After a busy Monday, we don’t have a ton of action Tuesday with only four games in the NBA.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for January 14 2020
Tuesday brings just six games in the NBA. We also have a bit of a later start time for the DFS slate since the first game doesn’t tip off until 7:30 PM EST.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for January 8 2020
We have plenty of options Wednesday in DFS with nine games on the schedule.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for December 25 2019
The NBA’s star-studded Christmas Day slate should bring plenty of excitement once again this year. There are several big games on the docket and there will be no shortage of star power taking the floor, either.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for November 4 2019
Monday’s slate in the NBA might only consist of six games, but it’s still a juicy one. A couple of suspensions, one star set to sit out the second game of a back-to-back and a lot of injuries make for some intriguing story lines.
Read MoreNBA FanDuel / Draftkings Lineup For Tonight
*Cory Hanley*
T: @Hanley_Cory
NBA FanDuel / Draftkings Lineup For Tonight
Thursday brings us a smaller slate of six games in the NBA, leaving you with the right options if you know what you’re looking for in your DFS entry. Consider using some of the players below and plugging them into our NBA Lineup Optimizer to round out your lineups. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and find the value players that are low-owned on FanDuel and DraftKings.
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Point Guard
Ricky Rubio, vs. Mavericks (FD: $7,400, DK: $7,100)
Projected Points: FD: 33.66, DK: 34.15
The Jazz are currently battling over the eighth playoff spot in the West versus the Nuggets and Clippers. This leaves Rubio to leave it all on the court night after night, which he continues to prove to do so. Averaging an insanely impressive plus/minus of +21.3 over the last 617 minutes, he has turned into the superstar of his team.
Dennis Schroder, vs. Kings (FD: $6,200, DK: $6,500)
Projected Points: FD: 35.61, DK: 37.03
Schroder didn’t get the memo that the Hawks are out of contention for a playoff spot. Tuesday night, in an unlikely win over the Jazz he managed a career-high 41 points. Thursday night he’ll go up against a mediocre Sacramento defense that is currently giving up 22.4 points per game and 8.27 assists to point guards, two categories that Schroder has been excelling in lately.
Shooting Guard
James Harden, vs. Pistons (FD: $11,600, DK: $11,600)
Projected Points: FD: 53.49, DK: 55.01
In USA Today, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said it quite well when he stated, “That’s the best offensive player I’ve ever seen. They were running guys to him, and he just steps a little further back and hits a three. You know, the way he can pass and see the floor, get fouls, layups, floaters, maybe a lob, maybe out to the corner, he has so many weapons, and now he’s shooting those stepback threes, it’s impossible to guard him. It’s impossible.” Look for him to put on another show at home tonight versus the Pistons.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, vs. Pelicans (FD: $5,500, DK: $6,200)
Projected Points: FD: 32.6, DK: 32.72
The Lakers rank first in pace of play, while the Pelicans check in at third, making this Thursday’s fastest-paced matchup. It’s entirely possible that if you blink, you might miss a possession. Caldwell-Pope will receive plenty of opportunities at the shooting guard position, as the Pelicans are on the second game of a back-to-back. I like him best for FanDuel cash games, as his salary there seems perfectly priced. You should see him hit his expected floor of around 32 points.
Small Forward
Joe Ingles, vs. Mavericks (FD: $6,600, DK: $6,400)
Projected Points: FD: 27.01, DK: 28.16
If you’re looking for a hot hand on one of the hottest teams in the NBA, look no further than Ingles. The Jazz, having won 9 out of their last 10, are on a heater at the right time of the season. Each member of the team is stepping up like never before. The price is most certainly right for Ingles, as in his last 10 games he has averaged 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Don’t be surprised when you look up on the stat sheet and find him having a 6x-6.5x value game against the Mavs Thursday night.
E’Twaun Moore, vs. Lakers (FD: $4,500, DK: $4,300)
Projected Points: FD: 21.16, DK: 21.64
Even though I’ve already given you a relatively inexpensive option for small forward, I have one more, Moore. In what promises to be the fastest-paced game of the night, Moore will have more than ample opportunities to shoot the ball, which is perfect timing as he appears to be at the beginning of a heater. The Lakers are giving up 30.2 fantasy points to small forward starters, and it shows as last time out versus the Lakers, he scored 29.5 DraftKings/FanDuel points.
