We have a small four-game slate to kick off our NBA week, but there are still some good options across the board. There are several injuries as of right now which could impact the slate, so be sure to check for updates right up until lock to have the latest news for your lineups.
Guards
Damian Lillard (POR): $9,300 vs. MIA
Lillard is super hot right now, and on a smaller slate like this, he is the type of player you want to pay up for. He has scored 45 or more DraftKings points in six of his last seven games and is now up against the Heat in a game which has an over-under set at 211 points. This is a bit of a pace down spot for Lillard and the Trail Blazers, but it shouldn’t be too much of an impact on him. He still has a usage rate sitting at 32%, along with averaging 1.22 fantasy points per minute.
Ben McLemore (MEM): $5,300 vs. MIL
The Grizzlies are dealing with a ton of injuries right now, which has put McLemore in a spot to succeed. He has played 28 minutes or more in five straight games and is likely to see the same time on the court tonight. With the current state of injuries for Memphis, he has a 19% usage rate, along with averaging 0.81 fantasy points per minute, which is solid for a player in the $5K price range. He is up against the Bucks, who are giving up 44 DraftKings points per game to point guards, putting him in a good spot to reach value and a good cash game option for tonight. If he gets the start again, he will likely be very popular tonight, so there is some merit to fading him in tournaments.
