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The NBA is officially back and bringing us slates like never before. Wednesday’s six-gamer tips off at 2:30 p.m. ET and continues with games tipping off all the way through 9:00 p.m. ET. This makes following along with all the news on DK Live even more important. Here are some lineup thoughts heading into the big slate.
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Live app. You also can follow DK Live on Twitter @dklive.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: NBA $600K Wednesday Shootaround [$150K to 1st] (TO)
Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($6,700)
SGA got off to an ugly start against Denver on Monday, but a big fourth quarter helped him exceed value. With Dennis Schroder (personal) out of the bubble, SGA racked up 38 minutes, his most since February 27. Expect the increased role to continue against the Lakers, who SGA averaged 37.7 DKFP against in three contests this season.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Brad Wanamaker, BOS vs. BKN ($3,000)
Wanamaker has already played 21 and 27 minutes in two of Boston’s three bubble games, going for 26.5 DKFP against the Bucks. Kemba Walker (rest) will be sitting out the second night of Boston’s back-to-back, following 27 minutes against the Heat. This opens up about 25-30 minutes for Wanamaker, who checks in at the bare minimum and gets a good matchup against the Nets.
Lineup Strategy
Ja Morant ($8,000) is about as high as I’d consider paying at PG, and only because injuries could expand his role. Morant’s price is on the rise and the matchup isn’t great against Utah. Long way of saying, PG is a pay-down position.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. BKN ($6,900)
No Kemba will have a trickledown effect, and I think Brown is in a spot to put up a big game against the Nets. He looked to be by far the most aggressive Celtic in the loss to Miami, getting up 23 shots, but hitting just nine (0-5 from downtown). Brown’s the cheapest of Boston’s three wings and is in a strong bounce-back spot.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Troy Brown Jr., WAS vs. PHI ($5,500)
Brown has been balling in the bubble, flirting with a triple-double in each of his last two outings. He finished with a 22-10-8 line in 38 minutes against the Nets (50.5 DKFP), and followed it up with 10-7-8 in 31 minutes versus the Pacers (30.25). The Nets’ output is likely an outlier, but it’s clear Brown has carved out a large role with Washington moving forward, filling in a lot of the production left on the table by Bradley Beal (shoulder) and David Bertans (opt-out).
Lineup Strategy
SG is also a pretty deep position and likely one to pay down at. Even Jaylen Brown is a pretty cheap spot to pay up if you do wind up going there. Assuming Caris LeVert ($7,800), who’s not on Brooklyn’s injury report, does return after taking Tuesday off, he’s also a consideration. He dropped 47.75 DKFP on the Wizards, and put on a show his last time out in Boston — 51 points and 66.5 DKFP.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: LeBron James, LAL vs. OKC ($10,700)
Most of the top point-per-dollar plays seem like cheaper targets on this slate, so I think that gives us some wiggle room to pay for a more expensive play, even if it’s not the perfect spot. LeBron’s been having below average fantasy outings in the bubble thus far, but we know it’s just a matter of time until he ramps up his production heading into the postseason. LeBron did average 57.5 DKFP in two games against OKC in the regular season.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Danilo Gallinari, OKC vs. LAL ($5,600)
Gallo is another strong target in Schroder’s absence, as the starters are really the ones that step up in his absence. Gallo went for just 28.25 DKFP against Denver in the first game Schroder missed, but should be counted upon to pick up more of the scoring load until their sixth man returns. Even in a poor matchup against the Lakers, Gallo’s held his own this season, averaging 31.2 DKFP.
Lineup Strategy
Another place to look at SF is to continue piling on Boston, in search of bounce-back production off a rough loss. The Nets are playing well lately, and could keep this game close, especially without Walker. That could mean big games for the likes of Jayson Tatum ($8,200) and Gordon Hayward ($7,100).
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Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Anthony Davis, LAL vs. OKC ($10,300)
AD has been the dominant Laker star in the bubble games, coming off 74 DKFP against the Jazz on Monday. With fouls up in the bubble, he’s gotten to the line an insane 41 times in three games, which obviously boosts his scoring output. Averaging 61.8 DKFP in a pair of games against OKC this season, AD feels like a very strong play.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Brandon Clarke, MEM vs. UTA ($4,600)
The injury to JJJ is devastating for Memphis, but from a fantasy outlook, it really opens things up for Clarke. Jackson was averaging 36.5 DKFP through three bubble games, and I’d expect Clarke to be the first option to fill in much of that production. Clarke opened up bubble play with 38.75 DKFP against Portland.
Lineup Strategy
Given how much production JJJ was accounting for, you can find some value across the entire Memphis roster. However, PF might be one of the strongest positions on the slate, with a lot of mid-priced plays jumping out. Here are some of the strongest: Rui Hachimura ($5,700), Paul Millsap ($5,100), Kyle Anderson ($4,300), Kyle Kuzma ($4,300).
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. SAS ($9,700)
Center is loaded on this slate, but Jokic appears to be the cream of the crop. He’s been spectacular in bubble play, outside of the blowout second half loss to Miami. He bounced-back strong with a 66.5-DKFP triple-double against the Thunder, but did have the help of OT. Jokic dropped 50 DKFP on the Spurs earlier this season and San Antonio is lacking a ton of size up front.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jarrett Allen, BKN vs. BOS ($5,400)
Allen went off for 48.75 DKFP in his last game against the Wizards, and while the Celtics play at a much higher level, Boston currently ranks 21st defensively out of the 22 teams in the bubble. In three games against Boston this season, Allen is averaging just shy of 32 DKFP, but that’s with the Nets playing at much closer to full strength. With the lack of bodies, expect much more of a role and a higher ceiling for Allen.
Lineup Strategy
It’s undoubtedly a two-center slate, and I wish there was a way I could play four. Joel Embiid ($10,400) is in a tremendous spot against the Wizards, so I might look to just pay up for both him and Jokic, although that leaves a lot of great value plays on the board.
Injury Report
OUT (Opt-out players not included)
Will Barton (knee)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee)
Dennis Schroder (personal)
Kemba Walker (rest)
Bojan Bogdanovic (wrist)
Jonathan Isaac (knee)
Gary Harris (hip)
Mike Scott (knee)
Tyus Jones (knee)
Bryn Forbes (quad)
QUESTIONABLE
Jamal Murray (hamstring)
Jamal Crawford (hamstring)
DOUBTFUL
Glenn Robinson (hip)
PROBABLE
Marco Belinelli (foot)
Set your DraftKings lineups here: NBA $600K Wednesday Shootaround [$150K to 1st] (TO).
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Live app. You also can follow DK Live on Twitter @dklive.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jedlow) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.