Power Forward
Anthony Davis, vs. Lakers (FD: $12,500, DK: $11,700)
Projected Points: FD: 61.82, DK: 61.33
In the middle of the Pelicans’ charge to the playoffs, no team has proved itself capable of stopping Davis. As a result, the Pelicans are leaning hard on him towards the end of the season. In his last ten games, he has managed to average a double-double grabbing 11.3 rebounds and 28.3 points per game. If you can afford the hefty price tag, there is undoubtedly an opportunity for him to go off against the Lakers. In their last two meetings against each other this season he has 71.25 DK points and 72.7 FanDuel points.
Aaron Gordon, vs. 76ers (FD: $7,500, DK: $7,300)
Projected Points: FD: 34.84, DK: 35.01
With Coach Frank Vogel giving Gordon 34 minutes of playing time in Tuesday nights game, you can rest assured Gordon is back and ready to play some ball. Historically, he has done quite well versus the 76ers this season, averaging 18 points, eight rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. If you can’t afford the sizable salary of Anthony Davis in your lineup, you can pivot toward Gordon. Being the hero of what is left of the Magic, he is unlikely to let you down.
Center
Rudy Gobert, vs. Mavericks (FD: $9,500, DK: $8,300)
Projected Points: FD: 39.81, DK: 39.72
With a price of only $8,300 on Draftkings, I don’t see why you shouldn’t lock Gobert in all of your DK lineups for Thursday night. Gobert has been an unstoppable force as no player has been better than him value-wise for March. He has managed to rack up 18.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and has been getting the minutes, averaging 36.1 per game. The FanDuel price seems right, but take advantage of the low salary play on DraftKings while you have the chance.
Dewayne Dedmon, vs. Kings (FD: $5,300, DK: $5,600)
Projected Points: FD: 29.58, DK: 29.37
Dedmon has been on the receiving end of some extra minutes in place of John Collins, who has been dealing with an ankle injury. Tuesday night he went off, most impressively against one of the top defenses in the league, managing to hit 15 points, 15 rebounds, two steals, four assists and a block in 29 minutes of action on the court. He could easily crush value tonight on both websites, as last time out versus the Kings he scored 55 FanDuel points and 56 DraftKings points in only 24 minutes of play. Just imagine what he will accomplish with those few extra precious minutes.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 12/25/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 12/25/17
Monday night presents Christmas Day; one of the most entertaining days for the NBA season. With a small but stacked five game slate, you will need to include some low priced plays to be able to afford the large selection of superstars.
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POINT GUARDS:
Russell Westbrook ($11,500 FD/$10,900 DK) –
With so many superstar options in this slate Russell Westbrook may be your guy to pay up for as he is cheaper than LeBron and Harden on both platforms and cheaper than Kevin Durant on FanDuel. Lately, Westbrook has been an absolute menace to the stat sheet. He has scored 20+ points in six straight games, averaging a whopping 60.8 FanDuel PPG over those contests. He meets with former teammate James Harden on Christmas night, and is in great position to put on a show. The Rockets rank first in the league in offensive rating along with 8th in pace which could push the Thunder to increase the tempo and work quicker leading to more possessions and opportunity for Westbrook.
Jordan Clarkson ($4,000 FD/$4,700 DK) –
Although listed as a SG on FanDuel (PG eligible on DraftKings), Clarkson seems to be a great play Monday night. The backup point guard should be getting the start for injured Lonzo Ball, who has already been listed as out for this contest. Clarkson hasn’t been so hot off the bench lately, but we’ve all seen what he’s capable of doing. At one point in the season he was outperforming Ball immensely enough where he would play the entire 4th quarter of games while Ball would sit. His recent decline in productivity has been adjusted into his salary which makes it even better for this slate. He will be playing the Timberwolves, who rank 22nd in defending opposing point guards this season. With a dirt cheap price Clarkson won’t need to do much to exceed value, making him a great asset to withhold a steady salary.
