Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Records double-double in loss
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Valanciunas supplied 20 points (8-17 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 14 rebounds, two assists and one block in 23 minutes during Sunday's 140-112 loss to the Grizzlies.
Valanciunas' veteran presence plays a role for the rebuilding Wizards, but the team continues to lose. He scored at least 20 points and recorded a double-double in each game during Washington's weekend back-to-back set, including a season-high 14 boards Sunday against Memphis and a season-high five blocks against Denver on Saturday.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Dominates in paint Saturday
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Valanciunas chipped in 20 points (8-15 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 12 rebounds, five assists and five blocks across 32 minutes during Saturday's 122-113 win over the Nuggets.
It was a season-best effort by Valanciunas, who registered a season-high five blocks and his first 20-point, 10-rebound double-double of the season while starting at center for the absent Alex Sarr (back) on Saturday. Valanciunas' excellent showing down low may have been overshadowed by Nikola Jokic's career-high 56 points for the Nuggets on the other side, but fantasy managers should be pleased with the former's box score despite his five turnovers. Valanciunas has now made five starts for the Wizards, averaging 14.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 blocks in 25.4 minutes per contest while shooting 56.9 percent from the floor as a starter. The veteran big man should play a more pronounced role once again if Sarr remains out Sunday, albeit in a tough matchup with a Grizzlies squad that ranks seventh in the NBA in defensive efficiency rating (108.6).
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Starting Saturday
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Valanciunas is in the Wizards' starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Nuggets.
After coming off the bench Thursday against the Mavericks, Valanciunas will return to the starting lineup Saturday due to Alex Sarr (back) being ruled out. Over the first 20 games of the regular season (including four starts), Valanciunas is averaging 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists over 19.6 minutes per game.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Out of starting five Thursday
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Valanciunas will come off the bench in Thursday's matchup against Dallas.
The Wizards will take a look at Marvin Bagley starting alongside Alex Sarr in the frontcourt, pushing Valanciunas to the bench. The veteran big man started in the Wizards' last two outings, during which he averaged 14.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 61.1 percent from the field across 25.0 minutes per contest.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Double-double in Tuesday's start
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Valanciunas recorded 13 points (5-9 FG, 3-4 FT), 11 rebounds, one block and one steal in 19 minutes during Tuesday's 118-87 loss to Cleveland.
Injuries in the Wizards' frontcourt have allowed the team to take a look at Valanciunas and Alex Sarr in the starting lineup together, and the veteran center responded by producing his fifth double-double of the season Tuesday as he made his second straight start. Four of his double-doubles have come in the last 10 games, and over that stretch, Valanciunas is averaging 11.8 points, 8.2 boards, 1.7 assists and 0.8 blocks in 19.4 minutes a contest while shooting 56.8 percent from the floor.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Productive in spot start Saturday
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Valanciunas closed with 16 points (6-9 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, five assists and one steal over 31 minutes during Saturday's 124-114 loss to Milwaukee.
Valanciunas earned his first start since Nov. 8, when he recorded 16 points in a loss to the Grizzlies, in an effort to counter the Bucks' frontcourt physicality of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Even though the Wizards suffered another loss, Valanciunas had a decent showing, and the veteran continues to remain valuable in fantasy even if he's not starting. Valanciunas has scored at least 15 points in back-to-back games for the first time this season, and he's registered double-digit points in 12 of his 18 contests.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Moving to starting role Saturday
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Valanciunas is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Bucks, Varun Shankar of The Washington Post reports.
The Wizards will add size to their frontcourt to counter the duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, so Valanciunas will start at center and Alex Sarr will get the nod at power forward. Valanciunas is averaging 11.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game since the beginning of November.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Plays just 14 minutes
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Valanciunas recorded four points (2-4 FG), three rebounds and one assist over 14 minutes during Tuesday's 127-108 loss to the Bulls.
Valanciunas' minutes continue to trend in the wrong direction, as he's now played 19 or fewer minutes in four straight contests. He's usually been very productive in limited minutes, but Tuesday's game was an outlier. He'll be a popular trade candidate going forward, and a change of scenery could provide a big boost to his upside.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Produces off bench Monday
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Valanciunas notched 18 points (8-11 FG, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks across 18 minutes during Monday's 134-106 loss to the Knicks.
