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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on November 23, 2018. Daniel Benjamin provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
After the annual off day for every NBA team, aka Thanksgiving Day, Friday's slate is almost full with 14 games on the docket. The Kings and Mavericks are the only two teams that are not playing, meaning there are a lot of appealing options available.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/23/18. Since the Nets and Timberwolves tip-off at 12 p.m. and the Clippers face the Grizzlies in the afternoon, I did not consider any of those players for this article. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on DraftKings.
You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. As always, don't set your lineups to early and check player statuses before the opening tip.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Trey Burke - PG, vs. NO ($4,400)
Burke is a risky value play here. The risk has more to do with coach David Fizdale's thinking/plan than Burke's play. The 26-year-old has been fantastic lately as he is averaging 25.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, as well as 1.3 steals over his last four games. He is shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from beyond the arc while making 2.3 triples a game during this stretch.
Burke is coming off his best game of the season against the Celtics on Wednesday night. Not only did he become just the third player in franchise history to put up at least 28 points, 10 assists and five rebounds off the bench, but he also iced the game with his fourth three-pointer of the contest with 12 seconds remaining.
The University of Michigan product, who is averaging 28.2 minutes of playing time over the last five games, has been playing behind starter Emmanuel Mudiay the last four games. The 32 minutes of court time that he earned against the Celtics is his most playing time this season; it also marked the first time he saw at least 30 minutes on the floor since the third game of the campaign. Overall, Burke has scored in double-figures in each of his last five appearances and six of eight this month.
Burke started this hot streak against the Pelicans seven days ago. The 6-foot-1 point guard tallied 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting from the field. However, he didn't provide much else and registered 30 Draft Kings fantasy points. He is producing over 39 fantasy points over the last four games.
New Orleans is giving up the second most points in the league overall (119.7) as opponents are shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from behind the arc. The Pelicans defense has been just as leaky recently as their last five opponents have put up an average of 118.6 points while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 39.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Opposing point guards have had a field day against the Pelicans this season, racking up an average of 28.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists a game. The 28.5 points a game are the second most points allowed to point guards this season.
Eric Bledsoe - PG/SG vs. PHO ($6,700)
Bledsoe is having arguably the best season of his career. He is averaging 19.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.5 turnovers per 36 minutes this year. While his scoring average is down, his rebounds, assists and turnover numbers are a career-best per 36 minutes. The 28-year-old is also shooting the best from the field overall as well as producing his highest effective shooting percentage and true shooting percentage ever. Additionally, his 1.342 points per shot are just a couple hundredths of a point lower than his career best.
Bledsoe has upped his production over the last five games. The former Kentucky Wildcat is averaging 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.8 turnovers during this span. He is shooting 61.4 percent from the floor and 47.6 percent from long distance as he is making two triples a game during this stretch.
Bledsoe, who has a fantastic matchup against the Suns, has scored in double figures in seven straight games. This includes three games of 20 or more points. Plus, the ninth-year pro has thrived at home this year as he is producing 16.0 points on 54.8 percent shooting overall and 36.7 percent from beyond the arc. at the Fiserv Forum.
Phoenix ranks in the bottom two-thirds of the league in scoring defense overall as well as against opposing backcourts. The Suns do defend the three-point line well.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Paul George SF/PF vs. CHA ($8,600)
George's price tag is a little high, but he is averaging 53.3 Draft King points over the last five games. The 6-foot-9 forward has produced at least 45 fantasy points in eight of his previous 10 contests with 32 points being the floor during this stretch.
The 28-year-old is currently playing at the highest level of his career. He has virtually carried the Thunder this season with Russell Westbrook dealing with the myriad of issues that he has had. George has scored at least 23 points and grabbed six or more rebounds in nine straight games. The Fresno State product has compiled three of his five double-doubles during this period.
George, who is averaging 30.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists over his last five games, will look to make amends for his poor shooting performance against the Hornets earlier this year. In the Nov. 1 meeting, George accumulated 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals as well as four blocks. But he missed 16 of 20 shots from the field, including all 10 of his three-point attempts.
Anthony Davis PF/C at NY ($11, 600)
Davis' price tag is even more astronomical than George's, but at the same token, his recent play makes it worth using him. The 25-year-old, the NBA's leader in fantasy points, has totaled at least 53.2 points in Draft Kings in each of his last five games. He produced 59.5 Draft King points in his last outing versus the 76ers despite just scoring 12 points. In Wednesday's game against the 76ers, Davis also collected 16 rebounds, six assists, five steals along with five blocks.
The University of Kentucky product, who had his 20-point streak snapped at eight straight games, is averaging 30. 6 points along with 12.0 caroms, five dimes, 2.6 blocks and two steals in the last five games. Overall, he has scored in double-figures eight times and posted six double-doubles in November.
Davis feasted on rookie Mitchell Robinson in the last meeting against the Knicks on Nov. 16. The 6-foot-10 big man tallied 22 of his 43 points when Robinson was guarding him. He finished the game 16-for-25 from the field and 10-for-15 from the free throw line. Davis also pulled down 17 rebounds (four offensive), collected five assists, one steal, and one block.
While I wouldn't count on Davis putting up that number again or Robinson guarding him as much, the Knicks and Pelicans are among the worst defensive teams in the league. So, expect a lot of points.
DraftKings DFS Center
Jusuf Nurkic - C at GS ($6,600)
There are several outstanding options at center. For a value play, fantasy owners may want to go with the Hawks' John Collins. The only problem with going with Collins on a minutes restriction.
Nurkic has improved in each of his first four seasons, and he has continued making progress in his development this season. The 7-footer has scored in double-figures in 12 straight games, although he had his streak of five consecutive double-doubles snapped on Wednesday when he finished the game against the Bucks with 16 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes. Overall, the fifth-year pro has produced 15.2 points along with 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 blocks in the last five contests.
The Warriors have been one of the best at defending centers this season, although they have been a little leaky in that area recently. The Dubs have allowed opposing centers to shoot 60.6 percent from the field over the last five games, which is the second highest in the league during this span. The Warriors have permitted each of the previous four centers that they have faced to register a double-double. The Thunder's Steven Adams posted 20 points and 11 rebounds against them on Wednesday. LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, and Clint Capela are the other centers that they have recently gone up against.
