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NBA Grind Down: Thursday, December 8th

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2016-12-09 02:37:24

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Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of today’s NBA action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.

Vegas lines are broken down to show projected team totals, to give you an idea of who is favored to win, and often more importantly, how many points they’re expected to score. We also provide pace numbers, so you can spot a game that might have a few extra possessions and more opportunities for fantasy points.

We also provide position-by-position matchup rankings for every team, to give you an idea of the players who will be in better situations to succeed. Using Defense versus Position data, every projected starter is listed along with his opponent’s rank in points allowed to players of his position. These color-coded charts will help you spot the best matchups of the night at a glance.

If you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use promo code “GRINDERS” to receive the best perks in the industry.

Editor’s Note: Don’t yet have a Rosters account? Click here to create one. You’ll receive free access to our premium Rosters strategy content, which will build upon the guide below. Create your Rosters account now!

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Minnesota Timberwolves at Toronto Raptors – 7:00 PM ET

Minnesota Timberwolves Toronto Raptors
minnesotanba Vegas Total 214.5 torontonba Vegas Total 214.5
Vegas Spread 8.0 Vegas Spread -8.0
Team Total 103.3 Team Total 111.3
Pace +/- -1.5 Pace +/- -0.8
Proj. Starter Ricky Rubio Zach LaVine Andrew Wiggins Gorgui Dieng Karl-Anthony Towns Proj. Starter Kyle Lowry DeMar DeRozan DeMarre Carroll Pascal Siakam Jonas Valanciunas
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 15 1 12 13 13 2016-17 20 4 12 16 11

Minnesota Timberwolves

Happy Friday eve everyone! The Wolves have lost eight of their last ten games and are a bit behind where they were expected to be heading into the season. They have been competitive at times, but have lacked consistent effort on a nightly basis. They draw a difficult matchup tonight against the Raptors in Toronto. This is a mediocre matchup for fantasy production, as the Raptors are ranked right around the league average in points allowed per game and defensive efficiency. The Wolves have an implied total of 103.3 points, which is the sixth highest in the slate.

Ricky Rubio has picked up his play in his last three games, averaging over 32 minutes and over 25 fantasy points during that stretch. I always have a difficult time trusting point guards with such low usage rates, but Rubio is firmly in play on DraftKings at a price of only $4,900. DeMar DeRozan is not known for his play on the defensive end of the floor, but the Raptors are ranked first against shooting guards this season. Even though I love the minute upside for Zach LaVine, he is more of a GPP play tonight. Andrew Wiggins has shown an incredibly low floor, scoring fewer than 20 fantasy points in five of his last ten games. He’s an easy fade against DeMarre Carroll. Gorgui Dieng minutes are a bit too inconsistent for my liking, even with power forward being such a thin position in this slate. My favorite play from the Wolves is Karl-Anthony Towns, who is averaging 34.9 fantasy points per game with a true usage rate of 27% on the season. Jonas Valanciunas may have a tough time defending Towns on the perimeter.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Ricky Rubio $5,500 $4,900 $8,800 0.73 30.6 2.1 22.4 3.1 17.0% 0.1% 15
Zach LaVine $6,000 $6,100 $10,300 0.76 37.2 3.1 28.4 0.9 22.8% 0.4% 1
Andrew Wiggins $6,000 $6,400 $10,500 0.82 36.6 0.5 29.9 -2.2 27.9% -3.4% 12
Gorgui Dieng $5,500 $5,500 $10,100 0.83 31.2 -3.9 25.8 -7.3 16.2% -0.3% 13
Karl-Anthony Towns $9,200 $8,800 $13,600 1.16 34.9 -1.0 40.5 -0.7 27.0% 3.3% 13

Elite Plays – Karl-Anthony Towns

Secondary Plays – Ricky Rubio (DK), Zach LaVine (GPP), Gorgui Dieng

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors haven’t been nearly as efficient on the defensive end of the floor this season, but they are ranked second in offensive efficiency. Despite playing at the ninth slowest pace, they average 110.9 points per game. They draw a favorable matchup tonight against the Wolves, who are ranked 19th in points allowed per game and 25th in defensive efficiency. The Raptors have an implied total of 111.3 points, which is the second highest in the slate. The only concern here is the high spread; Toronto is favored by eight points.

