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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on August 24, 2020. Jesse Borek provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
Will Tuesday be the final time that DFS owners get a four-game slate in 2019-20? That remains to be seen, but if it’s the last trip around the sun, let’s dance in it, shall we?
The Bucks and the Magic have pole vaulted themselves into the highest projected spread of the night, which is due primarily to the fact that Milwaukee has treated the previous two contests much like a cornered hyena would, demolishing anything within range after their Game 1 defeat. There’s a pile of stars at the ready, so roster your favorites and let’s get to the nitty gritty of the rest, shall we?
Without further ado, here are our daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/24/20. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
C.J. McCollum - PG/SG, POR vs. LAL ($7,700)
While Damian Lillard will (rightfully) draw the vast majority of attention, McCollum is a potential slate buster, especially in GPP formats. If it’s possible to quietly average more than 20 shots per game through the first three contests of a series, McCollum has done so, all while averaging 20.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in that stretch. If Lillard and McCollum have proven anything this year, it’s that rostering one or the other is not a mutually exclusive transaction, as both have shown the ability to score and produce in DFS in droves, irrespective of the other. McCollum’s DK price tag allows owners to get at least one other star in lineups, all while giving themselves a high-upside scorer that fired up 12 three-point attempts just two days ago.
Eric Gordon - SG/SF, HOU vs. OKC ($6,000)
Gordon has accomplished the odd through his first three games of the postseason -- he has broken out in a prolonged manner, all without actually shooting the ball particularly efficiently. Fortunately for DFS owners, shots are an indication of role moving forward, which can be parlayed into future success. Over his last two games, Gordon has gone a combined 2-for-20 from long range, a rate that is nearly unsustainable for a shooter of his pedigree. Without Russell Westbrook (knee) in the mix, Gordon’s role expands exponentially, making him an appealing GPP play heading into Game 4.
D.J. Augustin - PG, ORL vs. MIL ($4,600)
The absence of Michael Carter-Williams (foot) has quietly paved the way for Augustin to become a massive contributor during the series against Milwaukee. On the heels of a 24-point showing in Game 3, it’s likely time to buy into Augustin’s considerable bench production, which has averaged out to 15 points and 7.3 assists contests thus far. That alone would put Augustin on the precipice of reaching value, and with his role having increased as the matchup continues, he presents a safe floor cash play despite having been transitioned back to the bench over his last four outings.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Danilo Gallinari - SF/PF, OKC vs. HOU ($6,400)
In the deep waters that is Game 4 of a playoff opening series, trends begin to be established. In the case of Gallinari, he has bucked conventional wisdom that the Rockets don’t have anyone to guard him by choosing to camp out behind the three-point line. Eleven of the 12 shots that Gallinari attempted in Game 3 came from long range, a drastic pivot from where he was to open the series. Irrespective of that, he is averaging 22 points and five rebounds per game throughout the first three games, which presents a safe floor for his price tag.
Danuel House - SF/PF, HOU vs. OKC ($5,000)
The finicky nature of rostering House is the realization that his production is largely centered around his ability to snag rebounds, which, in the Houston scheme, come largely as random. For further evidence of that fact, look no further than House himself, after he grabbed one rebound in Game 1 before reeling off nine and 10 in Games 2 and 3, respectively. With the Rockets consolidating their rotations, House is likely to see a pile of minutes, which is ultimately the most important facet of rostering a Houston sharpshooter. He has more GPP than cash upside due to his shooting ability, but House figures to be a nightly mixed bag as it pertains to a spreadsheet of production.
James Ennis - SF/PF, ORL vs. MIL ($4,400)
Had Ennis not been tossed from Saturday’s contest, he very well may have reached value despite his quiet first half. Nearly all of his fantasy ownership is tied into Aaron Gordon (hamstring) remaining out of the mix, but Games 1 and 2 of the series saw him deliver above value performances. His price tag entering Game 4 has been held in check after his dud last time out, but having compiled at least 20 DK points in each of his previous eight contests, Ennis is as safe of a floor as there is on the board for forwards Monday.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Nikola Vucevic - C, ORL vs. MIL ($9,100)
There have been defined stretches during the 2019-20 season where Vucevic is the most integral part of the Magic, but maybe none more than the first two games of the opening round series against the Bucks. Game 3 on the other hand? A step backwards. How much of an effect that had on Vucevic’s price tag is unknown, but having dominated Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez over the first two contests, Vucevic has become an elite DFS play, even if his price tag doesn’t reflect it. Having taken an average of 22 shots overall (including eight triples in each of his first three games), Vucevic’s usage figures to be through the sky Monday, providing him with a high floor in addition to some significant boom or bust potential.
Jeff Green - C, HOU vs. OKC ($5,400)
If anything sticks out from the Rockets-Thunder series, it has to be the revival of Green, right? After a ho-hum regular season as a bench player for the Jazz prior to his acquisition, Green has erupted into an unguardable modern center over the past three games, thoroughly flummoxing Oklahoma City. Having averaged 36 minutes per contest, the veteran has shot 21 triples and converted at a 52.4 percent rate, a staggering shot up the charts that he had previously never displayed. With Steven Adams (knee) questionable Monday, Green has all of the upside potential in the world on the DK slate while remaining affordable.