SHOOTING GUARDS:
Klay Thompson ($7,000 FD/$6,400 DK) –
With James Harden being very expensive in this slate ($12,000 FD/$11,100 DK), it may be smart to save some salary on the shooting guard position. Klay meets with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third straight Christmas match-up. Once again Curry is sidelined, giving Klay and KD a heavy offensive workload against the poor defense Cleveland brings to the court. Klay has not had many breakout DFS games with Curry out, but has been very consistent. He has averaged 31.3 FanDuel PPG in the eight game absence from Steph.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($6,100 FD/$5,100 DK) –
Caldwell-Pope has been dealing with some legal issues, as he is unable to leave the state of California. Luckily for him, Monday night’s game is indeed in Los Angeles. Listed at a fairly cheap price, KCP has been very productive in the games he has played recently. Over his last four games he has averaged 34.4 FanDuel PPG. He has also added at least two steals in seven straight games, which weighs heavy on the DFS scoring system especially on FanDuel. In those same seven games, KCP has accompanied his defensive skill set with double digit scoring as well. Caldwell-Pope may be your guy for this slate to fill the void in the SG spot.
SMALL FORWARDS:
Kevin Durant ($12,100 FD/$10,500 DK) –
Kevin Durant can destroy just about any defense which makes his date with the Cavaliers a lot more appealing considering their weak defense discussed in Klay’s feature. The Cavs are allowing an average of 42.5 FPPG to the small forward position. KD has scored 50 or more FanDuel points in 6 of the 8 games played without sharing the court with Curry; with 3 of those 6 accumulating to 65+ points. The intensity of this game seems promising with both teams ranking in the top half of the league in pace. These teams are also “rivals” as they have met in three straight NBA finals. With a high price tag and a ton of superstar options, Kevin Durant seems worth paying up for if you can find the salary to fit him.
Trevor Ariza ($5,600 FD/$5,000 DK) –
In this slate, you’re going to need a few fairly priced plays that will provide you just enough to stack on top of your superstars performance. With that being the case, Trevor Ariza has a reliable resume to hold you over. He has a little bit of a tough game opposing a top defense in the Oklahoma City Thunder, but has proved to be very consistent for his price. Ariza has supplied 20+ FanDuel points along with double digit points in nine straight games. His teammate, Chris Paul, is listed as questionable with a leg injury which could open up a small boost in usage for Ariza if he is in fact incapable of playing. Ariza is definitely worth the risk in this slate as his sub-$6,000 salary will also open room for some bigger plays and will hopefully keep the 20+ streak alive Christmas night.
POWER FORWARDS:
Ben Simmons ($9,400 FD/$9,300 DK) –
Simmons is a versatile play Monday night as he is listed as a PF on FanDuel yet eligible for PG and SF on DraftKings. Regardless of placement, Simmons is in for a great match-up with the New York Knicks. Teammate Joel Embiid is once again listed as questionable as he has missed five of the 76’ers last eight games with back issues. Simmons has averaged 42.5 FanDuel PPG in those five games without Embiid on the court with him. If Embiid is sidelined expect Simmons’ usage to incline a decent amount as he faces off with a sub-par defense. Seeing what Simmons will do in his first game at Madison Square Garden should be interesting, and definitely a match-up to keep on your radar when trying to generate the perfect lineup. You should also keep your eye on Richaun Holmes and Dario Saric as they will also have a heavy workload if Embiid sits.
Jordan Bell ($4,900 FD/$4,900 DK) –
With the same price tag on both main DFS platforms, Jordan Bell brings a lot of upside to your lineup. The rookie has been filling in for Draymond Green as he has been dealing with an injury as of late and has proved himself to be the go-to guy to fill his void. Even with Draymond back in action the last two games, Bell was granted minutes in the low 20’s in which included a breakout double-double game accumulating to 41.5 FanDuel points. Bell is averaging 25 minutes per game over his last five, and will be playing a Cavs defense ranking dead last in the league at defending the big man positions. To add icing on the cake, Draymond is questionable for this game which could annex even higher upside on this very cheap play. Luckily, FanDuel has gifted us all a Christmas present of their own with a late swap enabled slate.
CENTERS:
Kevin Love ($8,000 FD/$7,500 DK) –
It’s hard to stay away from a game with so much more to it than a +1 in the win column which is why Kevin Love makes a great play. Love is averaging a double-double this season and has supplied 20 or more points in four of his last five games with an average of 38.9 FanDuel PPG in that span. Ironically, Love is only averaging just under 30 minutes per game this season despite his immense production. It is safe to assume that Love will see a good amount of minutes in this rivalry match-up with the Warriors, increasing his ceiling for DFS value. At a salary of $7,500-$8,000 Love can be a perfect play to plug in with a higher priced superstar and could even come very close to replicating that player’s statistics.
