DFSGhost 
Last night’s NBA slate was likely the best of the year thus far, and if you need to know why, be sure to check us out on twitter using the links at the end of the article. Tonight, teams will be getting some players back from health and safety protocols due to the advanced quarantine period, while some will still be depleted. It’s Taco Tuesday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.
Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:
NY Knicks @ Minnesota Timberwolves (+5)
The first of two games that peaked my interest when the NBA slate opened up, New York will be in their first action since Christmas Day on the road versus Minnesota, who is on the second half of a back-to-back. While the Knicks will likely be getting both Immanuel Quickley and Kevin Knox back in the lineup after a conditioning stint, there is still plenty to love about Kemba Walker, should Tom Thibodeau continue riding the hot hand – in other words, water is wet and the sky is blue. Kemba is fresh off winning Eastern Conference Player of the Week and has a 26.3% usage rate in four games since returning to the rotation before missing the previous ten, where he’s posted a 26/8.3/7 scoring line on 41.3% shooting.
On the other side of this game, should Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell, Naz Reid, and Jarred Vanderbilt miss this one, there is still plenty to love about Nathan Knight, Jordan McLaughlin, and Jaylen Nowell, who will likely be flocked to after last night’s 29/6/3 line, which was a career high. We were all over him yesterday at 2% rostered, and I’ll see what he’s coming in at before lock before confirming if we’re going back to the well.
OKC Thunder @ Sacramento Kings (-5.5)
One of the most underrated games on the NBA slate just so happens to be my favorite. In what can only be described as the best game environment available to us, OKC versus Sacramento will be an absolute track meet with little to no defense. While most of the field will continue flocking to the duo of Curry and Jokic in the late game, there is a conversation to be had about how important Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be to our lineups tonight; in the last week and four games in that span, SGA has sported a 30.6% usage rate over 37 MPG, where he’s posted a 27.5/6.3/7 scoring line on 47% shooting. With Sacramento ranking 6th in pace and 27th in defensive rating, this is a blowup spot if I’ve ever seen one for the young guard.
On the flip side of this game, despite De’Aaron Fox being back in the lineup, Tyrese Haliburton continues to carry this offense. After leading his team in minutes, usage, and FGA just a few nights ago, I’d love to get a 1-2 action in this game going back and forth with SGA, but he’s simply priced up too much for liking with Fox back. Richaun Holmes is one of the biggest wildcards in NBA DFS, and gets a cakewalk of a matchup tonight, where he tends to thrive both on the offensive side of the ball and under both baskets. If you think Holmes gets the short end of the stick in terms of minutes once again, which I do not think will be the case, feel free to use a punt play in Damion Jones, who will be the benefactor of such a scenario.
Honorable Mention:
- Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors (-7)
You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life
