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 Tuesday’s Starting 5 slate, there are four games.
No team is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Gradey Dick and Grayson Allen are probable. Joel Embiid, Myles Turner, OG Anunoby, Vasilije Micic and Eric Gordon are questionable. Lonzo Ball is out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, PHI is -7 over TOR at home with the total at 224.5. IND is -1 over NYK at home with the total at 235.5. DET is -3 over CHI on the road with the total at 236.5. MEM is -2 over PHO on the road with the total at 238.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $15K Zone [$5K to 1st] (Early).
Point Guard
Cade Cunningham has put up at least 50 FPTS in nine of the last 10 games with two of those over 60. The usage rate has been a massive 34% and the Bulls are a fantasy-friendly matchup, as they have been sixth in pace and 25th in defensive rating over the last 10 games. In two prior matchups against Chicago, Cunningham put up over 50 FPTS in both.
Shooting Guard
Devin Booker finished with 37.75 and 23 FPTS sandwiched around 74 FPTS in the last three games. I expect that to be more of an aberration than the norm, as he usually ends up in the 40-to-50 FPTS range. Memphis plays fast and has been third in pace over the last 10 games. Kevin Durant is expected to return for this one, but that should help out Booker since defenses won’t be able to fully converge on and blanket him.
Small Forward
Scottie Barnes stuffs the stat sheet on the regular and is always in play to triple-double. He’s finished with over 40 FPTS in each of the last two games and has put up at least 30 FPTS in 24 straight. Philadelphia has been 24th in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Power Forward
Jaren Jackson Jr. isn’t a great rebounder, as he’s pulled down double-digit boards only four times this season. That’s pretty much his only weakness because he contributes in every other category, especially the defensive ones. Over the last five games, he’s put up at least 34 FPTS in all with three over 47 and a high of 51.5 FPTS. The last time JJJ faced Phoenix, he put up 66 FPTS, although Morant and Bane were out for that. That just shows the kind of potential and ceiling he does have when the opportunity presents itself.
Center
Joel Embiid is questionable, but if he plays, that is likely the best path to take. If he’s out, then Jalen Duren is my choice. He’s put up over 40 FPTS in each of the last two games and finished with 46.25 FPTS against the Bulls five games ago. His kryptonite is foul trouble. If he can stay away from hacking, Duren should play around 30 minutes.
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.
