It has been A WHILE since we've done one of these. With no new podcast episode today, I wanted to come on here to provide all of you with our favorite fantasy plays for the night. With a 6-game NBA slate tonight, there is a lot to like, so let's waste no time and jump into some NBA basketball!
NEW YORK KNICKS vs. ORLANDO MAGIC
(NYK -1 | o/u 225.5)
Coming off a 2-game win streak and winning 5 of their last 8, the Magic host the Knicks in a game that may seem miniscule, but could mean a lot in the grand scheme of the NBA Play-In and Playoffs.
G/F: RJ Barrett (DK: $6,300; FD: $6,600)
Barrett is questionable as of right now, so keep an eye out. If he plays though, he sees a terrific matchup against a weaker ORL defense. He is averaging 1 FP per minute and sees a 25.9% usage rate on the season. As long as he plays, Barrett should see success.
F/C: Isaiah Hartenstein (DK: $4,400; FD: $5,000)
Without Mitchell Robinson, Hartenstein has emerged as the better center on this roster over Jericho Sims. He averages 1 FP per minute and is averaging 27 FP over his last 5 games. He's still cheap enough to love in this matchup against ORL.
G/F: Gary Harris (DK: $3,300; FD: $4,200)
Harris is CHEAP! He sees massive minutes, averaging 26 MPG over his last 6. He has attempted 4 or more 3s in his last 4 games. He also sees a great matchup here and should get his looks with NYK focused on stopping Paolo, Franz, and Carter Jr.
G: Jalen Suggs (DK: $3,600; FD: $4,800)
Suggs is here because of the value, especially on DK. He's fresh off a one-game suspension and before that was seeing 20+ MINS in 3 of his last 4 games, putting up 24+ FP in 3 of those 4. Super cheap, ton of value here.
ATLANTA HAWKS vs. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
(NOP -1.5 | o/u 237.5)
The struggling Pelicans, who are 2-8 over their last 10 games, host this Hawks team that is not too much better. Which one will see another needed dub in the win column?
C: Clint Capela (DK: $6,200; FD: $6,800)
Capela is back and playing legitimate starter minutes now. He sees a great matchup against a NOP interior defense that is not too reliable without Zion down there. He averages almost 1.2 FP per minute and even put up over 57 FP against NOP earlier this season. Capela needs just around his season average to break value tonight.
G/F: Brandon Ingram (DK: $7,100; FD: $7,800)
Ingram without Zion is a must-play. Over his last 5 games since his return, Ingram has seen a 37.9% usage rate, almost 1.2 FP per minute, and is averaging over 37 FP per game. He's also attempted 20 or more shots in 3 of his last 4. For under $8k, this is a no-brainer.
PHOENIX SUNS vs. BROOKLYN NETS
(PHX -7.5 | o/u 225)
Devin Booker makes his return on the court for the first time since Christmas Day as the Suns travel to Brooklyn to take on the understaffed Nets. Can Cam Thomas light it up once again to keep this one close with the Suns?
G: Cam Thomas (DK: $5,200; FD: $6,500)
Do I even need to explain this one? Cam Thomas has been on ANOTHER LEVEL over his last 2 games. He came out with 44 PTS versus the Wizards and then doubled down and dropped 47 PTS against the Clippers last night. Still no Spencer Dinwiddie or Dorian Finney-Smith tonight, only player back is Ben Simmons who will not take shots away from Cam. If anything, he'll set him up and make it easier. Needless to say, riding the hot hand here as Cam is still not expensive enough at the rate he is playing.
CHICAGO BULLS vs. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
(MEM -9.5 | o/u 233)
Fresh off a dominant win against the Spurs, the surging Bulls (7-3 in their last 10 games) travel to Memphis to take on the struggling Grizzlies (2-8 in their last 10). Can the Bulls keep it up and steal another win or will the Grizzlies set things right and find a way to win tonight?
G: Ayo Dosunmu (DK: $4,300; FD: $4,400)
Ayo might be one of my least favorite guys to play in fantasy, but he's been good as of late. He has put up 20+ FP in 4 straight games and sees an incredible matchup against the Grizzlies who have been lacking defensively, giving up the 9th most PTS, 6th most REB, and 1st most AST over the last 15 games to PGs.
F: Patrick Williams (DK: $5,100; FD: $5,100)
PF is another position that MEM has been lacking in defensively, allowing the 3rd most PTS, 2nd most REB, and 6th most 3PM over the last 15 games. Williams has also been pretty solid as of late, putting up 25+ FP in 6 of his last 12 games.
G/F: Desmond Bane (DK: $7,600; FD: $7,400)
CHI has not been too good defensively at that SG spot for most of the season. Bane himself averages about 1.2 FP per minute and sees a 26.7% usage rate this season. Even with Ja Morant back tonight, I am not worried about Bane seeing success against the Bulls tonight.
F/C: Xavier Tillman (DK: $4,600; FD: $5,300)
This one is simple as well. Steven Adams is still out and Tillman is thriving as the starting center. He is seeing big minutes and has produced 25+ FP in 4 of his last 5 games. I am not too worried about Vucevic or Drummond on the other side.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES vs. DENVER NUGGETS
(DEN -9 | o/u 233.5)
The Wolves have stepped it up as of late, but will face a very tough task against the back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic and the #1 seed Nuggets who only seem to be getting better. Will the Nuggets continue their dominance or will the Wolves find a way to win?
C: Nikola Jokic (DK: $11,600; FD: $11,600)
Easy. The Joker is facing a MIN defense that has not lived up to expectations at that center spot even allowing the most AST to Cs over their last 15. Jokic averages over 1.7 FP per minute and sees a usage rate of 27.2% this season. The man is averaging a triple-double this season and is well worth the price tag.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
(LAL -6.5 | o/u 239.5)
All eyes on LeBron. Only 36 points away from breaking Kareem's all-time scoring record. Will LeBron make history tonight or will OKC spoil The King's night?
G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (DK: $10,800; FD: $10,600)
LAL has not been too good defensively at that PG position this season and we are talking about SGA here. He averages 1.5 FP per minute over his last 5 and sees a 32.4% usage rate this season which is one of the highest in the league. With the spotlight on LeBron breaking the scoring record, I have to imagine SGA will want to show him up on the other side.
G: Russell Westbrook (DK: $7,200; FD: $7,200)
Russ takes on his former team tonight. He averages over 47 FP per game versus OKC in his career. Even in this season off the bench, Russ still averages 1.2 FP per minute and sees a 28.5% usage rate. I like him a lot more now that his price has seen a big reduction.
If you think LeBron does everything in his power to break this record tonight, then by all means... play LeBron tonight.
Cheap(er) Options:
If you are looking for some more cheap options to pair with these superstars tonight, here are just a few...
- NYK: Evan Fournier (only if RJ Barrett sits)
- ORL: Bol Bol
- ATL: Onyeka Okongwu
- BKN: Edmond Sumner
- MIN: Taurean Prince
- OKC: Isaiah Joe
- LAL: Rui Hachimura
And there you have it. All of our favorite fantasy plays for tonight's slate. There is a lot to like on both ends of the spectrum: superstars and scrubs. Hopefully any of this can help all of you pull down some money tonight! Keep an eye out for the injury updates over on Twitter tonight @3inKeyPod and for any tweets about new podcast episodes releasing this week. We are excited to take this thing to the next level! If you have made it this far, we thank you all so much for reading and for your support. LET'S PULL DOWN SOME MONEY TONIGHT!
*All lines are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook