Gems

After the madness that was the NBA Trade Deadline yesterday, we’re looking at some rotations with fresh looks while others await to make their debuts with their new teams. It’s a Fajita Friday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

San Antonio Spurs @ Atlanta Hawks (-8)

With the Spurs surprisingly traded Derrick White at the deadline, if you weren’t all in on Dejounte Murray beforehand, you will be now. In his sixth season as a pro, Murray has been taking the NBA by storm, sporting a 26.6% usage rate on the year and having posted a 19.5/8.4/9.2 scoring line on 45.3% shooting. I constantly preach to play primary ball handlers versus the Atlanta Hawks, and most notably, against Trae Young, who has an abysmal 116.7 net defensive rating. Not only do the Hawks rank 27th in the NBA in defensive rating as a team, but they also give up the second-most assists per game to opposing primary ball handlers.

On the flip side of this game, you can double down with two of the NBA’s best point guards by playing Trae Young, but I’ll never attack Murrray’s elite defense. Thus, if you want to get a piece of the Hawks offense, look to the wings in De’Andre Hunter and/or Kevin Huerter, while John Collins, who is my preferred target in Young’s pick-and-roll offense, makes for an elite play: Collins leads the NBA as the roll man with 1.47 points per possession (PPP) while the Spurs rank 24th in pick-and-roll defense to opposing roll men, allowing 1.16 PPP.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Chicago Bulls (-4.5)

This contest is far and away the best game environment in my model and I will have at least one, if not multiple pieces from it. The Timberwolves have a whopping six rotation players tagged as questionable for this one, including Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell, meaning we’ll monitor it throughout the day before making our decision. Should one of the two be out, Karl-Anthony Towns catapults in the priority list for tonight’s NBA slate, while a potential absence of someone like Patrick Beverley (ankle) could get us more value off the bench.

I will have at least one of the Bulls’ Big 3 in my NBA lineups tonight, but we also need confirmation on the status of Ayo Dosunmu (concussion) before deciding, since he was acting as the primary ball handler in the absence of Lonzo Ball, and this offense shifts considerably with him off the court and Coby White on it. Ultimately, should Dosunmu be ruled out, I’d consider both Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan, but the latter grades out ridiculously well for me tonight, and there’s no surprise to why: DeRozan comes into tonight’s contest with 30+ points in his last four games, sporting an absurd 40.1% usage rate while averaging 37.5/6/5.5. With the Timberwolves ranking in the bottom 10 in points per game allowed, rebounds per game allowed, and assists per game allowed to combo wings, DeRozan is my guy tonight.

Honorable Mentions:

• Charlotte Hornets (high rostered for cash games)
• Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers (+7)

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

After yesterday’s success on a smaller NBA slate, we’re looking to keep it rolling with 20 teams in action tonight. It’s a Taco Tuesday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Indiana Pacers @ Atlanta Hawks (-9.5)

While this matchup features a marquee matchup between Trae Young and Domantas Sabonis, there will also be other ways to get exposure to it if other studs on this NBA slate take precedence. With Malcolm Brogdon (achilles) still questionable and without having taken any action since January 19th, this backcourt now belongs to rookie Chris Duarte with Caris LeVert having been traded to the Cavaliers. Sporting a 20.4% usage rate last game, Duarte posted a 22/5/2 scoring line on 58.3% shooting, while fellow backcourt teammates Duane Washington Jr. and Keifer Sykes chipped in with a combined 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. We love primary ball handlers versus Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, but this Indiana team does not bolster an overly impressive backcourt to get excited about; Duarte makes for an elite target in the mid range, and Washington Jr. could be a value play, depending on what our projection model tells us.

With the Hawks, there is a lot to love other than Trae Young, who is an elite target on this NBA slate in his own right. John Collins is probable for tonight’s contest, and while I do not foresee him missing this game, there is a good trio of scoring options in the mid range with Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, and Kevin Huerter all fairly priced. While a $5,500 Clint Capela can always dictate an NBA slate, look for Onyeka Okongwu to pick up extra minutes as a small-ball center against Sabonis, where the former closed last game for the Hawks while Capela has not seen 30 minutes in a game since the Hawks’ first one of the calendar year.

