NBA Grind Down Tuesday, December 16th - Page Two
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Oklahoma City at Sacramento
- Vegas Line – Oklahoma City -7, 206 Over/Under
- Oklahoma City Proj. Starters – Westbrook-Roberson-Durant-Ibaka-Adams
- Sacramento Proj. Starters – Collison-McLemore-Gay-Evans-Thompson
| Oklahoma City | Sacramento | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 206.0 |  | Vegas Total | 206.0 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -7.0 | Vegas Sprd | 7.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 106.5 | Team Proj. | 99.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 94.95 | Team Pace | 95.7 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proj Starter | Russell Westbrook | Andre Roberson | Kevin Durant | Serge Ibaka | Steven Adams | Proj Starter | Darren Collison | Ben McLemore | Rudy Gay | Reggie Evans | Jason Thompson | |
| Opp. Season | 8 | 26 | 5 | 30 | 4 | Opp. Season | 9 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 17 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 3 | 30 | 2 | 28 | 13 | Opp. Last 7 | 4 | 28 | 14 | 9 | 10 | |
Oklahoma City
The Thunder have won six straight and are currently only a half game out of the 8th seed in the Western Conference. It’s crazy to think that only a few weeks ago, many pundits on ESPN were predicting that the Thunder would miss the playoffs. Tonight they head to Sacramento to take on a DeMarcus Cousins-less Kings team. The Thunder are 7-point favorites in a game that features a total of 206 points. Kevin Durant is expected to see extra minutes tonight, although it’s still not clear how many he will get. Until he sees 35+, I will continue to avoid him in DFS.
Elite Plays
Russell Westbrook (FD: $10100, DK: $11000 / MPG: 29 / Usage Rate: 36.9)
Even with Kevin Durant back in the lineup, Westbrook still has the highest usage rate of any player in the NBA. When you watch him play, it’s almost like it’s not fair. He is taller, stronger, and faster than any point guard that he matches up against. Oh, and he has a killer jump shot off the dribble. Westbrook has scored at least 41 fantasy points in each of his last six games and should easily crack that mark again tonight. He is my favorite superstar to pay up for tonight.
Secondary Plays
None
Sacramento
The Kings are 7-point underdogs tonight against a very talented Thunder team. On paper, this is not a great matchup, but you can’t really use the Thunders’ pace of play on the season as a determining factor. With Westbrook and Durant back, the Thunder play at a much quicker pace than they did when they were both out. Vegas has the Kings projected to score 100 points, which is right around their average for the season.
Injury Note: DeMarcus Cousins is out for tonight’s game. Jason Thompson is the biggest beneficiary in his absence.
Elite Plays
Darren Collison (FD: $7700, DK: $7000 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 22)
Darren “Cash Game” Collison should be back at it again tonight as the Kings host the Thunder. Collison is one of the most consistent fantasy players in the entire NBA. He rarely has a bad fantasy outing. He has scored at least 27 fantasy points in six of his last seven games and he draws a favorable matchup against the Thunder, who are ranked 22nd in fantasy points allowed per 48 minutes to opposing point guards.
Secondary Plays
Rudy Gay (FD: $8600, DK: $9300 / MPG: 36 / Usage Rate: 27.2)
Gay has really played well in Cousins’ absence. Over his last seven games, he is averaging 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. There are two things holding him back from being an elite play tonight though. First, is his matchup against Kevin Durant. Durant is a tough player to defend and he can hold his own on the defensive side of the floor. Second, his price is at an all-time high. Gay is better suited as a GPP play tonight.