Super Bowl hangover got you down? A little sad that you won’t be seeing actual NFL football for the next six months? Well, it sounds like you could use a distraction. We’ve got an eight-game featured NBA slate this evening on DraftKings, headlined by a very fun matchup between Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900) and Nikola Jokic ($11,100).
Let’s break down everything you’ll need to know position-by-position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Micro Millions Opener [$100K to 1st, 150 Entry Max]
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POINT GUARD
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, $11,000 - Generally speaking, I’d be sweating a lopsided game script when paying up for Doncic in this spot. However, despite being massive favorites on the DraftKings Sportsbook this evening, it’s hard to envision the Mavericks blowing out anyone right now. The team is 2-7 across its past nine games, with Dallas’ net rating within that span representing the lowest mark in the Western Conference (-9.1). Doncic is averaging 1.62 DKFP per minute over his last 18 starts. If he logs his normal workload, no one on this slate has a higher ceiling.
Value
Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets vs. Houston Rockets, $6,300 - While it’s LaMelo Ball ($8,300) understandably stealing headlines right now, let’s not overlook his teammate who happens to be $2K cheaper. With Devonte’ Graham ($6,200; groin) sitting out Sunday’s contest versus Portland, it was Rozier, not Ball, who led the team with 26 points. Rozier’s 39.75 DKFP was also better than Ball’s output, and was the fifth time in the veteran guard’s past six games that he’d scored at least 30.0 DKFP. That’s not a guarantee to happen again, but Rozier is averaging 1.01 DKFP per minute with Graham off the court in 2020-21 and he’s very viable at this price if Graham is ruled out prior to tip.
SHOOTING GUARD
Stud
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls, $9,000 - While Scott Brooks wouldn’t say for sure if Russell Westbrook ($8,600) was going to rest on Monday, the veteran has yet to play both legs of a back-to-back this season. So, if history repeats, Beal will be some necessary chalk on this evening’s slate. Over the 732 possessions the Florida product has played without Westbrook on the court in 2020-21, Beal is averaging 1.59 DKFP per minute with an insane 40.7% usage rate. Factor in that this is the lowest Beal’s salary has been in over a month and you can understand why he’s virtually a must-play.
Value
Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors, $3,800 - Every time I think Bane’s minutes are about to be in jeopardy, someone else on the Grizzlies goes down with an injury. To wit, just as Grayson Allen ($3,700) was returning to this mix this past weekend, De’Anthony Melton (shoulder) gets banged up and ruled out for tonight’s game versus Toronto. That should lock Bane into well over 20 minutes of work against a Raptors squad that’s allowing 118.1 opponent points per 100 possessions across their past seven matchups. For his part, prior to a rough shooting display on Saturday, Bane had scored 10-plus points in six-straight appearances.
SMALL FORWARD
Stud
Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors at Memphis Grizzlies, $6,500 - The pricing at small forward is a little odd on Monday’s slate, with no one aside from LeBron James ($10,500) checking in at over $8K. That means you might as well attack the mid-tier, and who better to do so with than the red-hot Powell? After struggling mightily to being the season, Powell’s found a groove in the Raptors starting lineup, averaging 35.0 DKFP in his past seven games. It’s a stretch where Powell’s also maintained a .616 true shooting percentage and averaged exactly 1.00 DKFP per minute. With OG Anunoby (calf) still out, there’s no reason to think Powell won’t continue his solid play against the Grizzlies.
Value
Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards, $5,100 - Over the past week, injuries have vaulted Williams into a really interesting DFS spot. Where the rookie’s minutes had been a bit of a rollercoaster, he now appears to be locked into at least 30 a night, thanks to both Otto Porter (back) and Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) being sidelined for the foreseeable future. In fact, in Williams past two games — contests where the Porter/Markkanen duo was only able to log a combined 17 minutes — the lottery pick is averaging 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 34.4 DKFP. The good times should continue in an uptempo matchup against Washington’s awful defense.
POWER FORWARD
Stud
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs, $6,800 - Green’s playing a dangerous game with his reluctance to score the basketball, but his recent exploits can’t be overlooked at this price point. While it has to be noted that his past two starts came against the Mavericks — arguably the worst defensive team in the NBA — Green averaged 45.3 DKFP and 15.0 assists per game across the Warriors’ mini-series with Dallas. He also registered 11 rebounds and 31.75 DKFP versus Boston back on Feb. 2. There’s simply many ways for the veteran to reach value.
Value
Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, $5,200 - We don’t have to make this one too complicated. Anthony Davis ($9,600; Achilles) isn’t expected to be active for tonight’s game, which should mean Kuzma will be getting the start in the All-Star’s place. The last time this happened, Kuzma put up 22 points, 10 rebounds and 39.0 DKFP against Detroit back on Jan. 28. Obviously, that performance is more indicative of Kuzma’s ceiling than his floor, but the forward is likely locked into 30 minutes if Davis sits. At this price, that’s all I really need to hear.
CENTER
Stud
Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, $6,900 - Though this isn’t all that great a matchup for Ayton from a statistical perspective, I just get the sense that the big man is far too inexpensive on Monday’s slate. Consider that Ayton was priced at $8K exactly one week ago on Feb. 1. Now he’s down below $7K. I simply can’t figure out why. Ayton’s grabbed double-digit rebounds in 11-straight starts, a span of time where the former first-overall pick is averaging 39.0 DKFP. He’ll also be projected for huge minutes in this matchup, as Cleveland tends to stay big with its duo of Andre Drummond ($8,200) and Jarrett Allen ($5,900) at the five.
Value
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks, $6,000 - This game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, and if you can’t afford exposure to D’Angelo Russell ($7,300) or Malik Beasley ($6,700), Reid is an affordable target. The center has exceeded 30.0 DKFP in each of his past seven starts and the matchup is incredibly positive, as Dallas owns the league’s worst defensive rating (121.4) and total rebounding rate (46.1%) over its past 10 contests.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Micro Millions Opener [$100K to 1st, 150 Entry Max]
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