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Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! On Wednesday, the NBA provided a DFS appetizer with a small two-game slate as we eased into the second half of the season. However, we are diving into a full-blown main course with 11 on the schedule as 22 teams kick off the second half of their 2020-21 campaigns. With so many games to pick through, there will be plenty of options and value plays to fill up the fantasy lineups and create some contest-winning lineups.
The Minnesota-New Orleans matchup immediately jumps off the page on Thursday. It has the highest over/under (239 points) among the 11 games, and both teams play at a faster-than-average pace. Other games to build your lineup around include Golden State-Los Angeles Clippers (231.5 points O/U) and the Houston-Sacramento contest with a surprisingly low total (228.5 points).
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 3/11/21. 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.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
De'Aaron Fox - PG, SAC vs. HOU ($9,200)
It seems like De'Aaron Fox did not appreciate not making the Western Conference All-Star list this season. Unfortunately, the west is stacked with guard talent right now, and it will be tough to get an All-Star bid in this conference for the foreseeable future. Still, since the ASG decisions, Fox has been playing out of mind. Since Feb. 23 (six games), the fourth-year guard is tallying 26.3 points, 9.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, one steal, 2.2 threes, and is taking 20.3 shots per game. That's precisely the kind of usage we want to see from a $9,000 guard.
The Rockets are in total freefall now, and this season has turned into a lost one. Houston is a bottom-10 defense versus point guards over their last 15 games and ranks rank bottom-10 versus every position on the court over that same stretch. Two fast-paced units and bad defenses mean there will be many fantasy points to go around.
Anthony Edwards - SG/SF, MIN at NO ($6,700)
The Pelicans allow the most fantasy points to point guards over the last two weeks. That makes Ricky Rubio ($6,000) a playable option if you can't afford Edwards in your lineup on Thursday. Other than that, the rookie shows what he can do when given a chance to shine and take on a larger role in the Timberwolves' offense.
D'Angelo Russell (knee) and Malik Beasley (suspension) won't suit up tonight, which will suit the rookie just fine. Over his last four games, he has had at least a 29 percent usage rate and shot the ball at least 20 times. That volume has resulted in 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, two steals, and 2.3 threes. The efficiency is terrible, but we can ignore that while the 2020 No. 1 overall pick is averaging 37.4 FPPG over his last four outings.
Bruce Brown - PG/SG, BKN vs. BOS ($5,800)
The Nets are getting creative without Kevin Durant (hamstring) in their lineup. Bruce Brown, a 6'4" guard, is playing some small-ball center for the superteam and producing incredible real-life and fantasy results. Durant will sit out again tonight, and new signing Blake Griffin is not ready to make his debut yet. Those absences will allow Brown to keep rolling and be a swiss army knife for Brooklyn.
He's averaging 30 minutes per game over his last six tilts and providing 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, and 1.3 steals per night. With all the missing regulars in Brooklyn, the 24-year old will keep his place in the Nets lineup and our DFS squads for another game.
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Zion Williamson - PF/C, NO vs. MIN ($9,300)
The Zion hype train is leaving the station. The sophomore big man is finding his place in the league and settling in as a DFS superstar. Over his last nine games, the 2021 All-Star is averaging 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 9.9 free throw attempts, and 17.7 shots while he leaps from prospect to rising star. He's tallied at least 46 fantasy points in each of his last six games, and that streak should continue tonight.
Minnesota is allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to power forwards over their last 15 games. They are missing some playmakers from their regular rotation, and it will be interesting to see how much of a fight they can put up against the Pelicans. The Timberwolves are playing at the fifth-fastest pace in the NBA over their last 10 games, and it should give Zion Williamson a couple of extra chances to rack up some much-needed fantasy points for our DFS lineups.
Norman Powell - SG/SF, TOR vs. ATL ($7,200)
Despite the time off during the All-Star break, the Raptors remain without several key members of their team due to COVID-19 protocols. Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam will all remain on the sidelines for tonight's game with the hopes of returning to the team for their weekend back-to-back. It takes three reliable DFS options off the table for this game against the Hawks, but it also gives an enormous boost to Norman Powell's potential.
The sixth-year wing has played at least 33 minutes in each of his last five games. He's putting up 26.4 points, three rebounds, three assists, 1.6 steals, and 3.6 triples per contest during that run. All those numbers add up to 38.6 fantasy points per game, and we'll take that sort of output from anyone in the $7,000 range.
Kevin Porter Jr. - SG/SF, HOU at SAC ($3,200)
PUNT PLAY ALERT! KPJ was recalled from the G-League over the All-Star Break and will have the chance to earn playing time in the second half of this lost Rockets season. He could provide a goose egg tonight, but keep an eye on Head Coach Stephen Silas's pregame comments. If we receive word that Porter will not play tonight, pivoting up to Sterling Brown ($4,300) or Jae'sean Tate ($5,500) could be an option if you have that amount of flexibility.
KPJ was great in the G-League bubble. He produced 24.1 points, 7.3 assists, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. He flashed the potential that lured the Rockets to trade for the youngster in January. It's a total salary relief play, but the Rockets need to see what they have on this roster as they continue to start their rebuild, post-James Harden.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Dwight Howard - C, PHI at CHI ($5,300)
The 76ers will start the second half of their season without their two superstars. Joel Embiid (medical protocols) and Ben Simmons (medical protocols) will sit out tonight and tomorrow's contests. Their absence will create a minutes boost to Dwight Howard and other rotation players. The Bulls are a plus matchup for the 35-year old center. Over their last 15 games, Chicago allows the most DraftKings fantasy points to centers at 60.78 points per matchup.
Howard has played at least 25 minutes in only four games this season and should be in line for a more significant workload tonight. In those four tilts, the eight-time All-Star averaged 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 1.75 blocks. Tobias Harris will shoulder most of the heavy lifting for Philadelphia tonight. Still, Howard has the ability, and the opportunity, to record a double-double and over 30 fantasy points for your squad.
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