Tuesday’s NBA main slate features seven games, and the action on DraftKings gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET. Let’s dive into some of the top plays, strategies, and injuries to monitor heading into lineup lock.
Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans ($10,400)
The Warriors were shorthanded last night vs. the Pelicans, and Curry responded with 62.0 DKFP. He posted a usage rate of 41.1% in that contest, and he’s hit that threshold in each of his past three games. That’s an astronomical number, and it gives him significant upside every time he’s on the floor.
He’s taking on the Pelicans again on Tuesday, and he should be looking at another expanded workload. Kelly Oubre has already been ruled out with a wrist injury, and Curry has averaged 58.36 DKFP in nine games without Oubre this season. The Warriors’ implied team total of 116.25 ranks fifth on the slate, so there’s plenty to like about Curry on today’s slate.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Saban Lee, Detroit Pistons vs. Charlotte Hornets ($3,000)
The Pistons should be expected to provide decent value on Tuesday. They’ve played without most of their regulars recently, and they have the potential to be even thinner on Tuesday. All of their usual vets have already been ruled out – Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, Cory Joseph, etc – and they’ve also listed Josh Jackson as out. Hamidou Diallo and Frank Jackson are also questionable, so they would have eight players sidelined if Diallo and Jackson are unable to suit up. Lee has averaged 0.97 DKFP per minute over the past month, so he can take advantage of a few additional minutes on Tuesday.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Delon Wright, Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder ($5,100)
Shooting guard is not a position where you really need to spend up on Tuesday. The Kings remain without De’Aaron Fox, which means Wright should continue to see a few additional minutes. He should see at least 30 minutes of playing time vs. the Thunder, and Wright has averaged 0.92 DraftKings points per minute this season. The Thunder also represent a great matchup, ranking just 26th in defensive efficiency.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Malik Monk, Charlotte Hornets @ Detroit Pistons ($4,300)
Monk should be looking at a large workload on Tuesday. The Hornets will be without Gordon Hayward, Devonte’ Graham, Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, and Cody Zeller, which opens up plenty of playing time for Monk. He played 27 minutes in their last game and responded with 22.0 DKFP, and he’s averaged 0.87 DKFP per minute with all five of the currently unavailable members of the Hornets off the floor this season. That makes him an excellent option at $4,300.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Buddy Hield Jr., Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder ($7,300)
Hield is more expensive than usual, but he has the chance to be a huge part of the Kings’ offense on Tuesday. Not only is Fox still out of the lineup, but Tyrese Haliburton has also been ruled out and Harrison Barnes is doubtful. That leaves the Kings without three of their most important players. Hield has increased his usage rate to 28.5% with all three players off the court this season, resulting in an average of 1.26 DKFP per minute.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Kent Bazemore, Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans ($5,400)
Bazemore continues to get a bit more expensive, but he’s still too cheap tonight vs. the Pelicans. He played 31.6 minutes in yesterday’s matchup, and Bazemore is always an appealing option when he’s going to get significant playing time. He’s averaged 0.91 DKFP per minute over the past month, so he should be able to put together another strong performance in today’s rematch vs. the Pelicans.
Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets @ Milwaukee Bucks ($9,300)
It’s a tough call between Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo on DraftKings, but luckily, you can play both players together. Durant went toe-to-toe with Giannis on Sunday, and he’s scored at least 62.0 DKFP in back-to-back games. He’s averaged a stout 1.68 DKFP per minute over the past month, and head coach Steve Nash doesn’t seem too concerned about his workload despite his injury history.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Marvin Bagley, Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder ($5,000)
Bagley is always going to carry the unfortunate designation of being the player drafted before Luka Doncic and Trae Young, which makes him this generation’s version of Sam Bowie. That said, Bagley has been productive when on the court early in his career. He’s averaged 1.03 DKFP per minute this season, and he should be asked to play a bunch for the Kings on Tuesday. He finished with 40.25 DKFP over 34.1 minutes on Sunday, which makes him an elite target at his current price tag.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets ($10,700)
The top implied team total of the day belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks. They’re currently implied for 122.0 points in a potential Eastern Conference finals preview vs. the Nets, which makes Antetokounmpo an appealing stud target. He stuffed the stat sheet on Sunday vs. the Nets, racking up 49 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three blocks. Overall, he’s increased his production to 1.73 DKFP per minute over the past month, which is the top mark on the slate regardless of position.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Hornets @ Detroit Pistons ($3,000)
The Hornets have a pair of value options at center. Cody Zeller and Biyombo are both priced at the absolute minimum on DraftKings, and both players should see a solid handful of minutes vs. the Pistons. Zeller has been the more productive player on a per-minute basis, but Biyombo should see a few more minutes. That means Zeller offers a bit more upside, but Biyombo should provide a safer floor.
Overall Lineup Strategy
This is definitely a stars-and-scrubs kind of night. There are some elite studs to pay up for – especially Curry, Durant, and Antetokounmpo – and there are also plenty of elite value options to choose from. If you lock in the three aforementioned studs, it leaves you with an average of just over $3,900 for your five remaining roster spots. That’s very doable on today’s slate.
I’m also treating Bagley as a must-play on today’s slate. He has huge upside given the Kings’ current injury situation. That’s going to eat into a bunch of your remaining salary cap, but there are min-priced players like Biyombo, Zeller, and Lee that can compensate for that.
Also, make sure to monitor the news heading right up to lineup lock. There will undoubtedly be more players ruled out before tip-off, so there could be even more value available than there appears to be at the moment.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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