We’re entering the semifinals of the playoffs in most of the default Yahoo high-scoring fantasy basketball leagues. The playoffs in fantasy basketball are difficult to navigate as many teams are slumping and injuries to key players are piling up. Many coaches made it to the playoffs on the backs of players like Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards. They’ll have to make do without these stars (if they can even advance without them).
Luka Doncic, the star player who has been leading the charge all season, is coming off the best game of his career, leading the Lakers to their ninth straight win heading into Week 22. Let’s take a look back at his performance last week and take a look at the rest of the high-scoring perfect lineup.
High-scoring perfect lineup for Week 21. (Photo by Tyler William/Yahoo Sports)
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Luka Doncic, guard: When the dust settles on the 2025-26 fantasy basketball season, there’s a good chance Doncic will trail Nikola Jokic in fantasy points per game. But the Lakers All-Star could be considered the “MVP” of the fantasy season, especially if he keeps up this form throughout the playoffs. Doncic had an outstanding performance against the Heat last week, scoring 60 points on 18-of-30 shooting. He also led the high-scoring list with seven rebounds, three assists and five steals. The Lakers play the Pistons on Monday but will face the Pacers and Nets later this week. This 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 on February 4. Garland missed a month and a half due to injury starting in mid-January but returned in early March. The Clippers have been putting him back on the court until recently, and Garland scored 41 points in last week’s overtime victory over the Mavericks. He also contributed 3 rebounds and 11 assists, joining the perfect lineup. Garland could be the backstop the coaches use to win the league, as Los Angeles is likely to be in the play-in round. As long as he’s healthy, he should continue to play significant minutes. Just know he’ll likely be resting back-to-backs.
Nikola Jokic, frontcourt: Clowney scored 73 points in two separate games last week — one on Sunday against the Trail Blazers and the other on Wednesday against the Grizzlies. It’s not exactly the result that high-scoring managers were hoping for during playoff week; Jokic scored 86 and 90 fantasy points last week. Fortunately, the Nuggets have four games in Week 22 – against the Suns, against the Mavericks, against the Jazz and against the Warriors. The No. 1 front-runner in fantasy should give you a huge leg up in the semifinals.
Jaren Johnson, frontcourt: The Hawks may be the quietest team in NBA history right now. As of Monday, Atlanta had won 13 of its last 15 games to advance. The Eagles are mostly playing against tanks, but you still have to take care of the teams below you in the standings. Johnson has been a breakout star all season long and is another player who could compete for fantasy MVP in 2025-26. Last week, he scored 68 points against the Magic in a 24-15-13 record, his 13th triple-double of the season.
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Bam Adebayo, frontcourt: Bam had an insane 83-point performance last week (110 fantasy points), joining the high-scoring perfect lineup for weeks in a row. The Heat have lost four games in a row and are one of the teams fighting to exit the play-offs. In a narrow loss to the Rockets in Week 21, Adebayo scored 32 points and tied a career-high with 21 rebounds.
James Harden, utility model: Harden was also on the other side of the Clippers’ blockbuster trade with the Cavaliers earlier this season. The veteran defender is playing with a broken thumb, but that doesn’t stop him. Beard has sent out at least 7 assists in five of the past six games. He achieved a record of 36 wins, 7 draws and 9 losses in the Bulls game last week and just entered the perfect lineup.
