Fantasy Basketball High Score Perfect Lineup for Week 12: Welcome to the party, LeBron James

Things always slow down post-New Year's. Even in fantasy basketball, apparently. Not that we didn't have an exciting week in the NBA but we didn't have much fireworks when it came to high scores in High Score. We did get a few superstars returning to fantasy glory by making it into the perfect lineup for Week 12. Let's take a look at the top-six scorers from last week and how they got it done.

More on the top performers

Luka Dončić, guard: Dončić was the top scorer in what would be considered a down week for high scores. We normally see plenty of 70s and a few scores even higher each week. That wasn't the case; perhaps teams are cracking down on defense or it was a random off week. We also are without Nikola Jokić, who remains sidelined. In a losing effort at the Spurs, Dončić was really the only Laker to show up (LeBron James didn't play), which led to a 38-10-10 triple-double and the top score of the week.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, guard: After looking like a juggernaut early in the season, the Thunder have come back down to earth lately. Thankfully, the Jazz love ceding high scores to opponents this season. So last Wednesday, we saw SGA go off for 46 points in 42 minutes in an OT win over Utah. The free throw merchant got to the line 19 times and drained 17 from the charity stripe for his highest point total since the second game of the season.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo, frontcourt: The Greek Freak returned from a lengthy absence at the end of 2025 and has been putting up consistent numbers since. But we haven't really seen an elite ceiling from Giannis. Even after this 70-point fantasy performance on Sunday vs. the Nuggets, the Bucks lost despite Denver missing both Jokić and Jamal Murray. Antetokounmpo was two boards shy of a triple-double with 31 points and 11 assists, plus three stocks. You've got to think Milwaukee, fighting to get into playoff position, will need to ramp up the minutes for Giannis. It feels like we're close to seeing one of those gaudy 40-20 type of games from him. With only two tough games this week (vs. MIN, at SAS), we may need to wait another week to see that ceiling.

LeBron James, frontcourt: Welcome back, LeBron! Well, not back back. He's been playing since missing all of October and parts of November. But this was easily his best week of the fantasy basketball season. LeBron posted 63 fantasy points and then 64 points on efficient scoring and peripheral stat production. It looked a lot like early-Lakers LeBron out there. James is resting here and there; he sat on the second of L.A.'s back-to-back last week. But with the Lakers missing key players to injury still, LeBron will be tasked with more scoring alongside Dončić.

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Cooper Flagg, frontcourt: Flagg has been flashing his ceiling more lately with the Mavericks dealing with injuries left and right. Big man Anthony Davis sustained ligament damage in his left hand and is expected to miss multiple months. Dallas could throw in the towel on the season soon, which would only allow for Flagg to get more usage and minutes. In a losing effort to Utah (of course), Flagg came two assists shy of a triple-double with 26-10-8, plus four stocks. His motor is always going to elevate his floor, averaging over 2.0 stocks per game this season.

Jamal Murray, utility: The Nuggets really can't shake the injury bug, eh? Murray has tried to keep Denver afloat while the three-time MVP is sidelined but the sharpshooter is also dealing with multiple injuries. That held Murray out for three of four games last week. Luckily for High Score fantasy managers, Murray was able to post 22 points, eight rebounds and a career-high 17 assists in a win over the Celtics on Wednesday. He was ruled out on Sunday due to an illness and ankle injury. We'll see if Murray can get on the court with the Nuggets playing four games this week; a Tuesday-Wednesday back-to-back, and a Saturday-Sunday B2B.

Cade Cunningham, utility: Cade started off the week great with his 67 points in a win over the Knicks last Monday. Unfortunately, he didn't play again the rest of the week, being held out due to a wrist injury. The Pistons continue to lead the Eastern Conference and have good depth to withstand these minor injuries. The problem is it makes it easy to rest stars like Cunningham. This could be another tough week for Cade managers as Detroit has just two games.