FanDuel & DraftKings NBA Daily Picks: Fantasy lineup & advice 12/14/17
The in-form Karl-Anthony Towns has had three straight big fantasy nights in a row and will be gunning for a fourth against the Kings tonight.
Dec 14, 2017
PG – Yogi Ferrell, Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors
Yogi Ferrell had another impressive night as he went for 16 points and eight rebounds in the Mavs’ surprising win over the San Antonio Spurs. Ferrell played 35 minutes, the second game in a row where he’s gone at least 33 minutes as the Mavs continue to play without rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr.
Ferrell could potentially see similar minutes tonight against the Golden State Warriors. He could play crunch time if the Mavs manage to make it competitive against the champs. But he should also get the nod in playing garbage time over teammate J.J. Barea if it’s a blowout, which would give him even more opportunities to pad his stats.
SG – Avery Bradley, Detroit Pistons @ Atlanta Hawks
It’s been a rough patch for Avery Bradley lately. The Pistons shooting guard is putting up just 12 points while shooting a horrific 34 percent from the floor through the first seven games of December. That includes three games with six points or fewer. But when Bradley has been able to turn it on, he’s been fine. He has two 20-point games in the month, one of which came against the Golden State Warriors. As poorly as Bradley has looked recently, he should be one to target as a buy-low candidate tonight as he takes on a Hawks team which will give up its fair share of points.
For additional shooting guard options, don’t forget to check out the Lakers-Cavs game, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jordan Clarkson, and Dwyane Wade all capable of punishing their opponent’s questionable backcourt defense.
SF – Harrison Barnes, Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors
Take your pick of elite small forwards tonight, with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Jimmy Butler all likely to erupt for big games thanks to advantageous matchups. But for those looking for a more budget-conscious pick at small forward, take a good look at Harrison Barnes. The Mavs forward has been the picture of consistency lately, putting up 19.0 points and 6.8 rebounds over his last five games.
Granted, that means Barnes’ upside isn’t particularly high, but perhaps going back to Golden State will give him that extra juice once again. Barnes topped 25 points in each of his two trips to Oakland last season.
PF – Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
After playing his worst game as a pro with three points and two boards against Philly, Kyle Kuzma has bounced back in a big way in his last two games. He had a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double against the Hornets and had a strong performance at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks, with 19 points, six rebounds, three 3-pointers, and two blocks.
The Cavs have been pretty abject at defending frontcourt players recently, and given Kuzma’s penchant for putting up consistently strong performances, he could be set for another big night off the Lakers’ bench.
C – Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves vs Sacramento Kings
After having a bit of lull a couple weeks ago, Karl-Anthony Towns is back to his best thanks to an impressive three-game stretch which has seen him put up 22.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.3 blocks. He played 48 minutes in overtime against the Sixers, and is averaging 40 over his last five games, so playing time is definitely not an issue for him.
With the Wolves constantly playing close games and the Kings being much more competitive lately, Towns should once again see a lot of minutes tonight. That should be good news in fantasy basketball, seeing as he’s up against a Kings team which has given up the fourth most fantasy points to centers this season.
Have any thoughts about tonight’s fantasy slate? Share them in the comments below!
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