The NBA’s second half is underway, with just a handful of weeks remaining in the regular season. 14 more teams will take the court on Tuesday evening for a seven-game slate. That includes plenty of superstars, such as Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and LeBron James. With several big names in action, narrowing down who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats isn’t easy. Here are the three forwards at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks at HOU ($11,000)
When healthy, no forward in the association can touch Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is a force of nature, capable of creating havoc on both ends of the floor. In a career filled with accolades, this might be his best season yet. Through 44 appearances, the two-time MVP has averaged 31.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists (59.2 FPTS). On defense, he’s tallied 1.3 blocks and 0.8 steals per game.
Antetokounmpo is truly ‘matchup-proof’, but some opponents are more promising than others. Tuesday’s matchup with Houston could prove to be somewhat challenging. This season, the Rockets have only allowed 106.6 points per game, third-fewest in the NBA. Milwaukee’s face of the franchise still deserves his place on this list, but there could be better cost-conscious options available tonight.
2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers vs. DAL ($10,000)
All eyes will be on the Crypto Center tonight…but not due to the superb play of LeBron James. Luka Doncic, the newest Laker, will have an opportunity to exact revenge on his old team, the Mavericks. Still, don’t forget about The King. It’s been another phenomenal campaign for the ageless wonder, currently averaging 51.1 fantasy points per game.
While the Mavericks are a competent defensive team, this is a matchup LeBron has owned in the past. Over his last five meetings with Dallas, LBJ has recorded 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Considering Anthony Davis (adductor strain) isn’t active, the middle of the paint should be wide open tonight. That’s the perfect recipe for another vintage James performance in primetime.
3. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns at Memphis Grizzlies ($8,900)
Jayson Tatum deserves consideration here, but Kevin Durant is the choice to round out tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings. In spite of Phoenix’s well-documented struggles, the 36-year-old has enjoyed another stellar season. Through 44 games, the former MVP has posted 26.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists (43.6 FPTS). Most impressive has been the forward’s efficiency, having put up 53.2/40.1/82.4 shooting splits.
For all of Durant’s skill, it takes the right matchup to make him a DFS ‘must-start.’ If any team in basketball bleeds fantasy points, it’s Memphis. The Grizzlies, playing at the NBA’s fastest pace (104.1), have struggled to contain power forwards this season. During the last two meetings between these teams, KD has averaged more than 56.0 fantasy points. Another terrific outing for the future Hall of Famer should be the expectation on Tuesday.
