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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on March 3, 2020. Dale Johnson provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have been rewarded with an eight-game slate on Tuesday with some of the best (and worst) on display here. Let us take a look at some enticing matchups and different spreads to see which games we can exploit.
The Washington at Sacramento (-5.5) is sure to boast some high-scoring fantasy studs on Tuesday. Good things come to players who play against the Wizards. Wizards are top-five in pace and bottom-five in defensive rating. Opponents tend to do well against the Wizards and even the Wizards have been shown to put up huge offensive outbursts, but are subject to random blowouts. The matchup I am the most excited about is Minnesota at New Orleans (-11.5). This game has the highest projected point total of the night at 247.5. Both teams have been lacking on defense lately and given up a ton of points. This always breeds a good fantasy outing.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 3/3/20. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Lonzo Ball - PG, NO v. MIN ($7,300)
Ball has been extremely consistent over the past month and then had a 50.75 fantasy-point outburst against his former team on Sunday. The addition of Zion Williamson has done wonders for Ball's production on the court. In the 15 games Williamson has played in, Ball averaged 10.8 points, 8.3 assists, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 three-pointers, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks in 34.9 minutes per game. Ball and the high-paced Pelicans host the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, who have struggled recently. Minnesota has lost seven of their past eight games. Over this stretch, they are the worst-ranked defense in the league. Look for Ball to be a floor general as always.
Jaylen Brown - SG/SF, BOS v. BKN ($7,100)
Brown has scored at least 20 points in four straight games and seven of his past 10. What really intrigues me here is Kemba Walker (knee), Marcus Smart (illness) and Jayson Tatum (illness) are all questionable for Tuesday. Walker is expected to play albeit in limited minutes, but both Smart and Tatum missed Monday's practice and coach Brad Stevens is "uncertain" about their status. Illnesses come and go so they both may play, but Brown would be an elite play if otherwise. The Brooklyn Nets have lost four straight and the 29th-ranked defense over this span. During the losing streak, the Nets have given up the sixth-most points, sixth-best three-point percentage and fourth-most three-pointers made to opposing guards.
Buddy Hield - SG/SF, SAC v. WAS ($5,500)
How the mighty have fallen. It really is surprising to see Hield at this price tag especially after just winning the three-point contest, but his workload has been diminished since the All-Star break with just 23.7 minutes per game. Despite the lower playing time, he is still putting up averages of 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 three-pointers, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals post All-Star break. The great news is the Kings host the Washington Wizards. Hield produces more at home and the Wizards have given up the fifth-most points to opposing guards over the past five games. The Wizards are also the fifth-ranked team in pace and 29th-ranked team in defensive rating. Those two stats mixed together create a high-scoring atmosphere. Another option would be Hield's teammate, Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,400) who has been consistent and slightly less in the doghouse with Sacramento's coaching staff.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
DeMar DeRozan - SG/SF, SA @ CHA ($7,400)
DeRozan and the Spurs are on the second night of a back-to-back and DeRozan struggled a bit in the first leg against Indiana on Monday. Despite this, DeRozan is still a solid play here. On zero days rest this season, DeRozan has put up averages on 22.0 points on 47.3 percent shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 33.4 minutes per game. Derozan also boasts a +3.9 plus/minus rating which is the highest in comparison to any other amount of days rest this year. Surprisingly, DeRozan also plays better on the road and the Hornets are the 25th-ranked defense this season. With LaMarcus Aldridge (shoulder) also uncertain for this contest, DeRozan should do some heavy lifting on offense.
Mikal Bridges - SG/SF, PHO v. TOR ($5,400)
Bridges is one of the direct beneficiaries from the Kelly Oubre (knee) injury news. Bridges has been elite in steals and solid to all other categories this year while also not needing much usage or minutes to produce. On paper, this is a nightmare matchup with Toronto being one of the best teams in the league. However, injuries have hampered Toronto lately who have lost three straight. Over this span, the Raptors are just the 16th-ranked defense, but the 27th-ranked offense, boasting a league-worst 38.5 percent shooting from the field. They also gave up the fifth-most threes and blocks during the losing streak. Bridges is a solid pick in this slate with a high ceiling.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Steven Adams - C, OKC v. LAC ($6,200)
Adams and the Thunder were on a tear post All-Star break until they hit the wall that is the Milwaukee Bucks. The 47-point blowout loss limited Adams to just eight points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes. The good news, however, is that Adams has now had a three-day break and his price has dropped in what is a beatable matchup. The Clippers have had a weak point at center this season, ranking dead last in defensive rating against centers this year. They also give up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers. One of the problems against the Bucks was the inability of Adams to keep up with the faster Giannis Antetokounmpo. With a matchup against Ivica Zubac and sometimes Montrezl Harrell, he should play much better.
James Johnson- PF/C, MIN @ NO ($4,800)
Johnson has been a huge beneficiary from the trade deadline and is reaping the benefits with Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) out for the foreseeable future. Johnson had a disappointing showing on Sunday in what was a blowout loss, but was playing extremely well prior to this game. Over the six games prior, Johnson avearged 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.7 steals. In fact, Sunday's performance actually lowered Johnson's price tag ahead of a juicy matchup for Tuesday's slate. As mentioned before, this is the highest-projected point total of the night against the fast-paced New Orleans Pelicans and Johnson should have plenty of oppurtunities to produce on both ends of the floor.
