With the midway point of the NBA season in the rear-view mirror, the storylines are starting to become clear, and they’ll be crystallized even more after tonight’s impressive slate of offerings. Tonight brings classic matchups like Lakers-Celtics, as well as a battle between two of the best big men in the game in Domantas Sabonis and Nikola Jokić.
With a nine-game slate on tap for January 23, there are plenty of high-quality center options for DFS players 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. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets vs. Sacramento Kings ($12,200)
Yes, he’s the most expensive player on tonight’s slate, costing a whopping 24.4% of the budget. But he’s also a three-time MVP who has averaged 25.9 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 10.6 assists over his last seven games. His worst performance across that span, a 51.0 FPT-performance against the Dallas Mavericks on January 14, would be a better-than-average performance for all available centers except for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, and Sabonis.
Sacramento’s defense is pretty good against opposing centers, allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position, partially because Sabonis is such a dominant rebounder. Over the last ten games, the Kings have the eighth-best defensive rating in basketball, and Sabonis has made major strides as a defender, but Jokić is Jokić. In the teams’ previous game, a 130-129 Denver win on December 16, he dropped 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists (65.5 FPTS).
2. Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers vs. Washington Wizards ($7,200)
Zubac has missed the last two games with an eye injury and he’s officially listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Wizards, so it’s not a complete guarantee that he’ll play, although perhaps the Clippers were being cautious amid a stretch of four games in five nights. When he’s played, Zubac has been one of the league’s most improved players this season. In his last four games, he’s averaged 15.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks (43.4 FPTS) per game. LA is one of the hottest teams in basketball, posting the league’s fifth-best net rating over its last 10 games.
If Zubac plays anywhere near his normal load, he should have plenty of success against a terrible Washington unit that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers. Rookie Alex Sarr has been an above-average rim protector, as opponents have shot 2.7 percentage points worse than usual within six feet of the basket when he is the nearest defender, but that’s been just about the only silver lining in a disastrous Wizards campaign. This season, Washington has allowed the most points, most rebounds, fourth-most assists, fifth-fewest turnovers, fifth-most steals, and seventh-most blocks to opposing players.
3. Jaylin Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks ($5,300)
Dallas is in free-fall after losing Luka Dončić to a calf injury on Christmas Day, and the team’s latest injury news — a foot fracture to starting center Dereck Lively II that will keep him out for at least a month — certainly didn’t help matters. This season, the Mavericks have struggled mightily against opposing centers, allowing the third-most FPTS to the position, and now Daniel Gafford is the only traditional big on the roster.
Jaylin Williams — the second-best player with that name on his own team — has been solid but unspectacular since returning from injury, averaging 5.5 points and 4.6 rebounds (17.0 FPTS) per game this season. He is a career 37.5% three-point shooter, so the Thunder can probably expect his efficiency to improve to the mean soon. Jay-Will has played a little bit better in the last 10 days, averaging 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds (21.7 FPTS) per game across his last five games, and although Oklahoma City might welcome Isaiah Hartenstein back tonight, Williams has carved out enough of a role in the offense that he should be a solid budget option against a favorable opponent.
