Nine games are slated to take place across the NBA this evening, with 18 different teams taking the floor. That means a slew of top-flight players are in action, including Cade Cunningham, Jalen Johnson, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Superstars are nice, but they aren’t everything. Building a winning fantasy basketball lineup requires some lower-cost options, as well. Which lesser known players are worth picking up this evening? Here are three to target in DFS and season-long formats.
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SG/SF Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks vs. MIA ($4,700)
Klay Thompson’s decline has been well documented, at this point. The former Splash Brother is no longer the elite two-way force he once was in Golden State. Unfortunately for the veteran, he’s struggled to play a supporting role for a Mavericks roster that has spent most of this season in disarray. Through 21 games, the 35-year-old is averaging 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. However, the most troubling statistic for Thompson is his efficiency; he’s recorded 37/35/80 shooting splits. Without a consistent jumper, head coach Jason Kidd has had trouble giving the future Hall of Famer playing time.
With that being said, a career 45% shooter is due for some positive regression. That’s been the case over Dallas’s previous five contests. During that time, Thompson has posted 16.6 points per game on 47% shooting from the field (50% 3PT). Klay will look to keep the good times rolling tonight against a Miami squad allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to shooting guards. In addition, the Heat have coughed up the 12th-most three-pointers made per game to opponents (13.8). Add it all up, and Thompson is worth heavy consideration on Wednesday.
PG Ryan Nembhard, Dallas Mavericks vs. MIA ($4,400)
It’s a rare occurrence on this list, but we’re sticking with the same team twice. Dallas pulled off a massive 131-121 upset of the Nuggets on Monday. Key to the team’s victory was Ryan Nembhard. The undrafted rookie hasn’t lit up the NBA over his brief nine-game career. However, his performance against Denver was a true coming out party. Over 35 minutes, the 22-year-old tallied 28 points, three rebounds and a team-leading ten assists (50.2 FPTS). On a Mavericks club in need of ball handlers, the youngster should see his role increase going forward.
Nembhard led all of Division I college basketball with 9.8 assists per game last year at Gonzaga. Those distribution skills aren’t easy to replicate, and they should help Dallas’ offense get easier looks. On offense, the Heat play at the NBA’s fastest pace (105.5). That lends itself to shootouts, and added fantasy production. Miami has given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards, as well. Anything close to 30+ minutes should give Nembhard enough time to deliver another quality stat line. At just $4,400, he’s an enticing end of lineup selection tonight.
PF/C Mouhamed Gueye, Atlanta Hawks vs. LAC ($4,400)
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) is out once again for Atlanta. That should open up some minutes down low for some other front court players, including Mouhamed Gueye. The third-year pro’s contributions, especially on defense, don’t always show up on the stat sheet. However, he’s a stabilizing force down low for the Hawks. This season, the Washington State alum has posted 6.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 0.6 steals per game. He’s done so while averaging less than 18 minutes a night. If given more opportunity, the Senegalese center could produce better numbers.
With Porzingis inactive, the Hawks don’t have much at the 5 beyond Onyeka Okongwu ($7,500). It helps that Wednesday’s opponent, the Clippers, have surrendered the tenth-most fantasy points to opposing centers. When playing over 20 minutes this season, Gueye has put up 9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. A similar effort tonight would make the 23-year-old more than worth his modest price. Gueye’s two-way skillset makes him a fairly safe low-cost option for fantasy basketball managers.
