It’s a three-game, six-team slate of NBA action on Thursday. The matchups might not be great, but there are still plenty of big names across the association taking the floor. That makes narrowing down a select group to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats a difficult task. Here are the three guards at the top of tonight’s board:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
1. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons at BOS ($9,600)
The Pistons have struggled lately, losing four of their last five games en route to a 10-15 record. However, Cade Cunningham’s terrific season hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Through 21 games, the 23-year-old is averaging 23.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 9.4 assists on 45.5% shooting from the field (39.3% 3PT). Most impressive has been the guard’s consistency; he’s scored 20 points or more in each of his last seven appearances for Detroit.
It isn’t always advisable to start the highest priced player on the board, let alone one facing the Celtics. Still, while Boston’s defense is formidable, they’ve allowed the 15th-most DK fantasy points to opposing guards. Cunningham nearly put up a triple-double the last time these two teams met on December 4th (27 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists). A similar outing tonight will cement his status at the top of this list.
2. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings at NOP ($9,000)
The Kings are one of the NBA’s top offenses, sitting at ninth in scoring (116.4 PPG). Leading the charge for Sacramento is De’Aaron Fox, a dynamic guard that can beat a defense in multiple ways. This season, the Kentucky product has produced 26.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists on 48.9% shooting over 25 games. Swipa has put up 40 DK fantasy points or more in each of his last five contests.
Sacramento’s opponent tonight, the 5-20 Pelicans, are giving up the fifth-most DK fantasy points to opposing point guards. In addition, New Orleans is allowing the fourth-most assists in the association (28.6 APG). No matter how you slice it, this is a terrific matchup for Fox, so long as the game remains close heading into the fourth quarter. Blowout potential aside, the All-Star is a terrific alternative to Cunningham on Thursday.
3. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics vs. DET ($8,200)
Jayson Tatum has been ruled out tonight due to right knee inflammation. That opens up plenty of usage for the rest of Boston’s offense, including co-star Jaylen Brown. The reigning Finals MVP is off to another great start, compiling 25.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists through 19 games. Now, playing without a volume scorer, there’s no telling what kind of stat line we might see from the ninth-year pro.
Over his last ten games played without Tatum, Brown has averaged 31.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists to go along with a terrific 55.8% field goal percentage. The last time Boston played the Pistons, on December 4th, JB led the team in scoring with 28 points. It’s hard not to start the three-time All-Star when he’s the fourth-most expensive guard on tonight’s slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
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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.
