three outings, while perhaps more impressively, making 5.0 threes per game at a 68.2 percent clip. He'll continue to see increased looks as long as at least one of Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso are sidelined.
  • Nikola Vucevic: 25 points (12-24 FG, 1-7 3Pt), 16 rebounds, five assists and one block over 36 minutes. 
• Recently named All-Star Dejounte Murray was up to his usual antics during the loss. The guard ended with 19 points (7-16 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-7 FT), six rebounds, 11 assists and two steals over 35 minutes. Murray has recorded a double-double in four out of his last five outings. 
  • Lonnie Walker: 21 points (9-17 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-4 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one steal over 26 minutes. 

OKC's youth pushes Thunder past Knicks

• The struggling Knicks were looking to get back on the right track in a favorable matchup against the Thunder in New York. The Knicks were leading by double-digits in the second half, but Josh Giddey and Tre Mann flipped the switch late and brought the game back into reach. Darius Bazley had a sweet reverse finish to send the game into overtime where Giddey completely took over and led the Thunder to a 127-123 win. The Australian rookie ended with a career-high 28 points (11-22 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 3-6 FT), 11 rebounds, 12 assists and one steal over 38 minutes. 
  • Mann was nearly as unstoppable as Giddey, finishing with a team-best 30 points (9-16 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 8-8 FT), two rebounds, one assist and two steals over 31 minutes. While he is still very inconsistent, as any first-year player typically is, the Florida product is showing that he has some serious potential going forward. 
• The Knicks really should not have lost this game, as they now have are now 2-8 over their last 10. Despite the constant losses, Julius Randle is really starting to pick up his play. He finished with 30 points (11-26 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 7-7 FT), 13 rebounds and 10 assists across 45 minutes. Over his last six outings, Randle is averaging 29.3 points, 12.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.
  • Quentin Grimes keeps capitalizing on RJ Barrett (ankle) being sidelined. The rookie out of Houston ended with 19 points (7-18 FG, 5-14 3Pt), seven rebounds, one steal and two blocks over 40 minutes. Grimes has averaged 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist over 36.0 minutes per game over his last three appearances. 
  • Evan Fournier: 29 points (10-18 FG, 6-13 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block over 44 minutes.

Curry's hot start falls short

• Stephen Curry started the Warriors matchup against the Clippers on a tear, ending the first quarter with 16 points and four triples. However, Los Angeles was able to storm away with a 119-104 win behind a strong showing from Terance Mann. The wing ended with a season-best 25 points (11-17 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-5 FT), seven rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal over 39 minutes. After having no 20-point outings throughout his first 56 games of the season, Mann has now down in two straight games. 
  • Reggie Jackson: 19 points (8-17 FG, 3-7 3Pt), eight rebounds and nine assists in 38 minutes.
• Curry was pretty much the only Warriors player to do significant damage in the loss. The star guard recorded 33 points (11-18 FG, 8-13 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes. This was Curry's first contest with eight or more three-pointers since all the way back on Dec. 23. 

New faces already helping Brooklyn

• The Nets are still waiting on Ben Simmons, but Seth Curry and Andre Drummond made their Brooklyn debuts during its 109-85 win over the Kings. Curry led the way, ending with a team-high 23 points (10-18 FG, 3-8 3Pt), seven rebounds and five assists across 32 minutes. With Kyrie Irving not playing in home games and Kevin Durant (knee) still out, Curry has a chance to emerge as a key option for the Nets. 
  • Andre Drummond: 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals across 24 minutes.
• De'Aaron Fox is not to be blamed for Sacramento's loss. The guard ended with a game-high 26 points (9-18 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 6-7 FT), two rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes. Since returning from his injury, Fox has averaged 27.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
  • Donte DiVincenzo: 12 points (4-11 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and a career-high five steals.

