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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on February 22nd, 2019. Daniel Benjamin provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
The NBA is finally back!!! Every NBA team will have one game under its belt by the time the weekend officially starts early Saturday morning. Following a week-long break, 12 teams returned to action on Thursday while the remaining 18 franchises will get back on Friday night.
Thursday definitely had the more prime matchups, but there are some intriguing storylines among Friday's nine-game slate. The Jazz-Thunder contest is the game of the night and it should be very entertaining with an over/under point total of 226.5. This is the third meeting of the year between the Northwest division foes with the Thunder taking both of the earlier matchups, although just by a total of 10 points. While the Jazz are just 14-15 on the road this season, they have won six of their last 10 outings. Meanwhile, the Thunder are 8-2 over their last 10. The Hornets-Wizards game, like the Jazz-Thunder matchup, has playoff implications.
Another storyline is DeMar DeRozan's return to Toronto. DeRozan will look to lead the Spurs to another victory over his former team when he makes his first appearance at the Scotiabank Arena since being traded for Kawhi Leonard. DeRozan posted a triple-double in the Raptors 125-107 victory earlier this season while Leonard compiled 21 points on 61.5 percent shooting along with five rebounds. Other things to keep an eye on are injuries as several players have injury designations with some players having been already ruled out. As always make sure to check the status of players before the opening tip. For the rest of the article, I will be providing with my daily fantasy basketball lineup for DraftKings on 2/22/19.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Jamal Murray: PG/SG @DAL ($6,300)
The 21-year-old struggled the last two games before the All-Star break with his shooting and turnovers. But he has scored in double-figures in each of the four games since returning from an ankle sprain that cost him to miss six games. Plus, Murray has good value as a mid-price point guard tonight.
Murray, who posted his third double-double of the campaign in his first game back from the injury against Brooklyn (Feb. 6), is averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 three-pointers while shooting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc over his last four games.
He was terrific in the first meeting against the Mavericks this season, compiling 56.8 DK fantasy points as the teams combined for 244 points.
Dallas ranks in the middle of the league in allowing points and assists to opposing point guards, although they have been much worse over the last 10 games. Overall, the Mavericks are giving up the eighth most fantasy points to opposing point guards.
Kemba Walker, Luka Doncic, Jrue Holiday, Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, Dennis Smith Jr. are solid high priced plays tonight. Ricky Rubio, Tomas Satoransky and Darren Collison are other mid-priced options that I like. While Jeremy Lin, Monte Morris, and Delon Wright are quality cheap options.
Josh Okogie: SG/SF @NY ($3,900)
Okogie is an extremely inexpensive play. He is expected to be in the starting lineup against the Knicks as Robert Covington (ankle) remains out. The 20-year-old, who registered 32 DK fantasy points in his last outing prior to the All-Star break, has scored in double figures and grabbed at least four rebounds in four of his last five games. The rookie has been much more productive as a starter than a reserve this season.
New York has been one of the worst defensive teams all season, although the Knicks have been much better over the last 10 games. The Knicks' defense ranks in the top half of the league against opposing shooting guards.
Bradley Beal and DeRozan are the top high priced plays. Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins, Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles, and Patrick Beverley are good mid-priced options. Patty Mills and Luke Kennard are other cheap plays that could pay big dividends.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Jabari Parker: SF/PF @CHA ($5,500)
Paul George is the top play here, but I decided to go with Parker as he has played well with the Wizards and has a good matchup against the Hornets. The 23-year-old's minutes have fluctuated considerably in his four appearances off the bench for the Wizards seeing anywhere between 20 and 35 minutes. In the two games that the 6-foot-8 combo forward has been on the floor for at least 30 minutes, he has been excellent as he has topped the 20-point mark both times.
Parker, who has registered 39 or more DK points in three of his last four games, has grabbed five or more rebounds in each of the four contests while also doling out at least four assists on three of those occasions. The fifth-year pro is averaging 12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor with the Wizards.
This Wizards-Hornets matchup has an over/under total of 230 points. The two teams combined for 256 points in their first meeting this year. So, there is potential that this game could see a lot of points. Washington has allowed 120 points in six of their last six games and Charlotte has given up that total in three of their last five contests.
Leonard is also a good high price option. Danilo Gallinari, Aaron Gordon, Trevor Ariza, and Rudy Gay are other mid-priced options.
Domantas Sabonis: PF/C Vs. NO ($5,500)
Sabonis could be in contention for "Fantasy Player of the Night", especially if Myles Turner (hip) is unable to play. Turner is currently listed as questionable.
Sabonis, who recorded a double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) in the first meeting against the Pelicans, has hauled in seven or more rebounds in each of his last four games. He has scored in double-figures on four occasions this month and grabbed double-digit rebounds three times. Overall, the 22-year-old is producing 12 points along with 8.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and one steal in February.
New Orleans is giving up the fourth most points to opposing frontcourts this season at 66.7 points a game. Sabonis, Turner and Thaddeus Young combined for 45 points and 27 rebounds in the Pacers 109-107 win earlier this year.
Anthony Davis has not played well recently, but at $8,300 he could be a steal tonight. Julius Randle, Pascal Siakam, Bobby Portis, Dewayne Dedmon, Derrick Favors, and Paul Millsap are mid-priced options. Davis Bertans could be the steal of the night at $3,700.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Cody Zeller: C Vs. WAS ($5,200)
The top four centers in action tonight -- Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic, Nikola Vucevic, and Andre Drummond -- are all in line to have monster nights. So, I decided to look at a less obvious option with Zeller.
Zeller has played well the past five games, posting double-figures in points (three times) and rebounds (twice) during this stretch. He has also grabbed seven rebounds in each of these five games. The 7-footer averaged 11.2 points along with 11.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists while shooting 51.4 percent from the field (18-for-35) during this stretch.
The 26-year-old, who is expected to be see a ton of minutes with the Hornets in the middle of the playoff hunt, has a strong matchup against the Wizards and starting center Thomas Bryant. Zeller had eight points, nine rebounds, one block, one steal and four assists, although he also committed six turnovers in the first meeting between the teams.
The Wizards are one of the worst teams in the league at defending the low-post. Opposing centers are averaging 24.6 points and hauling in 15.8 boards a game versus the Wiz.
Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka are also mid-priced options. Ivica Zubac, Robin Lopez, and Dwight Powell are cheap options.
