NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for February 24 2020

There is value galore across Monday’s eight-game slate in the NBA. With so many cheap players set up to potentially thrive, we can also set out sights on a few stars who could shine. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NBA Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

POINT GUARDS

Luka Doncic, DAL vs. MIN
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $10,500

Don’t be concerned about Doncic sitting out Saturday against the Hawks. That was basically for rest purposes since the Mavericks had just played Friday. Expect him to be a full-go for this contest against a Timberwolves team that has played at the seventh-fastest pace in the league and is terrible defensively. While there is some risk of the Mavericks racing out to an early lead that potentially allowing Doncic to gain extra rest in the fourth quarter, he should still do plenty of damage along the way.

Kendrick Nunn, MIA at CLE
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,600

The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler (personal) for this matchup, leaving Nunn to take on an expanded role. He thrived with Butler also sitting out against the Cavaliers on Saturday, finishing with 24 points, eight assists and two steals across 35 minutes. Since the Cavaliers have the second-worst defensive rating, Nunn could also provide excellent value in their rematch.

SHOOTING GUARDS

Malik Beasley, MIN at DAL
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $6,000

Beasley’s price is climbing, and rightfully so. He’s been great since joining the Timberwolves with averages of 22 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and four three-pointers across five games. Now that Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) is on the shelf, Beasley is locked into plenty of scoring opportunities moving forward. He’s still cheap enough to be able to provide value.

Josh Richardson, PHI vs. ATL
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,800

The Sixers are looking at a limited depth chart for this contest. Ben Simmons (back) has already been ruled out and it looks like they will also be without Tobias Harris (knee), who is listed as doubtful. That could mean a big night is in store for Richardson. While he only has a 21.6 percent usage rate for the season, it jumps up to 27.6 percent with both Simmons and Harris off the court.

SMALL FORWARDS

Jae Crowder, MIA at CLE
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,100

With how bad the Cavaliers have been defensively and Butler being out, Nunn certainly isn’t the only player on the Heat to consider. Crowder has already proven to be a valuable addition, averaging 16.2 points, six rebounds and 2.2 steals across five games since joining the team. Regardless if he starts or comes off the bench, he should receive enough playing time to once again make an impact.

Glenn Robinson III, PHI vs. ATL
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,200

If Simmons and Harris are both indeed out, that means a lot of playing time will be up for grabs. One of the main beneficiaries could be Robinson, who showed that he can handle an expanded role with the Warriors earlier this season. The Hawks have allowed the second-most points per game, so don’t be afraid to take a chance on Robinson in tournament play.

POWER FORWARDS

Kristaps Porzingis, DAL vs. MIN
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,100

Porzingis also sat out Saturday, so he’s fresh for this contest. He dominated when Doncic was out for a stretch recently because of an ankle injury and has averaged 25.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, five assists and four blocks across two games since Doncic returned. With the Timberwolves providing little defensive resistance, Porzingis could once again provide a meaty double-double. Of note, he is only eligible at power forward on FanDuel since he is listed at center on DraftKings.

Brandon Clarke, MEM at LAC
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $5,500

The Grizzlies might be facing an uphill battle to hold onto a playoff spot in the West now that Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) is out for at least the next two weeks. They do have a player capable of filling in for him in Clarke, who provided 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists against the Lakers on Friday. The key was that he played 32 minutes in that game. With him expected to log around 30 minutes a night moving forward, take advantage of him at this reasonable price while you still can.

CENTERS

Joel Embiid, PHI vs. ATL
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $9,500

Of all the players to spend up for on this slate, Embiid is my favorite. He is going to have the bulk of the scoring responsibilities placed squarely on his shoulders because of injuries and this is a great matchup. Not only do the Hawks allow a ton of points, but they are still lacking at center with Clint Capela (heel) not yet able to make his debut with the team. No need to overthink this one.

Jonas Valanciunas, MEM at LAC
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,900

If you do want to fade Embiid, then Valanciunas is someone to target at a much more budget-friendly price. The Clippers have been hurt by opposing centers this season, including Valanciunas. The first time he faced them, he produced 30 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. In their rematch, he had nine points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.