Kyle Lowry has seen a small decline in his minutes recently, but he is still averaging the second most per game of any player in the NBA. He is a safe bet to play 35 minutes tonight against a Wolves’ defense that is ranked 20th in fantasy points allowed to point guards. The only reason Lowry isn’t a must start tonight is the fact that he plays a position that is littered with options. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 41.5 fantasy points per game with a true usage rate of 34.5% on the season. The Wolves have been tough on shooting guards, but we have seen DeRozan succeed in difficult matchups all season. Outside of the two stars in the backcourt, there isn’t a lot to love. DeMarre Carroll is a decent punt at small forward and I don’t mind buying low on Jonas Valanciunas in tournaments.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Kyle Lowry $8,600 $8,200 $12,100 1.02 37.4 -3.4 38.3 1.0 26.9% -2.3% 20
DeMar DeRozan $8,700 $8,100 $13,000 1.14 35.8 -2.9 41.0 -3.7 34.5% -2.7% 4
DeMarre Carroll $4,200 $4,200 $8,500 0.70 26.1 3.5 18.4 -1.1 15.4% 2.1% 12
Pascal Siakam $3,600 $3,000 $7,200 0.68 19.6 3.5 13.4 5.2 12.9% 2.3% 16
Jonas Valanciunas $5,100 $4,900 $9,700 0.91 28.0 -4.5 25.4 -10.2 18.4% -5.2% 11
Patrick Patterson $4,400 $4,000 $7,600 0.68 28.8 -3.9 19.5 0.9 12.8% 4.2% 16
Cory Joseph $4,000 $3,600 $7,000 0.75 21.0 -0.8 15.8 4.3 20.9% 2.0% 20

Elite Plays – Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan

Secondary Plays – DeMarre Carroll, Jonas Valanciunas (GPP)

Denver Nuggets at Washington Wizards – 7:00 PM ET

Denver Nuggets Washington Wizards
denvernba Vegas Total 218.0 washingtonnba Vegas Total 218.0
Vegas Spread 5.5 Vegas Spread -5.5
Team Total 106.3 Team Total 111.8
Pace +/- 0.3 Pace +/- 2.5
Proj. Starter Emmanuel Mudiay Will Barton Danilo Gallinari Kenneth Faried Jusuf Nurkic Proj. Starter John Wall Bradley Beal Otto Porter Markieff Morris Marcin Gortat
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 12 10 16 23 18 2016-17 28 30 8 16 7

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are playing in the second half of a back-to-back after losing to the Nets in Brooklyn last night. They fell behind early, but nearly made a huge fourth quarter comeback. Tonight they travel to Washington to take on the Wizards in what should be a high scoring game. On the season, the Wizards are ranked 20th or worse in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. Even though they are playing their second game in as many nights, the Nuggets have an implied total of 106.3 points, which is the fifth highest in the slate.

Emmanuel Mudiay has played fewer than 23 minutes in each of his last three games. Jameer Nelson and Jamal Murray have been cutting into his minutes and are the preferred targets in DFS. I don’t see Nelson or Murray as elite plays tonight, but both are decent tournament fliers. Will Barton has scored at least 28 fantasy points in each of his last four games and is the top point-per-dollar play at shooting guard. Danilo Gallinari should be well rested tonight after only playing 23 minutes in last night’s loss. He is a nice bounce-back candidate against a Wizards’ team that has historically struggled against wing players. Wilson Chandler is coming off of another monster fantasy outing. While it’s tough paying that much for a player coming off of the bench, he has been seeing starter’s minutes for a few weeks now. With Nikola Jokic back in the mix, the Nuggets’ frontcourt is too risky to target in cash games. Jokic is worth a look in tournaments though, as he has shown 40-fantasy point type of upside.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Emmanuel Mudiay $5,200 $4,900 $9,100 0.78 30.2 -9.9 23.5 -12.2 26.0% -2.5% 12
Will Barton $5,700 $6,600 $8,700 0.82 31.0 5.2 25.4 8.9 23.1% 3.4% 10
Danilo Gallinari $6,200 $5,800 $10,900 0.73 35.4 -3.5 25.8 -1.0 18.9% -0.6% 16
Kenneth Faried $5,300 $5,100 $8,600 1.01 23.0 -5.2 23.3 -12.0 17.0% -4.4% 23
Jusuf Nurkic $4,500 $4,400 $9,200 1.01 21.4 -3.3 21.7 -2.3 23.0% -1.7% 18
Nikola Jokic $5,100 $5,000 $8,600 1.00 23.4 -2.2 23.4 9.3 19.0% 1.4% 23
Wilson Chandler $6,200 $6,300 $10,400 0.99 31.1 2.9 30.9 1.3 24.6% -2.8% 16
Jameer Nelson $4,400 $4,700 $7,200 0.72 26.6 2.0 19.3 8.1 20.1% 5.0% 12