Julius Randle ($5,900 FD/$5,000 DK) –
If you are looking to spend small on a position, I personally would advise the Center position to do so in. With a recent injury to Laker’s center Brook Lopez, Randle has seen an increase in minutes at the position. He goes into Monday night’s game against the Timberwolves who allow an average of 54.50 FPPG per 48 minutes to centers this season. Randle has been effective offensively of late, scoring double digit points in 8 of his last 9 games with that one game being one where he only logged 8 minutes of action. When logging at least 20 minutes Randle has scored double digit points in 13 straight games. With a small price tag, Randle seems worth the risk in this small five game slate.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 12/18/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 12/18/17
After a day off for most of the league, Monday night brings us a fresh ten game slate with some interesting play possibilities. There may be some hidden treasure to cash your lineup.
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POINT GUARDS:
Russell Westbrook ($11,300 FD/$11,200)
As for most nights, Russell Westbrook seems worth paying up for; He clashes with the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, as the Thunder start off a three-game homestand. Denver ranks 24th in the league in defending the PG position, and rank 22nd in the league in overall defensive efficiency. They also rank 9th in the NBA in pace, with a top 10 rank in offensive efficiency which will up the tempo in this game. This should not be a problem for Westbrook, as it is a great benefit to his DFS value.
Yogi Ferrell ($4,800 FD/$5,000 DK)
Mavs starting PG Dennis Smith Jr. is officially listed as questionable Monday night. If he plays, ignore this article as alternative plays for each position will be listed at the end of the article. If Smith Jr. is out and you need a cheap PG play to accompany Westbrook, or just to stock up on salary, Yogi Ferrell may be the best $4,800 you’ve ever spent. The young PG has recently been giving the starting nod as teammate Dennis Smith Jr. has been sidelined with a sore hip. Ferrell exploded in his last game for 41.2 FanDuel points in 38 minutes against the Spurs, who are a top 5 defense. He now meets Monday at home with the weakly structured Phoenix Suns, who contain one of the worst defensive rankings in the league. An additional benefit is that the Suns rank 1st in pace, which could benefit Ferrell severely. This game consists of two of the worst teams in the league, making it more likely to be a somewhat close game throughout the duration which rids any concern of a blowout cutting player’s minutes.
SHOOTING GUARDS:
Klay Thompson ($7,200 FD/$7,000)
With Stephen Curry sidelined for a little bit, many expect Klay to dominate the DFS board. He’s been a bit of a disappointment, but that’s solely because of the high expectations set for him. If you look aside from his fantasy points, his scoring is there without Curry; he has scored 20 or more points in five straight contests. The issue is that his other statistics in the stat sheet just aren’t there some nights. Regardless, he plays the Lakers Monday night, who rank in the bottom third of the league in defending the position. For the price given lately, Klay has been consistent value-wise and can his floor should be around 30 FanDuel points whenever you roster him. His breakout game seems overdue and it very well could be tonight.
Dion Waiters ($5,800 FD/$5,500 DK)
I’m not sure my brain is familiar with writing about Dion Waiters. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever even typed his name on my keyboard prior to this article, but the former 4th overall pick caught my attention in this slate. Waiters and the Heat square-off with the 6-23 Atlanta Hawks, who are riding a four-game win streak. With Hassan Whiteside still inactive and a recent injury to forward James Johnson, Waiters is in for a heavier workload and a boost in usage. Averaging 26.5 FD points per game in his last four contests, he has fantastic value when you mix his recent consistency and workload with his match-up against a team whose defense is almost as poor as their record.
SMALL FORWARDS:
Kevin Durant ($12,000 FD/$11,600 DK)
Carrying the highest price tag on both FanDuel and DraftKings, he seems almost worth it with just about any price as long as Stephen Curry is not sharing the court. In the previous four games without Curry, Durant has posted a monstrous fantasy performance each night as he averaged 63.1 FanDuel PPG throughout the nights. He’s coming off a near triple-double, posting a 36-11-7 stat line. Luckily for those hunting Durant, there are quite a few value plays you can take the risk on to fit him into your lineup.
