The Margin
What the numbers say before anyone writes it. Every night the desk runs the box scores through a set of detectors: scoring streaks, career highs, five-man lineups far from the average, shooting stretches due for a turn, role changes after an injury, contracts against production, the schedule ahead. The few that clear the bar become a short piece with the number in the title and the page that proves it.
Denver's five of A. Gordon, N. Jokic, J. Murray, C. Johnson and C. Braun was +13.5 in 2025-26, and the sample is still small.
Over 35 games and 200 minutes last season, this Celtics five-man lineup outscored opponents at a rate most units never reach.
In 171 minutes together last season, the Nuggets lineup of Jokic, Murray, Johnson, Watson and Jones outscored opponents at a rate few groups reach.
A lineup of C. McCollum, N. Alexander-Walker, O. Okongwu, J. Johnson and D. Daniels outscored opponents by 20.3 points per hundred possessions last season.
His workload has jumped sharply over his last three games without a matching jump in scoring.
Over his last five games, Elijah Harkless is playing 33.1 minutes a night for the Jazz, 12.1 more than his season average.
Brook Lopez is playing more and scoring more, and the next few games will show whether the Clippers mean it.
Cisse is playing nearly twice the minutes he logged all season, and the next five games decide if that holds.
Over his last 10 games, Hachimura played nearly a full extra quarter a night compared to his season average.
Taurean Prince is playing more and scoring more when the Bucks are short a man, and the next few games will show if that lasts.
With a teammate out, Brooks has logged 39 minutes a game and 28.7 points over his last three outings for the Suns.
With a teammate out, Harper's minutes and scoring have both jumped over his last three games.
With a teammate out, Jordan Miller is playing bigger minutes and scoring more for the Clippers.
Orlando gave Suggs more time on the floor last season, but not more points.
Devin Vassell is playing nine more minutes a night than his season average, and his scoring has barely moved.
With a teammate out, Holiday's minutes and his scoring have both jumped over his last three games.
The Spurs guard nearly doubled his season scoring average in a single night against the Knicks.
Over his last five games, Pete Nance's minutes have climbed well past his season norm, and the question now is whether the Bucks keep him there.
Over the Pacers' last three games, Taelon Peter has played nine more minutes a night than his season average whenever a teammate has been out.
Victor Wembanyama's minutes have jumped sharply for the Spurs over his last three games, and his scoring has barely moved.
Over his last 10 games, Santos is up to 29.6 minutes a night, well above his 20.5 mark for the season.
With a teammate out of the lineup, Jackson's bigger role is producing more points, and whether it holds depends on who's healthy.
A near double-digit jump in minutes says the Bucks are leaning on Jericho Sims more than they have all season.
Bassey's expanded role could hold if his teammate stays out, or fade once that player is back.
A five-man Detroit unit has outscored opponents at a rate few lineups reach, across a real sample of minutes.
Over his last five games, the Raptors guard is playing 12.2 more minutes than his season average.
With a teammate out, Cain is logging bigger minutes for Orlando, but his scoring hasn't caught up yet.
With a teammate sidelined, Alex Caruso's role in the last three games points to a bigger job than his season line shows.
Over the Kings' last 10 games of 2025-26, Clifford averaged 34.5 minutes, well above his season mark.
With a teammate sidelined, Brown is getting more time on the floor and more shots to show for it.
A three-game role change tied to an injury is worth watching for whether it holds once the missing teammate returns.
The Timberwolves guard's minutes have spiked well above his season average, and the next stretch of games will show whether that lasts.
In the final five games of last season, the Nets forward played nearly double his season average.
With a teammate out, Barrett is logging more minutes and more points, and whether that holds depends on who comes back.
Over his last three games, Jamir Watkins has taken on a bigger role for the Wizards when a teammate has been sidelined.
A teammate's injury has handed Oscar Tshiebwe more minutes, and the Jazz center is using them.
Over his last five games, Clifford is playing 12.7 more minutes a night than his season average, and whether that holds says something about his role for the rest of the year.
Over his last 10 games, Kobe Brown's role with the Pacers has grown well past his season norm.
With a teammate out, Jared McCain's minutes are climbing well past his season pace for the Thunder.
A bench role turned into a starter's workload the moment the Raptors lost a rotation player.