Elite Plays – Will Barton, Wilson Chandler

Secondary Plays – Jameer Nelson, Danilo Gallinari, Nikola Jokic (GPP)

Washington Wizards

The Wizards let the Magic score 124 points in regulation on Tuesday night. Most teams don’t let the Magic score that many points in six quarters. This team is not playing together and they have lacked effort on the defensive end of the floor. Luckily, they draw a favorable matchup tonight against the Nuggets, who are ranked 26th in points allowed per game and 22nd in defensive efficiency. The Wizards come into the game with an implied total of 111.8 points, which is the highest in the slate and 7.5 points above their season average. There is a lot to like here and Washington doesn’t play again until Saturday, so we don’t have to worry about players being limited.

John Wall is coming off of a 52 point game where he added four rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. The Wizards may be struggling, but Wall is playing at a truly elite level this season. He has one of the highest true usage rates in the NBA and he gets to face a Nuggets’ defense that is ranked 28th in fantasy points allowed to point guards. Wall is my favorite play on the board tonight and will be a building block for my cash game and tournament lineups. Bradley Beal also draws a premier matchup, as the Nuggets are ranked dead last against shooting guards. His price is elevated, but he is an elite play at shooting guard. Don’t be afraid to pair Wall and Beal together. Otto Porter has been more productive at home this season and should see minutes in the mid-30s. Markieff Morris has been one of the most frustrating players in the NBA this season, but do we really want to fade him at this price in a game where the Wizards are projected to score 111.8 points? The Nuggets have been tough on opposing centers, but Marcin Gortat is a safe cash game option with a high floor. However, if I’m deciding between the two, I’ll take Joel Embiid over Gortat every time.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
John Wall $9,800 $9,500 $13,600 1.25 35.9 2.5 44.7 9.6 35.5% 1.3% 28
Bradley Beal $6,800 $6,700 $11,000 0.88 34.7 -0.2 30.4 -4.2 26.2% -1.2% 30
Otto Porter $6,000 $6,500 $9,600 0.88 34.4 -1.0 30.2 -4.1 15.7% -2.9% 8
Markieff Morris $4,800 $5,100 $9,100 0.76 31.7 3.0 23.9 0.1 20.2% -4.3% 16
Marcin Gortat $6,300 $5,800 $9,900 0.86 35.3 2.5 30.5 5.2 14.0% 2.3% 7

Elite Plays – John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Markieff Morris

Secondary Plays – Marcin Gortat

Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies – 8:00 PM ET

Portland Trail Blazers Memphis Grizzlies
portlandnba Vegas Total 204.5 memphisnba Vegas Total 204.5
Vegas Spread 1.5 Vegas Spread -1.5
Team Total 101.5 Team Total 103.0
Pace +/- -3.5 Pace +/- 1.9
Proj. Starter Damian Lillard C.J. McCollum Maurice Harkless Al-Farouq Aminu Mason Plumlee Proj. Starter Andrew Harrison Tony Allen Troy Williams JaMychal Green Marc Gasol
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 4 13 1 7 1 2016-17 11 23 19 30 21

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers are playing in the second half of back-to-back road games after losing to the Bucks in Milwaukee last night. The sledding won’t get any easier tonight, as they square off against the Grizzlies in Memphis. On the season, the Grizzlies are ranked 27th in pace of play, fourth in points allowed per game, and second in defensive efficiency. The Blazers have the third lowest implied total in the slate at 101.5 points. They also have the second lowest projected point differential at -8.6. If you look at the DvP chart above, you can see that the Grizzlies are ranked 13th or better in fantasy points allowed to every position on the floor. The Blazers are an easy fade in cash games tonight, although you could give Damian Lillard a look in tournaments with Mike Conley out.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Damian Lillard $9,600 $8,300 $12,800 1.18 35.7 0.5 42.2 1.6 32.6% -2.1% 4
C.J. McCollum $7,400 $6,600 $11,000 0.97 34.5 -0.5 33.3 -1.9 26.9% -0.6% 13
Maurice Harkless $5,200 $5,000 $7,800 0.74 31.1 0.9 23.0 4.1 16.6% 3.5% 1
Al-Farouq Aminu $4,300 $4,000 $8,100 0.75 24.4 -6.8 18.3 -7.1 15.9% -2.4% 7
Mason Plumlee $6,000 $5,200 $9,200 1.00 27.5 2.3 27.6 2.2 19.1% -1.9% 1
Evan Turner $4,600 $4,200 $8,100 0.76 24.9 1.6 19.0 2.8 19.4% -0.5% 1
Ed Davis $3,600 $3,300 $7,400 0.64 18.8 5.6 12.0 2.2 10.4% -1.8% 7

