Detroit Pistons @ Los Angeles Lakers

Over/Under: 215.5

Spread: LAL -12.5

The Detroit Pistons travel into LA to take on the Lakers here tonight in a late-night Westcoast showdown!

News to Watch:

*LeBron James – Playing

*Anthony Davis – Playing

*Wayne Ellington – Doubtful (Calf)

*Derrick Rose - OUT

Player Breakdown:

CPT/MVP:

1.) LeBron James PG/SF (LAL) $18,900 –

This is absolutely a steep price to pay on this slate, but with AD questionable to play, LBJ should have a massive usage rate in the event that he does sit. LBJ is literally one of the only players in this game other than Davis that has the ability to go for 60+ fantasy points nightly. Fresh off a 61-fantasy point outing last time out against the Nuggets with a 27-point, 10 board, 10 assists and one block triple-double in 35 minutes on the floor. Also, the Pistons are allowing the fourth most fantasy points to the PG spot.

2.) Anthony Davis PF/C (LAL) $17,700 - 

With AD suiting up to take the floor this is a prime spot here as the Pistons are allowing the 2nd MOST fantasy points to the Center spot. AD has been hampered by injury latley, and could be why his production has been a bit down, but we know the kind of upside he brings and this is too good of a spot to pass up. Davis went for 53 three-games ago against a weak BOS frontcourt, and has 60+ point upside. 

3.) Mason Plumlee C (DET) $11,400 –

If you feel like playing a contrarian angle here for this game, can look at Plumlee as a much cheaper CPT/MVP option with 35-fantasy point upside. The last time these two played, Plumlee accumulated 36 fantasy points in just 27 minutes with 17 points, 10 boards, two dimes, and a block.

 

MID-TIER:

1.) Jerami Grant SF/PF (DET) $9,000 –

I believe there will be enough value, and even if you decide to pay down at CPT/MVP, you should be able to fit Grant here, who should provide a solid floor for your line up. Grant continues to play heavy minutes on a nightly basis and literally has become the number one option for this Pistons team. He has been a bit on the lower-production side as of late, but he did go for 44 fantasy points two games ago against a good Utah Jazz team. This isn’t a great match up, and mainly why I elected to keep him off of the CPT/MVP list, but I do think he fits well as a FLEX play in order to help provide a nice floor of around at least 30-fantasy points.

2.) Delon Wright PG (DET) $7,200 –

Delon has been consistently putting up decent numbers as the starting PG for this Pistons team, and he, much like Grant, should provide another solid fantasy-scoring option for tonight. Wright has put up 23 or more fantasy points in his last nine-straight contests and has shown the flashes of upside with games of 34, 57, and 35 in that span. He is seeing 27-32 minutes a game and you need these mid-tier plays in your lineups to help keep the points rolling upwards.

3.) Josh Jackson SG/SF (DET) $6,400 –

Feel like most of the FLEX value is on the Pistons team here, and this like allows you to get the big-guns from the Lakers. Jackson should continue to see good run with Wayne Ellington looking to sit this game out with a calf ailment. Jackson is fresh off a 25-minute outing last night against the Suns where he put up 24 fantasy points on 11 points, three boards, five dimes, and one steal. He provides nice upside with his ability to fill up the stat sheet and he has now seen 24, 30, and 25 minutes over his last three contests while accumulating 24, 38, and 30 fantasy points as a result. He is a solid mid-tier option here tonight and could be a sneaky value captain if you are playing in large-field tournaments.


DART THROWS:

1.) Talen Horton-Tucker SF (LAL) $4000 –

THT is fresh off a pretty big game off the bench last time out as he put up 32 fantasy points against the Nuggets in just 22 minutes on the floor with 17 points, three boards, two dimes, three steals, and a block. He could easily see 18-22 minutes off the bench again, and we see the kind of upside he brings when he gets decent run. It is a risky play, but at the price he could present a huge boost if he gets going.

2.) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG/SF (LAL) $3,800 –

We know that KCP is going to get the run at the 2-guard spot as the starting SG and he is seeing on average 25-28 minutes nightly. His production is sporadic, but we have seen a few 20+ fantasy point outings and as mentioned, the Pistons don’t exactly cover the guard spot too well. He is a roster-filler mainly, but he does allow you to get another piece of the Lakers if stacking.

2.) Isaiah Stewart C (DET) $2,800 –

Stewart is in the rotation for the Pistons and has played 20 or more minutes in four-straight games while putting up 18 or more fantasy points in three of the four, including a 30-fantasy points effort last night against the Suns where he recorded a 10 point, 10 board, one dime, two block, and a steal double-double in just 24 minutes (Griffin was out). However, he could provide a solid 5x value play here with the minutes he has been receiving lately in relief of Plumlee.