Charlotte Hornets @ Orlando Magic

Total: 213.5

ORL -3

 

Charlotte Hornets

After not making any moves at the trade deadline, it seems as if Kemba Walker has taken it upon himself to try and carry the team himself. He's scored 30 or more actual points in five straight games and has gone for at least 53 FP in all five of those games as well. He's been decent against the Magic in two meetings averaging 38.4 FP/game. Jeremy Lamb has been doing his best "Robin" impression as well, scoring 20 or more actual points in three or four games and has averaged 36 FP/game over his last four.

Nobody else on the Hornets is a very exciting roster. Cody Zeller has been extremely consistent since returning from injury and saw his minutes creep up into the 30's, which is obviously a bonus. He's one of the stronger value plays on the board. Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams are both last piece of your build type plays, not priorities by any means. I don't want any exposure to the Hornets bench. They stink.

 

Orlando Magic

The Magic check into this game on a roll, winning four straight games and six of their last seven and are now just two games back in the loss column for the eigth and final playoff seed. We LOVE attacking Charlotte in the front court and we have one of the best post players in the game in Nikola Vucevic to attack them with. Vooch has averaged 31.4 FP over the two meetings with Charlotte and has only played around 22 minutes per game! He's notched a double-double in eight of his last nine games.

Aaron Gordon has been up and down all year long and is a GPP play only, so when better to take a shot on his 50-point upside than on a three-game slate? Gordon's .99 FP/min average is second on the team behind Vucevic. Evan Fournier has had back-to-back 30-plus FP outings and draws an exploitable matchup against a Hornets defense ranking 21st against shooting-guards on the year. Fournier is a cash game play. Terrence Ross absolutely demolished everyone's lineup he was in the other night, so what better to come right back to the well the next time he's on the slate? GPP's only.

Jonathan Isaac is here and he's here to stay, ya'll. If you haven't realized it yet, open your eyes. Not only are we getting the peripheral stats from Isaac now, but the scoring is coming around as he's poured in 17 or more actual points in three straight games. And about those peripheral's I briefly touched on; he has at least two blocks in seven straight games and has grabbed six or more rebounds in eight of his last 10. Deploy him in any format you'd like. Isaiah Briscoe is a play in a GPP's considering it's just a three-game slate. He's a fantastic passer and the Magic have taken note of just that, as he's averaged 22.2 minutes over his last five games. He's not a core play by any means, but in play as a last piece value play for tournaments.

 

New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks

Total: 225.5

ATL -8

 

New York Knicks

The Knicks have lost 18 straight games but at least since acquiring Dennis Smith Jr. they've been able to keep games competitive. Thing is, Smith Jr. hasn't been good the last three games shooting 40-percent or worse in three straight games. The Hawks rank dead last against point-guards, however, so let's jump back on the DSJ train here. Kadeem Allen has seen at least 23 minutes and has scored at least 27 FP in three straight games. Is fine for tournaments.

Sure the Knicks acquired DeAndre Jordan , but Mitchell Robinson is the center worth rostering from the Knicks right now. Robinson went for 45 FP on Wednesday night and notched his second triple-double over the past five games. He's blocked at least one shot in 10 straight games and has two or more in nine of 10. Allonzo Trier , Damyean Dotson , and Kevin Knox are all GPP plays only.

 

Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young got a bump I think everyone should have expected as he's now up over 8K on DraftKings. Thing is, there is still upside at that price tag after seeing him go for 54 FP on a bad shooting night. It's good to see Jon Collins minutes back up over 30 as he's cleared that mark three times over his last four games. Collins has always been a GPP play exclusively and a three-game slate doesn't change that at all.

With Kevin Huerter a little banged up, I'll lean Taurean Prince in this contest. Prince's minutes have been on the climb averaging 28.4 over his last four along with 24.4 FP per game. Dewayne Dedmon and Alex Len both are DECENT options, but secondary plays at best.

 

Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Pelicans

Total: 236

OKC -8

 

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are going to be without Dennis Schroder and Jeremi Grant on Thursday which is what they dealt with in their last game as well. We saw a bunch of guys get rotational minutes, including Raymond Felton and Deonte Burton . Both are interesting tournament plays as Felton played 21 minutes after not playing since December 30th and Burton played 26 minutes and scored a career-high 18 points. GPP's only for both.

We know Paul George and Russell Westbrook are both elite plays. Don't need to touch on that too much if we're being honest. Steven Adams has been bad lately, going for 30 or fewer fantasy points in four straight, but he's avg. 35 FP/game in three meetings against the Pelicans. I'm not sure I want to pay for him today, however.

 

New Orleans Pelicans

Will Anthony Davis come to play today? Who has a crystal ball? If he does show up and want to play, will Alvin Gentry allow him to and play him for an extended period of time? The world may never know, but his price is allllllll the way down to 9K, so it might be worth it to find out. This is a guy we've seen touch 13K this year when he was at his peak. GPP's only, of course, but he honestly might be the highest owned player of the slate at that tag.

After Davis, the interest dies down FAST. Jrue Holiday is safe for all formats now that his price has drastically fallen -- for the better. Julius Randle still remains a bench guy playing behind Jahlil Okafor , which is insane but it is what it is. The point-guard situation is an absolute disaster, BUT, if E'Twaun Moore starts at point-guard again, I would have some interest there. Kenrich Williams also played 30 minutes AGAIN even though the Pelicans got blown out against the Magic.

 

OPTIMAL LINEUPS WILL BE POSTED AN HOUR OR SO BEFORE LINEUP LOCK