Elite Plays – NONE

Secondary Plays – Damian Lillard (GPP)

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have done a remarkable job considering all of their injuries. They are 15-8 on the season, despite having a negative point differential. They are never going to play up to their opponent’s pace, but this is a pace-up game tonight against the Blazers. It’s hard to ask to ask for a better matchup, as Portland is ranked 25th or worse in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. The Grizzlies have an implied total of 103 points, which is five points higher than their season average.

Andrew Harrison has scored at least 16 fantasy points in each of his last five starts and he flashed some upside with a 33 fantasy point outing against the Raptors. He remains a viable punt at point guard, although I slightly prefer Sergio Rodriguez and Shelvin Mack when you factor in salaries. Tony Allen minutes have been all over the map, but the Grizzlies don’t play again until Saturday. He should see 30+ minutes in a favorable matchup against the Blazers. Troy Williams has been losing minutes to Troy Daniels the last few games. At this point, it’s hard to trust either player in cash games. If I had to give an edge to one, it would be Daniels. JaMychal Green has scored at least 25 fantasy points in each of his last five games, although the return of Zach Randolph could cut into his minutes moving forward. Speaking of Randolph, he is a nice contrarian play against one of the worst rebounding teams in the slate. This feels like a good night to start two centers on DraftKings, as I really want to play Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Marc Gasol. Gasol is averaging 51 fantasy points per game in his last three.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Andrew Harrison $4,200 $4,900 $7,700 0.64 27.4 5.3 17.5 0.7 19.1% 3.9% 11
Tony Allen $4,800 $4,300 $7,100 0.77 25.4 5.2 19.5 8.9 18.0% -0.4% 23
Troy Williams $4,200 $4,100 $7,400 0.61 17.8 10.9 10.8 8.3 17.6% -2.7% 19
JaMychal Green $5,300 $5,900 $7,600 0.72 30.2 7.2 21.7 10.8 14.4% 1.7% 30
Marc Gasol $8,200 $7,700 $11,300 1.06 33.8 4.3 35.8 15.1 27.8% 3.3% 21
Troy Daniels $4,700 $4,800 $7,100 0.69 20.0 14.2 13.8 15.2 22.0% 4.6% 23
Zach Randolph $5,800 $5,300 $8,900 1.13 22.3 -0.4 25.3 5.0 30.1% 4.8% 30

Elite Plays – Marc Gasol

Secondary Plays – Andrew Harrison, Tony Allen, Troy Daniels, JaMychal Green, Zach Randolph

Philadelphia 76ers at New Orleans Pelicans – 8:00 PM ET

Philadelphia 76ers New Orleans Pelicans
philadelphianba Vegas Total 205.0 neworleansnba Vegas Total 205.0
Vegas Spread 9.0 Vegas Spread -9.0
Team Total 98.0 Team Total 107.0
Pace +/- 1.1 Pace +/- 0.3
Proj. Starter Sergio Rodriguez Gerald Henderson Nik Stauskas Ersan Ilyasova Joel Embiid Proj. Starter Jrue Holiday E’Twaun Moore Solomon Hill Anthony Davis Omer Asik
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 20 16 21 28 14 2016-17 23 17 29 12 20

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have the worst record in the NBA, but all is right in Philadelphia because they have The Process. They come into tonight’s game as 9-point underdogs against the Pelicans in New Orleans. This is a mediocre matchup for the most part, as New Orleans is ranked 18th in points allowed per game and 12th in defensive efficiency. The one stat that jumps out here is that the Pelicans have the third worst rebounding differential of any team in the NBA. The Sixers have a low implied total of 98 points, but it is actually higher than their season average of 97.5 points. Jerryd Bayless looks like he could miss another game tonight, while Jahlil Okafor is listed as questionable.

