DFS NBA Lineups for February 3, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
Each day that there’s a good slate of DFS NBA games, we’ll give you the game totals, spreads, and pertinent injury news for NBA daily fantasy, as well as some players that we’re considering for our lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
We have nine games on the main NBA slate for 2/3/17, highlighted by scoring monsters James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Boogie Cousins. One player that has reached monster status over the last month is Isaiah Thomas. However, we’re nearing the return of Avery Bradley (could be as early as tonight) which would certainly cut into the offensive burden that Thomas has had to bear in his absence. When Bradley does return, we might need to wait to roster IT3 until his price drops back into the four digits. If you’re looking for a top end pivot off of these guys, Karl-Anthony Towns is priced in the same neighborhood ($9900), has at least 54 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games, and should come at a lower ownership than any of the elites.
As always, be sure and monitor any of the injury news that breaks throughout the day, as value plays and player upgrades can arise in a moments notice.
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Enes Kanter (arm)
Danilo Gallinari (groin)
Garret Temple (hamstring)
Jeremy Lin (hamstring)
Jared Dudley (illness)
Dragan Bender (ankle)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Nikola Jokic (hip)
Will Barton (back)
Emmanuel Mudiay (back)
DeMar DeRozan (ankle)
Avery Bradley (Achilles)
Julius Randle (illness)
Deron Williams (toe)
Ty Lawson (hand)
Kelly Olynyk (shoulder)
NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES
Raptors -4.5 @ Magic (7:00p): 208.5
Pacers -7 @ Nets (7:30p): 219.5
Timberwolves @ Pistons -4.5 (7:30p): 210
Bulls @ Rockets -6.5 (8:00p): 222.5
Grizzlies @ Thunder -1.5 (8:00p): 204.5
Lakers @ Celtics -11 (8:00p): 221
Bucks @ Nuggets -2.5 (9:00p): 221.5
Mavericks @ Blazers -5.5 (10:30p): 206
Suns @ Kings -4.5 (10:30p): 216.5
Best NBA Picks for February 3, 2017
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10.3k DraftKings, $10.9k FanDuel)
I’m not particularly keen on the superstars atop the board in their respective matchups tonight, but Giannis stands out as a great bounce back candidate who should be lightly owned after dropping an absolute dud in Utah on Wednesday. While The Greek Freak struggled against that elite unit, he should rip right through a Nuggets team that now ranks dead last in defensive rating and coughs up the most FPPG (51.41) to opposing PGs and opposing SGs (42.74) over the last month. Denver plays at the fifth-fastest pace in the NBA and that plays right into the hands of arguably the most athletic player in the world.
Kyle Lowry ($8.9k DraftKings, $9.6k FanDuel)
Even if DeMar DeRozan (ankle) returns to the Raptors lineup tonight, Lowry will be worth a look as a solid cash game play with plenty of upside in a prime matchup. He’s been on fire with DDR missing four of Toronto’s last five games, as the Bulldog is averaging 31.3 PPG and 6.4 APG during that span. Tonight he’ll face a Magic squad that is giving up the second-most FPPG (49.05) to opposing PGs over the last month. He’s scored 49 points with 18 assists over two meetings with Orlando so far this season and will obviously see a boost in usage if DeRozan sits tonight.
Eric Bledsoe ($8.8k DraftKings, $9.5k FanDuel)
Right next to Lowry on both main DFS sites is a young PG with even more upside, although Bledsoe does always come with some risk. That said, he’s dropped 40-plus points in three of his last six appearances and his eruptions are rather predictable, as he’s struggled against the truly elite defensive teams but done very well against teams such as the Kings 24th-ranked defense. He went for 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists over just 29 minutes in his only meeting with Sacramento, which happened to be a blowout loss in the season opener. Now EB is averaging 24.8 PPG and 7.7 APG since the calendar turned to 2017 and he should shred the Kings injury-depleted backcourt.
Mid Tier DFS NBA Picks
Wilson Chandler ($5.7k DraftKings, $6.3k FanDuel)
Chandler has been locked into a timeshare with Danilo Gallinari that’s capped the upside of both players, but Gallo is expected to miss at least tonight’s game with a groin injury. While he was quiet along with the rest of the Nuggets in a blowout loss to Memphis on Wednesday, WilChan could definitely bounce back against a Bucks team that coughs up the second-most FPPG (40.75) to opposing SFs this season. Denver is gving up plenty of points but playing like an elite offensive team with or without Nikola Jokic, and they should lean on other forwards with The Joker doubtful to return quite so soon.
Wesley Matthews ($5.3k DraftKings, $5.4k FanDuel)
Those who love a good narrative will consider Matthews tonight in a return to Portland for the former long-time Blazer. He’s yet to impress in two meetings against his old team, as he might have experienced some nerves while shooting 7-of-22 from the floor and 2-of-9 from deep in those games. He should find the range sooner or later against a Portland team that ranks 28th in 3PT defense (.379%) this season. Dallas is playing much better ball right now with Yogi Ferrell sparking its dormant offense, and that will open things up for a shooters such as Matthews.
Yogi Ferrell ($5.1k DraftKings, $4.9k FanDuel)
As long as Deron Williams (toe) remains out, Ferrell will be the best Mavs guard to target in another prime matchup. He’s led Dallas to three straight wins while playing at least 36 minutes in each contest and he managed to exceed value despite shooting just 3-of-13 from the floor on Wednesday. Tonight he’ll face a Blazers team that gives up the fifth-most PPG (110) and ranks 26th in defensive rating this season. Portland plays at the tenth-fastest pace in the league and a spry young guard like Ferrell should thrive in an up-tempo contest on the road.
Bargain Tier DFS NBA Picks
Isaiah Whitehead ($3.6k DraftKings, $3.9k FanDuel)
Whitehead separated himself from an underwhelming timeshare with Spencer Dinwiddie with three consecutive impressive performances last week. Yet he came back to earth with a modest game in a prime matchup against the Knicks, but struggled to find a rhythm due to some foul trouble in that contest and he should remain both cheap and overlooked as a source of salary relief. The fast-paced Nets should be able to put up points against a Pacers team that gives up the ninth-most PPG (106.3) in the NBA this year and Whitehead will get his opportunities to lead Brooklyn’s offense with Jeremy Lin still on the shelf.
Jamal Murray ($3.6k DraftKings, $3.8k FanDuel)
Chandler and Kenneth Faried are the mid-tier options to consider in Denver if Jokic is ruled out, while Jameer Nelson could draw another start if Mudiay can’t follow up his solid return two nights later. In any case, the absence of Gallinari and potentially Will Barton would open up more playing time for Murray, who has flashed plenty of upside with averages of 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per 36 minutes. The rookie is capable of catching fire from beyond the arc and he’s exceeded value in three straight appearances while logging 27.3 MPG during that span due to the state of the Nuggets injury-depleted roster.
If, Then Player
If Ty Lawson misses tonight’s game, Darren Collison would become a more appealing mid-tier play in a juicy matchup against the Suns.
Julius Randle’s illness has opened up opportunities for punt plays such as Tarik Black, and Ivica Zubac, who could bounce back from a dud on Thursday.