Alex Sarr continues to struggle on offense, but since the Wizards are going through a rebuilding process, there's not a realistic scenario in which Valanciunas will replace Sarr at center any time soon. The veteran big man is averaging 11.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks per game in his last six outings off the bench.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Logs third double-double Sunday
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Valanciunas supplied 13 points (4-11 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and one block over 20 minutes in Sunday's 124-104 loss to the Pistons.
Valanciunas registered his third double-double of the 2024-25 regular season Sunday, two of which have come over his last three outings. Valanciunas has provided some decent output as the first big man off the Wizards' bench behind 2024 No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr. Valanciunas is averaging 12.2 points on 54.8 percent shooting, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists across 20.3 minutes per contest.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Double-doubles off bench
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Valanciunas had 16 points (6-12 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks over 22 minutes during Wednesday's 139-130 loss to the Spurs.
Valanciunas racked up just his second double-double of the season, logging in excess of 20 minutes for the first time in the past three games. It's been an underwhelming start to his career in Washington, with rumors already swirling regarding his long-term future. As long as he is pushing 20 minutes per night, he should continue to be a nightly double-double threat.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Not starting Sunday
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Valanciunas won't start Sunday's game against the Magic.
Valanciunas made a spot start Friday against the Grizzlies but was benched to start the second half in favor of Kyshawn George, who's back in the starting lineup versus Orlando. In six appearances off the bench this season, Valanciunas has averaged 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 20.6 minutes per game.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Starting Friday
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Valanciunas is in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Grizzlies.
The Wizards will opt to go big with Valanciunas in the starting lineup. He totaled seven points, nine rebounds and four assists across 22 minutes in his only other start this season.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Double-doubles in loss
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Valanciunas chipped in 16 points (6-10 FG, 4-4 FT), 12 rebounds and seven assists across 21 minutes during Monday's 125-112 loss to Golden State.
This was Valanciunas' first double-double of the campaign, as he continues to be the focal point for the second unit. He has only one block to his name through six games, but he's been productive elsewhere with averages of 12.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Well-rounded effort off bench
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Valanciunas registered 22 points (8-10 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 5-6 FT), eight rebounds and six assists in 25 minutes during Wednesday's 133-120 win over the Hawks.
Valanciunas entered Washington's starting five Monday against Atlanta, but he retreated to the bench for Wednesday's rematch. His change of role didn't seem to bother him, however, as he put together a well-rounded game while pacing the Wizards' bench in scoring. The veteran center will provide valuable backup minutes behind Alex Sarr and will occasionally enter the starting lineup throughout the 2024-25 regular season.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Coming off bench Wednesday
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Valanciunas is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Washington will roll with rookie Alex Sarr at center, flanked by the shooting of Kyshawn George and length of Bilal Coulibaly. Valanciunas has logged between 20 and 22 minutes in all three of Washington's contests thus far.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Starting Friday
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Valanciunas (rest) is available and in the starting lineup for Friday's preseason game versus the Knicks.
Valanciunas will return to action for Friday's preseason finale after sitting out the Wizards' previous contest for rest purposes. The veteran big man will replace Marvin Bagley in the starting lineup against New York.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Resting Monday vs. Nets
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Valanciunas (rest) has been ruled out for Monday's preseason game against the Nets, Varun Shankar of The Washington Post reports.
Marvin Bagley will pick up the start with both Alex Sarr (calf) and Valanciunas sitting out. The 32-year-old's last chance to suit up during the preseason will come Friday against the Knicks.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Not starting against Toronto
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Valanciunas is not in the starting lineup for Friday's preseason game against the Raptors, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Valanciunas had started the previous two preseason games alongside Alex Sarr in the frontcourt, but the rookie will start at center in this game, so Valanciunas will head to the bench, and it's uncertain if he'll see the court at all. Kyshawn George will start in Valanciunas' place.
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Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas: Bound for D.C. on three-year pact
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Valanciunas agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with the Wizards on Sunday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Valanciunas played at least 74 regular-season games in each of his three seasons with the Pelicans, but his role declined in 2023-24 while New Orleans enjoyed better health from frontcourt mate Zion Williamson. Though he appeared in all 82 games, Valanciunas' averages of 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game all represented notable downturns from the season before. The 32-year-old should have a chance to bounce back as a veteran presence for the Wizards, who just selected Alex Sarr with the No. 2 pick in this year's draft.
