Fantasy basketball pickups: Quentin Grimes moves forward for shorthanded Mavs

Injuries to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have really opened things up for Dallas, and several players have been able to step up. The shorthanded Mavs beat the Lakers by 21 points on Tuesday night, and while that was partially due to the play of some big-roster players like PJ Washington, it was mostly due to some players who are widely available . Spencer Dinwiddie is enrolled in only 18% of Yahoo’s leagues, while Quentin Grimes it is at 29%. Dinwiddie has had some poor performances recently, but returned to the starting lineup Tuesday night and contributed 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists in 35 minutes. Grimes logged 29 minutes off the bench and scored 23 points with nine rebounds, six assists and six 3-pointers. This was actually the third game in a row that he has split six dimes, which is a nice boost for his fantasy game. Irving is expected to miss at least two more games, though it could end up being longer. It will be weeks before Doncic returns, and both of these Dallas guards should retain some value when Kyrie returns. Both should be considered must-have players until Irving returns, but they’ll still be decent streamers after that.

Here are six more players worth streaming after Tuesday night’s seven-game slate:

SF Jaime Jaquez Jr. (32%), Miami Heat

After having a triple-double on Monday, Jáquez Jr. followed with 18 points in a win over the Warriors. He has seen an increase in usage with Jimmy Butler away from the team, and until he returns or a trade brings other players back, Jáquez Jr. should play an important role.

PF/C Nikola Jovic (23%), Miami Heat

Like Jaquez Jr., Jovic has stepped up with Butler out of the lineup. He has scored in double figures in three straight games and finished Tuesday with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal and two triples. Jovic has been a frustrating roster player in the past, but his recent play makes him worth considering for a roster spot.

PG/SG Bub Carrington (13%), Washington Wizards

The rookie hasn’t dominated as a starting point guard, but he’s had the ball in his hands a lot with Jordan Poole and Malcolm Brogdon on the sidelines. He finished with 12 points, four rebounds, five assists and four 3-pointers on Tuesday, and if Poole and Brogdon remain out for the second night of their back-to-back in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Carrington should once again provide solid value.

SG/SF Justin Champagnie (19%), Washington Wizards

Champagnie returned to the bench for Tuesday’s game, but Kuzma’s early exit allowed him to start the second half of that game. He wasn’t productive in this game, but he had some good performances as a starter. If Kuzma stays on the sidelines against the 76ers, Champagnie would be a decent streamer if he starts.

C Mason Plumlee (8%), Phoenix Suns

Plumlee replaced Jusuf Nurkic as the team’s starting center, and while he hasn’t been able to score much, he’s been a solid rebounder. He has at least five rebounds in six straight games and grabbed 13 boards on Tuesday. Plumlee can provide some assists and defensive numbers, but those haven’t come consistently.

SF/PF Cam Whitmore (6%), Houston Rockets

Whitmore continues to be a strong source of points and 3-pointers with Tari Eason on the sidelines. It’s unclear how much longer Eason will be out, but Whitmore has been able to put up points fairly consistently recently, and the injury to Jabari Smith Jr. it just opened up more minutes for him. He hasn’t been able to contribute much other than points, so managers shouldn’t have to wait much longer if they choose to add him.