We’ve got #revenge games all over the place in the NBA DFS Showdown Slate. The New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers battle before the All-Star break, headlined by Brandon Ingram and Anthony Davis facing off against the teams they were traded for in 2020. Watch the injury news on LeBron James and CJ McCollum as both are Questionable with ankle injuries. Here are the NBA DFS top plays we can invest in for our lineups on FanDuel and DraftKings!

 

NBA Injury Report

New Orleans Pelicans Injuries:

Los Angeles Lakers Injuries:

NBA DFS Showdown Slate Picks

MVP/CAPTAIN

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers SF

Reports from Wednesday morning make it seem like James is closer to “probable” than “questionable” tonight as he is aiming to make it back for a game before the All-Star break. He has torched the Pelicans for 48 fantasy points per game in their two matchups this season and that’s with James shooting just 42%. If he has his shooting stroke going against the team that just allowed Jalen Williams to put up a 22/7/4/2/1 line against them at the same position, it could be a long night for New Orleans. 

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers C

Davis has not shot well over the last three games (about 40%), but he still averages 46 fantasy points per game as he is dominating on the boards and with blocks. He averages 18 rebounds and two blocks per game over his last three, just crushing people on the defensive end all game. The Pelicans allow more than 41 rebounds and five blocks per game to opponents this season, and Davis has put up an average of 60 fantasy points in two games against them this season. 

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans SG

Assuming the Pelicans want to take a cautious route with McCollum and his sprained ankle, Ingram should be in line for another huge workload tonight in a very good matchup with a healthy amount of #revenge narrative thrown in as well. When McCollum and Zion don’t play this season, Ingram has a crazy 34.5% usage rate and 1.24 fantasy points per minute. He will be over 35 minutes again assuming a competitive game and the Lakers are down to 21st in defensive rating this season. 

UTILITY 

D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers PG/SG

The minutes have been 35 and 28 for Russell in his first two with the Lakers so we need to see how he is deployed consistently before we start going crazy on how many rosters he finds himself on. But with McCollum unlikely to play tonight, Russell should be able to at least match the 28 fantasy points he averages so far as a Laker, and more likely get closer to the 38 fantasy points he averages against New Orleans in two contests this year. 

Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans Pelicans C

The Lakers are still horrific against centers this year, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the position and allowing the fourth-most rebounds to their opponents this season. Even in his normal 24-26 minutes, Valanciunas should be able to get what we need from him with a salary in the upper $6,000s. In two games versus the Lakers this year, he averages 23 minutes but 34 fantasy points per game. 

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans SF

In the absence of McCollum and Zion Williamson, it is Trey Murphy who has stepped up to be the most consistent force on both offense and defense. He has double-digit actual points in six straight games to go along with about four rebounds per game and at least one block or steal per night. But the best part about Murphy for his salary in the $5,000s tonight is that he consistently plays 32-36 minutes every night and will be a huge part of trying to slow down LeBron James in this one. 

DART THROWS

Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans PG

With no McCollum recently, Alvarado has drawn the start and he has not disappointed. He pitched in 29 minutes and 22 fantasy points against the Thunder on Monday and he has a 22.9% usage rate plus 0.93 fantasy points per minute with McCollum and Williamson do not play. For just $3,800 on DK, he will be the lock of the game once McCollum is officially ruled out. 

Malik Beasley, Los Angeles Lakers SG

Beasley looks like he is getting thrown straight into the sixth-man role for the Lakers. He played the most minutes off the bench (21) and scored the most bench fantasy points (33) against the Blazers on Monday and he looks to be their answer for instant offense off the bench. He put up 16 shots in just 21 minutes on Monday and that type of usage will easily help him pay off a salary in the $4,000s tonight on DFS sites. There is some slight risk here as we see exactly how the Lakers plan to sort out their rotation, but Los Angeles needs scorers and Beasley certainly can answer that call. 

 

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