Welcome back to the Fantasy Alarm NBA DFS Value Vault! It is Monday and we have a nine-game slate in action in the Association tonight! There is quite a bit of value on the slate already, so let’s jump right in!
DRAFTKINGS
1.) T.J. McConnell PG (IND) $5,400 –
McConnell is fresh off a 31.8 DraftKings fantasy point performance last time out against the Hawks where he posted 18 actual points, one board, seven dimes, and a steal. His ability to contribute in multiple categories, while also having double-double potential on any given night with points and assists makes him a very intriguing play most nights, and especially here against the Spurs tonight. T.J. has yet to fail to eclipse at least 20 or more DK fantasy points in his last 15-straight contests played.
2.) Furkan Korkmaz SG/SF (PHI) $4,800 –
If the Sixers weren’t dealing with so many question marks tonight in the injury column, I likely wouldn’t be even looking at Kork. However, they have both Tobias Harris and Seth Curry questionable, and Korkmaz has played really well lately in the heightened role. Over his last four games, Kork has played 31, 18, 23, and 38 minutes while putting up 41.5, 29.5, 22.3, and 36.3 DraftKings fantasy points as a result. Gets a high-octane match up here with the Warriors at home tonight.
3.) Frank Jackson PG/SG (DET) $3,200 –
Here is a nice tournament dart that is basically min-price for tonight’s slate over on DraftKings. Frank Jackson should likely get another mid-20’s playing time stint here tonight with the Pistons missing Cory Smith, Dennis Smith Jr., and Wayne Ellington . Jackson has played 24 and 26 minutes over his last two games and recorded 24.8 and 24.5 DraftKings fantasy points as a result. Gets a more than generous match up here against the Cavaliers at home.
FANDUEL
1.) Aleksej Pokusevski PF (OKC) $4,800 –
Poku returned to the starting line up for last night’s game against the Raptors and had a really nice outing. He scored eight points, to go along with seven boards, five dimes, and SIX blocks, which was good for a whopping 40.9 FanDuel fantasy points on the night in 28 minutes of action. This is the kind of upside we have been seeing with Poku when he is able to take the floor, and we should look to capitalize while his price is still under $5K. His ability to fill the stat-sheet is above average and gets a great game environment tonight against the Wizards.
2.) Daniel Gafford PF (WAS) $4,100 –
Gafford continued his hot-streak of fantasy production again in his last game against the Pistons as he scored eight points and grabbed eight boards, along with four blocks in just 16 minutes of action, which returned a modest 29.6 FanDuel fantasy points. Gafford has now recorded at least 21 or more FanDuel fantasy points in his last five-straight contests. His minutes haven’t exactly been the most, but he is making a huge impact when he does get on the floor.
3.) Killian Hayes PG (DET) $3,900 –
With Hayes getting a rest day on Saturday, he should be looking to return to action for tonight’s game against the Cavaliers. In Hayes’ last outing, he dropped 40.3 FanDuel fantasy points on the Thunder with nine points, four boards, seven dimes, a block and five steals across 26 minutes. As mentioned above, with the Pistons depleted at the guard spot tonight, Hayes should see another 26+ minute outing in a good match up.
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.