The only major upset on Monday was the Pacers beating the Mavs in Dallas. If you had unlikely hero Donald Sloan in daily lineups, don’t spend all the winnings in one place.
Usually, I follow multiple NBA games on TV or online. Last night I saw just one — at the Air Canada Centre, where my Raptors held off the determined Suns. (There’s nothing more fun than yelling “Lou” at the top of your lungs in a packed house.) Jonas Valanciunas had a career night, but it’s Kyle Lowry who makes that team go in many ways that fantasy hoops don’t count.
Tonight there are five games in the Association, and New Orleans is the place to be. Anthony Davis $11500 is more consistent than DeMarcus Cousins $10400, but either is capable of a monster line. You can’t afford to own both. The question is whether you can win without choosing the right one.
Plays of the Day
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Jrue Holiday $7500 should get the better of Darren Collison 7000, who is questionable with a sore quad. Backup Ramon Sessions $3000 (knee) would be a great play if he wasn’t also hurting. Ben McLemore $4300 becomes very interesting if neither can go. Rudy Gay $7900 (Achilles) is also not 100%; Derrick Williams $3300 might see extra minutes. The Pelicans won by six in Sacramento a week ago and might romp in this rematch. Tyreke Evans $7200 is solid and Ryan Anderson $6100 will continue to be extra-valuable until Omer Asik $4300 (back) returns.
That is the best I can do using Davis and assuming a big win for his team. Fortunately, we can enter multiple lineups in many of the big guaranteed contests, and the non-AD version below might be stronger — that is, if he doesn’t put up a 40/20 with 6 BLK. It’s “safer” in 50/50 or H2H play.
The Warriors visit Miami; usual suspects Stephen Curry $9500 and Klay Thompson $7100 have a huge advantage over the Heat’s depleted guards. Mario Chalmers $6400 is trying to fill in while Dwyane Wade $7100 (hamstring) and Norris Cole $4000 (finger) recover. Andrew Bogut $5900 (eye) is questionable, making Marreese Speights $5300 worth a longer look while giving Chris Bosh $8500 a chance to dominate inside.
The return of Bradley Beal $6000 has spread the floor for the Wizards and given John Wall $9800 another weapon. Nene Hilario $5000 (foot) is out, so Kris Humphries $4800 becomes a stealth play. Paul Millsap $9400 is the only Hawk I’m even considering.
Brandon Knight $7100 is iffy for the Bucks, which could mean Giannis Antetokuonmpo $6200 becomes the de facto PG at 6’ 11” and still growing. Detroit is 1-6 on the road, with Brandon Jennings $7600 (thumb) questionable. D.J. Augustin $3900 becomes a potential bargain if he starts.
In the nightcap, the Bulls are in Denver. I cleverly loaded up on Jazz players last night, not expecting Derrick Rose $6500 to play at all or Pau Gasol $7200 (calf) to be so effective. In this back-to-back on the road, we still can’t be sure Rose will appear. Stay on top of breaking news if you want to use him. Joakim Noah $7700 got poked in the eye but hopes to play. Don’t overlook rookie Nikola Mirotic $4300, a talented offensive player off the bench. The Nuggets have a much better chance if Ty Lawson $8700 has only Aaron Brooks $4800 to beat. Arron Afflalo $5700 will get the Jimmy Butler $7300 treatment but Wilson Chandler $5900 is heating up.
Good luck! See you on the leaderboard.
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season.
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