LA Clippers @ Memphis Grizzlies (-8)

A game that can fly under the radar on this NBA slate, this Western Conference tilt is one to keep in mind when building lineups for tournaments. Ja Morant is not only an MVP candidate, but he is also in a great spot as a primary ball handler versus the Clippers; LA ranks 23rd in the league to the player type, while struggling to maintain a presence on the interior being ranked 27th in the NBA in points allowed in the paint per game. The leader in such a statistic? No, it’s not a power forward or a center – it’s none other than 6’3″ point guard, Ja Morant, who has a remarkable 16.1 points in the paint per game. Morant comes into this one with 30 or more points in eight of his last nine games, having sported a ridiculous 37.4% usage rate and has posted a 33.8/6.6/7.4 scoring line on 49.8% shooting. Of course, should you go another route with your choice of pay up options, Desmond Bane is never a bad play – ever.

With the acquisitions of Norman Powell and Robert Covington, the Clippers seem poised on making a playoff push. Of the two, it is surely Powell that brings more to the table offensively, and he did not disappoint with 28 points off the bench in 24 minutes in his Clippers debut. With Memphis also playing small-ball in a similar fashion to the Clippers, look for Marcus Morris to see a ton of minutes in this one, having come off back-to-back 20+ point outings, in addition to the likes of Terrence Mann, Luke Kennard, Reggie Jackson, and Amir Coffey all seeing minutes in the 20s.

Houston Rockets @ New Orleans Pelicans (-8.5)

A ton to love in a matchup featuring two of the NBA’s fastest teams that refuse to play defense on a nightly basis. Respectively, the Rockets and Pelicans rank 30th and 20th in defensive rating, while the former also leads the league in pace. While the trio of Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, and Christian Wood are all considerations, my eye is on the mid range with two big men: Jaxson Hayes and Alperen Sengun. The former is coming off back-to-back 20-point outings where he’s seen a 19% usage rate, resulting in a 21.5/9 scoring average on a whopping 89.5% shooting. Meanwhile, Kevin Porter Jr. is too underpriced for someone of his potential, having scored in double digits in eight of his previous ten games and gets a Pelicans defense that struggles mightily versus scoring primary ball handlers.

Honorable Mentions:

• James Harden vs Boston Celtics
• Minnesota Timberwolves @ Sacramento Kings

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

With ten teams in action on this NBA slate, it will be important to assess the game environments you wish to have exposure to, and attack elite individual matchups in those contests. Tonight, four Eastern Conference teams stand out above the rest, and it will start early on. It’s a Mojito Monday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Miami Heat @ Washington Wizards

This game won’t jump off the page to the rest of the field, but it’s one that I’ll be all over. Not only are the Miami Heat a possible value as a whole considering both Jimmy Butler (toe) and Tyler Herro (knee) are GTD, but even if both play, there is a lot to love about the Conference’s leading team. While both Butler and Herro are elite targets in their own right, my interest lies with Bam Adebayo tonight, whereby the Wizards have been simply atrocious in the paint over their last stretch of games. With Daniel Gafford (health and safety protocols) ruled out for this one, they are down to the combination of Thomas Bryant and Montrezl Harrell at the ‘5’, where neither one will be able to guard Adebayo. Bryant, who returned this season after a career year got cut short due to a torn ACL, has been a shell of himself; over ten games and 15.5 MPG, Bryant has a 112.2 net defensive rating, where Harrell has been no better with a 111.5 rating. Adebayo comes into this game with five double-doubles in his last six games, where he’s sported a 25.9% usage rate and has posted a 19.3/11.2/3 scoring line on 50% shooting, making him one of the best targets in the upper midrange of this NBA slate.

On the flip side of this contest, there is some appeal to the Wizards offense with Bradley Beal (wrist) still out, but their individual matchups against one of the best defenses in the NBA makes me hesitant to go there at all. Not only does Miami have the 6th best defensive rating in the league right now, but their perimeter defense is the best in the entire Association, which is also where Washington is heavily dependent to run an efficient offense with their combo guard and combo wing players. With both Beal and Gafford off the court, Kyle Kuzma sees a 3.3% increase in usage rate and also sees his FPPM increase from 1.04 to 1.21. However, should Jimmy Butler play in this one, the matchup is daunting to say the least, but I can’t blame you if you land on Kuzma at $7,400 on DK.

