Another Friday night means seven more matchups for NBA fans to dig into. Big names, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jayson Tatum are set to take the floor tonight. That makes narrowing down a select group to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats a difficult task. Here are the three centers at the top of tonight’s board:
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1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. BKN ($12,300)
Nikola Jokic, when healthy, is still the most dangerous player on Earth. The three-time MVP hasn’t lost a step this season, putting up 31.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 9.7 assists on efficient 55.3/47.3/80.6 shooting splits. The end result? A league-leading 69.1 DK fantasy points per game.
The Nuggets are hopeful their face of the franchise can give it a go tonight; he’s missed two straight games due to an illness. Assuming the big man suits up, he’ll have an advantageous matchup vs. a Nets team giving up the seventh-most DK fantasy points to opposing centers. Jokic is so good that it doesn’t matter who guards him, but it always helps to play a group that struggles with lesser talents down low. Even at such a high price, there’s no good argument not to back this future Hall of Famer.
*Jokic (illness) is questionable to play tonight vs. Brooklyn.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks vs. OKC ($10,000)
MVP candidates don’t grow on trees, but the Knicks appear to have found one this offseason. Following a shocking trade from the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns has been nothing short of spectacular in the Big Apple. Through 35 games, the big man has posted 25.3 points, a league-leading 14.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 55.2% from the field (45.0 3PT%).
The four-time All-Star will have his hands full tonight against a Thunder team giving up the second-fewest points to opponents this season (103.5). Still, Towns managed to put together a 17-point, 22-rebound performance when these two squads met last weekend. Assuming he manages to improve his scoring output, KAT should have no problem delivering another 20-point double-double in this marquee matchup.
*Towns (knee) is questionable to play tonight vs. Oklahoma City.
3. Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls vs. WAS ($8,500)
The Bulls are a mediocre team, but they do play an entertaining brand of basketball. Chicago currently ranks second in pace of play (103.96), granting their top scorers plenty of extra possessions. That includes center Nikola Vucevic, currently producing 20.2 points and 10.1 rebounds on 55.3% shooting from the field (42.4 3PT%). Even though the 32-year-old offers little on the defensive end of the floor, he’s still a capable starter in most DFS formats.
That’s especially true against a terrible defense, as is the case tonight. The Wizards are giving up the most points in the NBA (121.9), as well as the second-most DK fantasy points to opposing centers. When these two teams last met on January 1st, Vooch didn’t make many baskets (12 points on 29.4 FG%), but still managed to record 14 rebounds and six assists (40.5 FPTS). A more accurate shooting performance would make the veteran a steal as the fourth-most expensive player at the position.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is b.armetta) 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.
