DFS NBA Lineups for March 20, 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.
There are massive tournaments at DraftKings tonight. For you big bankroll players, there’s a $888 buy-in, $1M guaranteed GPP with $150k going to the winner. For everyone else, they’ve got a Crazy Eights tournament that’s very appealing. It’s an $8 buy-in, $800k guarantee with $100k going to first place. At FanDuel, you can jump in their $7 buy-in Enormous Layup, a $250k GPP with $50k going to the top spot.
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. As we enter the final weeks of the season, this is more important than ever.
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Kevin Durant (knee)
Paul Millsap (knee)
Kent Bazemore (knee)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Markieff Morris (illness)
Wilson Chandler (groin)
Danilo Gallinari (knee)
Kristaps Porzingis (thigh)
Jahlil Okafor (knee)
Justin Anderson (illness)
Derrick Favors (knee)
Rodney Hood (knee)
Isaiah Thomas (knee)
NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES
Hawks @ Hornets -5.5 (7:00p): 203.5
76ers @ Magic -5 (7:00p): 211
Jazz -2 @ Pacers (7:00p): 193
Wizards @ Celtics (7:30p): TBD
Nuggets @ Rockets (8:00p): TBD
Warriors -2 @ Thunder (8:00p): 221
Knicks @ Clippers -11 (10:30p): 215.5
Best NBA Picks for March 20, 2017
Russell Westbrook ($13.3k DraftKings, $13.4k FanDuel)
You may look at James Harden as the elite top-tier option to consider tonight in a plus matchup against the Nuggets, but there’s no guarantee that he produces on the same level in the same matchup twice in a row. Westbrook is due for a huge game against a Warriors team that he despises and the timing is right for him to go off tonight considering how Golden State is struggling defensively without Kevin Durant. The Dubs are coming off home blowouts against the lowly Magic and Bucks, but will be hard pressed to win easily at Loud City, where Westbrook is averaging 32.9 PPG and 11.3 APG on the season. He’s also averaging a triple-double over three meetings with the Warriors and loves to play in fast-paced contests.
Blake Griffin ($8.1k DraftKings, $8.7k FanDuel)
The Clippers are in a great spot to pick up some momentum after a blowout win over Cleveland with the checked out Knicks squad coming to town tonight. New York is ranked 25th in defensive rating and giving up the second most total RPG (46.75) over the last month while trying to meet Phil Jackson’s demands for a triangle offense. In his sole meeting with the Knicks, Griffin went for 32 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, which isn’t surprising considering New York gives up the seventh-most FPPG (44.98) and most PPG (23.29) to opposing PFs this season.
Nikola Vucevic ($7.7k DraftKings, $8k FanDuel)
The Sixers have been awful defensively and particularly vulnerable when facing skilled bigs since Joel Embiid (knee) was lost for the season. Philly is giving up the most FPPG (61.33) to opposing centers by far over the last month and the fifth-most overall PPG (111.5) during that span. For his part, Vucevic is averaging 19 PPG and 12 RPG over three meetings with Philadelphia this season and he’s been huge since coming back from an Achilles injury. Look for Orlando to run its offense through Vooch in this plus matchup.
Mid-Tier DFS NBA Plays
Jeff Teague ($5.9k DraftKings, $6.6k FanDuel)
Teague remains seriously under priced on DK despite exceeding value in a tough matchup at Toronto on Saturday. Sure, he faces a Jazz team that ranks third in defensive rating and first in opponents scoring (96.3 PPG allowed) this season, but Utah’s Achilles heel has been crafty PGs that can create in PnR sets. Teague is one of the best in the business in terms of rolling to the basket off a screen or stepping back for mid-range jumpers and he was able to go for 19 points and 7 assists in a previous meeting with the Jazz this year, so there’s little reason to ignore him due to the matchup.
Jameer Nelson ($5.5k DraftKings, $5.5k FanDuel)
If you want a value PG with a good floor-ceiling combination to pair with Westbrook, Nelson could be your guy tonight. He missed a couple of games with a hip injury as you might expect from a 12-year veteran, but has worked back up to speed and just flirted with a triple-double while exceeding value in a shootout with the Rockets on Saturday. He continues to log more minutes while Emmanuel Mudiay sits in the doghouse and the fact that Wilson Chandler and/or Danilo Gallinari could miss another game for Denver secures his usage. Houston happens to give up the fifth-most FPPG (47.0) to opposing PGs over the last month and Nelson is savvy enough to exploit their run-and-gun style.
Value DFS NBA Plays
Joe Johnson ($4.2k DraftKings, $3.9k FanDuel)
You can lump Joe Ingles ($5k DK, $4.2k FD) into the same conversation on FanDuel as a great salary relief play with a solid floor as long as Derrick Favors and/or Rodney Hood remain out for Utah. Both players are dealing with knee soreness and Johnson has regained a consistent role with them hurting, as he’s averaging 11.5 PPG while playing at least 28 minutes in four consecutive appearances.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are going to be without both Paul Millsap and Kent Bazemore tonight, which opens up big usage for Dennis Schroder ($7.1k DK, $7.2k FD) as the top offensive option while forcing Dwight Howard to increase his efforts down low. For value, you can look at Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5.8k DK, $5.6k FD) as a mid-tier option in a plus matchup against Charlotte, as he sports a 27.2% Usage Rate when Millsap and Bazemore are off the floor. Ersan Ilyasova ($5k, $4.5k) will also see a significant bump in playing time with Millsap on the shelf, while coaches’ favorite Taurean Prince ($3.5k, $3.7k) is a punt play to consider.
If, Then Player
If Chandler and Gallinari remain out for Denver, Jamal Murray will remain in play as a value with upside.
Richaun Holmes could continue to serve as a solid mid-tier option if Jahlil Okafor can’t go and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot will be worth a look if Okafor and/or Justin Anderson sit tonight for the Sixers.
