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There are five games for Sunday’s main NBA slate, with three games tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET — the Portland Trail Blazers at the Charlotte Hornets, the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Toronto Raptors and the Houston Rockets at the Orlando Magic. There is one game at 7:30 p.m. ET — the Sacramento Kings at the Dallas Mavericks. The late-night hammer is the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Los Angeles Clippers, which starts at 10:00 p.m. ET.
No team is playing the second leg of a back-to-back. DraftKings Sportsbook has one game with a double-digit spread — OKC-TOR (-11.5). There is one game with an O/U of at least 230 — MIN-LAC (234.5).
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
Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets vs. Portland Trail Blazers, $8,300 – There are some good options up top at point guard in good fantasy environments today, but I’m going with Rozier because it’s well within the range of outcomes that he matches their production at a much cheaper cost. Over the past two games, Rozier has played 43 and 40 minutes as the Hornets backcourt has been decimated by injuries. The usage rate has been 25% and 28% compared to the season average of 24%. He’s put up 52 and 53.5 DKFP and the Trail Blazers are 29th in defensive efficiency.
Other Options – Luka Doncic ($10,900), De’Aaron Fox ($9,800), and CJ McCollum ($8,700)
Value
Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers at Charlotte Hornets, $3,600 – Damian Lillard is out again for this one due to a hamstring injury. That means Simons should see significant playing time. In the three prior games that Lillard has missed this season, Simons has played 19, 25 and 30 minutes. He scored 20.75, 24.75 and 29.5 DKFP in those games.
Other Options – Cole Anthony ($5,800)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, $9,300 – George has been on quite the heater recently. Over his past five games, he’s scored at least 50 DKFP in each with two over 60. Three of those, which includes the 60 DKFP games, were without Kawhi Leonard ($9,500) but he still went for over 50 DKFP playing alongside him. Leonard is questionable for this one, so if he’s out, the chance for a ceiling game increases. Even if he plays, 50 DKFP is a viable outcome. The Timberwolves play at the third-fastest pace in the league and are 27th in defensive efficiency.
Other Options – CJ McCollum ($8,700), Terry Rozier ($8,300), Luguentz Dort ($6,900), Kevin Porter Jr. ($6,600) and Norman Powell ($6,300)
Value
Josh Richardson, Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings, $5,200 – Outside of Simons, I’m not enamored with the value options at shooting guard. Richardson isn’t an exciting option, as he only averages 0.75 DKFP per minute. He’s also not the most consistent option. Over the past five games, he’s put up 34, 17.3, 13.3, 29.8 and 32.3 DKFP. He gets a good matchup today, though. The Kings play at the eighth-fastest pace and are dead last in defensive efficiency. They also boost the FPPM to shooting guards by 16.12% above league average
Other Options – Anfernee Simons ($3,600)
Small Forward
Stud
Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder at Toronto Raptors, $6,900 – With Operation: Tank in full force down in Oklahoma City and “injuries” plaguing the team, Dort has been the alpha of the Thunder. Insert the “Look at me, I’m the captain now” GIF. Over the past two games, he’s attempted 20 and 31 shot attempts while garnering a usage rate of 31% and 41%. He’s also chipped in defensive stats. All of that has translated to 44.5 and 65.8 DKFP. This is likely unsustainable and the glass slipper can come off at any moment, but there’s no denying the usage and opportunities.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Lu Dort (hip) is questionable for tonight’s game vs. the Raptors
Other Options – Luka Doncic ($10,900), Miles Bridges ($7,200) and Norman Powell ($6,300)
Value
Marcus Morris Sr., Los Angeles Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, $5,500 – As with the shooting guard position, I don’t like the value at small forward. Morris is an excellent fit for the Clippers as he can post up when needed, but has the ability to knock down perimeter shots, which spaces the floor for George and Leonard. Over the past three games, he’s played 35, 30 and 36 minutes, contributing 23.8, 35.8 and 44.5 DKFP. Leonard was out for those games and he’s questionable for this one. When both Leonard and George play, low-to-mid 20s DKFP production from Morris should be expected.
Other Options – Josh Richardson ($5,200)
Power Forward
Stud
Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks, $9,000 – Over the past five games, Porzingis has gone for 46.5, 30.5, 59.8, 55.8 and 43.5 DKFP. He’s played 38, 32, 36, 33 and 36 minutes. He truly is a unicorn who can score fantasy goodies in a variety of ways. Since many of his shots come from the perimeter, the scoring can be volatile at times but he’s going to hoist up around 20 shots per game. The Kings play fast, eschew defense and boost the FPPM to centers by 5.85% above league average.
Other Options – Christian Wood ($8,500) and Miles Bridges ($7,200)
Value
Chuma Okeke, Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets, $5,200 – The prevailing theme of the day is not finding value. Since it is Sunday, injuries and late scratches will likely change the dynamics of the slate and offer up great value, but until that happens, this is the world we live in. Over the past four games, Okeke has averaged 27.6 minutes and 23.56 DKFP per game. That’s not bad, but a few weeks ago, he was averaging 33.5 minutes and 34.08 DKFP per game. The Rockets are fifth in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency. They also boost the FPPM to power forwards by 4.19% above league average.
Center
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers, $10,600 – Towns is averaging 1.44 DKFP per minute. He’s coming off a 40.25-DKFP performance against the Heat but he only played 26 minutes in that one as he was returning from a two-game absence. Prior to that, he had put up at least 50 DKFP in 10 straight games with two above 60 and one at 70.5. Towns is one of the top options on the slate irrespective of position.
Other Option – Kristaps Porzingis ($9,000), Christian Wood ($8,500) and Chris Boucher ($7,300)
Value
Vernon Carey Jr., Charlotte Hornets vs. Portland Trail Blazers, $3,700 – Carey made his first start of the season on Friday and played 35 minutes while scoring 32.5 DKFP. PJ Washington ($5,300), who plays small-ball center, was out for that game and is questionable for today. Coach James Borrego said that he was impressed with Carey and wanted to give him more playing time. It’s not like the Hornets are contenders or anything. With that said, there’s a ton of uncertainty with this play but the upside is there as well. No risk it, no biscuit?
Other Option – Khem Birch ($4,600)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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