We all know that the NBA isn’t at the forefront of everyone’s mind at the moment. It’s certainly a different kind of March Madness, as the madness in question is mostly just due to rest and injury woes. Yet, here we are. Still getting ready to take down a five-game featured slate on DraftKings.
Let’s dive in.
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Key Injury News
AVAILABLE: Zach LaVine
PROBABLE: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges
QUESTIONABLE: Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Josh Giddey, Deuce McBride
DOUBTFUL: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dorian Finney-Smith
OUT: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Cameron Johnson, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson
Click here for the slate’s full and updated injury report
Matchup Analysis
Best Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Golden State Warriors vs. TOR (108.7)
- New York Knicks at CHA (109.9)
- Toronto Raptors at GSW (110.7)
Worst Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Charlotte Hornets vs. NYK (120.9)
- Brooklyn Nets at IND (119.4)
- Sacramento Kings vs. CHI (119.3)
Fastest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Chicago Bulls at SAC (102.7)
- Toronto Raptors at GSW (100.7)
- Indiana Pacers vs. BRK (100.6)
Slowest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Brooklyn Nets at IND (95.3)
- New York Knicks at CHA (96.1)
- Sacramento Kings vs. CHI (96.6)
Highest Game Total
- Chicago Bulls at Sacramento Kings (234.5)
- Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers (225)
- Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors (224.5)
Top DFS Pick
C Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls at Sacramento Kings, $7,100
Vucevic has been back for over a week now. His conditioning has built itself up to the point where the big man has logged over 30 minutes in each of his last two starts, including Wednesday’s 42.0 FPTS effort against the Suns. Yet, Vucevic still finds himself carrying a price tag this close to $7,000. I don’t get it, but I do love the savings. Vucevic’s usage rate was a team-high 28.2% last night. He remains the No. 1 offensive option when he’s healthy and he could shoulder an even larger load if the Bulls decide to rest Josh Giddey ($8,500; injury management) on Thursday, as the guard returned from a three-game absence in Phoenix. As of writing, Giddey is listed as questionable. Either way, Vucevic is far too cheap.
Top Value Pick
SG/SF Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers vs. Brooklyn Nets, $5,200
Mathurin’s value is tied to Tyrese Haliburton ($8,600; back), who has missed the Pacers’ past two games. Haliburton is currently listed as questionable for Thursday’s tilt, but considering how unabashedly the Nets are tanking, I could see Indiana giving their star point guard another night off. If that’s the case, Mathurin should be back in the starting lineup. He’s certainly taken advantage of his last two opportunities to start, exceeding 20 points and 30 FPTS in both contests. Specific to Wednesday, Mathurin carried a healthy 25.5% usage rate and was second to only Pascal Siakam ($8,300) in scoring with 23 points. In a matchup with a Nets squad that is surrendering 119.4 points per 100 possession over its past 10 games, Mathurin could be in for another big performance.
