RADIO
We have a stacked nine-gamer on DraftKings tonight with Luka, Giannis, Curry, AD, and LeBron all in action. BKN/PHI currently has the highest implied total (237.5 points), but we have plenty of DFS options with three additional matchups rocking implied totals over 227 points. There are a few places we can look for value on this slate, including the shorthanded Thunder who will get the same cushy matchup as they had last night when Diallo, Kenrich Williams, Darius Miller, Justin Jackson, Isaiah Roby, and Al Horford all crushed 5x value.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/6/21. 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.
Good luck RotoBallers. Let's get to it!
DraftKings DFS Guards
Luka Doncic - PG, DAL vs. GSW ($11,100)
The salary is absolutely out-of-hand, but it's not like we can't envision Luka putting up a 55.5 DK point game. He has shown 60-80 DK point upside in exploitable matchups this year and throughout his career, and this is undoubtedly one of those. The game has the second-highest total on the slate (231.5) and the Warriors give up the sixth-most DK points per game to opposing point guards. The Mavericks are 1-7 over their last eight games and are rapidly descending the Western Conference standings, so it's all but guaranteed that Doncic will be laser-focused and motivated to propel his squad to victory tonight. He's rocking a massive 35% usage rate and 1.62 DK points per minute, which puts him right over 5x value at his price tag on an "average" night. I'm betting he exceeds his averages in this matchup.
Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF, OKC vs. MIN ($5,900)
Diallo becomes close to a must-play if Dort, SGA, Hill, and Maledon are all ruled out again for tonight's game. They were inactive last night and he put up 36 DK points (in 37 minutes) for 6.92x value on his tag. He averages a 28% usage rate and 1.03 DK points per minute with the aforementioned players off the court and he can easily hit 5-7x value if he gets at least 30 minutes again. It's the Wolves, after all, a team that ranks close to last in every defensive category and plays at just as fast a pace as the Thunder do. Diallo is a player to still consider even if some combination of the previously-inactive players return - just keep an eye on them as news breaks today and adjust accordingly.
Zach LaVine - SG, CHI vs. ORL ($8,600)
Coby White also looks great at a $2,600 discount, but LaVine just looks a bit better as he has a more attractive and attainable ceiling. This game has a nice 224-point implied total and the Magic rank 29th in defensive efficiency against shooting guards. They also allow the 11th-most DK points per game to the position and will again be without most of their key defenders in Fultz, MCW, Gordon, Aminu, Isaac, and Bamba. LaVine should be able to do whatever he wants in this game and while he needs 43 DK points to hit 5x value, he has exceeded that total in six of his last 10 games played (including three games over 50 DK points).
Bonus G: Derrick White ($4,700) boost if Murray is inactive, D'Angelo Russell ($7,200), Kenrich Williams ($4,200), Patty Mills ($4,200) boost if Murray is inactive
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C, MIL vs. CLE ($11,000)
Giannis and Luka are the two studs to pay up for tonight, though it may be a bit tough to fit them both in the same lineup unless more value opens up. He has been on an absolute tear lately, going for at least 57.5 DK points in seven of his last 10 games and putting up at least 62 DK points in three of his last four. He had a 33/12/4/4/1 line (64.5 DK points) against the Cavs last night and gets them again tonight. While they've been surprisingly solid on the defensive end this year, they give up the fourth-most DK points per game to opposing power forwards and rank 27th in DvP and 18th in defensive efficiency against the position. The game has a high 227-point implied total and while Vegas is projecting a 10.5-point Bucks win, that shouldn't take you off of the reigning MVP. The Bucks beat them by 18 points last night and Giannis still put up a monster game.
Darius Bazley - SF/PF, OKC vs. MIN ($6,100)
You're going to want to get exposure to at least a few Thunder players tonight, and my favorites are Diallo and Bazley (assuming Dort, SGA, Hill, and Maledon remain out). Bazley, like Diallo, would remain a fine play in the event that SGA or Maledon return. His usage rate (19.6%) and DK points per minute (0.84) don't change much with those players out, but he has simply been playing good basketball even before the Thunder became extremely shorthanded. He put up 27.5 DK points last night, but had outputs of 41.5, 23.5, 30.25, 20.25, and 31.75 DK points in the games prior. He can crush value against the defenseless Wolves regardless, but it's much easier to have confidence in his 5-7x value chances if the aforementioned players were to sit.
Jerami Grant - SF/PF, DET vs. LAL ($7,100)
This is strictly a GPP play as Grant's recent game logs, tough matchup, and blowout risk will scare off most DFS players. He has put up less than 28 DK points in three of his last four and his salary has slid to the uncomfortable mid-range territory, but his season-long form and the fact that he's still posting a high usage rate (team-leading 26.8%) and taking a ton of shots (14 FGA/game over his last four) suggests that the opportunity for him to exceed 5x value is certainly there. His rebounding and assist totals have taken a massive hit over the last five games, but as long as he plays closer to his season average (39.6 DK points per game) he'll be a nice DFS option for tonight. The Lakers notably allow the 12th-most DK points per game to opposing small forwards (Grant's true position).
Bonus F: Kristaps Porzingis ($8,200), Pascal Siakam ($7,700), Isaiah Roby ($3,700) boost if SGA, Dort, and Maledon are out.
DraftKings DFS Centers
DeMarcus Cousins - C, HOU vs. SAS ($6,300)
Wood is out with an ankle injury and it's looking more and more likely that John Wall will be inactive for tonight's game. Cousins is averaging a great 25.4% usage rate and a team-high 1.32 DK points per minute with Wall, Wood, Nwaba, and Harden off the floor this season. The Spurs will be without LaMarcus Aldridge and will instead have Jakob Poetl (who is a decent defender) guarding Boogie. Cousins is in a prime spot to crush value tonight and looks like a smash play if Wall is ruled out.
Nikola Vucevic - C, ORL vs. CHI ($8,900)
Vucci is coming off a career-best game and his salary barely jumped, making him a core play today as he gets the same exact matchup on a back-to-back. He went bonkers last night with 43 points, 19 rebounds, four assists, and a block for 77.75 DK points (9.15x value). The Bulls allow the second-most DK points per game against centers and will be without Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) tonight. The Magic are actually three-point 'dogs, so we don't have to worry about any blowout risk here either. Embrace the two-center approach tonight on DraftKings as there are at least three appealing studs and a nice pool of value options tonight.
Bonus C: Al Horford ($6,500), Chris Boucher ($4,400), Andre Drummond ($7,900)
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