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NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 2/1/18

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 2/1/18

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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Dejounte Murray, SA vs. HOU
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,900

Murray had a rare stat line Tuesday against the Nuggets where he failed to score, but still provided 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks. Scoring is not his strength, but Murray has averaged 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in six games since taking over as the starting point guard. He’ll likely get back on the board in the scoring column Thursday and should have an excellent opportunity to be productive overall considering the Rockets play at the eighth-fastest pace (101 possessions per game) in the league.

Tomas Satoransky, WAS vs. TOR
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,600

Satoransky will now be the starting point guard for the Wizards with John Wall (knee) out 6-to-8 weeks. Starting in place of Wall for the last two games, Satoransky averaged 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.5 three-pointers per contest. While he does have Tim Frazier behind him, Frazier hasn’t played well when given extended minutes this season. Satoransky is not going to provide much offense, but he can still do enough across the board to provide value at this price.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Malcolm Brogdon, MIL at MIN
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,300

The Bucks will likely be without Eric Bledsoe (ankle) on Thursday, who is listed as doubtful to play against the Timberwolves. That would leave a big hole to fill in their offense as Bledsoe has the second-highest usage rate (27.2%) on the team. Brogdon would be one of the main beneficiaries of Bledsoe’s absence, giving him a significant boost in value. In the last six games that Brogdon has played at least 34 minutes, he has averaged 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest. Don’t hesitate to add him to your entry.

Wayne Selden Jr., MEM at DET
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

Not only are the Grizzlies riddled with injuries right now, but they have also decided to sit Tyreke Evans while they attempt to trade him.  That opened up added playing time for Selden on Wednesday against the Pacers, when he scored 24 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and six three-pointers in 31 minutes. He played 31 minutes in the previous game against the Suns as well, finishing with 17 points and six assists. Considering he won’t cost much, he could be worth the risk Thursday.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Kyle Anderson, SA vs. HOU
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,100

Anderson is coming off of one of his better games of the season Tuesday against the Nuggets, scoring 18 points to go along with four rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks. He’s not a high volume scorer, but he makes his shots count by shooting 51.6% from the field this season. Not only do the Rockets play at a fast pace, but they also use a lot of small lineups and will be without one of their better defenders in Trevor Ariza (hamstring) on Thursday. Anderson could be in line for another well-rounded performance.

Stanley Johnson, DET vs. MEM
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $5,400

The Pistons were short-handed Tuesday due to their trade with the Clippers, leaving Johnson to play 40 minutes. To say he took advantage of the opportunity is an understatement as he finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Johnson should be in line for added playing time moving forward with Avery Bradley no longer on the team, but he might not be as involved offensively with Griffin likely to play Thursday. Even if he doesn’t get another 21 shot attempts like he did Tuesday, he should still get enough playing time to warrant consideration for your lineup.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Markieff Morris, WAS vs. TOR
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $6,200

Morris is only averaging 26 minutes per game this season, but he has played at least 30 minutes in four of his last five games. In those four contests, he averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 three-pointers per game. He should continue to see extended playing time moving forward with the Wizards looking for help offensively with Wall out. His price is rapidly climbing, but it’s still low enough Thursday that he can provide value.

John Henson, MIL at MIN
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,900

The Bucks have been rumored to be looking for help up front leading up to the NBA trade deadline, but Henson will continue to get extended minutes for now. While his numbers aren’t off the charts, he is averaging a respectable 11.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his last six games. The Bucks are going to need his size up front Thursday to battle with a big Timberwolves frontcourt, so expect him to get plenty of playing time. Of note, Henson is only power forward eligible on FanDuel as he is eligible only at center on DraftKings. Regardless of position, he is a viable option in this game.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Clint Capela, HOU at SA
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,800

Capela continues to have an excellent season, averaging career-highs in points (14.2), rebounds (10.8) and blocks (1.7) per game. Although he only averages 27 minutes per game, the lack of rebounders on the Rockets and their up-tempo style still leaves Capela with plenty of opportunities to be productive. He may be needed for a few additional minutes against a big Spurs frontcourt Thursday, leaving him as someone to consider for your entry.

