It’s a jam-packed Friday across the NBA, with 20 teams taking the court for a ten-game slate. That includes plenty of superstars, such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic. With so many big names playing, 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. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder at ATL ($10,700)
Hoops fans already knew how good Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was. This season, Oklahoma City’s face of the franchise has become a household name. As leader of the Western Conference’s best team, SGA has powered the Thunder to a spectacular 47-11 record. The guard has taken his own game to new heights, including a league-leading 32.4 points per game. The stats don’t stop there, as he’s averaging 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks (53.4 FPTS).
Few teams are equipped to slow down the NBA’s leading scorer. That includes the Hawks, one of the sport’s worst defensive units. This season, Atlanta has allowed the fifth-most points (118.8) and the sixth-most assists (28.4) per game. When these two teams last met in October, Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a near-triple double (35 PTS, 11 REB, 9 AST). There’s no reason not to expect another superstar-caliber performance tonight.
2. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns vs. NOP ($8,800)
When he’s ‘on’, few players are more dangerous than Devin Booker. That’s been the case lately, as the guard has reached at least 28 points in each of his last four appearances. Despite sharing the court with fellow superstar Kevin Durant, the four-time All-Star has enjoyed another terrific campaign. This season, he’s posted 26.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game (44.5 FPTS).
The Suns enter the second leg of a back-to-back with the Pelicans tonight. That’s great news for Booker, who has absolutely owned this matchup. On Thursday, the shooting guard tallied 36 points, seven rebounds and nine assists (61.3 FPTS). That’s actually a decline from Booker’s previous two meetings with New Orleans, in which he accounted for 52 and 58 points, respectively. As just the fifth-most expensive guard available, Phoenix’s sharpshooter offers massive value on Friday’s fantasy basketball rankings.
3. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons vs. DEN ($10,200)
The Pistons might be the hottest team in basketball, having reeled off eight straight wins. A young Detroit squad has been carried by the superb play of Cade Cunningham. The former number one pick has always had immense talent, but he’s become an all-around threat this season. Through 54 games, the guard has averaged 25.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game (51.3 FPTS).
What makes the first-time All-Star so dangerous is his ability to impact a game in multiple ways. That’s bad news for Detroit’s opponents tonight. The Nuggets have struggled to contain point guards, allowing the 14th-most fantasy points to the position. In addition, Denver has coughed up the seventh-most points (117.5) and the most assists (29.2) per game this season. Look for Cunningham to put together another stat-stuffing masterpiece on Friday.
