RADIO
The prospect of staring down one final full slate of NBA DFS action before the All-Star break is upon owners. The 11-game slate Wednesday means that there will be just two contests Thursday, which gives this evening’s slate a feeling of finality until next week.
As is normally the case with such an expansive slate, there are games for every type of DFS player; the contrarian defensive struggle (hello there, Pistons/Magic and Heat/Jazz, we see you), the break-neck-paced shootout (nice of you to join us, Warriors/Suns and Hornets/Timberwolves) and a little bit of everything in between. While Giannis Antetokounmpo is away, Luka Doncic welcomes himself back into the fold, highlighting a night chock full of superstars that need their carefully crafted Robin’s to help fill out lineups.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 2/12/20. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
D'Angelo Russell - SG, CHA v. MIN ($7,600)
Russell’s first contest with Minnesota on Monday was a mixed bag; he was efficient from the floor, but committed six turnovers. He failed to record a rebound, but the game featured a combined 263 points. The latter statistic is most intriguing as Russell faces a Hornets defensive group that boasts the fifth-lowest defensive efficiency rating (110.9) entering play Wednesday. When considering that the Timberwolves log the third-most possessions per contest (107.8, even before the arrival of Russell), a scoring barrage could be on the precipice of breaking out. Russell figures to be the catalyst of much of this action and appears a worthy risk at his current price tag.
Kyle Lowry - PG, TOR @ BKN ($7,300)
Banking on the continued repetition of assists can be a finicky proposition, but with the current state of both Lowry’s skill and that of his teammates, Wednesday’s matchup with the Nets makes the All-Star a highly sought-after commodity. For those who are of the ilk, Lowry has always passed well against Brooklyn, with his 7.3 assists per contest ranking the second-most against any opponent in his career. He has been on a particularly noteworthy tear as of late, having ripped off three straight double-doubles -- with a combined 32 assists -- marking the first time he has done so all season. When the two teams met Friday, they linked up for 237 points and that was without Lowry available. Expect the pace to be revved up even further with Toronto’s dime-compiling wizard back in the mix.
Kevin Huerter - SG, ATL @ CLE ($4,900)
Huerter boasts one of the premier buy-low spots of the slate. There appears to have been a slight over-correction on his price tag in the wake of Trae Young returning to the mix, as Huerter has still managed to log a considerable pile of minutes -- an average of 38.9 across his last nine contests – while serving as the team’s primary scoring threat on the wing. With Deandre Bembry’s status still undecided, Huerter should have considerable opportunities against a Cleveland defense that has seen opponents shoot 37.3 percent from behind deep, the third-highest percentage yielded this season. The Hawks are likely to push the pace full throttle (thereby creating further chances for Huerter), as the Cavs enter play Wednesday with the worst defensive efficiency mark (114.2) in the league.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Miles Bridges - SF, CHA @ MIN ($5,600)
The ascension of Bridges into a big-time DFS option has been swift. He has averaged 19.6 points and 7.0 rebounds across his last seven games, hoisting 6.9 three-point attempts on a nightly basis. Maybe most important from a DFS perspective has been the consistency of those showings, all of which have seen him go for at least 15 points while hoisting double-digit shot attempts. Factor in the early total of 226.5 points and Minnesota’s seventh-fastest pace mark (105.2) and it’s not as if Bridges should suddenly see a drastic downturn in usage. With Robert Covington no longer roaming the wing to check him defensively, Bridges finds himself in the rarefied air of being in a groove offensively while drawing an advantageous matchup.
Mikal Bridges - SF, PHO vs. GS ($4,800)
Over his first 50 appearances this season, Bridges hit multiple threes in a single outing on just three occasions. In his last four outings, he has matched that mark, combining to drill 10 triples, which has helped to cement his spot in the starting five. Frequenters of our DFS columns will note the direction this pick is heading, as exploiting Golden State’s three-point deficiencies has become a favorite underrepresented market. But combine the fact that the Warriors are yielding 13.4 made threes by an opposition that is shooting 38.3 percent (both the second-worst marks in the league) from long range with the fact that Bridges has taken on an enormous workload as of late, and anyway that the numbers are diced, he appears as a play with considerable upside. Dario Saric (ankle) has already been ruled out, which should allow Bridges more time on the floor to further pack his stat sheet in the case of his three-point shot not falling.
Ersan Ilyasova - PF, MIL @ IND ($4,100)
The Bucks did DFS participants a favor by ruling out Antetokounmpo well in advance of tip-off Wednesday. With that in mind, Ilyasova became a prime target, as he has been a vastly more significant member of the rotation without the reigning MVP in the mix. In six starts this year, Ilyasova has averaged 13.2 points and 9.5 rebounds across 23.8 minutes per contest; in those outings, he has shot a staggering 65 percent from behind the arc. Indiana normally presents itself as a difficult defensive unit to matchup against, but Ilyasova is in prime position to deliver value on his price tag and much more.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Marquese Chriss - C, GS @ PHO ($5,800)
The Warriors have found themselves a center. Since inserting Chriss into the starting lineup back on Jan. 24, he has reeled off an average of 13.9 points and 6.0 rebounds to go along with 62.5 percent shooting. He has come with one rebound of a double-double in each of his last two outings, which have come against the Lakers and Heat, who boast two of the league’s premier defensive frontcourts. Factor in that Chriss’ backup, Kevon Looney, is questionable to suit up and that Suns center Deandre Ayton is also on the fence for taking the floor, and Chriss looks like a contrarian play during a night chock full of high-priced centers.
