DFS NBA Lineups for February 15, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
On days that there’s a nice slate of DFS NBA games, we’ll give you the game totals, point spreads, and pertinent injury news to follow for NBA daily fantasy, as well as some players that we’re considering for our lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
We have a massive 14-game DFS NBA slate for 2/15/17 with eight players priced at over $10k on DraftKings. Rightfully so, but Nikola Jokic got an $1100 price bump and comes in at $10,300 after scoring 62, 52, and 67 DK points over his last three games. Harden and Westbrook are both incredibly expensive, but there will likely be ample value present itself on such a big slate, so both are, as always, strong GPP options but not likely viable in cash. Also, be very aware of the news throughout the day. As we approach the All Star break, there’s a chance teams could always sit a player unexpectedly to get him some extra days off.
Across the tournament trial, DraftKings has their Four Point Play featuring a $4 buy-in and $400,000 guaranteed. They’ve also put up a $44 buy-in Power Move that has $550,000 guaranteed and $100,000 to first place. At FanDuel, we’ve got the EPIC Slam for $55 with $500,000 guaranteed. There’s also the first round of a four round survivor tournament for only a $7 buy-in.
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
Chris Paul (thumb)
Kevin Love (knee)
Danilo Gallinari (groin)
Kenneth Faried (ankle)
Darrell Arthur (knee)
Evan Turner (hand)
Avery Bradley (Achilles)
Jaylen Brown (hip)
Jeremy Lin (hamstring)
Thaddeus Young (wrist)
Pau Gasol (finger)
Cody Zeller (quad)
Josh Richardson (ankle)
Terrence Jones (thumb)
Dante Cunningham (personal)
Enes Kanter (Arm)
Rodney Hood (knee)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Emmanuel Mudiay (back)
Wilson Chandler (illness)
Joel Embiid (knee)
Jahlil Okafor (Coaches Decision)
Serge Ibaka (trade)
Ty Lawson (leg)
Al-Farouq Aminu (knee)
Trevor Booker (knee)
Joakim Noah (hamstring)
NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES
Pacers @ Cavs -5.5 (7:00p): 219.5
Spurs -10.5 @ Magic (7:00p): 206.5
Mavericks @ Pistons -5 (7:30p): 202
Bucks -5.5 @ Nets (7:30p): 218
Hornets @ Raptors -6.5 (7:30p): 212
76ers @ Celtics -10 (7:30p): 219
Heat @ Rockets -9.5 (8:00p): 223.5
Pelicans @ Grizzlies -8 (8:00p): 204.5
Timberwolves @ Nuggets -5.5 (9:00p): 227.5
Lakers @ Suns -4 (9:00p): 225.5
Blazers @ Jazz -8 (9:00p): 205.5
Knicks @ Thunder -7 (9:30p): 218
Hawks @ Clippers -3 (10:30p): 211.5
Kings @ Warriors -17 (10:30p): 224
Best NBA Picks for February 15, 2017
Nikola Jokic ($10.3k DraftKings, $11k FanDuel)
The fact that Jokic could serve as the highest-scoring player on a full slate shows how far the second-year man has come, as well as the state of the Nuggets roster heading into the ASB. Denver will be without forwards Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur, while Wilson Chandler and Emmanuel Mudiay are highly questionable ahead of a plus matchup against Minnesota’s 24th-ranked defense. The Joker has been on fire with averages of 25.5 PPG, 14.5 RPG and 7.25 APG including two triple doubles over his last four appearances, and he should continue to run the Nuggets offense at home. Also worth consideration as mid-tier and value plays are Jameer Nelson ($6k, $5.3k), Gary Harris ($4.9k, $5.1k) and Monday’s breakout star Juan Hernangomez ($4.6k, $4k), assuming Mudiay and Chandler both remain out.
Blake Griffin ($9.5k DraftKings, $9.8k FanDuel)
There’s simply no reason to fade Blake over the Clippers next few games, as Chris Paul is expected to remain out through the ASB. The “Point Power Forward” posted another versatile line with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 53.5 DK points (51 FD points) in just about the toughest matchup possible at Utah, so he’s certainly worth using at home against the Hawks tonight. Atlanta is giving up an above average 41.64 FPPG to opposing PFs this season and only the lowly Nets are giving up more FPPG overall than the Hawks (216.44) over the last month. Griffin will be at the center of everything the Clips do until CP3 returns and that makes him a veritable bargain at less than $10K on both main DFS sites.