Toronto Raptors @ Charlotte Hornets

This game is far and away my favorite of the NBA slate and will be where I start all of my lineups. Not only does it grade out as the best game environment in my model by a long shot, but it’s also because it features two right rotations between familiar foes. The Hornets rank 24th in the league in defensive rating while also being second in pace, and with the Raptors often playing to the tune of their opponent’s beat, this one will play fast and with a ton of buckets in transition. To the surprise of nobody that has been with us for the duration of the NBA season, we’re attacking Charlotte on the inside, and that’s with none other than Pascal Siakam. Not only have the Raptors playing some seriously good basketball as of late, but Siakam has quietly been having a campaign that has been awfully similar, if not better than his debut all-star season in 2019-2020: Siakam posted a 23.5/7.5/3.5 scoring line on 45.8% shooting at the break of that season, where he is now averaging 21.1/8.5/4.8 on 47.8% shooting this season. Spicy P has scored 20 or more points in ten of his last twelve appearances, where he’s sported a 24.8% usage rate and has posted a 22.8/9/6.3 scoring line on 48.1% shooting. He’ll be a building block for me on this NBA slate, where I also have interest in pairing him with another member of the Raptors starting lineup, which logs a ridiculous number of minutes on a nightly basis.

On the other side of the ball, the Hornets are now healthy and back to their old ways of running a deep rotation. LaMelo Ball is obviously the catalyst to this offense, but his minutes are far from guaranteed with the return of Gordon Hayward and the organization’s fascination with playing Cody Martin regularly. All in all, I’m definitely playing at least one Hornet in this game environment, but their rotation makes it tricky, to say the least; someone that may peak my interest leading up to lock is Kelly Oubre Jr., who has now logged 20 or more minutes in ten straight games, where he’s sported a 26.8% usage rate despite coming off the bench while also averaging nearly 15 shots per game, including a ridiculous 10 of those 15 coming from behind the arc. With the Raptors ranking 17th in the NBA in three pointers made allowed per game, the Hornets may have to shoot their way to a win here tonight given how stout Toronto’s zone defense is, which is led by rookie sensation Scottie Barnes, and Oubre Jr. is the guy to do that for them.

Honorable Mention:

• Phoenix Suns @ Chicago Bulls

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

Welcome to the first NBA slate after the All-Star reserves get announced, where the snub narrative is in full effect on a yearly basis. It’s a Fajita Friday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Charlotte Hornets

A ton of snubs for the NBA All-Star game in this one; both Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball could have made it, while Jarrett Allen is having a career season for the Cavaliers yet none of the three made it in over the likes of Khris Middleton. Specifically, I have a ton of interest in Ball, who now has five straight games with 20 or more points, where he’s sported a 28.5% usage rate and has posted a 27/6.2/8.2 scoring line. With Darius Garland still out for the Cavs, it’s as easy of matchup as he will see with Brandon Goodwin “guarding” him.

Atlanta Hawks @ Toronto Raptors

You guys know how much I love games between two Eastern Conference heavyweights. While they often have low totals, the rotations are beyond condensed to the point where it’s simply more valuable than most games on an NBA slate, and tonight is no different. Same story as the last two weeks for the Raptors, who have been scorching hot as of late – you know who to play by now. On the Hawks side of the ball, Trae Young went from having his shoulder in a sleeve to dropping 43 on the NBA’s best team in the Suns last night, but keep an eye on his status for this one on the second half of a back-to-back. In addition, don’t overlook the bench tonight, specifically Bogdan Bogdanovic, who will once again be trusted to log heavier minutes than usual, as the Hawks take Clint Capela off the court to match the Raptors’ small-ball lineup.

Houston Rockets @ San Antonio Spurs

Have to play the biggest All-Star snub of them all, Dejounte Murray, should he return to the lineup tonight for the Spurs in a juicy matchup versus a Rockets team that leads the NBA in pace and is last in defensive rating. Averaging 19.6/8.5/9.1 on the season, Murray has posted a 24/9.3/10.7 line in his last three. If he’s out, turn to Spurs value – it’s that simple.

