DFS NBA Lineups for March 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 ten games on the main slate in DFS NBA for Wednesday, 3/15/17 with only two of those games topping a 209.5 total, and one of those games features the Rockets as 17 point favorites over the Lakers. We’ve at an interesting point in the year where taking teams tank harder and rotations become confusing, frustrating, and in some situations, completely unpredictable. So for teams that aren’t fighting for anything, beware of veterans getting reduced playing time or unanticipated days off while the team takes a look at the younger guys and see what they have for next year. For example, the Lakers have shut down Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov for the rest of the year while they look at younger guys and attempt to retain their pick in this year’s draft…the more they lose, the better.

Looking at the DFS NBA contests for March 15, DraftKings has a $4 buy-in, $450k guaranteed that’s paying out $50,000 to first place. For you with bigger bankrolls, we’ve got a $444 buy-in, $500k guaranteed, that got $100k going to first place. At FanDuel, you’ve got a $150 buy-in, $500k guaranteed, that’s paying out $100k to first. There’s also the beginning of the March to the Playoffs Series where you could win a trip for four to an NBA playoff game.

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

LaMarcus Aldridge (chest)
Michael Beasley (knee)
Derrick Favors (knee)
Evan Turner (hand)

INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR

Nicolas Batum (migraines)
Nerlens Noel (knee)
Tyreke Evans (ankle)
Wesley Matthews (calf)
Tony Parker (back)
Dejounte Murray (groin)
Alex Len (hip)

NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES

Mavericks @ Wizards -7.5 (7:00p): 207.5
Hornets @ Pacers -2.5 (7:00p): 203
Timberwolves @ Celtics -6 (7:30p): 209.5
Pelicans @ Heat -6 (7:30p): 205.5
Jazz -3.5 @ Pistons (7:30p): 199.5
Grizzlies -2 @ Bulls (8:00p): 201.5
Lakers @ Rockets -17 (8:00p): 235
Blazers @ Spurs -10.5 (8:00p): 208.5
Kings @ Suns -6 (10:00p): 221.5
Bucks @ Clippers -8 (10:30p): 209

Best NBA Picks for March 15, 2017

Kawhi Leonard ($9.8k DraftKings, $9.4k FanDuel)
The Spurs are shorthanded with LaMarcus Aldridge out indefinitely due to a heart arrhythmia, and Leonard actually told reporters that he expects his workload to increase with LMA out in a rare moment of transparency. His Usage Rate increases to 36.7% with Aldridge off the floor this season and he’s been on fire while bolstering his MVP campaign over the last month and a half with averages of 28.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.9 APG and 2 SPG over his last 15 appearances. Tonight the Spurs host one of the worst defensive teams in the league in Portland and Kawhi should have his way with the Blazers patchwork rotation on the wing after burning that group for 33 points in a previous meeting this season.

DeMarcus Cousins ($9.5k DraftKings, $9k FanDuel)
Today’s special is the under priced top-tier plays, beginning with Big Cuz, who has never been cheaper on either main DFS site. He exceeded value with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks last night despite playing just 30 minutes in a blowout win and the Pelicans (+6) are going to be hard pressed to win easily in Miami tonight. While Hassan Whiteside is a big presence in the paint, he can only contain either Cousins or Anthony Davis and both big men are putting up solid numbers while DMC remains far, far cheaper on FanDuel.

Kemba Walker ($8.6k DraftKings, $8.4k FanDuel)
He’s been on fire lately and it’s hard to ignore Kemba with the Hornets second-best playmaker likely inactive today in Nic Batum. The Hornets travel to Indiana to face a Pacers team that’s been mediocre defensively and struggle against explosive PGs such as Walker. Kemba is averaging 21.3 PPG and 7.3 APG over 3 appearances against the Pacers this season and he’s scored 21-plus points in 9 straight appearances with double-digit assists in each of his last 2 games. He sports a 31.6% Usage Rate and averages 1.12 FPs per minute with Batum off the floor and should carry the offense even more tonight.

Mid-Tier DFS NBA Plays

Devin Booker ($6.7k DraftKings, $6.6k FanDuel)
While he doesn’t have much upside due to his lack of peripheral stats, Booker is a very safe cash game option because he’s one of the most reliable scorers in the league. He’s averaging 25.6 PPG on 50.5% (48-for-95) FG shooting over his last 5 appearances and draws a dream matchup tonight against a Kings team that is listless without any of its former stars. Sacramento gives up the third-most PPG (26.18) and second-most FPPG (43.05) to opposing SGs over the last month and Booker has had little trouble burning the Suns young rivals with 51 points on 52.8% FG shooting over 2 meetings with the Kings this season.

San Antonio Spurs
Kawhi is clearly Kings in the Spurs offense, but with Aldridge and Tony Parker (back) presumably still out, there are a few other players who could make a bigger impact in a plus matchup tonight. David Lee ($5.5k, $4.8k) is a great mid-tier play in a matchup against a Blazers team that coughs up the fourth-most FPPG (45.15) to opposing PFs this season. Patty Mills ($5.3k, $4.4k) has been on fire and remains an excellent bargain on FanDuel, especially if backup PG Dejounte Murray (groin) remains out in addition to Parker. Dewayne Dedmon ($3.7k, $3.7k) could always log more minutes if Popovich decides that the Spurs need more bulk to match up with Jusuf Nurkic, but Pau Gasol ($5.6k, $5.9k) should be the main man in the middle with Aldridge out.

Value DFS NBA Plays

Ivica Zubac ($5.3k DraftKings, $4.9k FanDuel)
New Lakers GM Magic Johnson has been on board with Zubac since day one and he’s lobbying efforts finally paid off, as the big rookie went off for 25 points and 11 boards while logging a season-high 30 minutes in Denver on Monday. While the Nuggets represent a relatively tough matchup for big men, tonight’s opponent the Rockets, are coughing up the third-most FPPG (52.23) to opposing centers over the last month. Zubac could be the big body to solve the Lakers own issues in terms of interior defense and he’ll likely play big minutes once again if he can stay out of foul trouble while corralling plenty of rebounds off missed threes from the run-and-gun Rockets.

Buddy Hield ($4.6k DraftKings, $4.6k FanDuel)
Much like Zubac, Hield is a favorite of management and that’s bought him increased run and usage in Sacramento. The sharpshooting guard has dropped 52 points on 19-of-37 FG shooting (51.3%) over his last 3 appearances and he’s logged 98 minutes during that span. It’s not as if the Kings have many other options on offense with DeMarcus Cousins gone and Hield proved more than capable of carrying a heavy scoring load during his career at Oklahoma. Tonight he’ll face a Suns team that gives up the second-most PPG (112.6) and ranks dead last in opponents 3PT shooting (.384%) this season, so Hield could have another good game in a potential shootout.

Jordan Crawford ($4.3k DraftKings, $4k FanDuel)
He’s always been able to get buckets and that’s earned the other J-Craw a spot back in the league. Over four appearances with the Pelicans, he’s scored 61 points on 52% FG shooting and handed out 13 assists as well while serving as a much-needed playmaker off the bench. New Orleans draws a tougher matchup in Miami tonight, but at least it won’t be a blowout like last night, forcing Crawford to ball a little harder down the stretch.

If, Then Player

If Alex Len misses another game Alan Williams will become a much more appealing mid-tier play against a Kings team that can’t defend down low right now.