Jeff Teague ($7.4k DraftKings, $7.2k FanDuel)
The Pacers will face a shorthanded Cavs team that’s on the second half of a B2B set and has really struggled to contain opposing guards over the past couple of months. Cleveland allows the most FPPG (49.1) to opposing PGs over the last month and recently allowed Teague to go for 22 points, 14 assists and 5 rebounds in a shootout win at Indiana. The Cavs (-5.5) are home tonight, but playing their fifth game since facing the Pacers last Wednesday and might need to think about getting LeBron James some rest heading into the ASB. Kyrie Irving will be asked to do more offensively with Kevin Love (back) out indefinitely, and he’s a poor defender who will only become more of a liability if he expends his energy on the other end of the floor.
Mid Tier DFS NBA Picks
Kristaps Porzingis ($6.5k DraftKings, $6.8k FanDuel)
The Unicorn is still definitely under priced as he’s played a full slate of minutes in three of his last four appearances and met value in each of those games despite drawing some tough matchups. Yet tonight the Knicks will face a Thunder squad that’s starting weak rookie Domantas Sabonis at PF and rotating in other mediocre defenders with Enes Kanter (arm) on the shelf, so Porzingis should stay out of foul trouble while posting another useful line. He’s averaging 17 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 3 STL/BLK per game over his last five appearances and managed to score 21 points with 5 boards and 5 blocks in a matchup against the Thunder much earlier this season.
Greg Monroe ($5.4k DraftKings, $6.5k FanDuel)
It’s certainly dangerous to trust Bucks HC Jason Kidd, but it seems highly unlikely that he would lower Monroe’s minutes after his big man went for 25 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 12-of-15 from the floor in a win over Detroit on Monday. Moose definitely seemed to find a little extra motivation against his former team and he should be able to ride that momentum into a matchup against a Nets squad that coughs up the most PPG (113.9) while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA this year. Brooklyn allows the second-most FPPG (51.28) to opposing centers this season and Monroe is averaging 1.23 FPs per minute over three meetings with the Nets, so perhaps he’ll exceed value by a wide margin again if Kidd simply lets him spin.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers will likely keep Joel Embiid (knee) out through the ASB and don’t appear interested in playing Jahlil Okafor and risking any damage to his knee before trading him ahead of the deadline. Their absence has secured heavy playing time for versatile PF Nerlens Noel ($6.1k, $5.6k) and allowed Dario Saric ($5.8k, $5.3k) to breakout as a truly impressive scorer at the NBA level. With Ersan Ilyasova (hip) clearly hobbled, those players have become even more appealing in all formats while Robert Covington ($6.4k, $6.4k) has gained plenty of upside and all 3 of those mid-tier plays are solid options to consider in Boston tonight.
Bargain Tier DFS NBA Picks
Portland Blazers
While new center Jusuf Nurkic ($3.9k, $3.5k) is expected to be in uniform tonight for the Blazers, he’s tough to trust outside of GPP formats in a matchup against Rudy Gobert in the Jazz while his playing time remains a question mark. If you want to go against the grain with a value play in this contest, consider Ed Davis ($3.8k, $3.8k) as Portland’s main option at center. On the wing, Maurice Harkless ($4.7k, $4.6k) is looking at huge minutes once again with Evan Turner out and Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) questionable, while Allen Crabbe ($3.8k, $3.5k) would have a chance to get hot if Aminu is out as well.
Kelly Olynyk ($4.3k DraftKings, $4.6k FanDuel)
Olynyk is averaging 13.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2 APG and shooting 59.6% from the field over his last five appearances, which is pretty absurd for a perimeter-based big man who comes off the bench and is seeing just 23.2 MPG during that span. Yet Kelly-O has become a staple of the Celtics rotations down the stretch and he matches up well against a shorthanded 76ers team that uses Dario Saric and Ersan Ilyasova at the 4. Philadelphia is a bottom 10 defensive team with Joel Embiid out and there will be little to no rim protection if Olynyk is run off the three-point line and forced to make plays in the paint.
Bismack Biyombo ($3.6k DraftKings, $3.8k FanDuel)
He’s not a textbook replacement for traded PF Serge Ibaka, but Biyombo stands to benefit as much as anyone on the Magic from that move. He’s facing a Spurs team that is tough to score upon, but Biyombo’s biggest contributions are on the boards and on the defensive end. With Ibaka gone, he has a much clearer path to minutes and he’s averaging 11.3 rebounds an 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes this year.
If, Then Player
Look for Ben McLemore and Matt Barnes to continue logging heavy minutes for the Kings if Ty Lawson (leg) remains out.
If Lavoy Allen (knee) can’t suit up tonight, Kevin Seraphin could serve as a viable punt play with Thaddeus Young also out for the Pacers.
