We have a monster 13-game DFS NBA slate to take down tonight and both the Nets/Wizards and Timberwolves/Hawks have an over/under of 235 on sports-books. We have a decent amount of impact guards who will be out tonight including Donovan Mitchell, Zach LaVine, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Tyrese Haliburton and Lonzo Ball. Big men Myles Turner and Clint Capela will also be inactive. Here’s tonight’s DFS NBA Starting-5.
PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($9,000 FD, $8,400 DK, $36 Y!): As skilled as Dejounte Murray is on offense, he’s very beatable defensively and let’s use the Thunder’s prioritized scorer in this matchup in which San Antonio ranks 27th in the league at defending guards. It’s a big pace up spot for the Thunder and Gilgeous-Alexander has shot over 59 percent from the floor in three of his last four games. He was two rebounds and an assist shy of producing a triple-double against the Spurs the last time he faced them. He’s scored 32 or more points in three of his last four battles, grabs at least one steal per contest and he’s even blocked multiple shots in three of his last five games. He should be in line for another 17-20 shots tonight.
SG: Jordan Clarkson ($5,600 FD, $5,500 DK, $17 Y!): It’s a dream matchup as Houston can’t guard everyone and yes this game being a double-digit spread is a bit daunting, but with Donovan Mitchell off the court, Clarkson has a 30 percent usage rate and that we can’t ignore because he’s scoring over a fantasy point per minute in that situation. Clarkson scored 16 points and grabbed six boards against them in their first meeting and that was with a healthy Mitchell. He’s actually pulled down five or more boards and blocked a shot in two of his last four outings. Clarkson has exceeded his scoring average of 15.1 points in four of his last five battles and he’s even grabbed swipes in six straight contests.
SF: Jimmy Butler ($9,100 FD, $9,100 DK, $41 Y!): The Blazers are the worst in the league at defending mid-courts, Norman Powell is out for the Blazers and more importantly both Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro are sitting and tonight should feature a lot of Butler. Expect him to be helping Gabe Vincent run the point tonight and he’s actually dished nine or more dimes in each of his last three contests. He’s shooting well over 48 percent from the floor and we should see him hit or come very close to hitting the 20-shot mark tonight. Butler grabs about six boards and two steals per game and he’s even swatted away shots in two of his last three outings. The pace favors the Heat in tonight’s game as well.
PF: Domantas Sabonis ($9,400 FD, $10,100 DK, $41 Y!): The Lakers still lack skilled big-men that can cover a lot of ground and with Myles Turner sidelined, let’s spend up for Sabonis who’s grabbed nearly 12 rebounds per game this season. If Malcolm Brogdon sits, it should be even more fruitful for Sabonis when it comes to his production. Sabonis has also dished six or more dimes In four straight games and he’s produced steals in four of his last five battles. Sabonis has been shooting an incredible 57.3 percent from the floor and with tonight’s game being a major pace up spot for the Pacers, we should see Sabonis take at least 15 shots in this game. Dwight Howard will have a tough time guarding him outside of the low block and LeBron James won’t be able to size up against him on the outside.
C: Rudy Gobert ($8,800 FD, $8,500 DK, $39 Y!): The other night, the Jazz blew the Nuggets out and Gobert played 35 minutes and seeing that and with no Mitchell or even Hassan Whiteside to back him up tonight, Gobert’s minutes should be safe. He posted 16 points and 14 boards in their last meetup and he should absolutely be featured more tonight. Houston is legit the worst team in the league at defending centers and the pace very much is on Utah’s side for this contest. Gobert has grabbed no fewer than 16 rebounds in each of his last five games and he regularly blocks multiple shots turning away 2.3 field goals a game. He’s compiled seven blocks in his last three outings. He’s scored 18 or more points in three of his last four battles and the last time Gobert didn’t produce a double-double was December fifth.