Marcin Gortat, WAS vs. TOR
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,600

With only five games on the schedule Thursday, there aren’t any great really cheap options at center. It might be wise to spend up at the position as a result. However, if you are determined to save money at the position, Gortat could have some upside. In two previous games against the Raptors this season, Gortat averaged 11.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest. If he can get enough playing time, he could at least approach another double-double in their third meeting.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

*Cesar Becerra*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

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Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Tj McConnell
Draftkings: $5,000
Fanduel $6,700
Tj McConnell has been on fire over his last four games averaging over 32 DK points in 28 minutes since JJ Redick has been sidelined. Today Redick is expected to miss again, and Jerryd Bayless is questionable so McConnell could continue to pick up the slack for the Sixers guards. When both Bayless and Redick are off the court, McConnell holds a 27.4 assist usage percentage. His price is a little elevated given his recent 45 point performance a week ago, but he’s primed to get close to 30 minutes today.

Donovan Mitchell
Draftkings: $7,800
(SG) Fanduel $8,000
Rodney Hood has already been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. When Hood is off the court, Mitchell has a team-high usage rate of 29.4% and an assist rate of 20.4% second behind only Ricky Rubio. Mitchel is averaging over 33 minutes per game and is currently averaging 1.1 DK points per minute. He faces a Hawks defense that allows opposing point guards to score 4 points above-projected points total.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Malcolm Brogdon
Draftkings: $5,000
Fanduel: $6,300
Brogdon will return tonight after missing Saturday’s contest for personal reasons. He should be well rested and expected to resume his 30-34 minutes. For the year, Brogdon is averaging .78 fantasy points per minute and is going up against the Suns who play at one of the league’s fastest pace. The Bucks are projected to score just under 110 points so that should open the door for Brogdon to chuck up 3’s.

Wayne Ellington
Draftkings: $5,300
Fanduel: $4,800
Goran Dragic, Tyler Johnson, and Hassan Whiteside have all been ruled out for tonight’s contest against the Rockets. In situations when all three of those players are off the court, Ellington has been the primary beneficiary. In 185 minutes played, Ellington has seen the biggest boost in minutes (185) and usage (22.9%). Ellington is averaging .75 fantasy points per minutes and should be in line to start and could see upwards of 30 minutes.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Andrew Wiggins
Draftkings: $6,100
Fanduel: $6,200
Jimmy Butler and Jamal Crawford have been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Clippers. When both are off the court, Wiggins leads the Timberwolves with a 28.9% usage percentage and is second in offensive rating (112.5). This game has the second highest over-under so there should be plenty of opportunity for Wiggins.

Nemanja Bjelica
Draftkings: $3,000
Fanduel: $3,600
As I mentioned above Butler has already been ruled out, and Bjelica got the spot start for Butler when he didn’t play the last game. Bjelica played 26 minutes on Saturday and scored 8 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. He’ll be one of the highest owned players on the slate given the matchup, price, and game flow against the Clippers.

Power Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Kelly Olynyk
Draftkings: $4,800
Fanduel: $4,500
I already talked about the Heat players who have been ruled out, that list included Hassan Whiteside. With Whiteside out, that opens up a spot in the frontcourt for Olynyk to get more minutes. He’s averaging just under 1 fantasy point per minute (.95) and is in an uptempo game against the Rockets.

Trey Lyles
Draftkings: $5,300
Fanduel: $5,400
Trey Lyles has seen upwards of 24 minutes in both of the past two games. Lyles is averaging just over 1 fantasy point per minute (1.01) and faces the Blazers who leave have allowed opposing power forwards to score +2.22 points above salary expectations. The Nuggets are 3 point favorites over the Blazers and Lyles should see 25 minutes tonight.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Clint Capela
Draftkings: $6,600
Fanduel: $7,700
More of a play on Draftkings than Fanduel because of his extremely affordable price, Capela should benefit from Whiteside being off the court tonight. Capela continues to play right around 30 minutes a night and is averaging over 1 fantasy point per minute (1.31). With no Whiteside protecting the rim, Capela should be in store for a double-double tonight, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him pass 40 fantasy points.

Marcin Gortat
Draftkings: $5,100
Fanduel: $4,700
Since I gave you a DK play with Capela, I thought I’d give you a Fanduel play at center with Gortat. Gortat has struggled over his last three games failing to reach 20 Fanduel points in each, but tonight he has a good opportunity to bounce back. His salary has dipped below $5,000 on Fanduel, and he faces the Mavericks who allow opposing centers to score 2.19 points above salary expectations.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 1/4/18

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 1/4/18

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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Stephen Curry, GS at HOU
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $8,400

Curry has wasted no time since returning from an ankle injury, averaging 35.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 8.0 three-pointers in two games. He’s averaging 4.0 three-pointers per game this year, but believe it or not, that mark could be even higher as he is shooting a career-low 40.6% from behind the arc. This should be a high-scoring game with both the Warriors and the Rockets in the top-eight in the league in pace of play, so take full advantage of Curry at this reasonable price.

