The NBA schedule kicks off with Miami traveling to Charlotte as the Heat take on the Hornets for today’s NBA DFS Showdown Slate. It is good news that both teams appear to be healthy and at full strength, aside from Kelly Oubre being sidelined, and it should be a competitive game as LaMelo Ball takes on Jimmy Butler. As we set our lineups for today’s NBA DFS Showdown Slate, let us take a look at how our options shake out. 

Miami Heat Injuries

Nikola Jovic – Out

Duncan Robinson - Out

Charlotte Hornets Injuries

Kelly Oubre – Out

Dennis Smith Jr – Probable (Illness)

Cody Martin – Out

MVP/Captain

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

We don’t want to speak in absolutes, and there are never certainties in NBA DFS, but this should be pretty close to it. Quite simply, the Hornets are terrible against opposing big men, and that lines up perfectly for Adebayo this afternoon. Adebayo has put himself very much in the running for the All-Star game once again this season as he is averaging 21.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this year. While there is some level of consistency to his game, Adebayo also went for 30 points and 15 rebounds a few games ago. 

LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

After missing a few games with an ankle injury, Ball returned on Thursday, and to say it was a rough shooting night would be an understatement. Ball turned the ball over six times and made just 2-of-15 shots from the field, but thanks to making 9-of-10 shots from the line and grabbing 11 rebounds while collecting eight assists, it was still a solid DFS night. Ball is averaging 23.1 points per game along with 8.2 assists this season as he continues to lead Charlotte’s offense. 

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Butler had one of his better games of the season on Friday against the Magic as he scored 29 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists. It should not come as a complete surprise as the forward is averaging 21.8 points per game and shouldn’t have any issues putting points on the board against the Hornets. 

Utility

Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

Herro has done a fine job as a secondary scoring option for Miami this season but he is ripe for a bounce back game after making four shots from the field in back-to-back games. He is averaging 20.2 points per game to go along with a few rebounds and assists. 

Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets

Volume is not going to be a problem for Rozier as he continuously puts up at least 20 shots per game on the majority of nights. If Rozier shot better than 41.3% from the field things would be a lot be better, but even with the inefficiency, he is still averaging 21.5 points per game and we know he is going to keep on shooting. 

Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets

While Hayward’s career with the Hornets, and also this season, has not gone according to plan the forward is back on the radar with Kelly Oubre sidelined. Hayward has only played in four games this month, and his best performance of the month came on Thursday when he scored 17 points in 25 minutes of action. He should be in line for a solid supporting role this afternoon. 

DART THROW

Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat

It is a little surprising to see Lowry down in this territory, and it goes both ways. While we are excited to see him down at this price, there is also a reason for it. Lowry still starts and plays 25 to 30 minutes, but is he going to score 17 points or two? Based on the matchup, I would stray towards the former, but Lowry hasn’t proved to be consistent although he is averaging 5.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. 

Mark Williams, Charlotte Hornets

Williams is only averaging 15 minutes per game in his last five, but the big man certainly has been efficient with that time. Over that stretch, Williams is averaging 10.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and he has certainly earned whatever playing time he receives. 

Caleb Martin, Miami Heat

Maybe the best thing about Martin is that he plays about 30 minutes per game for Miami. If every game for him could be like Friday in which he scored 13 points while grabbing seven rebounds, then we would be in business, but he has not proven to have that level of consistency despite a regular workload. 

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