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Thursday brings us a seven-game slate that's expected to feature the return to action of Kevin Durant for the Nets and that also includes a Grizzlies-Celtics showdown in Boston and a Warriors-Mavericks rematch following Dallas' 107-101 win at Chase Center on Sunday night.
With plenty of superstars in action, we have a well-stocked top shelf of the player pool, even with some big names finding their way onto the injury report or already ruled out. There are also multiple intriguing mid-salary options and value plays to choose from, which should make for a fun night of roster construction.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/3/22. Remember to monitor the NBA injury report as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Good luck, RotoBallers.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Dejounte Murray - PG/SG, SAS vs. SAC (10,600 DK; $9,600 FD)
Murray will come into Thursday's game well-rested after having the last two days off, and he'll face a Kings team that will be playing its third game in four nights. Murray has also already thrived against Sacramento this season, shooting 57.9 percent, including 40.0 percent from distance, on his way to averaging just under 50 fantasy points per game over two outings this season. The Kings' porous defense is likely to be even more generous than usual given the fatigue factor, and Sacramento already comes in allowing the 10th-highest offensive efficiency to PGs (26.3 percent) , along with over 47 fantasy points per game on each site to ones.
De'Aaron Fox - PG, SAC at SAS ($8,800 DK; $8,900 FD)
The man Murray may often find himself across from, Fox, is also an intriguing play Thursday, given his outsized role and past success against San Antonio. Fox has been a much better player on the road this season, as he went into Wednesday's matchup versus the Pelicans averaging over 40 fantasy points per away game compared to just over 34 at home. He also shot 58.3 percent in his one prior encounter with San Antonio this season on his way to a 37-point haul. Meanwhile, the Spurs have allowed the fifth-highest offensive efficiency to point guards (26.8 percent) and over 49 fantasy points per game to the position on each site in the last seven.
Ayo Dosunmu, CHI at ATL ($5,300 DK; $6,300 FD)
Dosunmu's salaries are particularly eye-catching, especially the one he's sporting on DK. The rookie just recorded 36.0 DK/36.3 FD points against the Heat on Monday night and has posted no fewer than 26.3 on either site in six of the last seven games. Dosunmu has also shot a blistering 68.2 percent, including 50.0 percent from behind the arc, in three games versus Atlanta this season and is draining 55.5 percent of his attempts on the road, including 44.3 percent of those taken from behind the arc. The Hawks have also been increasingly vulnerable to the position as the season has gone on, allowing the eighth-highest offensive efficiency (26.5 percent) to ones on the season, as well as the sixth-most DK (52.3) and seventh-most FD (49.9) points per game to the position in the last 15.
Also consider: Gary Trent Jr. - SG, TOR vs. DET ($6,700 DK; $6,700 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jayson Tatum - SF/PF, BOS vs. MEM ($10,000 DK, $9,400 FD)
Tatum owns a 35.4 percent usage rate and averages 49.7 DK/47.8 FD points per 36 minutes with Jaylen Brown (ankle) off the floor, and his teammate is already ruled out for Thursday's showdown against the Grizzlies. Tatum already comes in on a tear, having averaged 28.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists across his last seven games. He'll naturally be poised for a huge workload in what could well be a wire-to-wire battle, and his positional matchup lines up fairly well for him also. Memphis is ranked in the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency allowed to power forwards (25.5 percent) and has yielded over 45 fantasy points per game to fours on the season as well.
Scottie Barnes - SF/PF, TOR vs. DET ($6,400 DK; $6,600 FD)
Barnes offered a glimpse of his upside two games ago when he went off for 65.5 DK/66.2 FD points against the Nets on the strength of a 28-point, 16-rebound double-double, his second 28-point effort in the last four games. The rookie has eclipsed 35 fantasy points a total of 24 times on DK and 26 times on FD, and he'll be in prime position for another strong return Thursday. Both Fred VanVleet (knee) and OG Anunoby (finger) could remain out, and Barnes averages over 36 fantasy points per 36 minutes with both teammates off the floor. Additionally, the Pistons have allowed the eighth-highest offensive efficiency to frontcourt players (82.1 percent) and over 43 fantasy points per game to PFs specifically, furthering Barnes' case.
Danilo Gallinari - SF/PF, ATL vs. CHI ($5,100 DK; $5,000 FD)
Gallinari is likely to draw another start at power forward for John Collins (foot), who's listed as doubtful for Thursday's game. The veteran has averaged a solid 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in his last five starts for Collins and draws an excellent positional matchup Thursday. The Bulls have been mostly inept against power forwards all season, allowing the fourth-highest offensive efficiency to the position (28.1 percent), along with over 46 fantasy points per game to the position. It's also worth noting in the floor-spacing Gallinari's case that Chicago has been vulnerable on the perimeter, surrendering the seventh-highest three-point shooting percentage (36.0) on the road.
Also consider: DeMar DeRozan - SF/PF, CHI at ATL ($10,300 DK; $10,200 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jakob Poeltl - SAS vs. SAC ($7,500 DK; $8,000 FD)
Poeltl is averaging an impressive 35.5 DK points per home game and has been particularly impressive since mid-January, putting up 16.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game over his last 16. The big man has recorded double-doubles in half those contests and also posted multiple blocks in 12 of those games. The Kings could well coax one of his dominant performances out of him, considering Sacramento has yielded the second-highest offensive efficiency to centers (35.6 percent) and north of 60 fantasy points on either site to fives in the last 15. What's more, the Kings are giving up an NBA-high 53.3 points in the paint per road game, an area of the floor where a career-high 88.0 percent of Poeltl's scoring emanates from.
Clint Capela - ATL vs. CHI ($5,900 DK; $6,400 FD)
Capela's usage on the offensive end has taken a hit this season, but it's also helped lead to a significant drop in salary. With backup Onyeka Okongwu, who's been eating into Capela's minutes, out Thursday due to a concussion, Capela could be in position to overdeliver on his very modest salaries. The veteran has already played very well in three previous games against the Bulls this season, averaging 39.2 DK points across 28.2 minutes per game. Meanwhile, Chicago has been increasingly vulnerable to centers of late, giving up over 57 fantasy points per game on both sites to the position in the last 15 games. Capela is also averaging over 40 fantasy points per 36 minutes without Collins on the floor this season, certainly another point in his favor.
Also consider: Domantas Sabonis, SAC at SAS ($9,700 DK; $9,200 FD)
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