NBA DFS Preview - First Look (2/9)

There are six NBA games on the DFS slate Wednesday, and with trades shaking up the landscape of the league and fantasy basketball, paying extra attention is crucial over the next 24 hours. Let’s take a first look at Wednesday’s action.

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NBA Vegas Data for February 9 | NBA DFS First Look

San Antonio Spurs @ Cleveland Cavaliers

CLE -6, total: 218
Pace: SAS (3rd), CLE (22nd)

Situations to monitor:

Darius Garland (back) practiced Tuesday and is once again listed as questionable for Cleveland. Caris LeVert should make his Cavaliers debut in this game, while Lauri Markkanen remains out.
Lonnie Walker is listed as questionable for San Antonio.

Chicago Bulls @ Charlotte Hornets

CHI -2, total: 234
Pace: CHI (11th), CHA (1st)

Situations to monitor:

Ayo Dosunmu (concussion) has been ruled out for Chicago, while Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso remain out.
Gordon Hayward will be out indefinitely after suffering an ankle injury.

Toronto Raptors @ Oklahoma City Thunder

TOR -9.5, total: 208
Pace: TOR (22nd), OKC (16th)

Situations to monitor:

Josh Giddey will have his minutes limited to around the 30-minute mark over the next few games.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Sacramento Kings

MIN -9, total: 235
Pace: MIN (4th), SAC (7th)

Situations to monitor:

De’Aaron Fox made his return to the lineup Tuesday, logging 35 minutes and scoring over 48 fantasy points. Marvin Bagley remained out with his ankle injury, while Richaun Holmes didn’t play Tuesday due to personal reasons.

Golden State Warriors @ Utah Jazz

UTA -1.5, total: 220.5
Pace: GSW (8th), UTA (13th)

Situations to monitor:

Rudy Gobert will miss his eighth straight game with a calf injury, while Rudy Gay is listed as questionable.
This is the front end of a back-to-back for Golden State, which means Klay Thompson will rest. Kevon Looney, meanwhile, is listed as questionable with a quad injury.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Portland Trail Blazers

LAL -8.5, total: 223
Pace: LAL (5th), POR (18th)

Situations to monitor:

After the CJ McCollum trade, Portland will likely have a short rotation once again Wednesday.
Carmelo Anthony has been ruled out with his hamstring injury.

Stats to Know | NBA DFS First Look

De’Aaron Fox recorded 95 touches during Tuesday’s game

Fox had missed the previous eight games with an ankle injury, but immediately following the Tyrese Haliburton trade, Fox returned to the lineup. He was not limited in any fashion, logging 35 minutes and scoring just over 48 fantasy points. Fox recorded a healthy 95 touches against Minnesota Tuesday, a number that would rank second in all of basketball over the course of the season, so it is clear that he dominated the usage in Haliburton’s absence. With both Haliburton and Buddy Hield off the court this season, Fox is sporting a massive 30.3% usage rate, while averaging 1.24 fantasy points per minute in the split. Assuming he plays on the second end of a back-to-back, Fox is too cheap across the industry, especially given his uptick in usage and responsibility.

DeMar DeRozan is averaging 10.4 points per game off drives this season

While DeRozan is on a new team this season, his style of play hasn’t changed much. He is still getting to his spots in the mid-range, while also driving to the basket. DeRozan is currently 12th in the NBA in drives per game (15.9), while his 10.4 points per game off the play type ranks sixth in all of basketball. He is shooting an impressive 53% off drives and gets a favorable matchup with a Charlotte team that lacks elite rim protection, surrendering the second-highest field goal percentage from within six feet of the basket (62.7%). When these teams first met this season, DeRozan scored 28 points and shot 60% off drives. In a pace-up spot against an awful Charlotte defense, DeRozan should be able to find plenty of success once again.

Value Plays | NBA DFS First Look

Chimezie Metu vs. MIN — Metu had already been playing more minutes in the absences of Terence Davis and Marvin Bagley, but after Mauricoe Harkless left Tuesday’s game with an ankle injury, Metu played 34 minutes. It was his first game playing at least 30 minutes since the middle of December. If Bagley and Harkless remain sidelined, Metu will likely enter the starting lineup and play 30-33 minutes, at the least.

CJ Elleby vs. LAL — With Portland’s roster in flux, the Trail Blazers only had nine players in their rotation on Tuesday. Elleby remained in the starting lineup and was very productive, scoring 31.75 fantasy points in 34 minutes. It is very likely Portland only has nine players available again Wednesday, which should keep Elleby in the 35-minute range.