We’re back! After a one-day hiatus from DFS NBA action, we have an 11-game slate to destroy this evening. Some of the noteworthy players who will be inactive include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cole Anthony and Robert Williams. The Kings/Lakers game has the highest sports-books total on the board at 229. The Timberwolves/Hornets and Hawks/Grizzlies matchups have a 226.5 game total heading into tonight.
Here is tonight’s DFS NBA Starting-5:
PG Ja Morant: Attacking the Atlanta backcourt is easy because they rank 30th in the league at defending point guards and Morant has scored 25.3 points per game this year. He’s been a four-category producer pulling down 5.8 rebounds per game and 1.7 swipes per outing. He’s actually grabbed five steals combined in his last two games. He’s played 35 minutes or more in both of his last 2 contests. Morant is a very strong driver and as we’ve seen, he has no problem sacrificing his body to draw contact against bigger players. Morant continues to be a strong playmaker as well and he’s dished 7.1 assists per outing. Morant takes 19-20 shots per game and he’s been shooting a career-best of 47.8 percent from the floor. He’s taking more three-pointers per outing this year than last and he’s shot 35.6 percent from beyond the arc.
SG Donovan Mitchell: He’s cooled off from his hot shooting if you look at his last couple of games, but, tonight presents a great opportunity for Mitchell because the Pelicans defense stinks and with Zion Williamson still out, Brandon Ingram will have to help protect the paint a bit more and that could give Mitchell a bit of breathing room on the perimeter. The Jazz leading scorer takes 20-21 shots per game and the Pelicans rank in the bottom 10 in the league at defending shooting guards. He’s dished five or more dimes in each of his last three contests and he’s grabbed five or more boards in two of his last three games. Mitchell also leads the Jazz in steals and he’s stolen the ball 1.8 times per game. It’s a slight pace boost for Mitchell and the Jazz tonight, but overall the younger Pelicans guards will have a tough time containing Mitchell.
SF Anthony Edwards: After scoring 33 points and ripping down 14 rebounds against the Heat, let’s throw Edwards back out there in a much easier matchup. We’ve been attacking the Hornets all year. As good as their offense is, their defensive issues puts a lot more of a burden on their offense to produce. Edwards has shot over 45 percent from the floor in 4 of his last 5 games and he’s exceeded his 22.8 scoring average in 3 of those contests. Edwards actually leads the Timberwolves in scoring, plays nearly 36 minutes per game and he takes the most shots on his team in the 19-20 range. The Hornets are also a bottom four team in the league at defending mid-courts. Edwards is an all-around talent that can score from all areas of the floor. He’s grabbed 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals per outing. He’s coming off of back-to-back three-steal games. The Hornets and Timberwolves are both in the top 10 in pace with the pace favoring the Timberwolves for this matchup.
PF Jeremiah Robinson-Earl: The Thunder don’t have an effective frontcourt and Robinson-Earl not only helps the team stretch the floor, but he will also fight for rebounds. The Wizards are middle of the road at defending frontcourts and Robinson-Earl has taken nine or more shots in five of his last six games. He’s scored 13 points in three straight outings and shot at least 40 percent from long-range in all three contests. He’s actually produced double-doubles in his last two battles. Robinson-Earl has been seeing more playing time and has played 27-plus minutes in each of his last 4 games. Robinson-Earl has also grabbed steals in three of his last five games. He can toggle between playing at PF and C and that should keep him in the game longer. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be out again and there will be open shots for Robinson-Earl who sees a minor bump in usage with the Thunder’s leading scorer sidelined.
C: Karl Anthony-Towns: It may be a bit obvious, but this matchup is too appealing to pass up. Charlotte’s frontcourt struggles mightily at defending the post. Towns has been producing double-doubles every other game as we’ve seen him struggle rebounding this season a little bit. He’s scored 25 or more points in 2 of his last 4 games. He’s taken 16-17 shots per game this season and has been shooting just under 50 percent from the floor. He’s been hitting over 44 percent of his three-pointers. Towns is blocking 1.2 shots per game and he’s swatted away shots in each of his last 5 contests. He’s even providing minor assist-help dishing 3.3 per contest. The Hornets rank 21st in the league at defending centers and Mason Plumlee will have trouble chasing Towns around outside of the paint. It’s a good pace-up spot for an already speedy Timberwolves team.