After yesterdays helping of NBA basketball, we get a more relaxed 7-game slate Saturday. Most of the teams playing today are on the second half a back-to-back, so make sure when you decide to fade someone, you have reason. Players like Russell Westbrook will be faded because he is a high-energy player who is coming off a close game versus the Hornets. Even if that seems like the smart play, Westbrook is notorious for responding to big games with even bigger games. Playing the Nuggets is really helping his case and he should be the most productive option in this game. Nikola Jokic has upside, but facing Steven Adams really limits his ability to facilitate and get to certain spots.
Sacramento and Dallas are the only two teams that did not play yesterday, so while they have upside, both face teams that tend to take over games quickly and deliberately. If anything, look for more consistency in the Celtics/Mavericks game. For example, DeAndre Jordan has upside, giving Luka Doncic, J.J. Barea and Dennis Smith Jr. all a safe spot to get assist. Yes, you normally want to stay away from picking against the Celtics defense, but recently they have been slipping and Jordan is matchup-proof. You can either stay away from this trend or buy directly into it. Either way, this game should be close game that will see production coming from different areas. Look for Kyrie Irving per usual, but expect Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier, J.J. Barea and Dwight Powell to exceed their projected. Powell being the big-risk, big-reward play.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/24/18. 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
Terry Rozier - PG, @ DAL ($4,000)
I'm not the biggest fan of taking role players in away games, but Rozier has a bit of a edginess when he plays. He doesn't thrive when on the road like some superstars, but he doesn't necessarily fall under the radar either. This game is going to be close for at least the first half and you should expect Dallas to let Rozier have his freedom all over the court. Other than Wesley Matthews and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Mavericks really don't have many defensive assets. The Celtics beat up on the Hawks last night and even in a blowout, Rozier didn't see all that much production. This is actually promising seeing how Dallas is much more of a threat than Atlanta and should require more focus heading in. Look for him to improve from his 12 points on 11 shots performance Friday night.
Antonio Blakeney - PG/SG @ MIN ($3,400)
Super-value play here, although it doesn't carry a ton of risk. The Timberwolves continue to work on their defensive structure through Robert Covington, but it won't be enough to stop the likes of Zach LaVine and Antonio Blakeney. Although Blakeney is primarily a shooter, his ability to hit threes consecutively and have offensive explosions keep him promptly on the DFS radar. You need to look for matchups like this, where no matter the outcome, one team simply doesn't have the tools to stop other guards. Minnesota will make it certain they keep LaVine from getting to the rim, but it opens the door for Blakeney to sit on the perimeter all game. If you are a fan of rebound games like myself, Blakeney went 0-for-6 last game. As a shooter, I like his odds against a much, much, much worse defensive team.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Eric Gordon - SG/SF @ CLE ($4,500)
Ok, so Eric Gordon isn't a forward, but if you want to use him as one you should. Both the Rockets and the Cavaliers are coming off of tough games yesterday, but it's not like Cleveland is a team that most teams gameplan for. Gordon will get his shots and it's not in question. The only thing to worry about is a blowout, but even then Gordon is still playing and he is still shooting. He hasn't scored 20 or more point in about seven games, so look for the Rockets to get him going early. They do every game, but he is too talented of a scorer to be held back by the Cavaliers defense.
Dario Saric - PF vs. CHI ($4,500)
Until Lauri Markannan returns to the rotation, the Bulls frontcourt will be extremely susceptible to DFS stacking. They do not rebound well and have trouble impacting shots at the rim. They are young and learning, but it's too little too late and Saric will have no problem pick and popping his way to a productive night. The Bulls seem to have zero defensive focus and until they do, I will gladly stack payer against them without hesitation. To be honest, if you can watch the Bulls defense without getting annoyed by the lack of effort, props to you.
DraftKings DFS Center
LaMarcus Aldridge - PF/C at MIL ($7,600)
LaMarcus Aldridge was rolling last night and that should continue Saturday. There is no answer to Aldridge when he is hitting his mid-range and seeing how the Bucks lack defense in that particular department, the upside is there and it's basically glowing. If you decide to play Russell Westbrook, you'll need cap relief without risking production. Here is your guy.