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It’s unclear if the Utah Jazz will be stopped anytime soon, with their rematch against the Clippers on Friday serving as one of many rematches of recent showdowns. Much in the ilk that it’s difficult to gauge individual player performance from game-to-game during a playoff series, it’s similarly hard during the regular season.
Depending upon whom you ask, three of the top four MVP candidates are in action Friday (Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid), giving the slate a top-heavy nature that was tempered by the loss of the Dallas-Houston matchup. As for high-scoring affairs, Oklahoma City-Milwaukee checks in Thursday night as one of the preeminent totals (232.5), but Golden State-Orlando, Atlanta-Boston, and Toronto-Minnesota are all contests to target for managers who enjoy honing in on a single game.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/19/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor globally, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Malik Beasley - SG, MIN vs. TOR ($6,900)
If Beasley was downtrodden by the decision to be shifted to the second unit for Wednesday’s game as a disciplinary issue, he sure didn’t give off that vibe, firing up 25 shots, which tied his career high. Without D'Angelo Russell (knee) for at least the remainder of the first half of the year, Beasley’s role in the offense will be essentially limitless.
The 31 points and 13 three-point attempts that Beasley compiled in his latest outing tied season highs. Over his last nine games, he is averaging 23.8 points per contest, knocking down just shy of five threes per game while shooting at a 44.4 percent clip from deep. He should also get a boost from the Raptors playing a second consecutive road game Friday, marking their third outing in four days.
Coby White - PG/SG, CHI @ PHI ($6,100)
If any stat could encapsulate White’s fluctuating DFS productions, look no further than the 30 points and 17 threes that he attempted Feb. 10 versus New Orleans, before scoring just eight points across 24 minutes against Detroit just seven days later. Having tied for his season low in minutes played last time out, fantasy managers can expect a sizable bump in workload against the Eastern Conference-leading Sixers.
The absence of Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) also helps White’s appeal, as shot attempts could potentially be funneled in his direction. Toss in the 4.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds that he has averaged through nine February contests thus far and White begins to emerge as a top-tier GPP candidate, especially if Philly deploys Ben Simmons as an on-ball defender on Zach LaVine, as opposed to White.
Michael Carter-Williams - PG/SF, ORL vs. GS ($5,100)
After having compiled single-digit scoring totals just once across his first seven games to begin the year, it appeared unlikely that Carter-Williams would ever have unfettered access to starting PG duties with oodles of upside, yet here we are. With Golden State playing at the league’s second-fastest pace, Carter-Williams will be revved into another gear playing across from Stephen Curry.
Upon his return, Carter-Williams was immediately thrust into the starting five. Despite that immediate acclimation process, he has averaged 13.7 points and 6.0 assists over his last three outings. His minutes figure to stay firmly between 27-30, which caps his GPP upside, but with Orlando’s backcourt decimated by injuries, Carter-Williams’ cash contest appeal is significant.
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C, MIL vs. OKC ($10,800)
On the heels of an outing Thursday where Toronto thoroughly flummoxed Antetokounmpo, many fantasy managers are likely to shy away from the reigning two-time MVP, especially considering his price tag. But Oklahoma City does not have the defensive personnel to pack the paint in the same manner; there’s also the reality that when Antetokounmpo and the Thunder met five days ago, he erupted for a season-high 74.8 DK points.
With Milwaukee in the doldrums of a five-game losing skid, Antetokounmpo will likely be relied upon heavily to help them snap out of the funk. In the three games that he has played this season without any rest, he has averaged a whopping 28-14-8 stat line, amassing a 125 oRTG.
Thaddeus Young - PF/C, CHI @ PHI ($5,800)
Consistency has been the name of the game for Young, who has dipped below 33.3 DK points just three times in his past 11 contests. When combining those numbers with the fact that Markkanen and Otto Porter (back) will be absent in the frontcourt, Young’s path to production is evident.
For all of the Swiss army knife-esque contributions that he has brought to the second unit, Young hasn’t erupted in the scoring column, which keeps his GPP intrigue in check. That being said, he has averaged 12.9 points across nine February contests, seven of which saw him score in double figures. Having reeled off double-digit rebound performances for the first time since March 16-18, 2019, Young has cash interest in droves, even when facing Philadelphia’s defensive acumen.
Cedi Osman - SF/PF, CLE vs. DEN ($4,800)
The shooting percentage numbers (38.1 percent overall) may be ugly, but the starter scoring average is not (13.8 PPG). For all of the changes that the Cavs’ rotation has endured this year, Osman has been the rare constant; when he starts -- which he should again Friday -- he averages 33.3 minutes, opposed to the 20.9 that he compiles coming off the bench, which skyrockets his DFS appeal.
For managers interested in recent performance, Osman compiled his first double-double of the year in his most recent outing. The absence of Andre Drummond (team decision) opens up opportunities on the glass for other members of the Cleveland frontcourt, which when combined with the minutes increase, provides Osman with ample upside for any DK format Friday.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Clint Capela - C, ATL @ BOS ($7,200)
It’s unclear what Capela did to earn a decrease in price ahead of Friday’s game, but fantasy managers aren’t likely to complain after he dominated Boston to the tune of 24 points and 13 rebounds Wednesday.
In the midst of a stretch where he has exceeded value in three straight games, Capela’s staggering rebounding totals stand out. Since his first outing of the year back on Dec. 28, Capela has logged double-digit board totals in 23 of 24 games. But buoying his board numbers is his recent scoring increase, whereas logging only three 20-point or more through his first 19 contests, Capela has hit that plateau three times in his last six outings.
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