The NBA Cup is back, which means there’s plenty of star players taking the floor on Tuesday. With eight games in action, figuring out which big names to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is no easy task. Here are three centers at the top of tonight’s slate:
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1. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks at PHI ($8,700)
While he might be overshadowed by the return of Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns is playing like the best center in the Eastern Conference. New York’s big offseason pickup has come out of the gates on fire, putting up 24.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. He carries a streak of three straight 30-point outings into Tuesday’s contest.
The big man won’t have it easy when Embiid is on the floor, but that’s not likely to be more than half of the game due to a minutes restriction. Considering KAT’s current usage rating of 28.2%, his highest in four seasons, it’s hard not to back the Knicks’ star regardless of who he’s playing. Expect another 20-point double-double in front of a national audience.
2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers vs. NYK ($10,400)
It’s finally time to welcome back Joel Embiid. Following a bizarre saga involving an injury, a league investigation, and an altercation with a reporter, the 76ers center is set to appear in his first game. However, as previously mentioned, the team is wisely taking a cautious approach. The former MVP is set to be on a minutes restriction against the Knicks.
Still, this is Joel Embiid. The dominant big man is one of the most prolific producers in league history, which makes it difficult not to play him at such a thin position. However, we’ve seen this story before. Embiid is traditionally a slow starter, averaging just 22.6 points and 10.4 rebounds in eight career season openers. Due to the inflated price, I’d look elsewhere for production in your lineups.
3. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat at DET ($8,000)
It’s been a lackluster start for Bam Adebayo. Miami’s center is putting up a modest 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds through nine games. However, the three-time All Star’s 4.0 assists give him a raised fantasy floor, while his 38.6% shooting from the field is bound to improve going forward.
The Pistons might not be pushovers anymore, but they’re still a flawed defensive team. In his past five games against Detroit, Adebayo is averaging 18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Even if he falls slightly short of those numbers on Tuesday, the Heat star is still a smart play for those looking to spend more at other positions.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