Portland keeps winning

• Anfernee Simons is starting to quickly prove himself in the league. The Milwaukee Bucks may have been without Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle), but Portland was still able to roll to a 122-107 win in Milwaukee. This marked the Trail Blazers' third straight win.
  • Simons finished with 31 points (12-24 FG, 7-16 3Pt), two rebounds, six assists and one steal over 35 minutes. The emerging guard is averaging 30.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists over his last three outings. 
    • Josh Hart is proving to be a good addition for Portland, finishing with 27 points (10-16 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal across 36 minutes. Hart has topped 23 points in each of his first two games as a Trail Blazer.
• With Antetokounmpo stuck on the sidelines, Jrue Holiday emerged as Milwaukee's top offensive option during Monday's loss. He ended with 23 points (9-16 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, six assists and two steals across 35 minutes. Holiday ranks as the 17th overall nine-category fantasy option on a per-game basis over the past two weeks.
  • Khris Middleton: 16 points (3-15 FG, 1-8 3Pt, 9-10 FT), 11 rebounds, nine assists and one steal in 36 minutes. 

Best and Worst of the Night

• Best of the Night: DeMar DeRozan - 40 points (16-24 FG, 8-8 FT), three rebounds and seven assists across 35 minutes.
• Worst of the Night: Gary Trent - Six points (2-15 FG, 2-8 3Pt) and one rebound over 28 minutes.
• Rookie of the Night: Josh Giddey- 28 points (11-22 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 3-6 FT), 11 rebounds, 12 assists and one steal over 38 minutes. 

Quick Hitters

• Rudy Gobert (calf) made his return for Utah after missing nine straight games but was ejected in the first half after receiving two technicals. Regardless, the Jazz rolled ahead to a 135-101 win. Donovan Mitchell finished with 30 points (9-15 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 7-8 FT), six rebounds and seven assists across 32 minutes.
  • Bojan Bogdanovic: 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and two assists over 27 minutes. 
• CJ McCollum paced the Pelicans as they steamrolled the Raptors by a score of 120-90. The newly acquired guard finished with a team-best 23 points (9-13 FG, 5-8 3Pt), four rebounds, five assists and two steals over 32 minutes. McCollum is averaging 24.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game in his first three appearances with the Pelicans, although this marked his first win with the team.
  • Brandon Ingram: 10 points (4-7 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 11 rebounds, eight assists, one steal and two blocks over 28 minutes.
• Fred VanVleet was one of the only bright spots for Toronto during its loss to New Orleans, finishing with 20 points (6-15 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one steal over 31 minutes. He did exit the game in the second half with a sore knee, however.
• The Nuggets handled the Magic 111-121 in Denver behind as Nikola Jokic went off for 26 points (10-26 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 15 rebounds, seven assists and one steal over 34 minutes. 
  • Aaron Gordon finished with 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt), six rebounds, three assists and one steal over 32 minutes against his former team.
• Franz Wagner continues to shine in his first season in the league. The rookie out of Michigan finished with a team-best 26 points (8-16 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 7-8 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and two steals over 32 minutes. 
  • Wendell Carter: 25 points (12-22 FG, 1-5 3Pt), 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block over 34 minutes.
• Kyle Kuzma pushed the Wizards past the Pistons by a score of 103-94 as he finished with 23 points (10-18 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-3 FT),  seven rebounds, two assists and one block over 38 minutes. In the three-game span since Spencer Dinwiddie's last appearance with the team, Kuz is averaging 
  • Put Corey Kispert on your fantasy radar. With Dinwiddie no longer in the picture, the sharpshooting rookie has started Washington's last three games and has averaged 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.7 threes made across 33.0 minutes per game.
• Saddiq Bey was the only Pistons player to record 15 or more points during the loss to Washington as he totaled 24 points (7-17 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 6-7 FT), five rebounds and five assists across 38 minutes. Bey has scored 20 or more points in five out of his last seven appearances.
  • Marvin Bagley: 10 points (4-10 FG, 2-6 FT), eight rebounds and one assist across 21 minutes in his Pistons debut.

A Look Ahead to Tuesday Night

• Luka Doncic looks to stay hot when the Mavericks travel south to face the Heat
• The improved Cavs battle the Hawks in Atlanta.
• The red-hot Celtics look to slow down Joel Embiid and the 76ers in Philly
• The Timberwolves and Hornets contest has (by far) the highest projected total of any game this season.