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There are eight games for Sunday’s main NBA slate, with two games tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET — the New Orleans Pelicans at the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Orlando Magic. There are four games at 8:00 p.m. ET — the San Antonio Spurs at the Dallas Mavericks, the Toronto Raptors at the New York Knicks, the Indiana Pacers at the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Chicago Bulls at the Minnesota Timberwolves. The late-night hammers are the Detroit Pistons at the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat at the Portland Trail Blazers, which both start at 10:00 p.m. ET.
The Cavaliers, Pistons, Trail Blazers and Raptors are playing the second leg of a back-to-back. DraftKings Sportsbook has one game with a double-digit spread — LAC (-12). There are two games with an O/U of at least 230 — CHI/MIN (231) and IND/MEM (232.5).
Let’s break down some of the top studs and values at each position to help you build your DraftKings lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs, $11,000 – It’s been a while since Doncic has provided a ceiling game, the last one coming on March 17 when he put up 74 DKFP. His high on the season is 87.5 DKFP. Crazy. With that said, he has gone for at least 40 DKFP in each of the past seven with three 50-burgers in that span. Doncic garners a usage rate of 35.6% on the season and is a threat to triple-double on any given night. The matchup is a good one as the Spurs boost the FPPM to point guards by 5.78% above league average. He’s faced the Spurs twice this season and gone for 66.25 and 57.5 DKFP.
Other Options – Jrue Holiday ($8,200)
Value
Cory Joseph, Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Clippers, $4,400 – Since arriving in Detroit, Joseph has averaged 24.1 minutes and 1.06 DKFP per minute. Over the last two games, though, he’s started and played 32 and 31 minutes, contributing 40.75 and 21.75 DKFP. It’s only been two games and rotations can change, but for now, the assumption is that he’s going to play over 30 minutes and has a good chance of exceeding his salary expectations.
Other Options – Reggie Jackson ($5,100), Tomas Satoransky ($5,200)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Detroit Pistons, $8,400 – George did not play in the Clips’ last game due to rest. Kawhi Leonard is out today for rest. Good times. With Kawhi off the court, George sees a 7.3% usage bump to a whopping 36.6%. In the past two games that he’s played, George went for 53.25 and 52.75 DKFP. In games that Kawhi has missed, George has gone for 47.75, 47.75, 37 and 21.5 DKFP, with the latter two occurring in December when George was playing fewer than 30 minutes per game.
Other Option – Zach LaVine ($8,600), Khris Middleton ($8,000), Terrence Ross ($6,400)
Value
Luke Kennard, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Detroit Pistons, $3,700 – In games that Kawhi has missed, Kennard has played 25, 5, 31, 29, 27, 28, 29 and 29 minutes. He’s contributed 12.5, 25.25, 28.75, 18.5, 20.5, 23, 0 and 10.75 DKFP. The variance is wide for Kennard, but in 10 games as a starter this season, he’s averaged 28.6 minutes, 11.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists while garnering a usage rate of 16.9%. If he gets similar minutes, he should easily pay off his salary. There’s also the revenge narrative. I kid.
Other Options – Cory Joseph ($4,400), Reggie Jackson ($5,100), Josh Jackson ($5,200), Gary Trent Jr. ($5,800)
Small Forward
Stud
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic, $8,000 – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,700) is doubtful for today’s game. If he can’t go, that would be the fifth-straight game he will miss. Without Giannis on the court, Middleton sees a 6.8% usage bump to a team-high 32%. In games that Giannis has missed, Middleton has put up 41.5, 30.25, 45.25, 45 and 46.25 DKFP.
Other Option – Jimmy Butler ($9,000), Anthony Edwards ($7,600), Terrence Ross ($6,400)
Value
Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Clippers, $5,000 – The rookie seems to have found his groove lately, as he’s contributed 29.5, 23.5 and 26 DKFP over the past three games. He’s scored 25, 12 and 14 points but it’s been the number of shot attempts that have been most encouraging. He’s attempted 15, 11 and 14 shots with 12, seven and eight respectively coming from downtown. Kawhi is out so the matchup should be less daunting.
Other Options – Josh Jackson ($5,200), Dorian Finney-Smith ($5,500), Gary Trent Jr. ($5,800)
Power Forward
Stud
Julius Randle, New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors, $9,800 – It’s a pace-up spot for the Knicks as the Raptors are 14th in pace while the Knicks are dead-last. Over the past six games, Randle has contributed 49.5, 49.75, 61.75, 44.5, 44 and 50.5 DKFP. He triple-doubled in two of those games and has five on the season. On any given night, it’s a possibility. The Raptors boost the FPPM to power forwards by 6.57% above league average, so both the matchup and game environment are positives for Randle.
Other Options – Kristaps Porzingis ($8,900), Domantas Sabonis ($8,700)
Value
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic, $6,300 – Portis has been priced up so he’s not a fantastic value option from a salary perspective. With that said, in five games as a starter, he’s averaged 30.6 minutes, 14.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks while garnering a usage rate of 20.9%. Now, he has not started every game that Giannis has been out. In those contests, Portis has contributed 30.25, 44.5, 33.75, 26.5, 38 and 42.75 DKFP.
Other Options – Dean Wade ($4,900), Saddiq Bey ($5,000), Dorian Finney-Smith ($5,500)
Center
Stud
Jonas Valanciunas, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Indiana Pacers, $7,400 – Valanciunas is third in the NBA with 37 double-doubles on the season. He has 37 while league-leader Nikola Jokic has 46. The Grizzlies and Pacers are surprisingly tied for fifth in offensive pace, so there should be plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy goodies. The matchup is a great one for Valanciunas, as the Pacers are the most generous to the center position, boosting the FPPM by 13.22% above league average. Now, Myles Turner is out and Domantas Sabonis ($8,700) slides down to the center, but I think it’s safe to say that he is a worse defensive player than Turner is.
Other Option – Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,800), Nikola Vucevic ($9,100), Domantas Sabonis ($8,700)
Value
Isaiah Hartenstein, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans, $5,200 – Jarrett Allen and Larry Nance Jr. have been out and are ruled out again for today. In their absences, Hartenstein has played 25, 27 and 27 minutes, contributing 44, 33.5 and 39 DKFP. The usage rate has been low and he hasn’t attempted more than eight shots in any game, but he’s contributed in every other category. Check out the line from his most recent game: 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and four blocks. The floor looks high since he contributes across the board and there’s access to ceiling as well.
Other Option – Bobby Portis ($6,300) and Enes Kanter ($6,100)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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