NBA DFS Preview – First Look (2/3)

A well-balanced week in the NBA continues with a solid six-game Thursday DFS slate. At the moment, there isn’t an insane amount of value, but things can change in the blink of an eye in this league. Having said that, keep an eye on news throughout the day and check out the FTN NBA Optimizer. 

NBA Vegas Data for February 3 | NBA DFS First Look

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Detroit Pistons

MIN -7, total: 227.5
Pace: MIN (3rd), DET (11th)

Situations to monitor:

• Cade Cunningham (hip) is listed as questionable. Josh Jackson is also questionable with a back injury.
• D’Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley are once again on the injury report for Minnesota. Both players are listed as questionable.

Phoenix Suns @ Atlanta Hawks

PHX -5, total: 223.5
Pace: PHX (9th), ATL (18th)

Situations to monitor:

• Trae Young (shoulder) will be a game-time decision for the Hawks, while De’Andre Hunter is listed as probable.
• For Phoenix, both Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder are listed as probable, while Cameron Payne remains out.

Chicago Bulls @ Toronto Raptors

TOR -3.5, total: 224.5
Pace: CHI (15th), TOR (26)

Situations to monitor:

• Zach LaVine (back) is listed as probable for the Bulls, who will remain without Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. 

Miami Heat @ San Antonio Spurs

MIA -4.5, total: 219.5
Pace: MIA (29th), SAS (4th)

Situations to monitor:

• Dejounte Murray (wrist) is listed as questionable, while both Jakob Poeltl and Jock Landale have both been ruled out due to concussions. Doug McDermott is also questionable with an ankle injury.
• For Miami, Kyle Lowry has been upgraded to questionable, while Jimmy Butler is once again listed as questionable with a toe injury. 

Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors

GSW -13.5, total: 223.5
Pace: SAC (6th), GSW (13th)

Situations to monitor:

• De’Aaron Fox (ankle) missed his sixth straight game Wednesday and will be questionable again for Thursday, along with Marvin Bagley.
• Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson are off the injury report for the Warriors. Otto Porter, however, remains questionable.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Los Angeles Clippers

LAC -3.5, total: 220
Pace: LAL (7th), LAC (14th)

Situations to monitor:

• This is the second end of a back-to-back for the Lakers, so keep an eye on Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. LeBron James seems unlikely to return to the lineup.
• Ivica Zubac is listed as questionable with a calf injury.

Stats to Know | NBA DFS First Look

Cory Joseph is sporting a 20% assist rate with Cade Cunningham off the floor this season

Cunningham is questionable to play Thursday with a hip injury, and with Detroit on the front end of a back-to-back, it is very possible he sits out. If that is the case, Joseph should see more ball-handling opportunities and with Cunningham off the court over the course of the season, the veteran’s assist rate jumps all the way up to 20%. He is also flirting with an 18% usage rate and is averaging just under 0.90 fantasy points per minute in the split. With Cunningham only playing 21 minutes last game, Joseph saw 69 touches, up from his season average of just over 52 per game. If Cunningham is out, that number could climb to 75-80.

Anthony Edwards is averaging 5.4 transition points per game this season

That is good enough for sixth in all of basketball to this point. Edwards is coming off a brutal game, but I’d be willing to go right back to him here, especially if D’Angelo Russell remains sidelined. With Russell off the floor this season, Edwards is sporting a team-high 30.3% usage rate, while averaging a healthy 1.21 fantasy points per minute in the split. He should return to attempting 16-20 field goals in this game and it is a favorable matchup, as the Pistons are coughing up the eighth-most points per game in transition this season (19.2). Edwards, meanwhile, is averaging the sixth-most points per game off the play type, while averaging 1.24 points per possession and shooting nearly 60% in transition. There is still a massive ceiling for Edwards in this spot, especially if Russell is once again out of the lineup.