billyr011199@gmail.com In this article, I will break down each position with my top stud, middle tier, and value plays for this NBA DFS slate. On a smaller slate-like tonight I may not be able to hit all three categories at each position. I will be referring to DraftKings on pricing. Most picks are for GPP/Tournaments, some would also be viable for cash games.
We have a five-game NBA slate on tap for tonight with a huge game of two teams facing off to get into the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Atlanta traveling to Memphis is another important game as Memphis currently holds the eighth seed and just stomped the Hawks in their matchup not long ago. Trae Young missed last night’s game with an illness so he will be questionable throughout the day, so make sure you check out the Discord chat rooms with myself and the rest of the WinDaily staff as we breakdown any injury news and further evaluate our top plays.
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Point Guard
DamianLillard – Stud – ($9,600)
Portland is trying to make an NBA playoff push with the return of Lillard and they get a good spot to gain some ground against a team they are tied with in the standings. Lillard played almost 40 minutes in last night’s game and he didn’t have a great game so that should take game log watchers off him. Not a great matchup against Sacramento but this is a huge game that they need to win and Lillard is the leader, so I think he gets it done.
Ja Morant – Mid-tier – ($6,800)
I had a tough time deciding between Shake Milton and Morant in this price range, but I chose the latter because he’s at home. When in Memphis Morant is scoring eight more fantasy points than on the road, he is also shooting six percent better from three in Memphis. He gets an amazing matchup playing the Hawks who are the sixth fastest team in the NBA and are the third-worst team in defensive efficiency.
MatthewDellavedova – Value – ($3,100)
Cleveland was already short-handed at guard with Dante Exum and Darius Garland out, now Kevin Porter is ruled out. Tristan Thompson and Andre Drummond are questionable as well, Cleveland may be the most beat-up team in the NBA. Dellavedova will likely start here and at only $3,100 that’s hard for me to pass up if he is going to play 30 minutes at least. He should pay off his price tag as he saw 35 minutes last game with porter going down early and I don’t expect that he misses every shot from the field this game.
Shooting Guard
Andre Wiggins – Stud – ($7,700)
Wiggins has been averaging 35 minutes over his last four games and has scored over 40 fantasy points in all four of those games. With the return of Steph Curry, Wiggins still put up over 40 fantasy points. The banged-up 76ers who are missing three starters are the second-worst team in the NBA in defensive efficiency over the last five games. I really like the mid-range price at shooting guard tonight so I’m not sure Wiggins makes it in that spot but potentially small forward.
Dillon Brooks – Mid-tier – ($4,900)
Dillon Brooks leads Memphis in usage over the last month with Jaren Jackson and Brandon Clarke off the floor with a usage of 28.1 percent. Brooks much like Morant is better in Memphis as he is averaging five more fantasy points and is also shooting six percent better from three at home. He gets the same great matchup as Morant, against the sixth fastest team and the NBA and the third-worst defensive efficient team.
Small Forward
Tobias Harris – Stud – ($8,300)
Over the last month with the same three 76er starters out Harris has a usage rate of 28 percent. He gets a nice matchup against the Warriors who have given up the fourth-most fantasy points to small forwards this NBA season. The Warriors are also the seventh-worst defensive efficient team. With the spread at only two, Harris should play big minutes again and has over 50-point upside in this matchup.
Buddy Hield – Mid-tier – ($5,400)
I like Hield and Bogdonavic in this spot I recommend getting a piece of both if you make multiple lineups. Again, I will have lots from this game because of what is at stake it’s projected to be high total at 230 and the spread is only three in favor of Portland. Portland is the fourth-worst team in the NBA in defensive efficiency. I chose Hield due to his usage with is second on the team at 27.1 percent, he is also averaging 34 fantasy points in three games against the Trail Blazers.
Power Forward
I’m not a big fan of any of these top power forwards on tonight’s NBA slate, as the only way I even consider Collins is if Trae Young is out. I do like both Nance and Kevin Love if both Drummond and Thompson are out because I think Nance and Love are priced up high enough now if one of the two play.
Harrison Barnes – Mid-tier – ($4,900)
Barnes is tied for fourteenth in average minutes played per game this year and this price is too low for that. He is averaging 35 minutes a game and is facing Portland who has given up the fourth-most fantasy points to power forwards this NBA season, and they rank fourth-worst in defensive efficiency. Barnes also is the leader of this team he is the guy that’s been there before with Golden State, I think he has a big day as well.
Glen Robinson III – Value – ($3,900)
Robinson is averaging 30 minutes over the two games that Josh Richardsonhas been out. He gets a great matchup against his former team who he was havinga career year with before getting traded at the NBA trade deadline. Robinsonplays mostly at small forward when he is on the floor and that is one of the placesto attack the Warriors. A 30-point fantasy night against his former team isn’tout of the question here for Robinson.
Center
Jonas Valanciunas – Stud – ($7,300)
Memphis has been apart of four straight massive blowout games, and Valanciunas has still scored at least 30 fantasy points in five of his last six games, and in the one game he missed 30 he scored 29.75. With Jackson and Clarke ruled out again it’s hard to pass on Valanciunas as he gets a matchup with Atlanta who has given up the most fantasy points to centers in the NBA over the past month and the entire season.
Alex Len – Value – ($3,900)
This is a tournament play only, it is also only a play if Richuan Holmes is unable to suit up again. I simply think that Len is more fit to matchup against Whiteside than Giles is. Len has flashed some huge upside with his 34-fantasy point night against Detroit under a week ago. Portland has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to centers this NBA season.
This five-game NBA slate is another one filled with injuries as I’ll be watching the Cleveland frontcourt injuries, Trae Young, and Draymond Green to maybe play Marquese Chriss. I want pieces of the important games such as Sacramento at Portland, Atlanta at Memphis, and Some 76ers players as they are battling for homecourt in the first round yet. I will likely have little exposure to the first two games and almost make it into my own three-game slate unless both Drummond and Thompson get ruled. Injuries are going to play a big factor in tonight’s lineup builds so make sure you tune into the Discord chat rooms with myself and the rest of the WinDaily staff as we sort through the injury news that surfaces throughout the day and further breakdown our favorite plays. Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend and good luck!
