Tuesday brings a six-game main NBA slate that is loaded with injuries. Two of the healthier teams set to take the floor will be playing each other when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Boston Celtics. This is also the featured Showdown contest on DraftKings, so let’s discuss some players to consider as you build your lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $120K Fadeaway [$30K to 1st] (BOS vs POR)
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Pick
Damian Lillard ($15,600 CP): Lillard is coming off a rare poor performance, scoring just 20.75 DKFP on Saturday against the Heat. He scored 12 points on only 10 shot attempts, with the 10 shot attempts marking his fewest in a game this season. Given his 31.8 percent usage rate, expect him to come out firing in this contest. Add in his averages of 4.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists and his high floor makes him an appealing option for the Captain’s spot.
Jaylen Brown ($13,200 CP): This is a matchup between two teams that usually don’t receive a ton of production from their benches. Therefore, if you’re looking to fill out a more balanced lineup consisting of mostly starters from both sides, then deploying Brown at the Captain’s spot might be the way to go. His salary is significantly cheaper than Lillard’s and Jayson Tatum’s ($15,000 CP), but he’s not that far behind them in terms of having a high floor given that he’s averaging 40.5 DKFP per game. This is also a great matchup for him given that the Blazers have the second-worst defensive rating in the league.
UTIL Plays
Kemba Walker ($7,600): With Tatum and Brown leading the Celtics’ offense, Walker is only averaging 17.6 points per game. That would be his lowest mark since his 2014-15 season with the Hornets. However, he’s also helped out in other areas, producing averages of 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals. With the Blazers ranked 27th in terms of fantasy points allowed per game to opposing point guards, this could be a matchup in which Walker thrives.
Norman Powell ($6,600): Make no mistake about it, rolling with Powell is risky. He’s only averaging 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, so he’s reliant on his ability to score to provide value. Playing alongside Lillard and CJ McCollum ($9,000) doesn’t always leave him with a lot of shot attempts, either. However, he can go off from behind the arc on any given night, so in a game in which bench players for either team aren’t that appealing, Powell is at least worth considering as a tournament play.
Tristan Thompson ($4,400): It’s going to be necessary to take a chance on someone with a cheap salary, especially if you are rolling with Lillard at the Captain’s spot. Since being activated from the league’s health and safety protocols, Thompson has come off the bench in all three games. However, he’s remained productive, averaging 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. The Blazers have a lot of size up front, so Thompson should at least approach 25 minutes in this contest.
Fades
Enes Kanter ($7,000): Kanter couldn’t get much going as a member of the Celtics last season, but a lot of that can be attributed to him averaging just 17 minutes per game. He’s averaged 27 minutes in his return to the Blazers, producing averages of 12.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. However, a lot of that production came when Jusuf Nurkic ($6,200) was injured. Kanter is back to coming off the bench with Nurkic healthy, a role in which he has averaged 9.8 points and 9.3 rebounds across 19 games. Also factoring in his limited blocks upside, it might be best to pass on him at this salary.
The Outcome
The Celtics have had a disappointing season, some of which can be attributed to them going just 11-16 on the road. They have won three straight games, which included a win on the road against the Nuggets on Saturday. However, the other two victories were an overtime defeat of the lowly Timberwolves and a narrow two-point win over the Knicks in Boston. While this could be a close game, look for the Blazers to pull out the win on their home floor.
Final Score: Trail Blazers 116, Celtics 113
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $120K Fadeaway [$30K to 1st] (BOS vs POR)
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