PG - Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers vs Brooklyn Nets
The 76ers rookie continues to be a more economical option than Russell Westbrook at the point guard position while posting near triple-double numbers every game, and with Philadelphia looking for an 11th consecutive victory, there is no reason to turn away from Simmons as they challenge Cleveland for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Simmons has recorded seven triple-doubles in his last 11 games and barely missed an eighth Sunday versus Charlotte in which he totaled 20 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds. He added three steals and two blocks for good measure and has averaged 12.9 points, 11.6 assists, 10.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals in those 11 games while shooting 55.4 percent.
He gets another favorable matchup with the Brooklyn Nets coming to Philadelphia for the second time in 18 days, and Simmons had 21 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds and three steals in the 120-116 victory March 18 that started Philadelphia's ten-game run. The frontrunner for NBA Rookie of the Year has yet to record a triple-double versus the Nets but has averaged 18.7 points, 8.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds in three meetings while making 59.5 percent of his shots.
Also consider: Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets @ Chicago Bulls
Walker gets the nod here over Westbrook because he has torched the Bulls of late, averaging 29.0 points, 5.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 47.5 percent from 3-point range in the last seven matchups. In his first trip to the United Center, he lit up Chicago for 47 points, and Walker has averaged 32.7 points and 5.0 assists in three meetings this season while making 14 of 29 from beyond the arc and shooting 53.2 percent overall.
Walker has averaged 20.9 points, 5.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 22 lifetime games versus Chicago, hitting 38.8 percent of his attempts from deep.
Low-cost option: Tyler Ulis, Phoenix Suns vs Sacramento Kings
As Devin Booker continues to be sidelined with a hand injury, Ulis is staking a claim to stay on this roster as the Suns head into a summer of rebuilding. The second-year guard has averaged 15.8 points and 7.0 assists in his last six games, and those numbers have ticked higher to 17.0 points and 7.7 assists per game starting the last three. Ulis has been serviceable from 3-point range, going 7 for 18 in those three games, and while his 1.92 assist-to-turnover ratio is a little low, an up-tempo game against the Kings could keep his offensive numbers at his recent averages.
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