Honorable Mentions:

• Indiana Pacers value
• Chicago Bulls (if Lavine out)
• Harden/Kyrie @ Utah

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

Another great NBA slate awaits after we made great lineups yesterday featuring a balanced mix of value plays and mid range studs. It’s a Taco Tuesday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Washington Wizards

While they are going to be in tough tonight, there is certainly an appeal when it comes to the Wizards rotation versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Washington will be without franchise star Bradley Beal tonight, meaning there will not only more minutes to go around, rather, more offensive looks for a ton of players. With Beal out of the lineup / off the court this season, the greatest beneficiary has been Kyle Kuzma, who sees a 3.6% increase in usage rate and his FPPM increase from 1.03 to 1.13. Moreover, Spencer Dinwiddie, who is rumored to be on the trading block, not only sees a drastic increase in both scoring and assist rate, but also in usage rate and overall production; Dinwiddie will now be the primary ball handler with Beal off the court, where his usage rate increases from 21% to 25.8%, in addition to seeing his FPPM increase from 0.95 to 1.14.

Miami Heat @ Toronto Raptors

The key news in this game will be the status of Jimmy Butler, but either way, I want exposure to the battle of two Eastern Conference heavyweights. By now, you know the theme of me wanting Toronto Raptors in my NBA lineup, not only because they’re playing great basketball as of late, but because Nick Nurse simply runs his starters into the ground. The starting 5 of Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam will be forced once again to play heavy minutes, whereby the matchup favors Gary Trent Jr and OG Anunoby the most, whom will see no Jimmy Butler as a defensive matchup.

Golden State Warriors

On the second half of a back-to-back, this game is one that I also want exposure to in our NBA lineups, specifically in the backcourt with Klay Thompson resting for the Warriors. Jordan Poole will take on more offensive responsibility alongside Steph Curry, in addition to Andrew Wiggins picking up longer stints in the rotation. On the Spurs side of the ball, it will come to no surprise that my only interest is in Dejounte Murray, who makes his return to the lineup after resting, along with Derrick White and Jakob Poeltl, in their last game.

Brooklyn Nets @ Phoenix Suns

A game with a ton of fireworks, we need exposure to this one in our NBA lineups in some sort of way. Whether it’s at the top of the pricing grid between the duos of James Harden and Kyrie Irving versus Chris Paul and Devin Booker, or in the mid range with Cam Johnson, Bismack Biyombo, and/or Nic Claxton, there is plenty to love about this one. Key news has already dropped with LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) being ruled out, hence the interest in Claxton. However, this NBA slate can change on a dime should James Harden, who is questionable with a hand injury, miss this one. Stay tuned.

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

Plenty of star-studded matchups on tonight’s NBA slate, but there is one game in particular that will go overlooked while being the crown jewel of the slate. It’s a Mojito Monday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Toronto Raptors @ Atlanta Hawks (-2.5)

While there is plenty to love in the first game on the NBA slate between the Grizzlies and the 76ers, especially at the top of the pricing grid in Joel Embiid and Ja Morant, the Raptors/Hawks game will be a track meet that we need exposure to. Trae Young leads the charge for the Hawks, who are on a 7-game winning streak; the pass-first point guard comes into tonight’s matchup with a 35.9% usage rate on this run, while posting a 28.4/4.7/9.1 scoring line on 44% shooting, including 42% from behind the arc. Otherwise, the Hawks are getting healthy and have a eight players that will likely see close to, if not 20 minutes, in addition to both Lou Williams and Delon Wright as the 9th and 10th pieces in the rotation. Look for news on Bogdan Bogdanovic, who can sit out on the second half of a back-to-back.

