Most of us will likely be tuned into Sunday’s divisional matchups in the NFL. I certainly will, being a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan. However, we still have some NBA action to dissect. When setting your lineups, keep in mind that DraftKings has an 8:00 pm EST lock and offers a four-game slate. FanDuel, on the other hand, is running a five-game slate with a 6:00 pm EST lock, but they also have an all-day slate locking at 2:30 pm EST. I’ll be focusing solely on the two main slates. So, without further ado, let’s dive into Sunday’s plays.
Schedule & Odds
- NY (+1) @ TOR (-1) O/U: 221
- OKC (+6) @ DEN (-6) O/U: 238
- MEM (-9) @ PHX (+9) O/U: 230.5
- BKN (+8) @ GS (-8) O/U: 237
- LAL (+6) @ POR (-6) O/U: 240.5
Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros 
Damian Lillard (PG-POR): $10,100 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
Lillard has been a machine lately. The star point guard has scored 50 or more fantasy points in five consecutive games, along with 30 or more raw points in six of seven. In the one game where he failed to reach 30 points, he still managed to post a 25-point and 11-rebound double-double. Across that five-game stretch, his usage rate is up to a whopping 34.7%, and he now faces a Lakers squad that are bottom six in the league against the point guard position. So I’ll have plenty of exposure to Dame Time as he projects to be one of my top plays on the evening.
Nikola Jokic (C-DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,800 FanDuel
Jokic carries a questionable tag heading into Sunday due to hamstring tightness, so be sure to keep an eye on his status. The big man gets a cake matchup if he can suit up and give it a go. The Thunder have been atrocious at defending centers, as their bottom three OPRK against the position suggest. They’re 22nd in the NBA, giving up 51.3 points a game down low, and are dead last in second-chance points allowed with 16.2 per contest. Jokic is coming off back-to-back massive outings, and I look for him to stay hot again on Sunday.
GPP Targets
Ja Morant (PG-MEM): $9,600 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Ja has played consistently well all season, averaging 27.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists with a stellar 37.2% usage rate. However, it’s been a while since we’ve gotten one of those mind-blowing performances from the superstar point guard. That makes him a player I want to target in large-field tournaments because we know Ja can go bananas on any given night. Coming off a drama-filled loss against the Lakers last game, I look for Morant to bounce back in a huge way tonight against a banged-up Phoenix Suns roster.
Nicolas Claxton (C-BKN): $7,400 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
The 23-year-old center is playing fantastic basketball, recording four double-doubles in his last six games. In addition, he’s scored 30 or more fantasy points in seven straight. Even on nights when he’s cold from the field, he can salvage his fantasy night with his stellar play on the defensive end. Claxton has three or more blocks in 11 consecutive contests, and in two of them, he managed to swat six of his opponent’s shot attempts. If you’re looking to pay down at the center position, Claxton is an excellent option.
Value Plays
Isaiah Joe (SG/PG-OKC): $4,300 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel
Let me start by saying this play certainly comes with risk because the 23-year-old guard’s minutes aren’t guaranteed, and he’s such an erratic scorer. Still, Joe has played exceptionally well in the last two games and has shown what he can do given additional time on the court. In those two games, he blew his price tags out of the water returning 10 times and seven times his value. He scored over 20 points in both while shooting an impressive 58% from behind the arc, going 14 of 24. As I stated at the top, this play is risky, but Isaiah Joe has earned some more playing time, and I’m willing to ride the hot hand.
Brandon Clarke (PF/C-MEM): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
Clarke is coming off a massive game against the Lakers, dropping 20 points and 10 rebounds, leading to his fifth double-double of the season. While I am not expecting another performance like that, I still like rounding out my lineups with a player like Clarence because of his consistent production. He’s an excellent source of salary relief and has a very solid floor. Since the beginning of December, the fourth-year forward has scored less than 2o fantasy points only three times. I’ll return to the well tonight in a plus matchup against the Suns.
Thank you for reading another edition of the NBA DFS primer. If you enjoyed the content, please give me a follow on Twitter @ev_ritt3. All the love and support is greatly appreciated. Good luck tonight!
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