NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 3/20/19
Thursday’s nine-game slate in the NBA will be loaded with star power since the Rockets, Celtics, Sixers and Thunder are all scheduled to take the floor. In order to fit some of those top-tier options into your DFS entry, you’ll need to find the right mix with cheaper value players. Let’s discuss a couple at each position who could provide value. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NBA Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
D.J. Augustin, ORL vs. NO
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,300
I just can’t quit Augustin. Really, why should I? He’s been a rock for the Magic down the stretch, averaging 12.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and one steal across his last 12 games. This is a stellar matchup against the Pelicans, who play at the third-fastest pace (103.9 possessions per game) in the league. His price has increased some, but it’s still low enough to make him a viable option again Wednesday.
Shaquille Harrison, CHI vs. WAS
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,200
The Bulls don’t have a lot of depth, to begin with, and could be even more shorthanded for this matchup. Otto Porter Jr. (shoulder) is doubtful and Zach LaVine (thigh) is listed as questionable. Harrison started and played 32 minutes with Porter out Monday against the Suns and would be locked into an even larger role should LaVine be unable to play. His offensive upside is limited, but this is still a good matchup against the Wizards since they play at the eighth-fastest pace (102.6). Harrison can also rack up steals in bunches, making him an intriguing choice in tournament play at his dirt cheap price.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Marcus Smart, BOS at PHI
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,600
The Celtics are dealing with their own injury issues with Gordon Hayward (concussion) set to miss his second straight game. The Celtics have a ton of depth, so his absence helps to somewhat alleviate that logjam. Smart played 33 minutes with Gordon out Monday and has averaged 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.1 steals across 22 games in which he has logged at least 30 minutes this season.
Pat Connaughton, MIL at CLE
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $3,600
The Bucks will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set and are already thin in their backcourt with Malcolm Brogdon (foot) on the shelf. Connaughton logged 36 minutes against the Lakers on Tuesday and contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists in their 14-point victory. This has the potential to be another blowout against a bad team, which could afford Connaughton with another heavy dosage of playing time.
SMALL FORWARDS
Nikola Mirotic, MIL at CLE
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings =$4,900
The key news to monitor leading up to tipoff is the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle). His injury isn’t believed to be serious, but he was held out Tuesday as a precaution. If the Bucks have any concerns about him not being completely healthy, it makes little sense to play him against the lowly Cavaliers. Mirotic scored 23 points Tuesday and should once again have an increased usage rate if Giannis remains sidelined.
Danuel House, HOU at MEM
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900
The Rockets will also be playing the second game of a back-to-back set. They’ve already decided to rest Eric Gordon for this matchup, removing one of their main offensive weapons from the equation. House has assumed a significant role since being called up from the G League, averaging 17 points and 4.3 rebounds in 32 minutes over his last three games. Playing in Memphis is no easy task, but House could see an increase in usage with Gordon out.
POWER FORWARDS
Marcus Morris, BOS at PHI
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,400
The Sixers likely won’t be excited to see Morris on Wednesday. He’s given them plenty of trouble this season, averaging 18.7 points, eight rebounds and 1.7 assists across their previous three meetings. He has the fourth-highest usage rate (21 percent) on the Celtics and should also stand to benefit from Hayward being on the sidelines. While not an overly cheap option, Morris could still provide value.
Bobby Portis, WAS at CHI
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,700
There is no question that Portis plays with a ton of emotion. He’s going to be amped up for this game against his former team. The first time he faced them after being traded to the Wizards, Portis recorded 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. He’s taken on the starting center job since then, although he has struggled a bit lately. Don’t let his recent struggles scare you away from deploying him in this matchup.
CENTERS
Robin Lopez, CHI vs. WAS
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $6,300
If both Porter and LaVine can’t play, that removes two of the Bulls’ primary offensive weapons. They turned to Lopez with Porter out Monday and he cashed in with 24 points, seven rebounds and a block in 26 minutes. He’s now scored at least 20 points in three of his last four contests and has a favorable opportunity to thrive once again since the Wizards allow the second-most points per game (116.9) in the league.
Jakob Poeltl, SA vs. MIA
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,500
The Heat have plenty of depth up front with Bam Adebayo and Hassan Whiteside. That could leave Poeltl with some added playing time. He’s already stepped up his game after Pau Gasol was bought out, averaging 7.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, one steal and 2.1 blocks across his last eight contests. This has the makings of a low-scoring game between two teams that play at a slow pace, but Poeltl is still a cost-effective option to consider in tournament play.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.