Omar Casspi ($4,500 FD/$4,100 DK)
It wouldn’t be fair to end my piece Durant claiming there are some value plays in this slate and then not provide one. Luckily, I’m a fair man. A key value play for this Monday night slate is Durant’s teammate, Omar Casspi. Omar has drawn the start for Draymond Green in the last two games as Green is dealing with a sore right shoulder. He is listed as a SF on FD and is eligible for SF as well as PF on DraftKings, adding value to the risk of rostering him. Green has been listed out for this match-up opening a potential starting spot for him to do some damage in his third straight game. He has not disappointed with his responsibility of making up for Draymond’s absence, as he averaged 32.8 FanDuel PPG over an average of around 28 minutes per game in those starts. He is extremely cheap on both platforms and is a great plug-in to make room for a star in your lineup.
POWER FORWARDS:
Ben Simmons ($9,900 FD/$9,600 DK)
Not the priciest of the “big dogs” of the slate, Simmons has a promising encounter with the streaking Chicago Bulls, who are looking for their sixth straight win Monday night with Ben Simmons in their way. This game has a few factors included with it that make it seem like Simmons will be a great play; Joel Embiid has been ruled out for this contest for rest purposes, evidently boosting Simmons usage and workload. Win streak or not, the Bulls defense is still on the poor end of the rankings. However, with Embiid out and the Bulls recent win spree, this game seems as if it’ll be a lot closer than we would’ve predicted a week ago. The official odds have the Sixers winning by only one and a half with a total of 208.5 (Spread and total are subject to change). Simmons opposing a weak defensive team with predictions of a blowout slim gives the front-runner for Rookie Of The Year some extra attention on this slate.
Jordan Bell ($4,700 FD/$4,500 DK)
Everybody’s favorite part of these articles is for some direction to where the value is; Finding cheap value plays in DFS is like winning a scratch-off ticket: Awesome! Along with teammate Omar Casspi who is also listed in this article, Jordan Bell has some serious upside Monday night. Listed at PF on FanDuel and PF/C on DraftKings, Bell has started the last two games for injured Zaza Pachulia. Pachulia is listed out against the Lakers, which should put Bell back in the starting lineup. Bell averaged 28.2 FanDuel PPG in those two. He matches up Monday against a defense that ranks 28th in defending the position, allowing an average of 55.9 FPPG per 48 minutes. When logging at least 20 minutes this season, Bell has provided 30.1 FanDuel PPG. Bell and Casspi may be your salary saving dynamic duo tonight.
CENTERS:
Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,700 FD/$8,800 DK)
Towns was featured in Saturday’s article I wrote and he’s a little too difficult to avoid recently. Towns comes into the game Monday on an absolute tear, as he is averaging 58.9 FanDuel PPG over his last five games. Monday night KAT enters a contest against the Portland Trailblazers where he may be seeing an even larger workload. In Minnesota’s previous outing, star player Jimmy Butler exited the game when appearing to hurt his back. Although he returned to the game later, he is listed as questionable for Monday night. If Butler is sidelined, Towns is in for a heavy boost in usage. Given his recent production, he only costs $8,800 on DraftKings (10th highest salary). He is definitely a stud to consider paying up for, especially on DraftKings.
Ekpe Udoh ($4,700 FD/$3,700 DK) –
Ekpe Udoh was the talk of the DFS community on Saturday night as the Baylor product scorched the Cavaliers for 48.9 FanDuel points in his first official start filling in for injured high-caliber rim protector Rudy Gobert. Only scoring 9 points in that game, Udoh found other ways to produce as he stuffed the stat sheet for 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a whopping 6 blocks across 32 minutes of play. Gobert is listed out tonight, and with Udoh’s first impression as a starter Saturday it is almost evident that he will draw the start again. He clashes with the red-hot Rockets who seek a 14th straight win with this contest. For the dirt cheap price Udoh is tagged at (Especially on DraftKings) he won’t have to do too much to exceed value.
Honorable Mentions:
PG: Chris Paul & J.J. Barea
SG: James Harden & J.J. Redick
SF: Harrison Barnes, Brandon Ingram & Josh Richardson
PF: Dario Saric & Thaddeus Young
C: Richaun Holmes & Al Horford
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/7/17
*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/7/17
Use Code “CYBER30” at checkout for 30% off Seasonal Package
POINT GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC at BKN
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $12,000
Westbrook is close to averaging a triple-double again as he enters Thursday averaging 22.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game. He’s been even better over the Thunder’s three-game winning streak, averaging 23.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 12.6 assists. His 33.3% usage rate is sixth-best in the NBA, so he could be in for a huge performance Thursday considering the Nets play at the third-fastest pace (104.9) in the league. With so little talent on the Thunder bench, Westbrook is going to continue to dominate in DFS.
