Pearce Dietrich provides his thoughts and insights for today’s NBA slate.
NBA Sunday is a DFS fun day. Extend the weekend one more day with Fantasy Basketball action at DraftKings. Get the screens out. Build your DraftKings NBA DFS lineups early. Let’s dig into the NBA DFS research, make some fantasy basketball picks, and close out the week on the couch enjoying the seven-game main slate that starts at 6 p.m. ET.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
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Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks at Portland Trail Blazers ($10,100) — The last two games have been a disappointment. Young’s minutes and usage were sky-high as always. The matchups were exploitable — the Bulls and Wizards. Young came up short. His shots didn’t fall. He won’t stay cool forever, and he did heat up in the fourth quarter of his most recent matchup. Portland plays below-average defense and could be without two of their best players.
Other Options — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,800), Luka Doncic ($11,200)
Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks ($4,900) — This NBA DFS slate might only require one screen. The Blazers and Hawks rank in the top 5 in pace. The Hawks have stars and the Blazers provide value due to injuries. PG/SG Anfernee Simons ($6,200) is out again. Sharpe has started the last three games and his minutes, usage rate and fantasy points have increased each game. He had his best game (42 DKFP) in his most recent start with Simons out.
Other Options — Cameron Payne ($3,400), Cason Wallace ($3,800)
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks at Portland Trail Blazers ($8,900) — The Hawks do not have much. It’s Young and Johnson. The two play nearly 40 uptempo minutes every game. Young does most of the scoring and Johnson does most of everything else. Johnson scored 53.25 DKFP by blocking four shots, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing seven assists and scoring 18 points. He scored 60 DKFP against the Boston Celtics on Nov. 12.
Other Options — Evan Mobley ($7,900), Cameron Thomas ($6,800)
Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls vs. Houston Rockets ($4,600) — There is room for a second screen on Sunday. The Bulls and Rockets provide a couple of affordable NBA DFS picks for this slate. Williams averaged over 30 MPG in his last four games. He’s scored over 30 DKFP in each contest with a high of 38.75 in his most recent game.
Other Options — Corey Kispert ($5,000), Dillon Brooks ($3,900)
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls ($8,000) — Center is strange on this slate. Four of the six highest-priced big men have Q tags or are out. Sengun is healthy. If C Nikola Jokic ($12,000) sits again, then Jokic Lite is the play. Sengun scored 56 DKFP on Friday night. That fantasy score was his second 50 burger in the last three games and was a triple-double. The 22-year-old is on the verge of becoming an all-star in his fourth season.
Other Options — Julius Randle ($8,200)
Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks ($4,200) — C Deandre Ayton ($6,600) missed the Blazers last game. Clingan earned his second straight start. He did little in his first. The second was distinctly different. Clingan scored 50.5 DKFP in 31.5 minutes against the Timberwolves. He almost earned a triple-double the hard way — 17 points, 12 rebounds and 8 blocks.
Other Options — Dario Saric ($4,100), Brandon Clarke ($3,900)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is greenflagradio2) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
