NBA DFS Preview - First Look (2/12)

Saturday presents a loaded 10-game NBA DFS slate with plenty to keep an eye on. Recently traded players could be available to make debuts for their new team, which will impact depth charts and rotations. Let’s take an early look at this massive slate.

Be sure to check out the FTN NBA Optimizer.

NBA Vegas Data for February 12 | NBA DFS First Look

Memphis Grizzlies @ Charlotte Hornets

MEM -7.5, total: 237.5
Pace: MEM (3rd), CHA (5th)

Situations to monitor:

Gordon Hayward will remain sidelined for Charlotte, while Cody Martin (Achilles) will be listed as questionable.

Sacramento Kings @ Washington Wizards

SAC -2.5, total: 223.5
Pace: SAC (4th), WAS (20th)

Situations to monitor:

Kristaps Porzingis could make his Washington debut on Saturday. Daniel Gafford, meanwhile, will remain out due to health and safety protocols.
For Sacramento, Donte DiVincenzo is questionable to make his Sacramento debut, while Maurice Harkless is also listed as questionable.

San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans

NOP -5.5, total: 227.5
Pace: SAS (10th), NOP (18th)

Situations to monitor:

Josh Richardson won’t make his San Antonio debut until Monday, while Tomas Satoransky will likely be out as well.

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Philadelphia 76ers

PHI -4, total: 207.5
Pace: CLE (29th), PHI (30th)

Situations to monitor:

Darius Garland (back soreness) sat out Friday. He’ll likely be listed as questionable for Saturday, but I expect he plays. Lauri Markkanen (ankle) is getting closer but will remain out for this game.
James Harden won’t make his Philadelphia debut just yet.

Denver Nuggets @ Toronto Raptors

TOR -3.5, total: 222.5
Pace: DEN (24th), TOR (23rd)

Situations to monitor:

Fred VanVleet (groin) is listed as questionable for the Raptors. Thaddeus Young will be available to make his Toronto debut.
Monte Morris (concussion) missed Friday’s game and will be questionable for Saturday.

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Chicago Bulls

CHI -11.5, total: 218.5
Pace: OKC (19th), CHI (16th)

Situations to monitor:

Josh Giddey will continue to be limited to around 30 minutes for the Thunder.

Brooklyn Nets @ Miami Heat

MIA -10.5, total: 219.5
Pace: BKN (8th), MIA (27th)

Situations to monitor:

Tyler Herro is listed as questionable for Miami along with PJ Tucker.
Andre Drummond and Seth Curry are questionable to make their Brooklyn debuts Saturday.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks

DAL -7.5, total: 215.5
Pace: LAC (11th), DAL (28th)

Situations to monitor:

Norman Powell (toe) is listed as questionable for Los Angeles.
We’ll see if Spencer Dinwiddie will make his Dallas debut.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors

GSW -7, total: 224
Pace: LAL (2nd), GSW (11th)

Situations to monitor:

LeBron James and Russell Westbrook are listed as questionable while Anthony Davis (wrist) is listed as probable. Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony (hamstring) has once again been ruled out.

Orlando Magic @ Phoenix Suns

PHX -16, total: 222
Pace: ORL (14th), PHX (8th)

Situations to monitor:

Cameron Payne (wrist) will remain sidelined for the Suns.

Stats to Know | NBA DFS First Look

Domantas Sabonis recorded 89 touches in his Sacramento debut

Sabonis is with a new team, but he’s honestly in a very similar role to the one he had with the Pacers. In his first game with the Kings, Sabonis recorded 89 touches, the same number as point guard De’Aaron Fox. He posted a very healthy 28.2% usage rate and saw a whopping 28 rebounding opportunities, eight more than his regular season average of 20.3 per game. In a similar role but in a faster offense, Sabonis should continue to post huge fantasy numbers, especially in a friendly matchup against a Washington team that is coughing up the fifth-most points per game (8.3), third-most points per possession (1.21) and fourth-highest field goal percentage (56%) to opposing roll men out of the pick-and-roll. Sabonis, meanwhile, is averaging nearly five points per game off the play type and has been one of the more efficient players in basketball out of the set.

Terry Rozier possessed the basketball for 6.2 minutes against the Pistons Friday

Charlotte is already without Gordon Hayward, which gives a bump to Rozier. But very quietly, the departure of Ish Smith has had an impact on this team, as the Hornets really don’t have a backup point guard on their roster. Because of that, one of Rozier or LaMelo Ball were essentially always on the floor Friday. When Ball was out, Rozier stayed in the game, operating as the primary ball-handler. As a result, he possessed the ball for 6.2 minutes, up from his regular-season average of 4.0. He also recorded 89 touches in the game, way up from his season average of 65.9 per game. The uptick in usage was terrific for Rozier, who recorded a triple-double in the game (25 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists). He is also logging 40 minutes in any competitive game, making Rozier very, very intriguing going forward.

De’Aaron Fox is averaging 16.5 drives per game this season

That is good for the eighth most among active players, while Fox’s 11.9 points per game off drives are good for the fourth most in the NBA. In the two games since Fox has returned to the lineup, he has attempted 20 and 22 field goals, while sporting a healthy 28.6% usage rate. During that two-game stretch, Fox’s 92.0 touches per game are the third-most in all of basketball, as he is dominating the ball-handling duties sans Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. Given his current role, Fox is still a bit underpriced, especially ahead of a matchup with a Washington team that lacks rim protection, surrendering the second-worst field goal percentage in basketball at the rim (68.1%). Perhaps the matchup is a bit tougher if Kristaps Porzingis makes his debut, but I still love the role for Fox.

Value Plays | NBA DFS First Look

Devin Vassell vs. NOP — Vassell entered the starting lineup on Friday with Derrick White traded to Boston. He was productive, scoring 20 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists. He’s now scored over 30 fantasy points in each of his last two contests and with Josh Richardson not available to make his San Antonio debut, Vassell should once again play 30-32 minutes.

Cameron Johnson vs. ORL — Johnson is coming off a strong showing against Milwaukee and while the Suns are mostly healthy, I still like Johnson, especially at just $3,900 on DraftKings. If Phoenix does what they should do here, Johnson could get plenty of fourth quarter run and faces an Orlando team that is allowing the third-most points per possession (1.07) and third-highest field goal percentage (41.3%) off spot-ups. Johnson, meanwhile, is averaging 5.8 spot-up points per game on the year, good for the eighth most in the NBA.