Dallas Mavericks & Sacramento Kings

Spread: Mavericks -1.5

Total: 220.5

Injuries:

Dallas Mavericks:

Luka Doncic – Out

Tim Hardaway Jr. – Out

Trey Burke – Out

Maxi Kleber – Out

Brandon Knight – Out

Willie Cauley-Stein - Out

Sacramento Kings:

None

*Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.

MVP/CPT

Kristaps Porzingis, PF (DAL) – In this case, the most expensive option appears to be the best option as there is no doubt who the offense runs through these days in Dallas. Porzingis is coming off a 34 point, nine rebound, five assist performance against Portland on Saturday and there’s no reason why he can’t repeat that tonight. The scoring isn’t a complete surprise as it’s also been in there for Porzingis, but the extra volume is agreeing with him and he has been attacking the boards as of late as well. 

Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG (SAC) – Even after De’Aaron Fox made his return, I know it’s just two games so far, the volume or production doesn’t appear to be going anywhere for Haliburton. Last night, he made nine of 14 field goal attempts which was good for 24 points and 10 assists in what was his fifth double-double out his last six games. Haliburton has broken the 50-fantasy point on DK in four of those games, and he is averaging 23 points and 10.4 assists (50.2 DK points) in his last five games. 

Jalen Brunson, PG/SG (DAL) – Other than Brunson, Dallas’ top three guards/perimeter players are out tonight. By default, even more than normal, things are going to flow through Brunson and while Doncic has been sidelined, Brunson has proven to be up to the task. Things are so bad for Dallas that they had to sign a hardship guard (Isaiah Thomas) to replace another hardship guard (Knight) who is on the COVID list. In his last five games, Brunson is averaging 21.8 points and eight assists in 36 minutes as he has settled in at a solid performance level even if we don’t get crazy upside. 

Util

De’Aaron Fox, PG (SAC) – The return of Fox after missing four games due his placement on the COVID list, isn’t something that should be ignored. However, that’s not to say we don’t have both risk and reward in play here as he needs to find his shot after shooting just four of 17 from the field last night. With eight assists and five rebounds in 35 minutes of action, the Kings didn’t waste anytime with Fox, but you aren’t getting a discount here either and he wasn’t a complete DFS force prior to his absence. 

Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF (DAL) – While you don’t want to truly quantify everything if you don’t have to, Finney-Smith has become the third option for Dallas offensively. Some shooting nights are better than others for the forward, but he has hit double figures for six straight games with a high of 23-points. Finney-Smith has been playing close to 40 minutes a night so it gives him ample time to hit the boards as well. 

Richaun Holmes, C (SAC) – After taking things slow in his first two games back after an eye injury, Holmes got 25 minutes of playing time last night and scored nine points while grabbing six injuries. The problem though, for the second straight game, was foul trouble as racked up four fouls after picking up five fouls in just 13 minutes on Sunday. Holmes is in position to have success while also being priced right, but he also needs to be on the court. 

Josh Green, SF (DAL) – We are living in crazy times, and generally Green would show up in the section below, but assuming the playing time is there like it was on Monday (26 minutes), the value certainly is there. Green scored nine points against the Trail Blazers, but perhaps more importantly, he handed out 10 assists while grabbing four rebounds. With Dallas being as shorthanded as they are, I’m looking for an encore. 

Harrison Barnes, SF/PF (SAC) – While I wouldn’t call Barnes cheap or say that he has crazy upside at this point, there are also few options more dependable. The forward has seemingly found a sweet spot around the 27 to 32 DK point mark, but you never know when he can break through as we have seen him do it before. I’m not forcing Barnes into a lineup tonight, but there is value to it if he fits. 

Dart Throws

Davion Mitchell, PG/SG (SAC) – Mitchell hasn’t played in two weeks so it’s unclear what exactly we are going to get from him now that Sacramento is at full strength. The rookie is averaging 9.7 points and 3.6 assists per game this season, but it’s possible the Kings take it easy with him tonight. 

Frank Ntilikina, PG (DAL) – After watching Ntilikina for the last few years in New York, this doesn’t feel right to me, but we have to take what a slate gives us. He has found himself in the starting lineup for Dallas and is getting legit playing time, so almost by default, some production is going to be there. Over his last four games, we are getting a solid 11 points, three assists, and two rebounds per game with room for upside as he did put up 17 points two games ago. 

Moses Brown, C (DAL) – It doesn’t get much cheaper than Brown, but we can’t guarantee that the center will play more than 10 minutes tonight. On Monday, that was good enough for six points, five rebounds, and a blocked shot so production isn’t the issue. 

Moe Harkless, SF/PF (SAC) – Harkless is in that sweet spot of around 20 minutes of playing time per game, but we are looking more at a secure floor of about 13 to 17 DK points than upside.