On tap for Monday is a seven-game NBA slate on DraftKings. Below, I dive into three of my favorite DFS options to consider for tonight’s NBA action.
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C, Jonas Valanciunas, Sacramento Kings at Dallas Mavericks, $5,400
With Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) out tonight, Valanciunas is a must-play. Sabonis exited Saturday’s game vs. the Rockets after only one minute of action and with the center out for essentially the entire contest, Valanciunas operated as the Kings’ main big man and went off for 49 FPTS across 29.5 minutes. Sacramento won this game with the veteran playing a huge role and Valanciunas’ 49 FPTS was an impressive feat considering Houston ranks third in defensive efficiency this season.
The 32-year-old should start at center in place of Sabonis tonight and see right around 30 minutes in a much easier matchup against a Mavericks team that is shorthanded on big men with Anthony Davis (adductor), Daniel Gafford (knee) and Dereck Lively II (ankle) all out. No team in the NBA has given up more points in the paint than Dallas over its last 10 games and Valanciunas has a ceiling near 50 FPTS in this beautiful spot. This season, the center is amassing 1.3 FPTS per minute and he is averaging 35.1 FPTS per game for the 23 occasions he has logged over 20 minutes.
PG, Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks at Memphis Grizzlies, $9,600
Young is the best spend on the slate in this incredible environment vs. the Grizzlies. Memphis and Atlanta lead the league in pace and as a result, this game’s total is up to a mammoth 253.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook, which is the highest total the NBA has this season. This is the largest total of the night by over 20 points and the Grizzlies have struggled on defense as of late, ranking 24th in defensive rating over their last 10 games. Young should flourish in this spot and is way underpriced at this sub $10K salary.
Ever since the Hawks made wholesale changes at the trade deadline last month, Young is leading the team with 48.3 FPTS per game, 32.9% usage rate and a 43.2% assist percentage. Plus, in totals of at least 240 points this season, the guard is eclipsing 50 FPTS at a 60% clip.
PG/SG, Alec Burks, Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards, $3,300
In the likely event that both Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are out again, Burks will be an elite value play at this near-minimum salary. Both Wiggins and Jaquez Jr. are dealing with sprained ankles that forced them to miss yesterday’s matchup with the Knicks. It’s hard to imagine either are ready to return just one day later and with both Wiggins and Jaquez Jr. inactive yesterday, Burks started for the Heat and finished with 23.75 FPTS across 24.4 minutes.
Burks is producing 0.8 FPTS per minute this season and he has topped 20 FPTS in five of his last 10 games. If the veteran continues to start Monday, Burks should score nothing less than 20 FPTS in this awesome matchup vs. the Wizards, who rank third-to-last in defensive efficiency this season.
