In most default Yahoo High Score fantasy basketball leagues, we’re entering the semifinals of the playoffs. The postseason in fantasy hoops is difficult to navigate with so many teams tanking while injuries to key players mount. Many managers were carried into the playoffs on the backs of players like Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards. They’ll have to make do without those stars (if they even were able to advance without them).
One star that has been carrying managers all season long is Luka Dončić, who is coming off one of the best games of his career as he has the Lakers on a nine-game winning streak entering Week 22. Let’s recap his performance from last week while also looking at the rest of the High Score perfect lineup.
Week 21 High Score Perfect Lineup. (Photo by Taylor Wilhem/Yahoo Sports)
More on the top performers
Luka Dončić, guard: When the dust settles on the 2025-26 fantasy basketball season, there’s a good chance Dončić finishes behind Nikola Jokić in terms of fantasy points per game. But the Lakers’ All-Star could be deemed the “MVP” of the fantasy season, especially if he keeps this up throughout the playoffs. Last week, Dončić put on an offensive clinic vs. the Heat with 60 points on 18-of-30 shooting from the floor. He also added seven rebounds, three assists and five steals to top the High Score leaderboard. The Lakers face the Pistons on Monday but have the Pacers and Nets later in the week. That could be very good or very bad for your fantasy semifinal matchup.
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Darius Garland, guard: The Clippers acquired Garland in the James Harden trade back on Feb. 4. Garland missed a month and a half from the middle of January due to injury but returned in early March. The Clips were easing him back into action until recently, when Garland dropped 41 points on the Mavericks in an OT win last week. He also had three boards and 11 assists to make it onto the perfect lineup. Garland could be a league-winning guard for managers as Los Angeles is most likely headed for the play-in tourney. He should continue to play big minutes so long as he’s healthy. Just know he may rest on back-to-backs.
Nikola Jokić, frontcourt: Joker had two separate games of 73 fantasy points last week — one on Sunday vs. the Blazers and also Wednesday vs. the Grizz. It wasn’t exactly the result High Score managers were hoping for in a playoff week; the previous week Jokić posted 86 and 90 fantasy points. Luckily, the Nuggets have four games in Week 22 — at Suns, vs. Mavericks, vs. Jazz and vs. the Warriors. The front-runner to finish as the No. 1 asset in fantasy should show up big for you in your semifinal.
Jalen Johnson, frontcourt: The Hawks might be on the quietest run of any team in NBA history right now. Atlanta has won 13 of the past 15 games to get clear of the play-in as of Monday. The Hawks are playing mostly tanking teams but still, you’ve got to take care of the teams below you in the standings. Johnson has been a breakout star all season and is another player you could argue for fantasy MVP in 2025-26. He posted his 13th triple-double of the season last week vs. the Magic with 24-15-13 for 68 fantasy points.
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Bam Adebayo, frontcourt: Bam made it back-to-back weeks on the High Score perfect lineup after his insane 83-point performance last week (110 fantasy points). The Heat have dropped four games in a row and are among a group of teams fighting to get out of the play-in tournament. In a narrow loss to the Rockets to end Week 21, Adebayo finished with 32 points and matched a career high with 21 boards.
James Harden, utility: Harden also makes it on the list on the other end of that big Clippers-Cavaliers trade from earlier in the season. The veteran guard is playing through a fractured thumb and it hasn’t been holding him back. The Beard has at least seven assists in five of his past six games and dropped 36-7-9 on the Bulls last week to just sneak into the perfect lineup.
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