There are five NBA games on Tuesday’s slate.
NYK is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Ben Simmons is probable. Paul George, Anfernee Simons, D’Angelo Russell, Guerschon Yabusele, Andre Drummond, Robert Williams III, Kris Murray, Chris Boucher, Jett Howard and Gary Harris are questionable. Ziaire Williams is out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are four double-digit favorites: NYK -10.5 over BKN, MIA -11.5 over POR, DEN -12 over PHI and LAL -14.5 over WAS. There is one game with a total of at least 230: LAL/WAS (231). There are two games with a total below 220: POR/MIA (219.5) and ORL/TOR (215.5). Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $333K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers at Miami Heat ($6,900): Henderson has been on quite the heater recently, averaging 25.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks and 4.0 treys in 35.2 minutes over four games. That’s been good for Top 20 production over that span on a per-game basis. Now, he’s converted 56% of his field goal attempts and 53% of his hucks from downtown, so the shooting efficiency isn’t sustainable. That said, regression doesn’t have to come in one game. He’s obviously feeling good about himself since being re-inserted into the starting lineup. He’s contributed 49.25, 52.75 and 59 FPTS in three of those contests. Ride the wave until it comes crashing down. He is still only 20 years old in his second NBA season, so there’s also the small chance that he’s figured it out and has truly leveled up.
Other Options: Tyrese Maxey ($9,900), Jamal Murray ($7,400), Jordan Poole ($7,200), Cole Anthony ($6,500), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6,300), Mikal Bridges ($6,200)
Value
Trevelin Queen, Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors ($3,700): With the Magic depleted, Queen has been getting plenty of run. Over the last four games, he’s played 31, 28, 22 and 24 minutes. Queen has attempted double-digit shots in the three most recent contests and has eight total steals over that span. All three of those games were blowouts, though, against tough teams, so there’s a small chance he doesn’t get the same amount of minutes. I think he does due to the injuries and the matchup is a good one as Toronto is 29th in defensive efficiency.
Other Options: Christian Braun ($4,500), Anthony Black ($4,400), Carlton Carrington ($4,200), Duncan Robinson ($4,100), Corey Kispert ($3,800)
Forward
Stud
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards ($9,800): James continues to mystify with the Swiss-like precision and consistency at age 40. He stuffs the stat sheet and is still a threat to triple-double on any given night. Over the last five games, he’s gone for at least 45 FPTS in four with the last two at 55 FPTS. The matchup is one of the juiciest for fantasy as the Wizards have been 5th in pace and dead-last in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Other Options: Mikal Bridges ($6,200), OG Anunoby ($6,100)
Value
Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards ($5,000): Hachimura has been playing 33 minutes a night over the last three games and attempted double-digit shots in all. He doesn’t do much outside of score and rebound, but that’s been enough to finish with at least 25 FPTS in each of the last three games with a high of 36.5 FPTS. As mentioned in the LeBron section, Washington is one of the best matchups for fantasy.
Other Options: Kyle Kuzma ($6,000), Alex Sarr ($5,500), Christian Braun ($4,500), Ricky Council IV ($4,500) if he starts, Tristan da Silva ($4,300), Kel’el Ware ($4,200), Corey Kispert ($3,800)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia 76ers ($12,000): Price is always an issue and rostering Jokic will come down to roster construction. But if paying up, Jokic is the way because of the safety and ability to put up the most raw points on the slate. He has the highest floor/ceiling combo and has failed to hit 50 FPTS only three times this season. He has nine games over 80 FPTS with three of those over 90 FPTS!
Other Options: Anthony Davis ($10,300), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,700)
Value
Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat vs. Portland Trail Blazers ($4,200): Ware had primarily been the backup to Bam Adebayo, but on Sunday, he finally played alongside him. Ware and Adebayo played the last eight minutes of the second period and first six minutes of the third period together. Ware finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a trey in 34 minutes, good for 42.5 FPTS. After the game, Spoelstra said that Ware has done all the things behind the scenes and has essentially forced him to play him more. I have a hard time thinking that Spoelstra can put Ware back into the bottle.
Other Options: Wendell Carter Jr. ($5,900), Alex Sarr ($5,500)
