RADIO
The NBA playoffs continue after an exhilarating two days of action. With the absence of an actual home court, things have been interesting, to say the least. On Monday, the Nets almost overcame a 33-point deficient to nearly take Game 1 from the defending champs. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, we saw the Magic and Trail Blazers upset the Bucks and Lakers.
Wednesday isn't short of any enticing matchups as four games are on tap, with the first game tipping-off at 1:30 pm (eastern). As always, it's crucial to monitor injuries as absences will undoubtedly open the door for increased playing time for many. Just remember, if you find yourself with extra cash, you DO NOT have to spend it, especially if a cheaper player is projected to produce at a higher level. As of this writing, the following notables will not play on Wednesday: Mike Conley, Ben Simmons, Gary Harris, Jamal Crawford, Gordon Hayward, and Will Barton. On the other hand, Jaylen Brown is listed on the injury report but will likely play, while Kristaps Porzingis is 50/50, at the moment.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 8/19/20. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen and say hello. I love answering questions, so please drop me a message. Good luck.
FanDuel DFS Guards
Donovan Mitchell, SG - @ DEN ($8,200)
Mitchell took advantage of the absence of Mike Conley, who left the confines of the NBA bubble due to the birth of his child. While he has since returned, he will still need to go through a few days of quarantine before he can re-join his team on the floor. In the interim, Mitchell should continue to run things from the point and see a high usage percentage as a result. He concluded Game 1 with staggering 76.3 fantasy points, thanks mainly in part to a 57-point effort. Though he can't be expected to produce a similar result, he should still have no issues hitting his value.
Fred Vanvleet, SG - vs. BKN ($7,700)
To put it as nicely as possible, VanVleet made every Nets' defender look completely lost most of the night during the Game 1 win. His dribbling acumen was too much for anyone as he was always seemingly one step-back away from draining an open look. Overall, he finished Game 1 with 30 points, making 11 of his 15 attempts from the field and going 8-for-10 from deep. He also added 11 assists, two steals, two boards, and a block, and should continue to have his way against Brooklyn in Game 2, just like he has all season.
Kemba Walker, PG - vs. PHI ($6,900)
After head coach Brad Stevens took it easy on Walker at the end of the regular season to allow him to work through a sore knee, Walker was ready to handle a full workload during Game 1. He had a relatively solid showing in the win over the Ben Simmons-less Sixers, finishing with 19 points through 34 minutes. With Gordon Hayward out of the picture for at least a month with a bum ankle, you can expect Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Marcus Smart to all benefit.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Tobias Harris, SF - @ BOS ($7,200)
Harris' price is a bargain considering his increased role with Ben Simmons out for the year with a knee ailment. He led his team with 39 minutes during the Game 1 loss and finished with a 6-for-15 shooting effort for 15 points. There is a strong chance that he gets his act together for Game 2, especially from downtown, and should be able to produce a more impactful fantasy performance.
Daniel Theis, PF - vs. PHI ($5,000)
With all of the expensive options on Wednesday's schedule, Theis is in a position to exceed his value against the Sixers at a discounted price. He finished Game 1 with only nine points for 23.1 fantasy points, but he has a decent chance to come close to at least 25-30 fantasy points in Game 2.
Matisse Thybulle, SF - @ BOS ($3,700)
As expected, coach Brown gave heavy minutes to his starting unit and a select few reserves during the Game 1 loss to Boston. While Thybulle didn't start, he still logged 33 minutes and finished with just over 20 fantasy points. At a price of only $3,700, he will only need to rack up 18.5 fantasy points on Wednesday to hit value, which is very attainable as long as he continues to get time on the court, which he should.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Joel Embiid, C - @ BOS ($9,300)
Embiid is a guy you want to make room for in your roster on Wednesday, and with the injury to Ben Simmons, he will be the undisputed No. 1 option on the offensive end for the Sixers. Though he only shot 8-for-15 from the field during the Game 1 loss to Boston, he made up for it by going 9-for-12 from the charity stripe and pulling down 16 rebounds. The Celtics don't really have anyone capable of containing him underneath the rim, so another spectacular fantasy showing should be right around the corner.
