Tuesday’s seven-game slate in the NBA is loaded with star power since the Bucks, Lakers, Nuggets and Celtics will be among the teams in action. Let’s dive into the matchups and highlight a couple of players at each position who could thrive.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for January 6 2020
We have plenty of action on the schedule Monday with nine games in the NBA. Injuries will play a huge role in the slate, leaving other players to step into increased roles.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 4/10/19
The long grind that is the NBA regular season comes to an end with Wednesday’s 11-game slate. Let’s try to end things on a high note by discussing some appealing cheap options who could thrive.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/31/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
As far as Thursday’s go, we have a fairly busy slate in the NBA tonight with six games. There aren’t as many great cheap value plays as we’ve seen the last couple of days, but there are still a couple that stand out at each position that could prove to be profitable. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NBA Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Patrick Beverley, LAC vs. LAL
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,300
Beverley is set to start again Thursday with Danilo Gallinari (back) ruled out. Across the first six games that Gallinari has missed, Beverly has averaged 11 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.7 steals. He’s only averaging 26 minutes per game for the season, but he averaged 37 minutes a contest during that six-game stretch. Since both of these teams are in the top-eight in the league in pace of play, the added playing time could really benefit Beverley once again.
Shabazz Napier, BKN at SA
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,300
How lucky are the Nets that they have Napier? They were already shorthanded with Caris LeVert (foot) and Allen Crabbe (knee) out and have now lost Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb). Napier has stepped up in their absences, averaging 20.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals over his last three games. He has a secure role moving forward, so don’t hesitate to add him to your entry despite his climbing price tag.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Avery Bradley, LAC vs. LAL
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $3,700
Bradley isn’t a lock to play Thursday since he is listed as questionable with knee soreness. He’s had a little extra time to rest considering the Clippers haven’t played since Monday, so hopefully, he can take the floor. If he does, he makes a lot of sense at this price based on the uptempo pace at which this game will likely be played. He’s also played well without Gallinari, averaging 12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and three assists across his last six games.
Aaron Holiday, IND at ORL
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,900
Not only is Victor Oladipo (knee) gone for the season, but Tyreke Evans has missed the last two games with a back injury. If he can’t play again Thursday, Holiday should receive a boost in playing time. His numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but Holiday has averaged 11.7 points, four rebounds and 2.6 assists over seven games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes. Considering how cheap he is on both sites, Holiday might be worth a look in tournament play.
SMALL FORWARDS
J.J. Redick, PHI at GS
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,500
This should be a fun, high-scoring game. Both teams come into this matchup mostly healthy, so we’ll see if the Sixers’ star trio can hang with the fearsome fivesome that the Warriors have put together. Redick might not be on the same level as Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be productive in this contest. He’s averaging a career-high 18.4 points per game this year and should continue to receive more open looks with opposing defenses having to focus their efforts on the other stars for the Sixers.
Jonathan Isaac, ORL vs. IND
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,400
For the most part, Isaac has been a disappointment this year with averages of 8.1 points, five rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. However, he still has a secure role with the team and has actually averaged 29 minutes across his last six games. He’s even stepped things up as a passer, averaging two assists per contest during his last six games. His overall numbers don’t leave him with a very high ceiling, but his contributions across the board could leave him with some value at this price.
POWER FORWARDS
Pascal Siakam, TOR vs. MIL
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $6,200
Despite Siakam not being overly cheap, he still has the potential to provide plenty of value. Across three previous games against the Bucks this year, he’s averaged 23 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and two blocks. That’s not all that surprising since the Bucks play at the sixth-fastest pace (103.1 possessions per game) in the league and don’t possess a ton of size up front. Don’t expect them to be able to slow him down in this game, either.
Ed Davis, BKN at SA
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,100
The rebounding machine that is Ed Davis is in prime form right now with an average of 10.7 boards across his last six games. That’s especially impressive considering he’s only averaged 22 minutes a game during that stretch. Even though his scoring upside isn’t great, his ability to crash the offensive glass enabled him to average 7.5 points in those six contests. If he can approach a double-double again Thursday, that could be excellent value considering how his cheap price tag can help free up the rest of your budget. Of note, Davis is only eligible at power forward on FanDuel since he is listed at center on DraftKings.
CENTERS
Ivica Zubac, LAL at LAC
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $5,100
Just when we thought Zubac was on a roll, he ran into Joel Embiid and the Sixers on Tuesday. Even though Zubac started once again, he scored only seven points and grabbed two rebounds in 17 minutes. However, this is a favorable spot for him to bounce back considering the Clippers allow the most DraftKings points per game and the fourth-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers.
