After playing on the final day of the 2023-24 regular season against each other, the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans will have a rematch to kick off the 2024 play-in tournament Tuesday. The Lakers have won three of the four meetings between the two sides this season. The winner of this game will go on to face the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.
Here’s a look at one potential lineup strategy DFS managers can use in Showdown contests involving tonight’s game.
Captain’s Picks
LeBron James ($15,900) – Is there anyone else who would be a captain for this lineup? James has been more diligent when it comes to pacing himself in his 21st NBA season but he always tends to show up when the games matter the most. He went for 28 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds in Sunday’s win, so why should Tuesday be any different? James has performed well in both play-in games he’s been in a part of, and he’s a lock for the captain’s spot here.
CJ McCollum ($13,200) – It can be tempting to back Zion Williamson in this spot, but McCollum is a bit higher due to his ability to hit the triple. He’s connecting on 48.1% of his perimeter shots over the last 10 games, and went for 41 fantasy points against the Lakers Sunday. Los Angeles ranks 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards, so McCollum is a good play in the captain’s spot while saving some cash.
FLEX Plays
Trey Murphy III ($7,000) – Even though Brandon Ingram has returned to the rotation, Murphy continues to be a solid addition due to his perimeter shooting. Over the last five games, he’s averaging 37.1 fantasy points. Most of that came when Ingram was out, so I understand the hesitancy when rostering Murphy. However, the matchup is favorable with the Lakers ranking 26th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wings.
Austin Reaves ($7,800) – Reaves has the ability to impact the game in many ways, which means he’s versatile enough to rack up fantasy points without necessarily scoring a lot. That helps when you’re on a team with James and Anthony Davis. Over the last five games, Reaves is averaging 26.2 fantasy points. He went for 28.8 on Sunday against the Pelicans and is worth backing again here at this price point.
Fades
D’Angelo Russell ($8,000) – Russell can get hot from deep and did go for 32.8 fantasy points in Sunday’s game, but he’s unlikely to have the same amount of success Tuesday. The Pelicans are one of the best teams in the league at defending the perimeter, so that takes away a lot of Russell’s upside. While he might still hit a few from downtown, this price is a bit too steep for a player who relies so heavily on the outside shot falling to deliver fantasy value.
Jonas Valanciunas ($5,800) – This actually isn’t a bad price point for a starting big man. However, Valanciunas has been run off the floor at times this season with Sunday being one of those instances. It’s hard to justify rostering a player who doesn’t get consistent minutes, even if the production has been there. Valanciunas has played under 10 minutes in two of the last five games, so he’s not worth the risk when there are plenty of other proven fantasy options in this contest.
The Outcome
The Lakers have been in this position twice in the history of the play-in tournament, and have gotten the No. 7 seed both times. One of those instances was last season, where the team made a run to the conference finals. LA has gotten the better of New Orleans three times and should have confidence after Sunday’s win. Even though the Pelicans have been a solid side since the All-Star break, I think James is once again the difference here.
Final score: Lakers 118, Pelicans 111