Milos Teodosic, LAC vs. OKC
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,100

The Clippers have been decimated by injuries at guard throughout this season, the latest being Austin Rivers (Achilles). Rivers has missed both of the team’s last two games and is questionable to play Thursday. Even if he does manage to play, his minutes could be monitored. While not flashy numbers, Teodosic did average 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 three-pointers in the two games that Rivers missed. There aren’t many great cheap options available at point guard with only two games on the schedule Thursday, making Teodosic someone to consider.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Lou Williams, LAC vs. OKC
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,200

With all the injuries the Clippers have suffered, Williams is averaging career-highs in points (21.7), assists (4.8), three-pointers (2.7) and minutes (31) per game. His usage rate stands at 28.9%, putting him inside the top-20 in the league. The return of Blake Griffin from a knee injury has actually helped Williams since teams can’t key in on him defensively anymore, resulting in Williams averaging 32.0 points over the last three games. The Thunder are a strong defensive team, but volume alone still makes Williams someone to consider.

Eric Gordon, HOU vs. GS
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $6,500

How lucky are the Rockets to have Gordon? He started earlier this season when Chris Paul was injured and now he returns to the starting lineup with James Harden (hamstring) out of action. In 17 starts this season, Gordon is averaging 22.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 4.0 three-pointers. He should fit in even better with Paul running the show as Paul is more of a pass-first point guard as opposed to Harden being an elite scorer. At this reasonable price, Gordon is too good to pass up.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Paul George, OKC at LAC
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $7,000

It took awhile, but the Thunder appear to have finally hit their stride, winning seven of their last 10 games. George missed one of those game, but averaged 21.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.0 block in the other nine games. His 25.1% usage rate is his lowest since the 2012-13 season, but he’s clearly ahead of Carmelo Anthony as the second-best offensive weapon for the Thunder. He’s priced low enough to be a viable option for your entry Thursday.

Gerald Green, HOU vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,000

Talk about a player making an immediate impact on his new team. Green recently signed with the Rockets to give them depth on the bench but is now thrust into a prominent role with Harden out. He came through with flying colors in the first game without Harden on Wednesday, scoring 27 points to go along with six rebounds, two assists, and seven three-pointers in 28 minutes. While it will be hard for him to match that production, he should get extended minutes again Thursday in a game likely full of small lineups. He might be the best value play of the night.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Blake Griffin, LAC vs. OKC
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,200

Griffin continues to show his versatility, averaging 23.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in three games since returning from injury. He has posted a career-high 30.1% usage rate this season, which is not surprising considering the rash of injuries the Clippers have suffered. The Thunder are a strong defensive team, but they don’t have much size up front. Carmelo Anthony will likely be the one trying to slow down Griffin on Thursday, so Griffin could be primed for a big game.

Ryan Anderson, HOU vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,300

Games between the Rockets and Warriors are what Anderson was made for. With lots of small lineups and the game being played at a fast pace, it’s a perfect compliment to Anderson’s skillset. In his first meeting with the Warriors this season, Anderson scored 13 points to go along with eight rebounds, one steal, one block and three three-pointers. Last season, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 three-pointers in two games against them. The price is right to take a chance on him playing well in this game.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Clint Capela, HOU vs. GS
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,800

The Rockets are going to need increased scoring from multiple players to make up for the loss of Harden, Capela included. He was up to the task Wednesday against the Magic, scoring 21 points in only 23 minutes. Centers thriving with Chris Paul running the point are nothing new, such as the success DeAndre Jordan had with him in Los Angeles. Capela has recorded a double-double in three of his last five games and could be extremely valuable if he continues to score more.

