This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Today's article will tackle the four-game offering available for DraftKings, which means that the early games (POR/CHA, ATL/CHI, NY/LAC and HOU/BOS) will be excluded.
There's still plenty of playability on the main slate, even though the contests are lacking in terms of real-world implications. The MIN/WAS clocks in at a slate-leading 238 O/U, with the other three games ranging from 214 to 219, so it's obvious which game I favor stacking today.
I still eked out a GPP win with Westbrook on Saturday, even though he yielded less than expected. Jrue Holiday and Donovan Mitchell got me where I needed for GPP and cash scores. Our big question for today concerns the playability of Westbrook again, this time on a back-to-back against the Grizzlies, who are also playing two in a row. Looking at the slow pace of this game, I'm inclined to say no to Westbrook. The absence of Paul George gave Dennis Schroder and Steven Adams serviceable scores but certainly nothing spectacular. With George potentially out again tonight and a low O/U, it might be a night to avoid the Thunder entirely.
Aside from George and the ongoing injury situations, there isn't much to report on this slate. D.J. Augustin exited the game on Saturday with an ankle sprain and with the quick turnaround, Orlando may elect to sit him. I can't endorse the true point guards on Orlando's roster, so expect the rest of the starters to pick up the slack, with Terrence Ross ($5,000) coming off the bench to provide backup.
GUARDS
Bradley Beal, WAS vs. MIN ($9,200): Beal is a no-brainer call on this slate, especially if you choose to fade Westbrook. There's little doubt that he'll be widely owned, even though we lack any information about the Wizards against Minnesota this season. Beal had a matchup-proof February and hasn't disappointed owners since mid-January when he posted a paltry 16 points against the Pistons. He's flying high with a four-game average of 58 DKFP, so you can start him with confidence.
Kyle Lowry, TOR at DET ($7,700): Lowry's totals have jumped up-and-down a bit over the past few weeks, but they've rarely dipped into the mediocre, with the 17.5 DKFP total against the Bucks as the lone exception over the past month. I think your third guard spot has to be a low-cost option, so padding your total with Lowry is a sensible investment here. I imagine some Lowry/Leonard stacks may crop up today, and it's definitely one way to go tonight.
Tomas Satoransky, WAS vs. MIN ($4,800): Utilizing Ross in a guard slot looks palatable at first glance, but I will stick with the high-scoring matchup and pay down a little for Satoransky. His game will likely be a little more relaxed now that the successful birth of his child is in the rear-view. Although the sleepless nights to come might be the weirdest intangible you could use to gauge his performance moving forward, I'd be more inclined to play him on the road. This slim slate and the fast pace of the game justifies a play for the point guard at a value-beating price.
FORWARDS
OK, let's just establish Kawhi Leonard ($9,100) as a sound way to go tonight. My only knock on Leonard is the price, especially when you consider the other options at forward. He put up 46 DKFP in his last tangle with the Pistons, and he posted a superb 55 DKFP game against Portland on Friday, so he checks all the boxes there. You will likely have to make some sacrifices to field him, however. I don't know that I can take Beal, one of my favored center options AND Leonard without taking a hit elsewhere. For me, it could be an either/or situation with Lowry and Kawhi tonight.
Blake Griffin, DET vs. TOR ($8,400): Griffin is the last player before what I consider to be a significant drop at the position. The most alluring aspect of a Griffin play is his 60 DKFP eruption against the Raptors in their lone matchup this season, but an assortment of 30-ish DKFP performances certainly gives me pause. He's also on a back-to-back but only saw 26 minutes on the court in a blowout against Cleveland. That metric helps tip the scale, and his slightly better performances at home keep me interested.
Jabari Parker, WAS vs. MIN ($4,800): I like Ross at this low spot once again, but I wanted to give you a bit of a contrarian pick in Parker. Way back in November with the Bulls, Parker put up one of his best games of the season against the Timberwolves. With any luck, coach Scott Brooks did his homework and knows about this intangible. Trevor Ariza is also coming off an ice-cold night of shooting, which could also result in a bit more time for Parker. He's mostly a GPP call for me, but I like his chances.
CENTERS
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at WAS ($10,800): It's a go big or go home kind of night at the center position, and all you need to do is look at Towns' three straight 70 DKFP performances to make him a chalk play against Portis, or Bryant, or whoever shows up to contain him. I've knocked Towns' defense in the past, but he's put the work in and has shown marked improvement in that category. He's also shooting lights-out from beyond the arc, which is further padding his totals. I have a hard time getting off him tonight.
Andre Drummond, DET vs. TOR ($8,800): For $2K less, you could end up seeing numbers near Towns' floor out of Drummond, but the arrival of Marc Gasol in Toronto will make things a bit more challenging. His recent resume is impressive and hard to fade, however. In my lineup builds, this is how things went down with Drummond. After chalking up Towns in almost every lineup, I'd comb over some of the weaker spots in a few rosters and used the extra 2K to prop up a spot that could give me more balance, with an eye towards compensating for a big ceiling for Towns.
Jonas Valanciunas, MEM at OKC ($7,000): Those of you who spent too much elsewhere could do a lot worse than Valanciunas, who's enjoying a bit of a renaissance with the Grizzlies. Since the break, he's been a threat to break 40 DKFP almost every night, and if you've watched Memphis at all recently, the remnants of dishing to Marc Gasol are still readily apparent in the offense.
