With eight games on tonight’s DFS NBA slate, we have to beware of all of the COVID issues surrounding it. The Lakers, Bucks, Magic and Kings all have impact players missing in action for tonight’s games. Hornets/Blazers has an over/under of 230.5 this evening. The Nuggets/Hawks and Spurs/Jazz are behind them at 226. Make sure you are frequently checking the news as rotation changes due to COVID can happen very quickly.
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Here’s tonight’s NBA DFS Starting-5.
PG: Kyle Lowry: The Heat are without Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro may sit as well for tonight’s contest and the Magic are a bottom four team in the league at defending point guards. This matchup is a strong pace-boost for the Heat and Lowry has shot 50 percent from the floor or better in three of his last five games. Lowry contributes about eight dimes per outing and he’s even recorded swipes in four of his last five games. He’s taken at least 16 shots from the floor in two of his last four contests and until Jimmy Butler returns, he’s going to be featured more. Expect Lowry to take 15-18 shots this evening as Cole Anthony isn’t quick to adjust on his feet especially when screens are set on the perimeter and it’ll be hard for him to keep up with Lowry. Trae Young dropped 28 points on Anthony in the Magic’s last game and Anthony isn’t even 100 percent as he’s dealing with a minor Ankle injury.
SG: D’Angelo Russell: He hasn’t taken as many shots in his last couple of battles, but the Lakers guard depth is light and the Lakers and Timberwolves are two of the top five fastest teams in the league and there will be a ton of back and forth and that will translate to a lot of scoring. Anthony Edwards is out and Russell should be able to take advantage of the Lakers already weak defense versus guards. The Lakers rank 22nd in the league at defending guards. He’s been a lot more helpful grabbing boards lately as Russell has pulled down five or more rebounds in four of his last five contests and he produced steals in three of those games. He’s been doing his due diligence as a playmaker dishing at least seven dimes in five of his last six games. He’s posted two double-doubles in his last five contests and tonight once again presents an opportunity for Russell because of the expected fast pace and the Lakers depth and defensive issues.
SF: Brandon Ingram: Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t around to clog up the lane and tonight presents a solid pace up spot for Ingram who has taken 19 or more shots in three straight contests. He’s shot over 47 percent from the field and exceeded his scoring average of 23.4 points per game in four of his last five outings. He dishes about five dimes per game and he’s posted steals in five of his last six contests. The Bucks rank 25th in the league at defending mid-courts and Khris Middleton will likely not be 100 percent going into this contest after sitting last game. Ingram has pulled down seven or more rebounds in three of his last four games. He’s been a consistent four-category producer and he’ll continue to be the prioritized scorer in New Orleans as Zion Williamson still isn’t ready to return to action.
PF: Anthony Davis: Attacking the Timberwolves frontcourt is just too easy and Davis should be able to score a ton of points and grab a ton of boards with ease. He’s recorded double-doubles in three of his last four games and he blocks more than two shots per contest. The Lakers are going to need Davis and LeBron James to play deep into this one as the Lakers are dealing with COVID issues that have taken away their depth. The Timberwolves are the fourth worst team in the league at defending centers and as good as Karl-Anthony Towns is on the offensive end, he’s a pitiful defender and Jarred Vanderbilt won’t be able to stop him upon receiving the ball in the post. He’s taken 18 shots in both of his last two contests. As I said before when talking about Russell, the pace of play is going to be key here and with Dwight Howard out for this game, Davis will be lining up more on the low block than the elbow and that will make it easier for him to score points.
C Jusuf Nurkic: He’s produced three double-doubles in his last four games and the Hornets are a bottom three team in the league at defending big men and Nurkic has hit the 31-minute mark in both of his last two outings. The Blazers are still without CJ McCollum and that will give Nurkic more plays called for him in the post. Nurkic has scored 16-plus points in five of his last six contests. He’s produced steals in three straight games and grabbed 12 or more boards in three of his last four contests. The pace works very much in the favor of Portland and being that the matchup is strong with the highest over/under on the slate and he’s still relatively cheap and as long as Nurkic is getting the minutes he can be trusted. He’s even dished five or more dimes in two of his last four battles, but view any help you get with assists as an added bonus.