Steven Adams, OKC at LAC
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,800

Adams gets no easy task matching up against Jordan in this game. Jordan is an elite defensive rebounder, averaging 10.7 per game this season. One of Adams’ strengths is his ability to contribute on the offensive glass, averaging 4.9 offensive rebounds per game. While this is a tough matchup indeed, it should also lead to plenty of playing time for Adams because the Thunder don’t have much size. There aren’t any great really cheap options are center Thursday, but Adams is a viable option at this price.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/29/17

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/29/17

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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Russell Westbrook, OKC at ORL
FanDuel = $11,000
DraftKings = $11,200

The Thunder are still working through the growing pains of their massive roster overhaul, resulting in Westbrook’s usage rate dropping from 41.7% last year to 32.6% this year. That’s still good enough for sixth-best in the NBA, but his scoring has dropped 10 points per game as a result. He’s playing like his old self of late, averaging 27.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists over his last four games. Wednesday brings a great matchup against a Magic team that really struggles to defend opposing point guards. This is one of those games where you want to pay up to get Westbrook in your entry.

Tomas Satoransky, WAS at PHI
FanDuel =$3,500
DraftKings = $3,100

Tim Frazier has taken over the starting point guard job the last two games with John Wall injured but is averaging only 6.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in those games. Satoransky ended up playing 22 minutes Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to Frazier’s struggles and he came through with seven points, five rebounds, six assists and one steal. He may have earned himself more minutes again Wednesday. This should be an uptempo game as the Sixers play at the fourth-fastest pace (104.6) in the league, so take a chance on Satoransky in tournament play if you need a cheap point guard.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Bradley Beal, WAS at PHI
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,100

A popular DFS play Tuesday due to Wall’s injury, Beal was a flop as he scored only eight points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field. He had scored at least 22 points in six straight games entering Tuesday, so don’t read too much into one bad shooting night. His 28.9% usage rate is tied for 16th best in the league, so he clearly will get plenty of opportunities to make up for it in this game. This could be a high-scoring contest, so get Beal back in your lineup.

Nicolas Batum, CHA at TOR
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,800

Batum hasn’t been able to find his groove since returning from injury as he’s only averaging 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He’s had a few extra days to rest as he hasn’t played since Saturday. Starting point guard Kemba Walker is listed as doubtful for this game with a should injury, which could mean Michael Carter-Williams would start in his place. He’s not a great passer, so expect Batum to be even more of a facilitator than normal. The price is right to take a chance that he has a breakout performance Wednesday.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Otto Porter Jr., WAS at PHI
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $6,700

Porter has been one of the main beneficiaries of Wall being out as he has scored at least 22 points in both games with Wall sidelined. He attempted at least 15 shots in both games, something he had done only three times previously this season. He’s also averaging career-highs in rebounds (7.3), steals (1.6) and three-pointers (2.0) per game this season, giving him excellent all-around value. The potential is here for Porter’s production to exceed his price point in this game.

Lance Stephenson, IND at HOU
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,300

Stephenson is only averaging 21 minutes per game this season, but he has played more than that in each of the last five games. He is playing at his best right now as he has at least 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists in both of his last two games. While one of those was a start in place of the since-returned Victor Oladipo, it was encouraging to see him still produce coming off the bench in his last game. Both the Pacers and Rockets play at a fast pace and the Rockets like to use a lot of small lineups, so Stephenson should get plenty of playing time and have value at this price.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Tobias Harris, DET vs. PHO
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,500

Harris is currently having the best season of his career as he’s averaging 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and a whopping 2.9 three-pointers per game. He’s attempting a career-high 6.1 three-pointers per game and making them at a rate of 47.4%, which may be hard for him to sustain. Don’t worry about that Wednesday though against a Suns team that allows the fifth-highest three-point shooting percentage (37.7%) and the most points per game (115.1) in the league.

Larry Nance Jr., LAL vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,400

The Lakers wasted no time in the first game for Nance in almost a month as he started and played 30 minutes Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. He just missed a double-double (nine points and eight rebounds) and recorded four steals. Although he has only played in nine games this season, he has recorded at least two steals five times already. This should be an uptempo game with a lot of small lineups, so Nance could really thrive. He’s a good play on both sites, but I really like him on FanDuel based on his price there.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Clint Capela, HOU vs. IND
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $7,400

Capela hasn’t played more than 29 minutes in each of his last six games, but he still managed to average 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over those contests. With the Rockets playing so well, it’s encouraging that Capela can provide value even in games when he plays limited minutes due to the team having a big lead early. The Rockets have been successful playing small lineups and taking a lot of three’s in large part because of Capela’s ability to dominate the glass. He’s a great fit in this offense and should be in line for a big game against a Pacers team that struggles to defend the center position.

