We made it to a new year, so HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are back again with another Fantasy Alarm NBA DFS Value Vault Article for Friday’s nice 10-game main slate! Lot’s of good options to go with for this slate, so let’s narrow down a few of my favorite value plays to help build those lineups!
DraftKings
1.) Tristan Thompson C (BOS) $4,200
OK, so Thompson sat out the Celtics last game against the Grizzlies to get some extra recovery and healing time on his hamstring, but coming into today’s game against the Pistons, he carries no injury designation and is ready to play again. So, what does DraftKings do? They make him the cheapest priced Center of the Boston Celtics at just $4.2K! Hooray! Thompson played 27 minutes, a season-high at the time as he was working his way on a minutes limit from the hamstring injury in the preseason, in the last game he played against IND and put up 14 points, 10 boards, and an assist for 29 DK fantasy points! I have a good feeling that as long as this game stays relatively close (BOS is an 8.5-point favorite), he could still be in line for another 25-28 minutes here. With the Pistons being down Blake Griffin tonight, they will look at Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee to man the frontcourt, and I believe this is a great match up here for TT!
2.) Thaddeus Young PF (CHI) $3,500
Young had been reported as the starter for the Bulls after it was deemed the Lauri Markkanen was not going to be available to play in their last game against the Wizards, but before tip this was changed, and Otto Porter got the start instead. This didn’t matter much as Thad still played 27 minutes in this game and put up 31.3 DraftKings fantasy points with 15 points, three boards, six dimes, and two steals. The 27 minutes was greatly encouraging, and now that Markkanen is set to miss yet another game here tonight against the Bucks, we could easily see the same scenario here for the rotation with Porter starting and Thad coming in as one of the first reserves off the bench. Great price on Thad tonight in a game with a total at 235!
3.) Desmond Bane PG (MEM) $3,700
The Grizzlies will travel into Charlotte to take on the Hornets, who just put a beat-down on the Dallas Mavericks in their most recent game. Let’s face it, without Morant this Grizzlies team looked bad in their last game against the Celtics, in which they were down a good margin by halftime. Bane was gifted 32 minutes on the floor in that game with the lead being as high as it was, and he recorded 25.5 DraftKings fantasy points as a result with 16 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Charlotte is just a five-point favorite tonight at home, as I am expecting a bounce back from Memphis here, but I just don’t see it. Either way, the Grizzlies are starting Tyus Jones , while De’Antony Melton is still out with Covid protocols, and Grayson Allen is now listed as “doubtful” to play with his ankle injury he sustained against the Celtics. Basically, all signs point to some extended run and up-tick in playing time for the rookie Bane here and at the price, he can help you get those high-priced studs!
FanDuel
1.) Otto Porter Jr. SF (CHI) $4,400
FanDuel decided that Otto didn’t need much of a price bump after his 55.9 FanDuel fantasy point effort last game against the Wizards as he took the place of Lauri Markkanen in the starting lineup. Otto recorded 28 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three steals in that game, while playing a hefty 30 minutes. Markkanen has already been ruled out for tonight again, so Otto should be in line for the start once again. The only worry here is that they are playing the Bucks in MIL, and the Bucks are a hefty favorite, but at the price, if Otto can still play 25-30 minutes, he can easily exceed this value on FanDuel.
2.) Carmelo Anthony SF (POR) $4,000
If you are a bit worrisome about the blow-out with MIL/CHI for Otto Porter Jr., maybe you should look a few hundred dollars down the SF list onto Carmelo Anthony here tonight as the Blazers will take on the Warriors in the Bay area. Melo was finally cleared from the health protocols that sidelined him for three-straight games to start the NBA regular season, and in his return game against the Clippers he went for 23 FanDuel fantasy points with 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 25 minutes. I can easily see this minute range being a thing for Melo for the Blazers, as it fits right around what he was playing last season. This should be an up-tempo game with the Warriors and even though they are getting Draymond Green back, he may be on a pitch-count of his own coming off injury. The Warriors are also without Marquese Chriss , and Eric Paschall is “questionable”, so this could make Melo’s time on the floor a bit easier not having to deal with these guys on the second unit.
3.) Payton Pritchard PG (BOS) $3,700
With this game having almost a nine-point favorite in Boston, this could easily lead into a lead for the Celtics. Either way, Pritchard has been playing nice, stable minutes, and has seen 21, 27, 23, and 25 over his last four games while putting up at least 20 or more fantasy points in his last three-straight. With Teague moving into the starting role last game, this allowed Pritchard to run the second-unit and helped spark an offensive run in the fourth quarter of their last game to put the Grizzlies fully away. The price is cheap, and he should see 21-26 minutes in this one against a team in the Pistons who do not play a lot of defense.
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.