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.

Be sure to check out the FTN NBA Optimizer. 

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