Thanks to the off day yesterday, no team will be traveling to play the second of back-to-back games, and so fatigue should not be a factor in the minutes key players get tonight. Because of injury uncertainties, notably in Los Angeles (Chris Paul), Houson (Jeremy Lin and James Harden), and Brooklyn (Andray Blatche, Brook Lopez), there are some potentially valuable cheap plays in DraftStreet leagues tonight. Be ready to switch one or two bargain plays into your lineup as game time approaches. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
Since the NBA took the day off, there are no fantasy stat lines to compare and contrast.
Friday NBA contests at DraftStreet
The NBA at DraftStreet is back with a full plate of offerings on a busy Friday night. The DraftStreet Basketball Championship is back with Qualifier #5, a $215 buy-in geared for the high roller. The next biggest contest is a $10,000 GPP, priced at $55 per entry. You still have time to reserve your place in the weekly freeroll, which runs today. You can register by clicking any DraftStreet text link and submitting your team. There are plenty of vouchers to be won.
Pacers host John Wall and the Wizards
A look at tonight’s action from a daily fantasy perspective. Dollar figures are DraftStreet salaries. All teams had yesterday off, so none are playing the second of back-to-back games.
Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Bobcats (7:00 pm EST), Over/Under 183; Bobcats -5
The Bucks are still sorting through their talent. The Bobcats may have less depth, but they are far more cohesive and I expect them to win easily.
San Antonio Spurs at Orlando Magic (7:00 pm EST), Over/Under 197; Spurs -8.5
Jameer Nelson/$10,803/ORL is hurt and if he doesn’t play, that will mean more touches for Victor Oladipo/$11,085/ORL. The Magic prized rookie would become a great value play, even against the vaunted Spurs defense. Nikola Vucevic/$14,429/ORL is come off a brilliant game against the Sixers, but will have to deal with a number of quality Spurs frontcourt players.
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors (7:00 pm EST), Over/Under 196.5; Heat -6
LeBron James/$20,117/MIA is rounding into form and is a good bet tonight. For the Raptors, Kyle Lowry/$14,815/TOR and DeMar DeRozan/$13,619/TOR have had great starts to the season.
Dallas Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks (7:300 pm EST), Over/Under 202; Mavs -1
The Hawks come limping home, with key players Jeff Teague/$13,999/ATL and Paul Millsap/$12,080/ATL playing inconsistent ball. Avoid them.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (7:30 pm EST), Over/Under 189; Celtics -3.5.
Andrew Bynum/$9,800/CLE and Tristan Thompson/$9,157/CLE are worth a look due to the interior weakness of the Celtics. I’m calling for a Cavaliers upset.
Los Angeles Lakers at Detroit Pistons (7:30 pm EST), Over/Under 202; Pistons -5.5
Pau Gasol/$15,873/LAL has got into a good groove and combined with scintillating point guard play from Steve Blake/$12,626/LAL and backup Jordan Farmar/$9,605/LAL, the Lakers have bounced back into playoff contention. For the Pistons, Rodney Stuckey/$10,525/DET has been on fire coming off the bench.
Brooklyn Nets at Houston Rockets (8:00 pm EST), Over/Under 206 ; Rockets -10.
Joe Johnson/$10,979/BKN has stepped up the scoring, but the depleted Nets won’t be able to keep up with Houston’s varied attack. If the Rockets’ James Harden/$17,178/HOU and Jeremy Lin/$11,844/HOU can’t go, Aaron Brooks/$5,485/HOU and Francisco Garcia/$5,262/HOU will get extra minutes. Mizra Teletovic/$3,678/BKN is a super-cheap play to consider depending on how the Nets injuries play out.
Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder (8:00 pm EST), Over/Under 203.5; Thunder -7 .
This might be the highest scoring game of the night. Serge Ibaka/$14,440/OKC is one of the best value plays among star players tonight.
Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers (8:00 pm EST), Over/Under 187.5; Pacers -10
John Wall/$19,239/WAS had a off-game in the Wizards’ overtime win over the Bucks, and is not a recommended play tonight against the stingy Pacers’ defense. Martell Webster/$12,758/WAS has been a solid play for a couple of weeks, but that run might end today.
New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers (8:00 pm EST), Over/Under 209; Pelicans -4.
Anthony Davis/$19,371/NOP should have a monster game, especially if Spencer Hawes/$16,931/PHI can’t play. The Sixers were blown out in New Orleans, but at home I expect them to stay in this one to the end.
New York Knicks at Denver Nuggets (9:00 pm EST), Over/Under 202; Nuggets -8.5
Andrea Bargnani/$11,666/NYK has stepped up to ease Carmelo Anthony’s /$19,253/NYK burden. It hasn’t helped the Knicks win, but has kept them in games.
Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz (9:00 pm EST), Over/Under 191; Suns -2
If Enes Kanter/$10,106/UTA can’t play, Rudy Gobert/$7,878/UTA will get extra playing time and becomes a good speculative play. Assuming Eric Bledsoe/$14,793/PHO can’t go, Goran Dragic/$14,262/PHO will run the offense. He and Channing Frye/$9,734/PHO are among the best value plays of the night.
Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings (10:00 pm EST), Over/Under 205; Clippers -4.
Chris Paul/$20,625/LAC had to leave the Knicks-Clippers game early two nights ago. If he is limited at all, Darren Collison/$5,829/LAC becomes an interesting bargain play.
My recommended lineup in the $2/1,100 max entry ($99,825 salary spent of $100,000 max):
Stars Worth Starting: Serge Ibaka/OKC, Goran Dragic/PHO,
Bargain Plays: Channing Frye/PHO, Victor Oladipo/ORL, Andrea Bargnani/NYK
Speculative Plays: Nikola Vucevic/ORL, Steve Blake/LAL, Ryan Anderson/NOP
The Fantasy Spin is here every day, around noon EST. Follow me @robdudek for breaking news and pre-game thoughts relevant to NBA daily fantasy.