Sunday features two matinees at 3:30 Eastern. The Cavaliers are favored to make it six straight wins as the Pacers visit, though LeBron James $10200 is probably not 100% after taking a knee to the thigh on Friday.
George Hill $5800 gets the nod over Mo Williams $5900 and Paul George $8600 could take advantage if LBJ is hobbled. Monta Ellis $5500 is also playable, but Kevin Love $7700 is averaging a double-double and his usage could go up, making him the safest pick from either team.
In the other 3:30 start, the Knicks should earn their first home W of the young season by beating the Lakers. DraftKings offers Early contests covering just those two games in addition to All-Day action on the full 5-game slate.
Defense will not be a priority in this one. Carmelo Anthony $8400 is due to explode after a 16-for-61 stretch and if you haven’t seen Kristaps Porzingis $5600 yet, the kid is for real. For L.A., youngsters Julius Randle $6700 and Jordan Clarkson $5700 are playing well, but Kobe Bryant $6200 is slowly losing his war with Father Time.
Plays of the Day
The Early $35K Sharpshooter is just a $3 buy-in (FREE to new depositors at DK) that pays the top 2,750 finishers from up to 13,415 teams. First place wins $2,000. Enter soon before it fills; you can make unlimited lineup changes until the 3:30 deadline.
The largest guaranteed prize pools close at 6:00, when the Raptors tip off in Miami, with or without DeMarre Carroll $5600. The defensive stalwart has plantar fasciitis, a painful foot inflammation even when walking. To run and jump in an NBA game must be excruciating. It explains his recent “shooting slump” and Terrence Ross $3000 will get the start if DMC can’t go. Cory Joseph $3200 is another “live” bargain.
Chris Bosh $7000 might torch his former team and Hassan Whiteside $7600 is a tough opponent for Jonas Valanciunas $6300. Toronto’s backcourt of Kyle Lowry $8000 and DeMar DeRozan will need to be at their very best to avoid going 0-for-Florida.
There is also Late DFS action at 7:00 spanning just two games. The highest-scoring tilt of the entire day should be Phoenix at Oklahoma City. Russell Westbrook $10800 and Kevin Durant $9600 will be determined to atone for three straight losses. Serge Ibaka $6600 is recommended because Steven Adams $4000 (back) is questionable, which also makes Enes Kanter $5300 more of a factor. If you anticipate a blowout, add D.J. Augustin $3100 to the stack.
The Blazers have surprised in three straight victories, with Damian Lillard $8600 and C.J. McCollum $6400 leading the way. Al-Farouq Aminu $6100 is their glue guy, though he was a better daily play before his salary caught up to his ability. Mason Plumlee $5400 is in trouble vs. Andre Drummond $9000 and the 4-1 Pistons are vastly improved over last season — especially on defense.
The Short List and sample lineup cover All-Day contests but you’ll notice I prefer the evening games. It’s extreme stars-and-scrubs, with three very expensive studs and five guys I hope will outproduce their cost.
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | Russell Westbrook $10800 | Damian Lillard $8600 | Cory Joseph $3200 |
| SG | DeMar DeRozan $7400 | C.J. McCollum $6400 | Terrence Ross $3000 |
| SF | Kevin Durant $9600 | Carmelo Anthony $8400 | Maurice Harkless $3500 |
| PF | Kevin Love $7700 | Serge Ibaka $6600 | Kristaps Porzingis $5600 |
| C | Andre Drummond $9000 | Hassan Whiteside $7600 | Enes Kanter $5300 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.