On the Raptors side of the ball, there will always be interest for me when they are in elite game environments because of how condensed their rotation is. In a 3OT win against Miami the other day, all of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, and Gary Trent Jr. played over 50 minutes apiece, with the 3-man bench rotation of Chris Boucher, Precious Achiuwa, and Dalano Banton saw a combined 35 mintutes. With Atlanta ranking 27th in the NBA in defensive rating, including 22nd in 3PM allowed per game, both VanVleet and Trent will be high on my priority list, with the former getting the most favorable matchup versus Trae Young, who has an individual net defensive rating of 116.3 while the Hawks as a whole rank 23rd in the league versus primary ball handlers.

Portland Trail Blazers @ OKC Thunder (+4)

The gem of all gems for me on tonight’s NBA slate, this game will not only fly under the radar, but it will be a primary source of fantasy points for us. The Trail Blazers have lost Nassir Little for the duration of the NBA season, meaning there will be ample opportunity for the main offensive catalysts to lead the charge; CJ McCollum, Norman Powell, Jusuf Nurkic, and Anfernee Simons will all be in my player pool tonight, whereby the guard duo of McCollum and Simons will be of extreme interest to me. Anfernee Simons has quietly filled the shoes of Damian Lillard with effectiveness, averaging 22.1 PPG on 45.5% shooting in his last seven games, where he sports a usage rate of 27.1%.

On the flip side of the ball, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out for the Thunder, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort will shoulder the bulk of the load on offense. Specifically, Giddey sees an increase in usage rate from 21.7% to 23.1% with SGA off the court, while also seeing his FPPM increase from 1.03 to 1.08 with a notable increase in assist rate. Dort will see the largest increase in shot attempts, while the duo of Mann and Jerome will see more minutes in the backcourt, while Darius Bazley offers exposure to an offense that faces a Portland defense that ranks 29th in the NBA in defensive rating, if you need to go there.

Honorable Mentions:

• Memphis Grizzlies @ Philadelphia 76ers (-3.5)
• GS Warriors bench @ Houston Rockets

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

With only two games on yesterday’s NBA schedule, today is filled with great spots and individual talent. It’s a Fajita Friday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Indiana Pacers @ OKC Thunder

Another NBA slate where we need to be taking advantage of a depleted Pacers rotation. While Domantas Sabonis has been upgraded to questionable for this one after participating in practice on Thursday, Indiana is still without Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, and TJ McConnell. Although Caris LeVert is coming off a foul-troubled performance, he remains a key focus for us, as he takes over the Pacers offense as the primary ball handler. Otherwise, should Sabonis remain out for this one, Goga Bitadze would get the bulk of the minutes at the ‘5’ versus an OKC team that ranks 25th in the NBA in rebounding.

On the flip side of this game, it should be no surprise that my main target is none other than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who continues to be on an impressive run. Having scored 20 or more points in seven of his last eight, SGA has sported a 32.8% usage rate during that stretch, posting a 27.8/5.4/7.3 scoring line on 48.4% shooting. Taking on an Indiana defense that is 24th in the NBA versus opposing primary ball handlers with Malcolm Brogdon out of the lineup, there is no slowing SGA down tonight.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Phoenix Suns

The Timberwolves are on the second half of a back-to-back after a loss to the Warriors, and while the status of Patrick Beverley remains up in the air, we know where the offensive production comes from: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and D’Angelo Russell. However, the latter left last night’s game with a shin injury and did not return, so should DLo be ruled out of this one, we can turn to Jaylen Nowell as a value play for this NBA slate, especially if Beverley misses once again.

With the number of injuries the Suns have right now, both of these rotations are going to be tight and we need exposure to them. On the Phoenix side of the ball, they will once again be without Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, Cam Payne, and JaVale McGee, whereby Chris Paul and Devin Booker will be playing north of 36 minutes each again tonight, making them elite plays on an NBA slate where they face a Minnesota team that ranks 4th in pace. To round out the rotation, Bismack Biyombo, Cam Johnson, and Mikal Bridges will all see a ton of minutes, as the starting 5 will carry the Suns in this one. Don’t overthink it.

