There are nine NBA games on Monday’s main slate. Boston, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota, Portland, San Antonio and Toronto are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
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This article was written on Sunday night. Any changes will be updated.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics ($7,200): The usage rate is only 19.2% this season and Murphy is only converting 28% of his attempts from downtown, but he’s a career 38% shooter from downtown and Boston is allowing the second-most treys per game through three games. Boston has been the third-best at allowing a 31.1% conversion rate from beyond the arc, but with the gravity that Zion Williamson provides and the Celtics not having tremendous rim protectors, they will likely have to collapse more than they want. That should leave plenty of good looks for Murphy. He’s coming off a 52.5-FPTS game and has scored at least 30 points 15 times in his career, with a high of 41. I’m expecting one of those games.
Other Options: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,500), Cade Cunningham ($9,800), Donovan Mitchell ($9,400), Tyrese Maxey ($9,300), Kevin Durant ($9,000), Devin Booker ($8,900), Jamal Murray ($7,500), RJ Barrett ($7,500), Amen Thompson ($7,400), Immanuel Quickley ($7,000), V.J. Edgecombe ($6,800), Keyonte George ($6,500)
Value
Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks ($5,000): Coby White is out for at least the first few weeks of the regular season so Jones has gotten the start and performed well. In two games, he’s put up 30.8 and 40.2 FPTS. Chicago is seventh in pace while Atlanta is 12th, so this should be an up-and-down affair. Atlanta is also 20th in defensive rating.
Other Options: Grayson Allen ($6,000), Dylan Harper ($5,100), Ajay Mitchell ($4,900), Brice Sensabaugh ($4,700), Jeremiah Fears ($4,200)
Forward
Stud
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics ($9,600): Williamson is healthy and a healthy Williamson is a devastating force in the NBA streets. Through two games, he’s put up 54.2 and 55.5 FPTS. Boston has no one that can handle him and there should be limited resistance at the rim.
Other Options: Anthony Davis ($10,000), Alperen Sengun ($9,500), Kevin Durant ($9,000), Evan Mobley ($8,600), Paolo Banchero ($8,300), Franz Wagner ($7,800), Trey Murphy III ($7,200), Lauri Markkanen ($7,000), V.J. Edgecombe ($6,800), Ausar Thompson ($6,200)
Value
Brice Sensabaugh, Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns ($4,700): Sensabaugh has only played 22 and 23 minutes off the bench, but he’s the microwave that turns kernels into popcorn. The usage rate is 27.3% and he’s hoisted double-digit shots in both contests, finishing with 31 and 24 FPTS. Sensabaugh is a professional getter of buckets and there should be limited resistance from a Suns team that is 29th in defensive rating so far.
Other Options: Grayson Allen ($6,000), P.J. Washington ($5,900), De’Andre Hunter ($5,500), Matas Buzelis ($5,300), Mouhamed Gueye ($4,600) if Jalen Johnson is out, Saddiq Bey ($4,600), Asa Newell ($3,200) if Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porzingis are out
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns ($11,700): If Jokic is on the slate, it’s pretty much an auto-recommend because he is literally the greatest fantasy player of this generation. In the opener, he put up 60.8 FPTS and that was somewhat of a disappointment. He then followed that up with “only” 63 FPTS. There is concern that Jokic may not get a full complement of minutes due to the ineptitude of the Suns, but Jokic would still probably get there in around 30 minutes. In addition, Jokic played in plenty of blowouts last season and the playing time and production were fine. Jokic laughably put up at least 70 FPTS 31 times last season, with six of those over 90 FPTS and a high of 100.2 FPTS. He has the highest floor/ceiling combo in the game. Victor Wembanyama is definitely in the conversation and has put up over 70 FPTS in two of three games this season, but until he starts putting up 90 to 100 FPTS games, I will favor Jokic.
Other Options: Victor Wembanyama ($11,000), Anthony Davis ($10,000), Alperen Sengun ($9,500), Evan Mobley ($8,600), Jalen Duren ($7,200), Onyeka Okongwu ($7,000) if Porzingis is out, Walker Kessler ($6,600), Jarrett Allen ($6,300)
Value
Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers ($5,500): Carter hasn’t been spectacular, but he’s been very solid, playing at least 30 minutes in all three games and finished with at least 23 FPTS in all.
Other Options: Mouhamed Gueye ($4,600) if Jalen Johnson is out, Derik Queen ($4,500), Steven Adams ($4,400)
