RADIO
The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on February 23, 2021. Euan Leith provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Tuesday, RotoBallers! I thought the NBA was treating us to an early Valentine's Day gift two weeks ago with seven games on a Tuesday. That's been blown out of the water today with nine games on the docket. We will have games going back and forth the entire evening, and it's going to be a lot of fun recommending playing with more than half the league taking the court tonight. Only Portland, Dallas, and Washington played on Monday night, so we should have many fresh legs racking up those sought-after fantasy points.
Sacramento versus Brooklyn is head and shoulders above the rest of the schedule with a 242-point over/under. The next-closest matchup is between Washington and the Los Angeles Clippers at 234.5 points. The Wizards will be coming off an overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. The game could be a fantasy-points gold mine with the Wizards laying claim to the fastest-paced team in the league at 106.2 possessions per game.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/23/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
DraftKings DFS Guards
Kyrie Irving - PG/SG, BKN vs. SAC ($8,800)
You could pick Irving or his teammate, James Harden, tonight, and it won't be a mistake. Sacramento allows the second-most points (46.08) to shooting guards this season, and Irving's current run of form elevates him to must-play status. Over his last eight games, the newly-minted All-Star starter has topped 48 DraftKings fantasy points in four contests. An easy five-times value on his $8,800 price tag for this evening's slate.
The last time Irving went over 50 fantasy points was eight days ago against this same Kings team on Feb. 15. He dropped 40 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a massive nine three-pointers on Sacramento that night to record a final total of 56.5 DKFP. Kevin Durant is still absent for the Nets, and Iriving should maintain his massive usage rate in the offense. It's hovered above 30 percent in four of his last six games, and with an enormous 242-point over/under for this tilt, Irving, and the entire Nets team, will have plenty of chances to accumulate fantasy points.
Darius Garland - PG, CLE vs. ATL ($6,100)
Garland is not the main man in the Cleveland backcourt, but he will be a solid contributor for your fantasy teams on Tuesday. Over his last five games, the sophomore guard is averaging 17.6 points, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and two triples per game. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Garland racked up 42.75 DK fantasy points. That was good enough for his second-highest total of the season and most in a game since December.
The 21-year old has eclipsed 30 DKFP in five of his last 10 games and will look to make it six of 11 against the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks have been clipped by point guards all season, allowing a fifth-worst 51.96 fantasy points per game to the position. Garland's usage rate hasn't slipped below 22 percent in any of his last five games, and he has nine steals in his previous four. Contributions on both ends of the floor and a great matchup make him an attractive mid-level play on Tuesday.
Josh Jackson - SG/SF, DET at ORL ($5,800)
Delon Wright (groin) is out for a couple of weeks, and it gives some other breakout Pistons players the chance to shine. Jackson is quietly putting together a useful stretch of performances and shouldn't see his usage slip anytime soon. The 2017 fourth overall pick provides a decent floor for his fantasy managers since the end of January. He's scored at least 24 fantasy points in his last 11 games and gone over four-times value in everyone one of those contests.
Orlando allows a miserable 46.04 FPPG to shooting guards and will pave the way for Jackson to have another big evening of fantasy production. This game has the lowest over/under on the slate, but that means there will be a buying opportunity to use Jackson's recent run to your advantage against the competition.
Bonus guards: James Harden ($10,700), Jamal Murray ($8,500), Immanuel Quickley ($4,400)
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Kawhi Leonard - SF, LAC vs. WAS ($9,400)
Recommending superstars in this article isn't usually my go-to move, but Leonard is in such a prime spot that he deserves some extra attention. Over his last eight games, the 2019 Finals MVP is averaging 48.75 fantasy points per game, two more than his season average. Not only is he performing better compared to his season average, but he also goes against a Wizards defense that allows 45.75 FPPG to small forwards. That comes in as the third-worst mark in the league. Again, if you want another reason to play Leonard, the Wizards will be playing the second half of a back-to-back they started on Monday in an overtime win versus the Lakers.
So we've got a bad, tired defense facing off against the highest-scoring small forward on the slate? I'll take that any day of the week, especially tonight. Leonard has only eclipsed the 60-point mark once this season, but he finds himself in an excellent spot to add a second one on Tuesday. With Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Jokic all on the board tonight, I like Kawhi as a contrarian play in tournament contests.
Norman Powell - SG/SF, TOR vs. PHI ($6,900)
OG Anunoby returned to the Raptors lineup last week, but it hasn't seemed to slow down Powell entirely. Last week, The 27-year old recorded back-to-back performances with at least 44 fantasy points before falling flat in the week's finale with a low 12.5 points. Hopefully, this will cause the casual DFS manager to fade Powell because he has been on fire during February. In 11 games, the sixth-year wing is averaging 21.5 points, 1.3 steals, and 2.8 triples while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor and 48.4 percent behind the three-point line.
Philadelphia plays at the sixth-fastest pace in the league and will offer the Raptors an opportunity to get out and run with the Eastern Conference leaders. Toronto isn't a slow-team by any measure, but the 223.5 over/under placed on this game feels slightly low. Powell has earned the trust and confidence of this team to become a big part of the offense, and that should continue in a bounce-back effort tonight.
Zeke Nnaji - PF/C, DEN vs. POR ($3,100)
Sometimes you've got to throw something against the wall and hope it sticks. Paul Millsap (knee), Gary Harris (groin), and JaMychal Green (shoulder) are sidelined for tonight's game, and it will open the door for Zeke Nnaji. The rookie made the first start of his career on Sunday and recorded seven points, three rebounds, and one assist in 30 minutes. Let's focus on those minutes. Any player rocking 30 minutes of court time deserves a look in daily fantasy.
Nnaji is a perfect tournament play in a multi-entry contest. Portland is league average versus big men. Although Nnaji isn't going to come anywhere close to double-digit shot attempts, he will be on the court enough that a surprising stat line becomes possible. Plus, with so many studs on the board, the 20-year old's $3,100 salary is a welcome sight to any DFS roster.
Bonus forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000), Tobias Harris ($8,300), Will Barton ($5,300)
DraftKings DFS Centers
Richaun Holmes - C, SAC at BKN ($5,400)
There are nine games on the schedule tonight, and it allows us to pick and choose from 18 teams. I can't resist grabbing another piece of the Kings-Nets contest in Richaun Holmes. This contest has the highest over/under by eight points and features two of the fastest teams in the league.
Holmes missed three games with a knee injury last week but returned on Sunday to record his eighth double-double this season. In 21 minutes, the sixth-year big man totaled 11 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists for 28.75 DKFP. The Nets are bottom-five versus power forwards and centers this season and could have a depleted frontcourt with Jeff Green (shoulder) questionable for the tilt. Holmes is a value option at the center spot tonight, but his role in a high-scoring game has me intrigued as a contrarian play.
Bonus centers: Joel Embiid ($10,600), DeAndre Jordan ($5,500),
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