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 guards at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers vs. DAL ($10,600)
At long last, the matchup everyone has been waiting for. Following the shocking trade heard ’round the world, Luka Doncic will face the Mavericks. Emotions will likely run high in this one, as the five-time All-Star had cemented himself as a franchise legend in Dallas. Since joining the Lakers, Luka has taken some time to adjust. However, Saturday’s masterpiece vs. Denver (68.0 FPTS) suggests that the Slovenian is breaking out of his slump.
Is revenge the best omen of future success? No, but it can’t hurt. The Mavs are a solid defensive unit, allowing the 14th-fewest points per game (111.5). Still, it’s impossible to picture anyone taking Luka’s top spot on tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings. Los Angeles’ newest superstar is the ultimate showman, and a nationally-broadcast contest is the game’s greatest stage.
2. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks at LAL ($9,200)
All the attention tonight will be on Doncic, but what about his former co-star? Due to Anthony Davis’ adductor strain, Kyrie Irving has been forced to carry a shorthanded Mavericks squad. So far, the results have been good, given the circumstance: five wins over Dallas’ last seven outings. This season, the point guard has averaged 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game (40.9 FPTS).
Unlike the Mavs, Los Angeles possesses a very beatable defense. This season, the Lakers have given up the 11th-most points (114.3) and the eighth-most assists (27.4) per game. Those numbers don’t reflect the true extent of LA’s weaknesses, as Davis-to-Doncic is a major downgrade on that end of the floor. As the fourth-highest priced guard available tonight, Irving is a big name fantasy managers should consider targeting.
3. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets at GSW ($9,500)
For all his flaws, LaMelo Ball is still a fantasy basketball monster. Yes, the guard can be very inefficient; he’s currently shooting 41.1% from the field this season. Still, superb counting stats go a long way in DFS. Through 36 games, the youngest Ball brother has recorded 5.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists (47.1 FPTS).
A date with the Warriors isn’t promising; the team has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing point guards. However, LaMelo’s production floor is simply too large to ignore. Considering the lack of reliable scorers on the roster, most of Charlotte’s offense should go through the former All-Star. As the second-most expensive guard on Tuesday’s slate, alternative names at a cheaper cost could make more sense.