Tomas Satoransky, WAS at PHO
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,100
Satoransky got off to a hot start with John Wall (knee) sidelined but has struggled to average only 7.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists over his last two games. The good news is that he is still playing more minutes than the fill-in starter Tim Frazier, so the opportunities are there. The Suns are a terrible defensive team and they play at the second-fastest pace (105.3) in the league, leaving their opponents with great upside. Even with his difficulties of late, this could be a bounce-back performance for Satoransky Thursday.
SHOOTING GUARDS
James Harden, HOU at UTA
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $11,000
There was some fear that Harden would see a decrease in production with the return of Chris Paul, but nothing seems to be able to slow him down. In seven games since Paul’s return, Harden is averaging 32.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 4.9 three-pointers per game. Paul has clearly taken a back seat offensively, so expect Harden to continue to stuff the stat sheet. He rocked the Jazz for 56 points earlier this season, so pay up for Harden again Thursday.
Troy Daniels, PHO vs. WAS
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100
The Suns are going to be without Devin Booker (groin) for two-to-three weeks, leaving a huge offensive void on their team. Not only was he their best scorer, but he took a ton of shots as he’s averaged 18.8 shot attempts per game. It’s going to take a collective effort to replace him and Daniels may be one of those players who gets a boost. He doesn’t get much playing time, but he is averaging 12.8 points and 3.6 three-pointers in the five games where he has played at least 20 minutes this year. Considering he won’t cost you much, he might be worth the risk in tournament play.
SMALL FORWARDS
T.J. Warren, PHO vs. WAS
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,500
Speaking of guys trying to make up for Booker’s absence, Warren will likely now be counted on to lead the team in scoring. He’s already averaging 18.4 points per game with a 24.8% usage rate, both second-best on the team behind Booker. Warren has scored at least 25 points in a game six times this season, showing he can have excellent upside. With so little talent around him, Warren should get plenty of opportunities to be a valuable part of your entry Thursday.
Brandon Ingram, LAL at PHI
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $6,400
Ingram is shaping up to be an offensive force for the Lakers this season and is averaging 19.1 points over his last nine games. He’s averaging five more shot attempts per game this season, so expect this to be a trend that continues throughout the rest of the year. This is an excellent matchup Thursday as both the Lakers and the Sixers are in the top-four in the NBA in terms of pace of play. It suited Ingram well when these teams faced off earlier this season as he finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Get him back in your lineup for this game.
POWER FORWARDS
Ben Simmons, PHI vs. LAL
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $9,900
The Wizards raised some eyebrows last week when they went to Hack-a-Ben, putting Simmons on the free-throw a whopping 29 times. Simmons really struggled, making only 15 attempts and showing what looked to be a major weakness in his game. He’s rebounded from that nicely, making 6-of-8 free-throws over three games since. He hasn’t been tested much, but it’s something to keep an eye one. His ability to provide excellent all-around counting stats makes him a great DFS option on most nights, but tonight is especially promising considering the pace at which both of these teams play. Of note, Simmons is only available at power forward on FanDuel. He is available at point guard and small forward on DraftKings.
Markieff Morris, WAS at PHO
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,700
Morris has struggled for most of this season but showed he still has upside when he scored 23 points to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks Friday against the Detroit Pistons. Using the revenge game angle can be tricky, but Morris’ tenure as a member of the Suns did not end well. He has played against them three times since, averaging 10.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks in those games. With a limited slate and so few viable cheap options at power forward, you may want to consider Morris.
CENTERS
Joel Embiid, PHI vs. LAL
FanDuel = $10,800
DraftKings = $10,100
Thursday brings Embiid’s second game against the Lakers this season. He provided a memorable performance in their first meeting, scoring 46 points to go along with 15 rebounds, seven assists, and seven blocks. The Lakers struggle to defend the center position and really don’t have anyone capable of slowing down Embiid. It’s going to cost you a lot, but Embiid should be worth the price Thursday.
