The NBA Cup quarterfinals continue with a Western Conference double-header. It all gets started when the Phoenix Suns head to Oklahoma City for a date with the defending champion Thunder. Later, De’Aaron Fox and the Spurs take on Luka Doncic’s Lakers.
Bright lights bring out the best in players, even if they aren’t superstars. Which lesser known names will step up in primetime? To round out your fantasy basketball lineups, some lesser-known players are needed. Here are two to target tonight in DFS and season-long formats.
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PG/SG Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs at LAL ($4,700)
Injuries have been a speed bump for Dylan Harper during his rookie campaign. Still, the Rutgers alum has already shown flashes of greatness. This season, he’s averaging 13.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. In addition, he’s shooting 48% from the field, albeit less than stellar from deep (28% 3PT). With that being said, the 19-year-old is still behind De’Aaron Fox ($9,000) and Stephon Castle ($7,500) on San Antonio’s depth chart. A crowded back court makes it difficult to trust Harper’s production on a nightly basis.
Despite internal competition, Harper has seen his role on offense continue to grow in recent weeks. Unsurprisingly, the youngster has notched at least 25 fantasy points in three of his previous four outings. During each of those contests, he’s managed to record four or more assists. Playmaking skills give San Antonio’s rookie a somewhat stable fantasy floor, making him less reliant on scoring the ball. Tonight’s opponent, the Lakers, have surrendered the tenth-most fantasy points to point guards. Keeping that in mind, Harper offers major value on an otherwise limited slate.
PG/SG Marcus Smart, Los Angeles Lakers vs. SAS ($4,300)
We’ll stay in Hollywood, where the Lakers will be welcoming back a key rotation piece. Marcus Smart has missed the team’s previous six games due to a back issue. However, he carries no injury designation heading into Wednesday’s matchup. The former Defensive Player of the Year is crucial for Los Angeles, whether he’s starting or coming off the bench. Granted, the veteran’s contributions don’t always show up in the box score. Still, his defensive skills ensure a healthy amount of minutes on most nights. Over 14 appearances, Smart has posted 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Making a return from any multi-week absence is never easy. Regardless, Smart’s injury has led to some inflated point totals for Los Angeles’s opposition. Head coach JJ Redick should find a way to get the 31-year-old on the floor for at least 20 minutes. It helps that there aren’t many go-to scorers available off the bench for the Lakers. San Antonio has allowed the tenth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season. When these two teams last met, on November 5th, Smart accounted for 17 points, five rebounds and five assists (33.8 FPTS). A similar output on Wednesday would make the guard a steal at his $4,300 price tag.