Honorable Mentions:

• Boston Celtics @ Atlanta Hawks
• LA Lakers @ Charlotte Hornets
• Portland Trail Blazers @ Houston Rockets

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

While some teams are on the second halves of a back-to-back, there are others that are also dealing with short rotations. There are plenty of elite game environments amongst the large NBA slate, so let’s begin narrowing down the player pool in our look ahead. It’s a Wet Wednesday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Sacramento Kings @ Atlanta Hawks (-8)

While the Kings got blown off the court yesterday against Boston, they find themselves in the best game environment on tonight’s NBA slate and we need exposure to it. While Sacramento maintains their year-over-year trend of being one of the fastest teams in the league and one of the poorest defensively, ranking 8th in pace and 28th in defensive rating, respectively, Atlanta is also a favorable matchup for any opponent, ranking 27th in defensive rating in their own right. De’Aaron Fox (ankle) did not play yesterday, he could be back in action tonight, while Tyrese Haliburton, who sports a 17.8% usage rate and 1.00 FPPM on the season, would be a strong priority with a 1.7% increase in usage rate and a 1.05 FPPM with Fox off the court.

On the flip side of this game, Trae Young is right up there with the two players discussed below in my top priorities on this NBA slate. Sporting a 32.9% usage rate in his last six games, Young has scored 24 or more points in every one of those games, while averaging a 29.7/3.7/8.3 scoring line on 47.6% shooting. Not only is he firing on all cylinders on this run, but he’s also getting to the charity stripe ovee nine times per contest, and his opponent tonight allows the most points in the paint per game, while Young himself is fourth in the league in drives per game.

Denver Nuggets @ Brooklyn Nets (+1)

I can take a deep dive into this one but realistically, it’s James Harden versus Nikola Jokic, where the former is without All-NBA teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Although both teams are on the second half of a back-to-back, this game features two of the league’s top 10 offenses and two of the most prolific offensive talents in Harden and Jokic. The former is fresh off a 33-point triple-double versus the Lakers yesterday, while the latter dropped a near triple-double of his own, with a 28-21-9 scoring line against the Pistons. Harden gets Monte Morris, while Jokic will see – checks notes – Aldridge, Claxton, or Sharpe? Yes please.

Phoenix Suns @ Utah Jazz (+4)

This game look familiar to you? It should – the Jazz shocked the Suns the other night by keeping pace without the bulk of their rotation active, and now, both teams are in a similar spot. Utah remains without Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but will likely be getting Joe Ingles, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Royce O’Neale back for this one. On the flip side, the Suns remain without Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, Cam Payne, and now, JaVale McGee (knee) joins his teammates on the sidelines. Look for the trio of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Cam Johnson to log heavy minutes in this one, while the frontcourt tandem is now left to Bismack Biyombo and Jalen Smith, who was stellar during his run in the starting lineup.

Honorable Mentions:

• Charlotte Hornets @ Indiana Pacers
• Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

We’re back with a somewhat normal schedule in the NBA this week, with only tonight and Thursday having fewer than six games in action. It’s a Mojito Monday 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

NY Knicks @ Cleveland Cavaliers

The Knicks will be travelling to Cleveland on the second half of a back-to-back, where Julius Randle and company are fresh off a home victory in yesterday’s afternoon tilt versus the Clippers. There is not much appeal in this one for our NBA lineups tonight, but both teams have suffered recent injuries to rotation players; on the Knicks side of the ball, Kemba Walker remains questionable having missed yesterday’s game with an ankle injury, while Mitchell Robinson left in the first half with an ankle injury of his own in yesterday’s win and did not return for the second half. More importantly than the back court impact that Walker has, it’s important to note that both Julius Randle and Nerlens Noel will benefit, should Robinson miss tonight’s game, while the former sporting a 33.1% usage rate with Robinson out this season, averaging 28.3/12.7/3.7 across 36 MPG in three contests.

On the Cavaliers side of the ball, Lauri Markkanen (ankle) remains out for tonight’s game, leaving Cleveland with an awfully thin rotation. As usual, Darius Garland will lead an offense featuring a star-studded front court duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, while Isaac Okoro will also log heavy minutes with Kevin Love and Cedi Osman being the main beneficiaries off the bench. The main trio of Cleveland’s offense is priced up, so I side with the value players off the bench in this one, if any at all.

