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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on August 9, 2020. Dennis Clausen provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
As the weekend comes to a close, the league's regular-season is also beginning to wind down. With the postseason right around the corner, things will start to get a little more complicated, especially as it relates to the availability and workload of players on teams that have already locked up a playoff spot.
The bubble has made things challenging to some degree regarding injuries and lineup construction, primarily since games start earlier in the day. Though late-swap is an option, one last-minute scratch can throw things out of wack. Nonetheless, there are already some confirmed absences on Sunday as Russell Westbrook, Ben Simmons, Patrick Beverley, Eric Gordon, Zion Williamson, and Richaun Holmes will not suit up.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 8/9/20. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
James Harden, SG - @ SAC ($10,800)
With Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon out of the mix against the Kings, Harden will receive nearly a nine percent bump in usage, while also gaining 6.6 in plus/minus differential. In the win over the Lakers on Thursday, the former MVP finished with 39 points on an efficient 11-for-19 shooting from the field. He also drained half of his 10 attempts from deep and was a perfect 12-for-12 at the charity stripe. Expect him to have the ball in his hands a ton against Sacramento, and should be a lock for everyone's lineup.
Ja Morant, PG - @ TOR ($7,400)
As the Grizzlies scratch and claw to hold on to playoff hopes, Morant should continue to get plenty of chances to accrue some fantasy points. He racked up at least 42.7 fantasy points in three of the Memphis' five restart games and should continue to produce throughout the team's potential final few games of the season.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG - vs. HOU ($5,400)
Bogdanovic has received plenty of minutes as of late and has stepped up for a team that likely won't make the playoffs. He led the Kings in scoring during the loss to the Brooklyn Nets, finishing with 27 points on 11-for-19 shooting from the field and 50 percent shooting from behind the arc. Look for him, along with De'Aaron Fox, to continue to carry the offensive workload for Sacramento until the end of the season.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Tobias Harris, SF - @ POR ($7,500)
Ben Simmons will have surgery on his left knee and may be done for a while, possibly for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs. In his stead, Harris will now be the No. 2 option on offense for a Sixers squad that will be looking to make some noise in the postseason. During Philadelphia's most recent game against the Orlando Magic, the 28-year-old logged 40 minutes and took a team-high 21 shot attempts. He also added 15 boards and should continue to see plenty of action moving ahead on a team that doesn't have a lot of options off the bench.
Al Horford, PF - @ POR ($6,200)
As in Tobias Harris' case, Horford should also see a statistical increase with Ben Simmons out of the lineup. While his asking price is higher than it was a few nights ago, it is still a bargain considering his potential output and role moving ahead. He fell short of a double-double by one rebound against the Magic, but still managed to finish with 36.8 fantasy points, which was 7.7x his value.
Harrison Barnes, PF - vs. HOU ($4,400)
Richaun Holmes will not play against the Rockets, which should open the door for Barnes to see an expanded role. He averaged nearly 29 fantasy points in his previous two contests, and will only need 22 fantasy points to hit his value. The Rockets primarily play small-ball with P.J. Tucker and Robert Covington underneath the basket, so the veteran could get his fair share of minutes against Houston on Sunday.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Jusuf Nurkic, C - vs. PHI ($8,500)
Nurkic suffered a horrific leg injury against the Nets last season, and his availability for 2019-2020 was in jeopardy as a result. However, with a four-month layoff due to COVID-19, he had some extra time to heal and rehab, and it seems to have paid off. In the five games since the big man's return to the lineup, he is averaging over 50 fantasy points per game. With Hassan Whiteside out, he should get enough minutes in the middle to produce on Sunday, despite being matched up against Joel Embiid.
