There are eight NBA games on Sunday’s slate amid an exciting stretch of basketball.
The Pelicans, Bucks, and Pistons are each on the second night of a back-to-back. In addition, injury reports have been busy across the league with plenty of teams near the bottom of the standings going to some notable lengths to maximize their lottery odds.
Keep track of all the notable injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are two double-digit favorites: Grizzlies -11.5 over the Pelicans and Timberwolves -11.5 over the Spurs. The Thunder and Nuggets have already tipped off in an MVP showdown but the rest of the slate includes the Suns -6.5 over the Mavericks, the 76ers -6 over the Jazz, the Cavaliers -7 over the Bucks, the Pistons -2.5 over the Trail Blazers, and Clippers -6 over the Kings. The matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans is expected to have the most scoring with the highest over/under of the day set at 239.5.
Here are my top three DFS value plays for the exciting slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
SF/PF Justin Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz, $4,000
The Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz will headline the list of injuries around the league. The Jazz have already ruled out Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton for this matchup while Philadelphia will continue to be without Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey as they have now dropped to 21-41 on the season. Both these teams have a more vested interest in maximizing their lottery odds rather than trying to limp into the play-in which has brought on some ugly product on the floor.
One guy who has made the most of the available minutes due to injuries has been Justin Edwards. The undrafted free agent continues to get more and more added to his plate and he is expected to be starting his 12th game of the season tonight. The Kentucky product is averaging 8.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across his 24.4 minutes per game. Edwards is averaging 16.8 fantasy points based on DraftKings scoring but has seen his production rise of late.
Edwards is coming off back-to-back games with 24.5 fantasy points or greater and has eclipsed 30 fantasy points in a game three times this season. His season high is 41.0 fantasy points and should be in line for this type of production tonight. Utah ranks 28th in opponents’ points allowed and will be without several notable players to add to this concern. Someone must step up for the Sixers offensively and the Kentucky product has shown the capability. He is coming off back-to-back games with 30+ minutes played and will have plenty of chances on the floor tonight. Expect him to make up for the bulk of the production missing from the more notable names on Philadelphia and have a strong DFS output tonight.
PG Kevin Porter Jr, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, $3,900
The Milwaukee Bucks made a surprising decision to trade for Kevin Porter Jr. at the trade deadline with this being mostly a financially motivated deal. But the former Clippers guard has provided a spark and added more on the court than most anticipated. Across his first 11 games in Milwaukee, Porter Jr. is averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in his 16.5 minutes of play. On Wednesday he finished with 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 rebounds against the Mavericks which came out to 49.8 fantasy points on DraftKings scoring.
Porter Jr. is averaging 20.4 fantasy points per game this season but has tallied as many as 50.8 fantasy points in a game this year. The Bucks will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight with both teams ranking in the top 10 in pace this season so expect there to be plenty of offensive opportunities. Porter Jr’s willingness to commit as a passer and rebounding the basketball has been notable and bodes well for his level of opportunity expanding.
The USC product is coming off back-to-back games with 22+ minutes played and is beginning to earn a real role on this Bucks team. While it feels ambitious for Porter Jr. to replicate his 49.8 fantasy point output he produced last week, feel confident in him outperforming his average and DFS pricepoint tonight.
K.J. Martin, Utah Jazz at Philadelphia 76ers, $3,800
On the other side of the shorthanded matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz, there is even more opportunity on the table. K.J. Martin started the season with Philadelphia but was traded away at the deadline to cut salary and landed in Utah. Tonight will mark Martin’s 10th game with the Jazz and he is averaging 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in his 24.7 minutes per game.
With Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton all set to miss, expect Martin to climb up the offensive pecking order and have a chance for a strong output tonight. He is a high-level athlete who stands out in contrast to Philadelphia’s roster. Martin is averaging just 14.0 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring but has already produced as many as 29.2 fantasy points with the Jazz and had as many as 37.0 fantasy points while still with the Sixers.
Expect there to be an element of revenge in mind as he faces his former team and for Martin to have as many opportunities to produce as he wants with the number of injuries in mind. Andre Drummond leaves plenty to be desired as a rim protector and expect Martin to have success attacking and being used as a lob threat. Count on him bringing a spirited effort tonight and have a chance at logging the most minutes and best statistical output of his season.
