DraftKings, your paradise of DFS nirvana, has done it again with a new contest called NBA Starting 5. You select one point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, one power forward and one center. There is no salary cap. The only stipulation is that you must select players from at least two different teams.
For Thursday’s Starting 5 slate, there are five games.
CLE, MIN and WAS are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Gary Harris is probable. LeBron James, Alperen Sengun, Walker Kessler, John Collins, Jalen Suggs, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jerami Grant, Rayan Rupert, Steven Adams, Johnny Juzang, and Gabe Vincent are all questionable. Anthony Davis and Clint Capela are out, while Jalen Johnson will miss the rest of the season. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, There is one double-digit favorite: CLE -10 over ATL. There is no game within 3 points. There are two games with a total of at least 230: ATL/CLE (238.5) and HOU/MEM (235.5). There is one game with a total below 220: ORL/POR (210).
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $8K Zone [$2K to 1st] (Early).
Point Guard
Austin Reaves has put up at least 30 FPTS in each of the last five games. The usage rate is a respectable 23.3% on the season. That number is going to increase with Anthony Davis injured. In three games Davis missed this season, Reaves put up 36.75, 46.5, and 54.25 FPTS. Washington has been second in pace and dead-last in defensive rating over the last 10 games. Another 50-burger could be in the cards.
Shooting Guard
Anthony Edwards has contributed at least 40 FPTS in seven of the last eight games, with two over 60 FPTS. Utah has been 25th in defensive rating over the last 10 games and their focus is off wins and solely on planting the Flagg.
Small Forward
Amen Thompson is coming off 28.75-FPTS game. Yuck. Prior to that, though, he went for 54.25, 64.5, and 49.5 FPTS. This game environment should be one in which Thompson thrives as Memphis has been playing at the third-fastest pace over the last 10 games.
Power Forward
No Anthony Davis equals LeBron James, LeBron James and more LeBron James. James’ usage rate has seen a four-percentage point bump with Davis off the court this season. Another triple-double is well within the range of outcomes for James, especially when factoring in that Washington has been playing at the second-fastest pace over the last 10 games while being dead-last in defensive rating.
Center
If Alperen Sengun plays, then he’s my likely option due the well-rounded nature of his game. He is questionable, though. In three games against Memphis this season, Sengun finished with 39.75, 39.5, and 59.5 FPTS. If Sengun is unable to go, then Deandre Ayton is the likely pivot. The matchup and environment aren’t great for him, but Portland has been giving him a ton of minutes to possibly showcase him before the trade deadline.
What is the DraftKings NBA Starting 5 Game Style?
- The Fantasy Sports NBA Starting 5 Game Style is a type of contest in which participants draft lineups by selecting one point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, one power forward and one center. NBA Starting 5 is scored the same way as classic NBA DFS contests.
Important Information:
- Fantasy Sports NBA Starting 5 contests require no salary cap balancing.
- NBA Starting 5 contests span multiple games, and Fantasy Sports participants must select athletes from at least two different teams.
- Participants will see all five positions on the draft screen and must pick one athlete per position.
