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Tuesday brings a limited three-game slate in the NBA. One matchup figures to be a defensive battle between the Utah Jazz and the New York Knicks, two of the top-four teams in the league in defensive rating. This matchup is also the featured Showdown contest on DraftKings, so let’s discuss some options to consider as you build your entries.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st] (NYK vs UTA)
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Pick
Julius Randle ($15,600 CP): The improved play of Randle is one of the main reasons why the Knicks have been more competitive this season. He’s usually been a good source for points and rebounds and he’s currently averaging career highs in both categories at 22.7 points and 11.3 boards a night. However, his biggest improvement has been as a facilitator, generating an average of 6.1 assists per contest. Given his ability to contribute in so many different areas, he’s one of the safer options for the Captain’s spot.
Rudy Gobert ($12,900 CP): Speaking of safe options, Gobert has been about as reliable as it gets. He’s failed to haul in at least 10 rebounds in a game only one time all season and he’s recorded 11 double-doubles across 16 games. Add in his average of 2.7 blocks and he’s averaged 37.7 DKFP per contest. The Knicks have struggled to slow down centers, ranking 24th against the position in terms of fantasy points allowed per game.
UTILITY Plays
Mike Conley Jr. ($7,800): Conley’s second season with the Jazz has been much better than his first. Not only did he deal with injuries last year, but he also struggled to adjust to his new squad. However, he’s burst out of the gate with averages of 16.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.6 steals this season. His efficiency has been the main reason for his increased scoring. In fact, his field goal percentage has increased over five percentage points compared to last season.
Immanuel Quickley ($5,200): Adding Quickley to your entry comes with plenty of risk. However, he also has the potential to provide tremendous value at this salary. His last six games are a pretty good example of the two extremes at which he operates. In three of those six contests, he scored 17.8 DKFP or fewer. However, he scored at least 33 DKFP in each of the other three games. If you don’t mind the risk, Quickley should at least be on your radar.
Joe Ingles ($4,600): The Jazz don’t have a tremendously deep bench, so even though Ingles is no longer starting, he is still an important part of the team. He’s scored at least 20.5 DKFP in four of his last five games, thanks in large part to him shooting 51.1 percent from the field. Don’t expect him to have nearly the upside that Quickley does, but he also has a slightly higher floor, which makes him appealing at an even cheaper salary.
Fades
Mitchell Robinson ($7,000): This is not a good matchup for Robinson against Gobert. Robinson already comes into this game struggling, scoring eight points or fewer in four of his last six games. He’s also had problems staying out of foul trouble early in his career, which can sometimes impact his playing time. There is plenty of risk that comes with adding him to your lineup.
The Outcome
The Jazz are as hot as it gets, coming into this matchup having won eight straight games. Just as impressive is that six of those victories came by at least 10 points. The Knicks have been much more competitive this season and they did defeat the Jazz previously, but look for the Jazz to avenge that loss and keep their current winning streak alive.
Final Score: Jazz 107, Knicks 98
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st] (NYK vs UTA)
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is mbarner51) 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.
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