The All-Star break came to a close last night, with more than half of the NBA taking the court. Several other teams will suit up for the first time in over a week on Friday, with nine different games tipping off. Plenty of superstars are set to play, including Cade Cunningham, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Karl-Anthony Towns. With 18 squads in action, narrowing down who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats isn’t easy. Here are the three centers at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings vs. GSW ($9,500)
He might not be Nikola Jokic, but Domantas Sabonis deserves mention among the NBA’s best stat-stuffers. Sacramento’s leading man has notched eight triple-doubles this season, behind only LeBron James and The Joker. Without De’Aaron Fox, the Kings have been forced to lean on their center. That’s led to some impressive outings, including last week’s contest with the Pelicans. The three-time All-Star accounted for 22 points and a season-high 28 rebounds in the overtime loss.
Friday’s matchup is enticing for any big man, let alone one as talented as Sabonis. This season, the Warriors have coughed up 53.3 rebounds per game to opponents, seventh-most in basketball. When these teams last played, the veteran center dropped 26 points and 18 rebounds. The potential for a monster performance at the Chase Center makes Sabonis an easy choice atop tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks at CLE ($9,800)
Karl-Anthony Towns has been nothing short of spectacular during his first season with the Knicks. The center’s talent was on full display during Thursday’s overtime win vs. the Bulls; KAT recorded 32 points and 18 rebounds over 43 minutes of play. This season, the five-time All-Star has averaged 24.9 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game (50.1 FPTS).
Towns has been brilliant recently, recording at least 62.5 fantasy points in each of his last three appearances. He’ll hope to continue that streak against the Cavaliers, who possess one of basketball’s best front courts. Cleveland’s rim-protecting duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen could cause KAT fits. When these two last met in November, the big man only produced 13 points and ten rebounds. Due to the lack of depth available tonight, New York’s newest superstar still warrants a top spot on Friday’s list.
3. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat at TOR ($8,100)
The Heat have struggled to maintain consistency for most of the season, especially during the Jimmy Butler trade saga. That’s been reflected in the play of franchise cornerstone Bam Adebayo. Following a rough first few months, the three-time All-Star has bounced back. Over Bam’s last ten appearances, he’s averaged 21.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 52.9% from the field.
If any team is going to slow down Adebayo, it probably won’t be Toronto. This season, the Raptors have allowed the 11th-most points in the paint (49.4) and the fifth-most rebounds (53.5) per game. While center Jakob Poeltl is a capable defender, the rest of the front court lacks rim protection. Miami’s top dog is a nice lower-cost pivot for those looking to avoid KAT and Sabonis.