Jarrett Allen, BKN vs. OKC
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,400
The Thunder certainly lack depth, but the one thing they do have is an outstanding center in Steven Adams. Center might be the weakest position on the Nets roster, but someone is going to have to battle with Adams. Allen is starting to show promise off the Nets bench, averaging 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over his last three games. That’s certainly nothing to write home about, but he may see an uptick in production if he gets a few extra minutes Thursday. If you want to take a risk on a very cheap center, Allen is someone to think about.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/16/17
*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/16/17
Use Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 10% off Seasonal PackagePOINT GUARDS
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. GS
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,100
Irving has actually seen his averages decrease almost across the board this season, except for an improvement in steals (1.9 per game). The main culprit has been his playing time as he is only averaging 31 minutes per game after playing 35 minutes per game last season. The Celtics are going to need big minutes from him to keep pace with the Warriors and his 29.7% usage rate (tied for 12th best in the NBA) suggests he should be up for the task.
Tyler Ulis, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,200
Ulis has started the past two games over Mike James, playing at least 26 minutes in both contests. While he only scored a total of four points, he did take 12 total shots, so there is an opportunity for better production. He was able to average 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals over those starts, so he could provide value at this price if his shot is falling. Considering the limited amount of games on the schedule tonight and the Rockets uptempo offense, Ulis might be worth the risk at this price.
SHOOTING GUARDS
James Harden, HOU at PHO
FanDuel = $12,500
DraftKings = $12,700
Harden has been out of this world of late as he is averaging 34.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 4.5 three-pointers over his last four games. He has been one of the safest DFS plays on most nights, even considering his hefty price tag. Chris Paul is expected to play in his first game this season Thursday, but he is only expected to play around 20 minutes. While Paul’s return may reduce Harden’s value down the road, it shouldn’t tonight.
Eric Gordon, HOU at PHO
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $6,200
Gordon is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career as he is averaging 22.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.7 three-pointers per game. His value is also expected to take a hit with the return of Paul, but again it should only be a minimal impact with Paul on a minutes limit Thursday. Gordon hasn’t really seen a huge jump in playing time even when Paul was out though as he is averaging 33 minutes per game this season compared to 31 minutes per game last year. The Suns are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, so roll with Gordon Thursday.
SMALL FORWARDS
Kevin Durant, GS at BOS
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $9,700
Durant has been a model of consistency as he has scored at least 20 points in all but one game this season. Not only is he averaging 7.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists as well, but he is averaging a career-high 2.2 blocks per game. They need his defense when they go small and move Draymond Green to center, so don’t be surprised if he continues to block shots at close to that rate. The Celtics are one of the best defensive teams in the league but don’t expect them to be able to slow Durant down Thursday.
T.J. Warren, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,500
Warren has stepped up his game of late as he is averaging 26.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 three-pointers over his last three games. The key for Warren has been increased opportunities in the offense as he is averaging a career-high 15.5 shot attempts per game. The Rockets score a ton and play at a fast pace, which could mean another great stat line from Warren Thursday. He could provide tremendous value at this price.
POWER FORWARDS
Marquese Chriss, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,000
With so many elite DFS options available in only a two-game slate, it’s important to find a few dirt cheap options that will then allow you to stack your lineup with studs. Power forward presents that cost-saving position Thursday. Chriss has played at least 25 minutes in three of the last four games as he is starting to see his role expand for the Suns. His ability to both defend and hit three’s could prove very valuable against a Rockets team that likes to use small lineups. Take a risk on Chriss in tournament play.
Tarik Black, HOU at PHO
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,500
As we continue to look for ways to save money while squeezing out some value, we come to Black. Nene Hilario is considered doubtful to play in this game with a foot injury, which will open up minutes for Black. Nene missed the Rockets last game, which enabled Black to record 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes. The Suns are horrible defensively, making Black your other top cheap option at power forward for the evening.
CENTERS
Clint Capela, HOU at PHO
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,200
Capela has posted a double-double in three of his last four games and has grabbed at least 11 rebounds in seven of his last nine games. With power forward Ryan Anderson spending most of his time around the three-point line, there are going to be plenty of chances for Capela to rack up rebounds. Don’t be surprised if he is the most productive center in DFS when the evening is all said and done.
Alex Len, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Suns starting center Tyson Chandler is questionable heading into this game with an illness. If he were to miss the game, Len would take over the starting duties. Even if Chandler is able to play, he may see limited minutes. Despite only making two starts and averaging 23 minutes per game this season, Len is still averaging 8.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. If you need to save money at center, Len is an option in tournament play. If Chandler does miss the game, he could provide significant value.