Steven Adams, OKC at ORL
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,500

Adams recorded only six points and three rebounds in 27 minutes Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks, but it wasn’t a great matchup as the Mavericks like to play small. Wednesday brings a much friendlier opponent in Nikola Vucevic and the Magic. Adams is averaging 31 minutes per game this season, so expect him to get more playing time and return to his productive self in this game.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/16/17

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/16/17

Use Code "LLNBA17" at checkout for 10% off Seasonal PackageUse Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 10% off Seasonal Package
 

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. GS
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,100

Irving has actually seen his averages decrease almost across the board this season, except for an improvement in steals (1.9 per game). The main culprit has been his playing time as he is only averaging 31 minutes per game after playing 35 minutes per game last season. The Celtics are going to need big minutes from him to keep pace with the Warriors and his 29.7% usage rate (tied for 12th best in the NBA) suggests he should be up for the task.

Tyler Ulis, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,200

Ulis has started the past two games over Mike James, playing at least 26 minutes in both contests. While he only scored a total of four points, he did take 12 total shots, so there is an opportunity for better production. He was able to average 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals over those starts, so he could provide value at this price if his shot is falling. Considering the limited amount of games on the schedule tonight and the Rockets uptempo offense, Ulis might be worth the risk at this price.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
James Harden, HOU at PHO
FanDuel = $12,500
DraftKings = $12,700

Harden has been out of this world of late as he is averaging 34.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 4.5 three-pointers over his last four games. He has been one of the safest DFS plays on most nights, even considering his hefty price tag. Chris Paul is expected to play in his first game this season Thursday, but he is only expected to play around 20 minutes. While Paul’s return may reduce Harden’s value down the road, it shouldn’t tonight.

Eric Gordon, HOU at PHO
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $6,200

Gordon is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career as he is averaging 22.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.7 three-pointers per game. His value is also expected to take a hit with the return of Paul, but again it should only be a minimal impact with Paul on a minutes limit Thursday. Gordon hasn’t really seen a huge jump in playing time even when Paul was out though as he is averaging 33 minutes per game this season compared to 31 minutes per game last year. The Suns are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, so roll with Gordon Thursday.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Kevin Durant, GS at BOS
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $9,700

Durant has been a model of consistency as he has scored at least 20 points in all but one game this season. Not only is he averaging 7.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists as well, but he is averaging a career-high 2.2 blocks per game. They need his defense when they go small and move Draymond Green to center, so don’t be surprised if he continues to block shots at close to that rate. The Celtics are one of the best defensive teams in the league but don’t expect them to be able to slow Durant down Thursday.

T.J. Warren, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,500

Warren has stepped up his game of late as he is averaging 26.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 three-pointers over his last three games. The key for Warren has been increased opportunities in the offense as he is averaging a career-high 15.5 shot attempts per game. The Rockets score a ton and play at a fast pace, which could mean another great stat line from Warren Thursday. He could provide tremendous value at this price.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Marquese Chriss, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,000

With so many elite DFS options available in only a two-game slate, it’s important to find a few dirt cheap options that will then allow you to stack your lineup with studs. Power forward presents that cost-saving position Thursday. Chriss has played at least 25 minutes in three of the last four games as he is starting to see his role expand for the Suns. His ability to both defend and hit three’s could prove very valuable against a Rockets team that likes to use small lineups. Take a risk on Chriss in tournament play.

Tarik Black, HOU at PHO
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,500

As we continue to look for ways to save money while squeezing out some value, we come to Black. Nene Hilario is considered doubtful to play in this game with a foot injury, which will open up minutes for Black. Nene missed the Rockets last game, which enabled Black to record 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes. The Suns are horrible defensively, making Black your other top cheap option at power forward for the evening.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Clint Capela, HOU at PHO
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,200

Capela has posted a double-double in three of his last four games and has grabbed at least 11 rebounds in seven of his last nine games. With power forward Ryan Anderson spending most of his time around the three-point line, there are going to be plenty of chances for Capela to rack up rebounds. Don’t be surprised if he is the most productive center in DFS when the evening is all said and done.

Alex Len, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Suns starting center Tyson Chandler is questionable heading into this game with an illness. If he were to miss the game, Len would take over the starting duties. Even if Chandler is able to play, he may see limited minutes. Despite only making two starts and averaging 23 minutes per game this season, Len is still averaging 8.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. If you need to save money at center, Len is an option in tournament play. If Chandler does miss the game, he could provide significant value.