Indiana Pacers @ New Orleans Pelicans

The Indiana Pacers will be without Myles Turner (foot), Domantas Sabonis (ankle), Malcolm Brogdon (achilles), and TJ McConnell (wrist), while Caris LeVert (calf) is a GTD. Meanwhile, the Pelicans will be without Brandon Ingram (ankle), while Devonte’ Graham (ankle) is a GTD. Needless to say, most of our interest on tonight’s NBA slate starts with this game. Beginning with the Pacers, Caris LeVert instantly becomes a priority on this slate, should be active; should he be ruled out once again, the trio of Chris Duarte, Jeremy Lamb, and Goga Bitadze will be strong plays on the mid range. On the Pelicans side of the ball, Jonas Valanciunas has a 24.4% usage rate and an FPPM of 1.23 on the season, but sees both increase to 26.9% and 1.29, respectively, and will get a ton of touches in the paint versus an Indiana defense that struggles mightily with Turner off the floor.

Chicago Bulls @ OKC Thunder

The Bulls will be on the second half of a back-to-back, but there is a ton to like about this offense heading into OKC. With Zach Lavine (knee) and Lonzo Ball (knee) both still out for Chicago, in addition to Alex Caruso (wrist), Javonte Green (groin), and Derrick Jones Jr. (knee), both DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic will be intriguing at the top of the pricing grid for tonight’s NBA slate. In over 240 minutes of action, DeRozan carries a 36% usage rate with a 1.15 FPPM, while Vucevic has been seeing plenty of volume, but hasn’t been as efficient. Should you want to get exposure to the Bulls without these two, consider both Coby White and/or Ayo Dosunmu.

On the flip side of this game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the hottest players in the NBA as of late. The fourth-year pro has 20 or more points in six of his last seven, where he’s sported a 33.4% usage rate and has posted a 27.3/5.7/6.9 scoring line on 47.9% shooting. With the Bulls struggling to guard primary ball handlers in the absence of Lonzo Ball, including allowing Darius Garland to go for 20/5/12 just a few days ago, SGA is primed for another big performance tonight.

Utah Jazz @ Phoenix Suns

Either way, I will have a ton of exposure to this game for tonight’s NBA slate, but how much depends on the statuses of Rudy Gobert and Bojan Bogdanovic. While Donovan Mitchell (concussion) has already been ruled out, both Gobert (calf) and Bogdanovic (knee) have been diagnosed with injuries and now find themselves on the second half of a back-to-back; should either one miss, keep an eye on this rotation and looks for updates in Discord, but Joe Ingles, Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gay, and Hassan Whiteside (conditioning) will all be on my radar.

The Phoenix Suns also hold a ton of intrigue, as Deandre Ayton is doubtful to play in this one. While JaVale McGee continues to start in his absence, it has been Bismack Biyombo that has been more efficient off the bench, and is coming off a 21/13/5/1/2 scoring line against the Pacers in only 29 minutes. In addition, both Jae Crowder (wrist) and Cam Payne (wrist) have been ruled out for this one, making Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges strong plays on the wing, while Chris Paul will be a near lock for me in all formats on this NBA slate.

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life

After only four teams took the court yesterday, we’re back with another large NBA slate to tackle. It’s a Wet Wednesday’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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Brooklyn Nets @ Washington Wizards

If you want a game to stack, you don’t need to go too deep into the NBA slate to get some serious firepower in your lineup. The Nets are still without Kevin Durant, meaning both James Harden and Kyrie Irving will shoulder the bulk of the offense tonight; the two see their usage rates increase from 28.4% and 26.9%, respectively, to 33.7% and 31.6%, while also seeing their FPPMs increase from 1.36 and 1.15, respectively, to 1.53 and 1.50. Kessler Edwards and Patty Mills will be getting a heavy dose of minutes as well, while Day’Ron Sharpe and LaMarcus Aldridge man the paint. On the flip side, Bradley Beal made his return to the Wizards lineup and is far too cheap on both sites tonight while leading the charge on offense for his team this season, averaging 23.7/4.7/6.4 on 45.4% shooting on the season.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Atlanta Hawks

While there won’t be any particular reason to get exposure to the Timberwolves tonight other than a matchup versus a Hawks team that ranks 28th in the NBA in defensive rating, they are one of the rotations to keep an eye on considering they’re on the second half of a back-to-back.

