It’s another Big Monday at DraftKings, with a $400,000 contest spanning nine NBA games. Pick your eight-man fantasy lineup (within the $50K salary cap) and you could win one of 25,000 guaranteed cash prizes. Top score is worth $50,000 and it’s only four bucks per team.
Unbeaten at home, the Warriors should trounce New Orleans despite Anthony Davis $9900 and Jrue Holiday $8200 putting up big individual numbers. The only concern about Stephen Curry $10200, Draymond Green $7800 and Klay Thompson $7100 is the possibility of garbage time.
After dropping two straight, the Thunder host Portland in another potentially high-scoring affair. Russell Westbrook $10800, Kevin Durant $10500 and Damian Lillard $9700 all deserve those expensive price tags. The Blazers have potential value plays in Meyers Leonard $3400 and Gerald Henderson $3500.
$400,000 Contest — Win $50,000 For $4
The $400K Four Point Play is only a $4 buy-in, where the top 25,000 finishers (from up to 115,000 teams) win cash. First place earns $50,000. The deadline is 7:00 EST; enter early and make lineup changes until each player’s game begins.
Chicago hobbles into Toronto with Pau Gasol (knee) out and Derrick Rose (groin) doubtful. Jimmy Butler $8000 (knee) has been upgraded to questionable. Taj Gibson $4400 and Nikola Mirotic $4500 are value plays but Kyle Lowry $8200 and DeMar DeRozan $7700 can take over this one. Jonas Valanciunas $5300 has four double-doubles in his last five.
Houston hosts what’s left of the Grizzlies, whose top two scorers last game were Tony Allen $4900 and Lance Stephenson $5500; D-league callup Briante Weber $3000 and newcomer Ray McCallum $3000 are the only PG. Dwight Howard $7800 and James Harden $10500 will be hard to stop, though they might not have to play big minutes. Newest Rocket Michael Beasley $3000 is very live at that price.
Less important in the real league, Minnesota at Phoenix has DFS upside. Karl-Anthony Towns $7900 and Gorgui Dieng $5800 were great in the upset of OKC on Friday, Ricky Rubio $6200 has a good matchup and Andrew Wiggins $6200 has scored 20+ in four straight.
Miami should beat the Nuggets handily with Hassan Whiteside $8200 and Goran Dragic $6700 playing very well. If Dwyane Wade $7100 (thigh) misses another game, Luol Deng $6200 is a solid investment. Will Barton $5900 and D.J. Augustin $4200 have been sharp off the Denver bench if you’re bargain-hunting.
The Mavericks and Hornets are going in opposite directions. Kemba Walker $8700, Nicolas Batum $7400, Marvin Williams $5600 and Al Jefferson $4800 have led Charlotte to seven consecutive wins, while Dallas has dropped five straight despite Dirk Nowitzki $6600 being in a groove, and are now clinging to eighth place.
Also on a five-game slide, the Wizards are in a must-win situation 3.5 games back of Detroit. Expect defensive intensity in that one, and neither team reached 100 in two previous meetings. This road back-to-back for the Cavaliers against the desperate Jazz might be the lowest score of the night. It might be great to watch, just not a fantasy hoops bonanza.
Instead of choosing among the high-priced superstars and filling with ultra-cheap guys, my sample lineup builds around the Raptors’ dynamic duo and the Timberwolves’ big men. I’ve listed Stephenson in the Util spot but am also considering Valanciunas and Marvin in that salary range. Breaking news can create additional opportunities.
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | Russell Westbrook $10800 | Kyle Lowry $8200 | D.J. Augustin $4200 |
| SG | James Harden $10500 | DeMar DeRozan $7700 | Gerald Henderson $3500 |
| SF | Kevin Durant $10500 | Luol Deng $6200 | Lance Stephenson $5500 |
| PF | Anthony Davis $9900 | Gorgui Dieng $5800 | Taj Gibson $4400 |
| C | Hassan Whiteside $8200 | K. Towns $7900 | Jonas Valanciunas $5300 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.