Klay lights up Lakers with vintage performance

With the Super Bowl kicking off Sunday and just two NBA games on the schedule, the Association decided to smash 11 games into Saturday’s normally tame slate. There’s a lot to unpack after a busy slate, so let’s cut the pleasantries short and get right to it!

Trail Blazers 112, Knicks 103

Don’t look now, but the Josh Hart and Anfernee Simons-led Blazers have won two straight, and they did so Saturday by erasing a 23-point third-quarter deficit.

Hart finished with 23 points, one rebound, two assists and three triples in his Blazers debut, focusing on scoring rather than peripheral stats. His scoring out is the second-highest mark of the season, and he should be an excellent option as one of Portland’s featured players. Justise Winslow came away with another solid line of 14/5/6/1/1 and a triple after averaging 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 triples in his first two starts for Portland. If he’s still available on your waiver wire, you should change that and add him to your roster.

Jusuf Nurkic came away with 12/20/6 for his sixth straight double-double and second 20-rebound effort of the season. Anfernee Simons went off for 30/5/8 for his first 30-point game since Jan. 15. He and Hart should see all the minutes and usage they can handle moving forward.

Quentin Grimes started his second straight game and posted a 20/4/3/2 line in 37 minutes. It was his second-highest minutes total of the season, and in his only other game with at least that many, he went for 27 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals in 40 minutes on Dec. 12. New York is fading from the playoff picture, and the team could opt to give the youngster some more minutes down the stretch. He’s worth a speculative add in competitive leagues if you have the roster spot.

Julius Randle posted another gaudy line of 28/16/6. He’s now gone for at least 28 points in five straight, five assists in five straight, double-digit boards in four of…