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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on August 4, 2020. Dale Johnson provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
With the first Monday in the bubble coming to a close, another day full of heart-stopping, electric basketball in the bubble has gone by. Tuesday's slate will look to follow up on the excitement as we have on six games on tap, including a few top playoff contenders.
Players cannot escape injuries, even an isolated bubble, and the Brooklyn Nets have come to know this better than anyone. The Nets will be very shorthanded on Tuesday with Caris Levert (thigh), Jarrett Allen (rest) and Joe Harris (hamstring/back) all out on the first night of a back-to-back set. With the numerous other Nets players who are already sitting out the rest of the season, we will highlight a couple who could thrive with a bigger opportunity. In terms of overall games to target, the Houston Rockets (-5.0) at the Portland Trail Blazers has the highest projected point total at 244.0 points. Both teams are top-10 in points scored and bottom-10 in points allowed which should lead to a high-scoring affair.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/4/20. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineup lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
C.J. McCollum - PG/SG, POR v. HOU ($8,200)
McCollum has shown he can do it all early and often on the offensive end. Averaging 22.6 points, 4.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game this season, McCollum has become a solid complement to Portland's superstar Damian Lillard. McCollum was not the normal scorer in Sunday's loss to the Boston Celtics, but he has a much easier match-up on Tuesday. The Houston Rockets have given up the second-most three-pointers and third-most field goals made and overall points to opposing guards on the season. Due to this, Draftkings has drastically increased Lillard's price tag, leaving McCollum to be a much more affordable pick in Tuesday's slate.
Marcus Smart - PG/SG, BOS @ MIA ($6,300)
With Kemba Walker (knee) slowly recovering from his knee injury, Smart has been playing starter's minutes despite coming off the bench. Smart's DFS value comes not from his offensive output, but his work on the defensive end. This was on display on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers when Smart recorded three steals and two blocks in 33 minutes off the bench. Boston plays the Miami Heat on Tuesday who are on the second night of a back-to-back set. Miami had a hard fought game against the Toronto Raptors, but gave up 36 points to guard Fred Vanvleet. The last game Smart played against the Heat, he posted a full line with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal in 36 minutes.
Malcolm Brogdon - PG/SG, IND v. ORL ($5,400)
Unfortunately, Brogdon (neck) was dealing with a plethora injuries leading up to the NBA's shutdown and continues to deal with some ailments in the bubble. The good news is Brogdon returned to action on Monday and dropped 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes against the Washington Wizards. The 35 minutes is huge as there was worry Brogdon would be eased back into the lineup. Brogdon's price tag of $5,400 is an absolute steal assuming he is able to log another full workload. The Pacers have not yet submitted their injury report so this is a situation to monitor. If Brogdon is rested or unable to go, Aaron Holiday ($5,000) would be a decent value pick with Victor Oladipo (knee) still out.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Robert Covington - SF/PF, HOU @ POR ($7,100)
Covington has been a cornerstone of Houston's small ball lineup since being traded to the Rockets. Covington embraced the power forward role and has seen increases in three-pointers, rebounds and blocks. Portland has been abysmal on defense in the bubble, albeit a small sample size. In the two games played, the Trail Blazers are giving up the second-best three-point percentage, third-most points and fourth-most three-pointers made to opponents. With the Rockets leading the league in pace so far, Covington should have plenty of opportunity to complement his defensive numbers with an offensive burst.
Tim Hardaway Jr. - SG/SF, DAL v. SAC ($6,100)
It could not have been worse for Hardaway in Sunday's loss to Phoenix. Hardaway shot only 1-for-12 from the field and 0-for-8 from three in 30 minutes. With Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis grabbing all the glory, Hardaway Jr. gets forgotten as the third option on an exploding offense. So why recommend Hardaway? With Seth Curry (calf) doubtful on Tuesday. Hardaway should get extra minutes on the wing. Also, the Sacramento Kings are tied for fourth-highest pace while having the second-worst ranked defense since the games in Orlando have started. The Kings have also given up the best field-goal percentage and three-point percentage to opponents in the bubble. All things considered, the Kings give Hardaway the best chance for a bounce back game.
Danuel House Jr. - SF/PF, HOU @ POR ($4,800)
As you can see, we have a bit of a pattern here. House has blossomed in the starting role for Houston this year and is turning into a solid player on both sides of the ball. House has hit 50.0 percent of his three-point attempts in back-to-back games now, averaging 18.0 points on 52.2 percent from the field, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 36.6 minutes per game. House seems to have the starting lineup locked down and has a favorable match up Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland gives up the third-most three-pointers and third-best three-point percentage to opponents this season. Look for House to stay hot at an incredibly low price tag.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Brook Lopez - C, MIL v. BKN ($5,700)
The obvious choice in this game is to pick Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900) who should absolutely dominate against the undermanned Nets on Tuesday. However, if you are looking for a cheaper option, Lopez is also primed for opportunity here. Without Jarrett Allen (rest) and DeAndre Jordan (personal), the Nets have no primary rim protector on Tuesday. Lopez is coming off a huge game against the Houston Rockets who also lack a rim protector with their small-ball lineup. Lopez notched his fourth double-double this season with 23 points on 50.0 percent shooting, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 31 minutes. At just $5,700, Lopez might be the best value pick at the center position in Tuesday's slate.
