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Weekend basketball is here and the NBA is kicking it off with an eight-game main slate. Tip-off times range from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET and there are some interesting matchups worth taking note of while setting your fantasy lineups. That being said, it is a great time to give you some value plays for your DFS contest. Unlike NFL DFS, where one pick can make or break your lineup or it’s tough to find quality low-tier value.
In NBA DFS, you can find quality value plays under $5K that can give you a quick 10 points off the bench, grab some rebounds, or stuff the stat sheet. It does not matter if you are playing a 50/50 or Double Up contest, we are going to provide you with three players that you need to put in your lineup.
Lonzo Ball, Pelicans, $5,000
Ball is coming off his best game of the year and torched the Milwaukee Bucks by scoring a season-high 27 points. Despite his dominant performance against a strong defensive team, his price has dropped by $300. The Houston Rockets’ defensive rating has soared since James Harden departed to join the Brooklyn Nets, but they’ve also allowed the opposition’s top playmaker to tally at least 26 points in three straight contests. Ball might not light it up for a second straight game, but this price is a bargain for a stat sheet stuffing guard who will likely exceed 30 minutes of playing time.
Thaddeus Young, Bulls, $5,000
Young was an assist and a rebound away from his first career triple-double in his last game and gets another shot against the Portland Trail Blazers’ abysmal post defense on Saturday. Wendell Carter Jr. will be out for weeks dealing with a quad contusion and Young has a clear path to minutes because of Chicago’s limited center rotation. Only Zach LaVine played more than Young in the Bulls’ last game.
Bobby Portis, Bucks, $4,200 Salary
The Bucks are 8.5-point favorites ahead of their Saturday matchup with the Charlotte Hornets, so there's a good chance that backups will get an extended run. The Hornets’ defense ranks 30th against opposing power forwards on DraftKings and Portis has been able to average 24.2 DKFP per contest while playing behind the reigning MVP. Charlotte remains undersized in the frontcourt behind Cody Zeller and Portis should be a double-double threat because of his rebounding prowess.