With just one month remaining prior to the start of the postseason, there’s still a lot to play for. The 20 teams who will participate in the postseason in some fashion have more or less been decided — depending on whether or not Anthony Davis returns for the Dallas Mavericks — but every game from here on out carries important seeding implications.
That’s true of several of the matchups on tonight’s five-game slate, especially the 7:30 p.m. ET nationally-televised matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.
With several star-studded teams in action, DFS players will have plenty of quality big men to choose from. Let’s take a look at my top three:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st].
1. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons vs. Washington Wizards, $6,900
The Pistons have been the league’s most improved team this season. In 2023-24, they went on a 28-game losing streak, tied for the longest such skid in NBA history; this season, they’re 37-29, tied for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. A lot of that has to do with point guard Cade Cunningham ($10,300), who’s likely to win Most Improved Player, but arguably Detroit’s second-most improved player has been Duren. By win shares per 48 minutes, Duren has actually been the seventh-most valuable player in basketball this season, contributing to 0.216 wins per 48 minutes. Of those above him on the list, all but Jarrett Allen are Hall of Fame-caliber players.
Plus, any center is capable of putting up big numbers against the Wizards, who, to be fair, haven’t been quite as terrible in recent weeks. In fact, in the last month, Washington has a 4-6 record and just a negative-6.0 net rating, giving up the 13th-fewest points and 13th-fewest assists. But the Wizards have still conceded the most rebounds per game of any team in the league since the All-Star break, so it’s not like their woes against opposing bigs have completely been remedied. Duren ranks second in the league this season in total rebounding percentage behind only the Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis ($9,200), so I’m expecting a big game from him tonight.
2. Jonas Valanciunas, Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors, $7,900
Valanciunas has filled in more than capably for his compatriot, Sabonis, while he has been sidelined for the last five games with a hamstring strain. Across that span, the veteran is averaging 13.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists (40.4 FPTS) per game. His finest performance came in a 111-110 loss to the LA Clippers on March 9, when he snagged 17 rebounds and dished out seven assists (43.25 FPTS). He might retreat to the bench this evening if Sabonis makes his return, since he’s questionable, but even if he plays, he’ll almost certainly be on a minutes restriction and Valanciunas should get close to a full load.
Golden State has been excellent since adding Jimmy Butler ($7,900), with a 9-1 record since the All-Star break. Across that span, the Warriors have allowed the fourth-fewest points, sixth-fewest assists, and ninth-fewest rebounds while forcing the most turnovers, so it won’t be easy for Valanciunas tonight. Still, he’s a savvy veteran with a huge frame and Golden State is undersized. Plus, Valanciunas has commanded the boards well against other teams and players who rebound similarly well, such as the Clippers and Ivica Zubac, who has the league’s sixth-highest rebounding percentage, two spots behind Valanciunas.
3. Zach Collins, Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets, $5,900
Collins has integrated himself well with the Bulls since being dealt from San Antonio as part of the De’Aaron Fox deal, and he has been starting recently for Chicago with Nikola Vucevic ($7,500) recovering from a hamstring strain. I chose Collins for much the same reason as I chose Valanciunas; even though Vucevic has returned and played 24 minutes in his first game back with the team, Collins is still expected to start as Vucevic works his way back into game shape. Over his last four games (three starts), Collins averaged 12.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists (32.3 FPTS) per game, with his best game also coming against LA. In that contest, a 122-117 defeat on February 26, Collins recorded 21 points, 17 rebounds, and seven assists (57.75 FPTS).
Plus, Brooklyn has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing centers, even after accounting for a monthlong stretch where it had one of the league’s best defenses. However, after the All-Star break, the Nets have slipped on that side of the ball too, allowing the 14th-most points, 15th-most rebounds, and 14th-most assists, and their counting statistics only look okay because they’ve played at the league’s sixth-slowest pace. They’ve been killed by opposing centers, allowing the sixth-most points in the paint per game in that span after giving up the 11th-fewest in the category before the break. Chicago’s up-tempo offense should speed up the game and force Brooklyn to rush itself — and especially center Nic Claxton ($5,200) — into defensive mistakes.
