We have seven games on tonight’s DFS NBA slate and the Raptors and Cavaliers are among the teams dealing with COVID issues. Some of the majorly impactful players that will be sidelined for today include Paul George, Bradley Beal, Jonas Valanciunas and Cade Cunningham. When looking at the sports-book over/under’s, Grizzlies/Kings is the highest at 225.5 with the next highest being Pistons/Spurs at 217. Here’s today’s DFS NBA Starting-5.
PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8700FD, 8900DK, 35Y!): The Thunder’s prioritized scorer has been taking more shots in recent games and he’s producing better results. He’s taken 20 or more shots in 3 of his last 5 games and has scored 23-plus points in 4 of his last 5 contests. He shot 50 percent from the floor in 2 of those battles. He just dropped 33 points against the Pelicans a few games ago. Gilgeous-Alexander has exceeded his rebounding average of 4.8 and assists average of 5.2 in 3 of his last 4 battles and he’s also swiping 1 steal per outing. Gilgeous-Alexander has even posted blocks in five of his last seven games. The Pelicans rank 20th in the league at guarding point guards and Gilgeous-Alexander should be in line for another high-volume shooting game. Gilgeous-Alexander should play between 36-40 minutes once again.
SG: Brandon Ingram (8700FD, 9800DK, 35Y!): Sticking with this matchup, the Pelicans not only have the pace favored towards them, but Jonas Valanciunas is out meaning Ingram is looking at a usage percentage nearing 32 and he scored 34 points and grabbed 8 rebounds against Oklahoma City a few games ago. Ingram has hit the 30-point mark 2 times in his last 4 battles. He’s grabbed no fewer than seven rebounds in three of his last five games and he even dishes five assists per contest. The minutes will be there for him as he should play late into the 30s, and the Thunder are 5th worst in the league at guarding mid-courts. He’s taken 21-plus shots in 4 of his last 5 outings and he has shot over 52 percent from the floor in 3 of his last 4 games. Ingram continues to be the Pelicans leading scorer and with Valanciunas sidelined the production should be even more lucrative.
SF: Saddiq Bey (5600FD, 7500DK, 20Y!): With both Jerami Grant and Cade Cunningham sidelined, it’s next man up when it comes to the scoring priority and we’ve seen Bey take no fewer than 13 shots in 5 straight contests. He produced two double-doubles during that span and he grabbed steals in three of those games. Bey pulls down six rebounds per contest. The Pistons will be very shorthanded today because of COVID and players like Bey, Hamidou Diallo and Frank Jackson will have to carry the team. Bey has hit 43 percent or more of his three-pointers in 3 of his last 4 battles. He’s been helpful with ball-distribution as well, producing three dimes or more in four of his last five games. It’s a pace-up spot for the Pistons and even though the Spurs are decent at defending the elbow and they’ve done a good job containing forwards, Bey and Diallo both have safe enough floors to slot in your lineups today.
PF: Keldon Johnson (6300FD, 5800DK, 20Y!): Going to the other side of the matchup, Keldon Johnson will be going up against a very short-handed Pistons team. He has a cheap price point on all DFS websites and he’s posted three straight double-doubles. Johnson also recorded steals in all three of those contests. He has taken 13 or more shots in 6 straight outings and even though his shooting percentage has been down over his last few games, he still has taken double digit shots consistently and he shoots over 45 percent from beyond the arc. Johnson helps stretch the floor but is used primarily in the post and with a weak Detroit frontcourt getting ready to take him on, it puts him in a good spot today. The pistons rank 24th at guarding forwards and Johnson continues to play over 30 minutes per game.
C: Joel Embiid (10900FD, 11900DK, 50Y!): All reports are currently showing that Embiid, despite being sick, will play today. The Sixers are the slowest team in the NBA from a pace of play standpoint, and Washington isn’t much quicker of a team, but they rank in the bottom six of the league at defending big men in the middle. Embiid has posted three double-doubles in his last four contests and shot 20 or more shots in 2 of those games. He’ll likely hit the 20-shot mark in today’s game. He constantly grabs steals and has blocked six shots total in his last two games. Embiid will drop dimes as well, dishing five or more of them in three of his last four games. If Embiid does sit, you can spend up and pivot to Nikola Jokic or save a little bit and go after Jakob Poeltl or even Daniel Gafford on the other side of the matchup because Andre Drummond is still out and the Sixers will be exposed at center if both he and Embiid sit.