As long as Jerryd Bayless is ruled out, Sergio Rodriguez is one of the top value plays on the board tonight. He has scored at least 25 fantasy points in four of his last six games and his price is affordable on FanDuel, DraftKings, and Rosters. Gerald Henderson and Nik Stauskas have taken turns having big games with Robert Covington out. While I prefer not to use either in a cash game setting, they are both viable punts in tournaments. Ersan Ilyasova is coming off of a huge game against the Grizzlies, but that was a game where Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor were both out. Ilyasova is still in play tonight, but more as a GPP play. Embiid did not play well in his last start and he still finished with 29.3 fantasy points. Now that his minute restriction has been bumped up to 28, I’m going to play him every night until his price gets too high.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Sergio Rodriguez $4,900 $5,100 $7,800 0.81 27.2 2.0 22.0 4.3 23.5% 1.7% 20
Gerald Henderson $3,700 $3,700 $7,900 0.68 24.5 0.2 16.6 1.0 17.9% -0.7% 16
Nik Stauskas $3,700 $3,900 $6,500 0.58 26.7 8.8 15.5 1.6 16.6% -0.8% 21
Ersan Ilyasova $5,300 $5,700 $8,300 0.85 26.1 9.2 22.3 15.6 20.5% 3.0% 28
Joel Embiid $6,600 $7,500 $9,800 1.37 23.3 2.2 31.9 -2.6 35.7% -1.9% 14
Dario Saric $4,500 $5,200 $8,100 0.78 24.8 0.9 19.3 10.5 21.7% 4.4% 28

Elite Plays – Sergio Rodriguez, Joel Embiid

Secondary Plays – Ersan Ilyasova, Nik Stauskas (GPP), Gerald Henderson (GPP), Dario Saric (if Jahlil Okafor is out)

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans have been a much better team since Jrue Holiday made his return to the lineup. They are only 7-15 overall, but they’ve won five of their last ten games. They come into tonight’s contest as heavy favorites against the Sixers in what is one of the best possible matchups for fantasy production. On the season, Philadelphia is ranked 20th or worse in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. The Pelicans have an implied total of 107 points, which is the fourth highest in the slate and 4.7 points above their season average. Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore are both listed as questionable tonight, so keep an eye on their status leading up to tipoff.

If Jrue Holiday is active, he makes a nice tournament play against a Sixers’ defense that is ranked 23rd against point guards. I will not be using him in cash games though, as he is dealing with turf toe, which can easily act up at any point during a game. If Holiday is unable to suit up, Tim Frazier would slide into the starting lineup and become a top value play in all formats. Anthony Davis is averaging 55.3 fantasy points per game this season with a true usage rate of 31.8%. He is a monster when it comes to steals and blocks and he should be able to rack up plenty against a Sixers’ team that is sloppy with the ball. Davis has the highest raw projection of any player in the slate and it’s really not even close. Buddy Hield and Langston Galloway could be interesting GPP punts if E’Twaun Moore is unable to suit up.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Jrue Holiday $7,000 $6,200 $10,000 1.01 28.4 3.8 28.7 -3.5 29.3% -6.2% 23
E’Twaun Moore $4,100 $3,700 $7,500 0.74 26.5 -5.4 19.6 -0.5 20.7% 5.6% 17
Solomon Hill $3,700 $3,700 $7,700 0.55 27.3 7.6 14.9 0.7 11.0% 0.0% 29
Anthony Davis $12,100 $11,800 $16,200 1.45 38.0 3.3 55.3 -1.3 31.8% -0.8% 12
Omer Asik $3,500 $3,000 $6,800 0.69 18.0 -2.2 12.4 -5.4 8.8% -0.8% 20
Tim Frazier $4,900 $5,600 $7,800 0.83 30.7 -2.2 25.5 -5.8 22.5% -0.4% 23
Buddy Hield $3,600 $3,500 $7,600 0.71 16.4 -2.2 11.6 1.5 22.8% 0.5% 17
Terrence Jones $4,700 $4,600 $7,500 0.89 24.8 3.9 22.0 0.3 19.0% -1.9% 12

Elite Plays – Anthony Davis, Tim Frazier (if Jrue Holiday is out)