JaVale McGee, LAL at LAC
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,500
While Zubac struggled against the Sixers, McGee shined with 17 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks in 27 minutes. Don’t count on him to replicate that type of stat line Thursday, but he had averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks across his previous six games despite losing his starting job. With how poorly the Clippers have defended against centers, rostering McGee could be a risk worth taking in tournament play.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/29/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
We’ve only got three games in the NBA on Thursday, leaving us with very few value options to choose from. That being said, there are still some players to highlight who have favorable matchups that are still worth considering. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Darren Collison, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $4,700
It looks like the Pacers will be without Victor Olaipo (knee) once again. Collison hasn’t seen a significant increase in playing time, but he is averaging 7.6 assists across five games with Oladipo out compared to 4.8 assists for the season, overall. His 16.6 percent usage rate isn’t all that appealing, but Collison might be able to contribute enough across the board Thursday in this matchup against a Lakers team that plays at the fifth-fastest pace (103.9 possessions per game).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LAC at SAC
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,900
An injury to Avery Bradley opened up a starting spot for Gilgeous-Alexander that he has yet to relinquish. Don’t expect him to lose the job anytime soon, either, since he is averaging 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, three assists and one steal across 11 games. His usage rate is also 19.7 percent as a starter, up from 15.6 percent when he was coming off of the bench. Both the Clippers and the Kings are in the top-eight in the league in pace of play, which could leave Gilgeous-Alexander with a few more opportunities to provide value.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Buddy Hield, SAC vs. LAC
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,700
Hield was limited to 25 minutes a game last year, but the Kings are giving him a chance to shine this season with 31 minutes a night. He hasn’t let them down, averaging 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest. His usage rate of 24.4 percent has remained largely unchanged from last year, but it’s the second-highest on the team behind Harry Giles (26.7 percent). This game could be a shootout with Hield right in the center of it all.
Aaron Holiday, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,700
Holiday was awful against the Suns on Tuesday, going 1-for-6 from the field for two points and two assists across 15 minutes. Prior to that, he had averaged 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and two assists across four games with Oladipo out. There is certainly risk involved with putting Holiday into your entry, but it might be one worth taking based on his price. Of note, he is only eligible at shooting guard on FanDuel as he is listed at point guard on DraftKings.
SMALL FORWARDS
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,300
If you’re looking for an efficient scorer, look no further than Bogdanovic. His 19.2 percent usage rate is nothing to write home about, but he’s shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 53.5 percent from behind the arc. Strangely enough, he is shooting a career-low 79 percent from the charity stripe, but he’s still averaging 15.6 points per game. He’s taken on more offensive responsibilities with Oladipo out, making him another Pacer to target Thursday.
Doug McDermott, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,500
McDermott has not been able to live up to the hype of being the 11th-overall pick in the 2014 Draft and is now on his fifth team. He’s mostly a three-point specialist, shooting 40.5 percent from behind the arc for his career. Normally he doesn’t get many shot attempts, but he’s been more involved due to the absence of Oladipo. Across his last five games, McDermott is actually averaging 13.8 points. At near the minimum price on both sites, McDermott could provide some value in tournament play.
POWER FORWARDS
Serge Ibaka, TOR vs. GS
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,500
With the Warriors lack of size up front, this would appear to be a game in which Ibaka will receive significantly more playing time than Jonas Valanciunas. Across five games in which Ibaka has logged at least 30 minutes, he is averaging 17.6 points, six rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. He’s not overly cheap, but this could still be a matchup to exploit.
Thaddeus Young, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,500
Young had a minuscule 15.7 percent usage rate through his first eight games but has been more involved with an 18.1 percent usage rate across his last 13 contests. He’s another one of the players on the Pacers to see a bump in productivity with Oladipo out, averaging 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across the last five games. His upside isn’t nearly as high as Ibaka’s, but he also provides a little more savings for your budget, leaving him in the discussion at power forward.
CENTERS
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC vs. LAC
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,900
Cauley-Stein has hit a rough patch, averaging 9.4 points and 6.8 rebounds over his last five games. However, it should be noted that two of those contests were blowouts in which he logged 18 and 23 minutes, respectively. The Clippers have allowed the fifth-most DraftKings points per game and the eighth-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers, so this might be just what the doctor ordered to get Cauley-Stein back on track.
Boban Marjanovic, LAC at SAC
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,500
Marcin Gortat (back) was a late scratch for Wednesday’s game against the Suns, opening up a spot start for Marjanovic. He recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds and is now averaging nine points and nine rebounds across four starts this season. He’s clearly not going to log as many minutes as Montrezl Harrell even if he starts Thursday, but Gortat being out again would make Marjanvic a great option in tournament play.