The NBA wraps up another packed week of action with a full Friday slate that still has nine games on tap even after a weather-related postponement of the Dallas Mavericks-Houston Rockets game. Of the 18 teams in action, only the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors are on the second night of back-to-back games. There are five teams starting back-to-back sets since the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies are scheduled to play again Saturday. As a result of those back-to-back games, injuries, health and safety protocols and just the regular grind of the NBA season, there are plenty of opportunities for players to step into larger roles and provide fantasy value. As you build your lineup around the best superstar options, you’ll also need to stay alert for some bargain options.
As always, make sure to pay close attention to @dklive on Twitter leading up to tipoff and download the DK Live app to stay up-to-the-minute with all the latest news and fantasy impact. To help you find the best cheap plays, check out my favorite bargains for your DraftKings lineup listed below.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Fadeaway [100K to 1st]
SG/SF Grayson Allen, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Detroit Pistons, $4,900
Allen has been stepping up for the Grizzlies since returning from injury and continues to be a great source of three-point production. He has started each of the past four games for Memphis and averaged 4.0 three-pointers to go with 15.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his 31 minutes per game. He has an excellent 76.2 true shooting percentage over those four games and has been active enough on the glass to be more than just a single-category contributor.
In his most recent contest, Allen had six three-pointers against the Thunder on his way to 22 points and 36.5 DKFP. He could be in store for even more usage in this game against the Pistons, since Dillon Brooks ($5,400; thigh soreness) is now listed as questionable after playing 30 minutes Wednesday, and De’Anthony Melton ($4,700; shoulder) is still questionable with his shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined since Feb. 6. Allen should continue to be a key part of the Grizzlies’ offense in this uptempo matchup with the Pistons.
PG Theo Maledon, Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks, $4,700
The 19-year-old second-round pick was starting to break out before missing four games in the health and safety protocols. Now that he has been cleared to return, the Thunder can go back to figuring out how to work him into their rotation along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($8,200), who is also back from injury. Maledon doesn’t seem to be physically limited after his layoff, playing both ends of back-to-back games earlier this week against Portland and Memphis.
He played 34 minutes in that game against the Grizzlies, even though SGA was also available. Maledon hit four three-pointers and produced 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals for 27.75 DKFP. Aside from his first game back after the layoff, Maledon has produced at least 24 DKFP in five of his past six games. He usually gets about a 15% usage rate, and he should continue to produce good numbers as long as he stays in the starting lineup. His versatility allows him to find success both as the primary PG and as a scoring two-guard.
PG/SG Facundo Campazzo, Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers, $4,000
Campazzo has stepped into a bigger role lately for the Nuggets, who have been dealing with multiple injuries. The 29-year-old rookie from Argentina has made a big impact, playing over 25 minutes in three straight contests. He had at least 14 points in each of those contests and even had 21.25 DKFP in the Nuggets’ most recent game when Gary Harris (thigh) and Monte Morris ($4,900) were both able to play. With Harris out again for this contest, Campazzo could return to the starting lineup at SG or at least step into a much larger role off the bench.
Campazzo had an impressive 37.25 DKFP in his start against the Celtics earlier this week, and he has that kind of potential if he gets back into the starting five for this matchup against the Cavs. He has a great floor at only $4K as long as he keeps getting minutes, but he brings a very high ceiling as well since he could be in an expanded role.
C Guillermo Hernangómez, New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns, $3,700
Hernangómez is getting some very nice run with the Pelicans, and he could be in for a very busy night, depending on the availability of Steven Adams ($4,800; back/ankle), who has left each of the past two games with those two separate injuries. The Pelicans say Adams is day-to-day, but if he’s ruled out, Hernangómez could be primed for monster value.
While stepping into a larger role last game, the HernanGOAT had 17 rebounds and 11 points in his 29 minutes on his way to 33.75 DKFP. He has actually been slowly eating into Adams’ playing time since February 1 and has averaged 21 minutes over that 10-game stretch with 8.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest over that stretch to help him average 22.4 DKFP over that stretch. If Adams is out, Hernangómez will likely be an extremely chalky value play, but even if Adams plays, he remains a solid option since even a small bump in minutes brings a double-double and 30 DKFKP definitely into the realm of possibility.
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