NHL Best Bets for Tuesday (11/19)
Kenneth Le
Thursday’s three-game NBA DFS slate definitely isn’t the most appealing of the season, but you won’t catch me complaining about having any basketball available.
Let’s take a look at what to know for DFS for Thursday. Make sure to check out the FTN NBA Optimizer throughout the day.
NBA Vegas Data for December 9 | NBA DFS First Look
Utah Jazz @ Philadelphia 76ers
UTA -3.5, total: 216.5
Pace: UTA (15th), PHI (28th)
Situations to monitor:
- With both teams coming off the front end of a back-to-back, just make sure players aren’t resting. Joel Embiid and Mike Conley are two players that stand out.
Los Angeles Lakers @ Memphis Grizzlies
LAL -4, total: 222.5
Pace: LAL (2nd), MEM (11th)
Situations to monitor:
- This is the second end of a back-to-back so just make sure LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook play, though James and Davis are once again listed as probable.
- Kyle Anderson continues to deal with a back injury and remains questionable for Memphis.
Denver Nuggets @ San Antonio Spurs
SAS -2, total: 214.5
Pace: DEN (29th), SAS (6th)
Situations to monitor:
- Keldon Johnson suffered a sprained ankle and will likely miss this game, while Devin Vassell is listed as doubtful with a thigh injury.
Stats to Know | NBA DFS First Look
Lonnie Walker is sporting a 28.4% usage rate with Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell off the floor
That is actually the highest rate of any player on the Spurs in the split, while averaging a respectable 0.85 fantasy points per minute. Walker’s minutes have been very, very inconsistent, which makes him still a bit risky, even with Vassell and Johnson likely out for this game. The Spurs have given minutes to Keita Bates-Diop and Doug McDermott, while Thaddeus Young could get more run going forward. If Walker gets the minutes, the usage will be higher than any of the San Antonio wings this season.
Jakob Poeltl is averaging 9.4 paint touches per game this season
His 9.4 paint touches per game are good for the seventh-most in the NBA, while around 80% of his points scored this season have come from inside the paint. That bodes well for a matchup with Denver, who are coughing up the third-worst field goal percentage from within six feet of the basket on the year (62.7%) and they really offer no rim protection, as they are also allowing a 66.4% field goal percentage on defended field goals from that part of the court. Poeltl’s floor has been pretty high this season, especially as of late and I like this spot for him Thursday.
Last Night’s GPP Performances | NBA DFS First Look
DraftKings optimal lineup
Tyrese Haliburton (51.25)
Seth Curry (43.5)
Brandon Boston (39.0)
P.J. Tucker (40.25)
Jonas Valanciunas (51.75)
Cole Anthony (53.5)
Caleb Martin (49.0)
Nikola Jokic (71.25)
FanDuel optimal lineup
Cole Anthony (49.8)
Tyrese Haliburton (51.1)
Brandon Boston (39.4)
Seth Curry (41.8)
Caleb Martin (47.1)
Gordon Hayward (49.5)
P.J. Tucker (40.4)
Evan Mobley (48.3)
Nikola Jokic (65.7)
Caleb Martin put together an amazing game, as he continues to play a huge role for the short-handed Heat. Meanwhile, Brandon Boston got extended run with Paul George out and he took advantage of it, scoring 27 points in 25 minutes. Finally, this likely won’t be the last time we see Evan Mobley in the FanDuel optimal lineup given the shot-blocking potential he has. Mobley blocked five shots Wednesday.