Secondary Plays – Jrue Holiday (if he’s active), Terrence Jones

Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz – 9:00 PM ET

Golden State Warriors Utah Jazz
goldenstatenba Vegas Total 209.5 utahnba Vegas Total 209.5
Vegas Spread -9.0 Vegas Spread 9.0
Team Total 109.3 Team Total 100.3
Pace +/- -5.5 Pace +/- 4.3
Proj. Starter Stephen Curry Klay Thompson Kevin Durant Draymond Green Zaza Pachulia Proj. Starter Dante Exum Joe Ingles Joe Johnson Boris Diaw Rudy Gobert
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 1 15 4 1 4 2016-17 22 25 8 20 5

Golden State Warriors

There were too many blowouts last night. Everyone that had a lot of exposure to the Warriors/Clippers game had to be feeling good before the game started, but unfortunately the Warriors were too much for the Clippers to handle. Golden State has a quick turnaround tonight, as they head to Utah to take on the Jazz. The Warriors’ offense is matchup-proof from an efficiency standpoint, but I am a little worried about the pace of play. The Jazz are ranked dead last in pace and first in points allowed per game, which is a brutal combination for their opponents. The Warriors are only projected to score 109 points, which is 11 points lower than their season average. They have the worst projected point differential in the slate. The one positive is that the spread is below eight points, so Vegas is expecting a fairly close game. I expect one or two of the big four to have a good game here, but it’s almost impossible for all four to have big games against this defense, especially since the game could turn into a blowout.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Stephen Curry $9,100 $8,400 $13,900 1.22 33.4 -2.6 40.8 -1.2 30.4% -2.2% 1
Klay Thompson $6,800 $7,000 $10,500 0.89 34.0 -1.4 30.2 15.4 24.7% 6.9% 15
Kevin Durant $10,000 $9,300 $15,100 1.40 34.4 -5.5 48.1 -9.0 27.5% -2.3% 4
Draymond Green $7,900 $7,300 $12,700 1.13 33.0 -4.1 37.3 -2.2 19.1% 1.5% 1
Zaza Pachulia $3,700 $3,300 $7,200 0.93 17.3 1.0 16.0 1.4 14.5% 2.1% 4
Andre Iguodala $3,700 $3,400 $7,500 0.69 24.6 -2.1 16.9 -0.1 12.4% -2.3% 4

Elite Plays – NONE

Secondary Plays – Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green

Utah Jazz

The Jazz have won seven of their last ten games and are 14-9 overall. Their record is impressive given the fact that they have yet to have their starting lineup all healthy for a single game. They draw a favorable fantasy matchup tonight against the Warriors, who are one of the fastest-paced teams in the NBA. On the season, Golden State is ranked 20th in points allowed per game. The problem is that the Jazz are going to be extremely short-handed tonight. Gordon Hayward, George Hill, Derrick Favors, and Rodney Hood have all been ruled out. With all of the injuries, there are going to be a ton of minutes to go around for Dante Exum, Shelvin Mack, Joe Johnson, and Joe Ingles. The last three in that group should all be considered elite value plays even in a potential blowout. Rudy Gobert has been on a tear in his last six games, but traditional centers typically don’t have a lot of success against the Warriors.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Dante Exum $3,500 $3,000 $7,700 0.59 20.3 -1.5 11.9 0.6 17.8% 0.3% 22
Joe Ingles $3,500 $3,400 $6,000 0.66 16.5 3.3 10.9 3.0 15.2% -0.8% 25
Joe Johnson $3,600 $4,400 $7,600 0.67 24.4 -2.9 16.4 -4.1 17.5% 4.1% 8
Boris Diaw $3,700 $3,400 $6,700 0.47 21.3 6.1 10.0 10.8 14.8% 1.3% 20
Rudy Gobert $7,300 $6,700 $10,900 0.98 32.1 5.9 31.4 6.7 14.1% -0.7% 5
Trey Lyles $4,000 $3,800 $7,200 0.73 22.7 -3.3 16.6 -1.1 20.3% -0.9% 20
Shelvin Mack $3,700 $4,100 $6,900 0.68 20.9 7.7 14.2 5.1 22.0% -2.1% 22

Elite Plays – Joe Johnson, Shelvin Mack, Joe Ingles

Secondary Plays – Rudy Gobert, Dante Exum

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About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on X – @RG_Notorious