The Philadelphia 76ers are half a game out from having the best record in the NBA, and they will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. Philadelphia has won four games in a row including seven of their last eight. If you’re interested in participating in this Showdown DFS contest, here’s an overview of where you can find the value.
Captain’s Picks
Joel Embiid figures to be able to put together monster numbers in this matchup with the Captain’s price at $17,700. He has been on fire as of late and is a huge reason for the recent surge for the 76ers. Embiid has gone for 28 or more points in each of his last six games, averaging 35.3 points during that span including five double-digit rebounding performances. He is worth the price as the Captain.
FLEX Plays
There are a number of injuries heading into this matchup especially on the Portland side — Damian Lillard is questionable and CJ McCollum remains out — so there could be decent value to be had on those filling in new roles. Gary Trent Jr. is priced at $7,400, but he’s been playing better than that price recently. In his last time out, he knocked down seven 3-pointers for 26 points and scored 18 or more in four of his last five games. If you’re looking to go cheaper, Robert Covington checks in with a $6,600 price tag. In an expanded role in Portland’s last game, he played 37 minutes and knocked down five 3-pointers for a season-high 19 points.
Fades
It might make a lot of sense to stay away from Lillard whether he plays or not. He is the highest priced player going into this matchup, and he’s not worth that high of a number when he’s not fully healthy. He is currently dealing with an abdominal strain.
The Outcome
The 76ers check in with as 8.5-point favorites according to DraftKings Sportsbook, and with the injury concerns, Philadelphia is a pretty safe bet to cover this spread. Portland got it done on Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, but the Trail Blazers will go from playing one of the worst teams in the NBA to one of the best.
Final score: 76ers win 122-105