The NBA schedule now features a TV doubleheader on ABC each Sunday, and today’s 1:00 Eastern start is a terrific game. The Clippers have lost three in a row and will be determined to end that mini-slide, but they are up against an even more desperate team in Oklahoma City.
At 3:30, the other matinee is completely one-sided as Cleveland can toy with the Lakers. I’d avoid the high-priced Cavs superstars, but there’s always the possibility of big fantasy numbers from low-cost players in garbage time.
Look for Early contests at DraftKings if you want to invest in only those two games. On the right is a stars-and-scrubs sample lineup for you early risers.
The most money will be paid out in contests that close at 6:00 and span the other seven games, but DK also offers Late action at 7:00. If you really like the players from the last three games, it’s an opportunity to use them twice.
Plays of the Day
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The Fantasy Basketball World Championship has a million dollar first prize, to be awarded March 23. There are only 40 seats in the Final; finish first in a Qualifier to win a spot, including a 5-day VIP trip to Las Vegas (worth $55,000) plus a minimum of $7,000 in cash!
The Blazers lost an overtime heartbreaker in Dallas last night, so they will be tired in Houston. James Harden $10100 led the Rockets as usual on Friday and Josh Smith $6100 played a solid 33 minutes off the bench.
San Antonio sits in seventh place with 32 games remaining, so they will not be taking any of them lightly. Kawhi Leonard $7700 is a fantasy stud, and Tony Parker $4900 was excellent against Miami on Friday. On the same night, the Raptors fell behind by 20, then suddenly found a gear that had been missing for quite a while and thrashed the Clippers by 17. The underrated James Johnson $3300 provided the spark.
In the finale, Phoenix should destroy the Kings, who are tired from last night’s loss in Utah and distracted by rumors of yet another coaching change. I touted DeMarcus Cousins $10500 and made a few bucks, he’s a powder keg waiting to explode. If he can direct those frustrations at the Suns, a sixth straight double-double is a foregone conclusion. Ramon Sessions $3000 paid his way and should start again, but Eric Bledsoe $7800 is a much safer play and we have to mention Marcus Morris $3700 off the best game of his career — 34 points including five triples, plus 12 rebounds. My Late sample lineup (left) avoids DMC and keys on Harden, plus five players from the game in Toronto.
That leaves the four 6:00 starts to handicap. Atlanta at Memphis is a classic example of a game that is much better in real life than DFS. I’d love to be courtside, but every point will be hard to come by.
Indiana at Charlotte should also be low-scoring, though regular readers know I’ve been on the Gerald Henderson $4500 bandwagon for two very productive games.
Ricky Rubio $5700 is back, and the Timberwolves are vastly improved. All five starters scored in double figures as they shocked Memphis on Friday, and there won’t be as much defense played in Detroit. I do like Andre Drummond $7900 and Greg Monroe $8400 for the Pistons, but Minnesota wings Kevin Martin $5800 and Andrew Wiggins $6400 could be very difficult to stop.
We told you Chicago would beat the Pelicans last night but did not expect Anthony Davis (shoulder) to get hurt, or the resulting 25-point margin. The Bulls’ starters shouldn’t be too tired in this back-to-back; Derrick Rose $7500 and Pau Gasol $9300 played just 28 minutes. We loved Tobias Harris $6300 for his career-high 34 points against the Lakers on Friday but he and Nikola Vucevic $8500 are up against a much better defensive team tonight.
I’m not uncomfortable entering the exact same lineup in both the 6:00 and 7:00 contests. Unless you really like someone from CHI @ ORL or MIN @ DET, it’s a chance to win twice as much money.
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | Damian Lillard $8700 | Derrick Rose $7500 | Ramon Sessions $3000 |
| SG | James Harden $10100 | Eric Bledsoe $7800 | G. Henderson $4500 |
| SF | Kawhi Leonard $7700 | Tobias Harris $6300 | James Johnson $3300 |
| PF | Pau Gasol $9300 | Tim Duncan $7400 | Marcus Morris $3700 |
| C | D. Cousins $10500 | Nikola Vucevic $8500 | J. Valanciunas $4900 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.