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Jordan Clarkson ($5,800) has been very useful for both the Lakers and his fantasy owners. He’s a moderately priced PG who’s scored at least 26 DraftKings points in each of his last ten games. He’s been outpacing his season average in PPG, pouring in 18.2 PPG in his last six games. The sheer number of shot attempts is what makes Clarkson especially intriguing. He’s fired 53 shots over his last three games. I find Clarkson to be a solid cash game play with a dash of upside in this matchup with the Rockets. Houston’s backcourt has been banged up and I’d like Clarkson even more if Beverley sits out again.
If Dwyane Wade sits again, that opens up plenty of opportunity for Beno Udrih ($4,000). Beno has seen increased minutes with the injury to Goran Dragic, but minutes alone is not enough to roster him. He needs the ball handling responsibilities that would be handed to him if Wade sits again. Udrih flashed what he can do on Friday night, earning 35.25 DraftKings points via eleven points and eleven assists. Either way, Udrih is a GPP option.
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I am ready to invest in a James Harden ($9,900) bounce-back game. Mostly because of how thin the SG position is, but Harden is really one of the most likely candidates to be the highest scorer on the slate when all is said and done. He only took 10 shots against the Cavs on Friday night, which is highly unlikely to happen again. Harden averages nearly 20 shots per game and gets the excellent matchup with the Lakers on the big stage of the Staples Center tonight. This game has a big total and should provide plenty of scoring options for Harden.
This is a great opportunity to buy into Kawhi Leonard ($8,200). He’s likely to be under-owned thanks to the OPRK designation on DraftKings. DraftKings ranks Dallas as the 3rd best defense versus SFs this season. I would argue that SFs are the position where this stat means the least. Either way, many owners will opt for Kevin Durant who’s in a prime matchup or go cheap at the position. Leonard will be overlooked despite his ability to do EVERYTHING for the Spurs. A true five category player who’s coming off a 46.5 DraftKings point game against the Cavs. Remember that Leonard torched the Mavericks for 48.5 DraftKings points in their only matchup this season.
His minutes have been absolutely volatile, but Mirza Teletovic ($4,900) has been extremely productive in the last week and a half. He’s averaging 28.9 DraftKings points per game over his last four which is close to 6x value for tonight. He’s the type of three point specialist that you like for GPPs, because if he gets hot well…watch out! He’s scored double digits real points in each of his last seven games.
Keep an eye on the Lakers injury report. Larry Nance Jr. left yesterday’s game after just three minutes with a sore knee. It’s conceivable that Julius Randle ($5,000) will move into the starting lineup and could see close to 30 minutes of action. Randle has been trending upwards in his last ten games and more specifically in his last three. He’s been a 1 DK PPM player for an extended stretch, so getting 30 minutes of action could provide a 6x return for his owners. Randle has a legitimate opportunity to earn a double-double against the Rockets who allow the third most points in the paint to opponents.
If you like narratives, few are stronger than Dwight Howard ($7,700) traveling to the Staples Center to take on his old team. I prefer the fantasy stats over the narrative, which are still very strong. Howard has averaged 41.9 DK PPG in his two meetings with the Lakers this season. Eight straight games with a double-double, it’s only a matter of HOW BIG a double-double he will post. Now, he is dealing with back soreness and is officially questionable for this game. If he doesn’t suit up, lock and load Clint Capela ($5,600). Capela has been an excellent fill-in for Howard this season and posted a 39.5 DK point performance against these Lakers on December 17th, his second highest total of the season.
That’s all folks! Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more player analysis as news and injuries break closer to tip-off! Commentary based on DraftKings strategy and scoring.