While the Timberwolves exposure may have to wait, there is already plenty to love about the Atlanta Hawks tonight. Missing both Clint Capela (ankle) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee), the Hawks rotation will be condensed and full of scoring punch. Facing a Minnesota roster that ranks 4th in the NBA in pace plays right into the wheelhouse of franchise star Trae Young, who sits 4th in the league in drives per game while running a high-tempo offense on a nightly basis. Other, John Collins becomes to main roll man in the Hawks’ pick-and-roll offense, where the power forward leads all qualified players in point per possession (PPP) and carries a 69.5% field goal percentage. Onyeka Okongwu will be tasked with more minutes as well, while getting a matchup versus Karl-Anthony Towns, who is ranked fourth-worst in the NBA amongst qualified centers in individual defensive rating. If you’re looking for scoring on the wings (SG/SF), look no further than one of my favorite players to watch, De’Andre Hunter, or Kevin Huerter. This game, and the Hawks side of the ball specifically, will be one of my top targets on tonight’s NBA slate.

Portland Trail Blazers @ Miami Heat

While my interest is limited on the Portland side of the ball with the return of CJ McCollum to the lineup, Miami has a lot of potential. With Kyle Lowry (personal) still out for the Heat, both Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro will be prime candidates in the mid range of the pricing grid; taking on a Portland team that ranks 29th in defensive rating will favor the Heat’s top offensive players. Butler comes into this one fresh off a 19-point triple-double versus the Raptors, while Herro has scored in double figures in ten straight games, where he’s sported a 28.9% usage rate and has posted a 22.1/4.7/4.4 scoring line on 39.6% shooting.

Memphis Grizzlies @ Milwaukee Bucks

While the Bucks may be getting Jrue Holiday back in the lineup tonight, the Grizzlies suffered a serious blow to their rotation when Desmond Bane and Kyle Anderson landed in health and safety protocols, joining Dillon Brooks (knee) on the sidelines. As a result, Ja Morant will be tasked with taking on even more offensively, where the face of the franchise has been having a career year with a 24.4/5.7/6.7 scoring line across 32.3 MPG. Moreover, we’ve been playing Brandon Clarke for quite some time now, and tonight, he is back in another good spot; Clarke has seen 20 or more minutes in nine of the past ten, where he’s sported an 18.8% usage rate and has posted a 14.1/7.2/1.5 scoring line on 69.3% shooting, while averaging 29.5 DK PPG, making him an elite play in the mid range of tonight’s NBA slate.

Other Teams to Target

Utah Jazz

I can write a complete article about Utah’s offense tonight, but let’s keep thing short and sweet: Donovan Mitchell (concussion) is out for tonight’s game versus the Houston Rockets, who lead the NBA in pace and are dead last in defensive rating. Things open up a lot for the duo of Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson, who see their usage rates climb from 13.3% and 26.9%, respectively, to 14.4% and 31.2%, while also seeing their FPPM increase from 0.72 and 0.97, respectively, to 0.76 and 1.07.

Detroit Pistons

I won’t try to be a hero and assume who is playing and who is sitting out for the Pistons tonight, but I’m writing this as a reminder to keep an eye on them considering they have a ton of veterans that are rest candidates on the second half of a back-to-back, while getting a friendly matchup versus Sacramento, who rank 7th in the NBA in pace and 27th in defensive rating.

Indiana Pacers

Myles Turner (foot) will be out for the next 2-3 weeks, which means we get an interesting rotation in Indiana’s game tonight versus the Lakers. While the potential return of Malcolm Brogdon could still impact the two players I’m about to discuss, considering the Pacers can simply run Domantas Sabonis at the ‘5’ with Brogdon, LeVert, and Justin Holiday on the court, it’s important to note that both Oshae Brissett and Goga Bitadze will be prime values for us tonight, as well as Chris Duarte, should Jeremy Lamb (knee) be ruled out. While Domantas Sabonis is the prime benefactor at the top of the pricing grid, both Brissett and Bitadze can be elite value plays for us on this NBA slate should things shake out in our favor.

You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life