NBA Grind Down: Tuesday, November 25th
The analysis should point you in the right direction, but it is still up to you to decipher the information and make your own selections. Use this article to help you gain a better understanding of the matchups for the coming week and build from there. We have everything you could possibly need on our Daily Research console for you to be a successful daily fantasy player!
Note: Fantasy Point Average Listed Uses FanDuel Scoring. For more info on FanDuel’s NFL Scoring System, check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review.
Click ‘Stat Chart’ Buttons Below for Pop-Ups of Essential Game-Specific Statistics including Defense vs. Position and Pace
Atlanta at Washington
- Vegas Line – Washington -6.5, 199.5 Over/Under
- Atlanta Proj. Starters – Teague-Korver-Carroll-Millsap-Horford
- Washington Proj. Starters – Wall-Temple-Pierce-Humphries-Gortat
| Atlanta | Washington | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 199 |  | Vegas Total | 199 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 6.5 | Vegas Sprd | -6.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 96.5 | Team Proj. | 103.0 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.35 | Team Pace | 96.07 | |||||||||
| 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 | Jeff Teague | Kyle Korver | DeMarre Carroll | Paul Millsap | Al Horford | Proj Starter | John Wall | Garrett Temple | Paul Pierce | Kris Humphries | Marcin Gortat | |
| Opp. Season | 1 | 20 | 18 | 3 | 8 | Opp. Season | 14 | 26 | 15 | 27 | 7 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 5 | 26 | 17 | 12 | 9 | Opp. Last 7 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 30 | 1 | |
Atlanta
The Hawks are 6-5 to start the season, but are only 1-4 on the road. Tonight they head to Washington to take on the Wizards. The Hawks are currently 6.5-point underdogs in a game that features a total of 199 points. In terms of the matchup, this one leaves much to be desired. The Wizards do play at a fast-pace, but are ranked in the top ten in both defensive efficiency and rebounding differential.
Elite Plays
Paul Millsap (FD: $8600, DK: $9400 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 24.2)
Millsap’s price on DK may be a bit too high to entertain, but he’s certainly in play on FD. On the season, he is averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. His usage rate of 24.2 is second only to Jeff Teague on the Hawks. With Nene Hilario expected to miss tonight’s game, Millsap will be matched up with the likes of Kris Humphries, Drew Gooden, and Kevin Seraphin. The Hawks should look to exploit Millsap’s mis-matches.
Secondary Plays
Kyle Korver (FD: $5400, DK: $5500 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 14.2)
In daily fantasy basketball, cash game plays and GPP plays aren’t always mutually exclusive. That said, Korver is best suited as a GPP play tonight. He has really struggled in his last three games, but was consistently scoring 30+ fantasy points for a stretch before his recent slump. This could be a great time to buy low on Korver in tournaments. He draws a favorable matchup against the Wizards, who are ranked 20th in fantasy points allowed to opposing SGs.
Washington
Nene Hilario is expected to miss tonight’s game against the Hawks. The Wizards have yet to announce who will start in his place, but Kris Humphries is the top candidate for the job. Hilario’s absence could also give Marcin Gortat a small fantasy boost as well. The Wizards draw a fantasy-friendly matchup against the Hawks, who are ranked 24th in defensive efficiency and 28th in rebounding differential.
Elite Plays
John Wall (FD: $9200, DK: $9800 / MPG: 36 / Usage Rate: 27.9)
Wall is an elite fantasy option every time he plays in front of his home crowd. On the season, he is averaging 22 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals per game at home. His price on FD and DK is still reasonable, as his road numbers keep his salary down. Wall has a high usage rate of 27.9, and may have to pick up the slack offensively, as Nene Hilario is not expected to play. Wall has as much upside as any player not named Anthony Davis, and he should excel in an uptempo game against the Hawks.
Marcin Gortat (FD: $6900, DK: $6200 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 18.1)
The biggest knock on Gortat this season has been his playing time. He’s only averaging 31 minutes per game, which limits his upside. Gortat may see around 35 minutes tonight with Nene Hilario out, as he played 35 minutes in the game that Hilario got hurt. On the season, Gortat is averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks per 35 minutes of action. That’s about what I predict his stat line to look like tonight.
Secondary Plays
Bradley Beal (FD: $7700, DK: $6000 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 22.9)
Beal has yet to be inserted into the starting lineup, but his minutes have gone up in each of his last three games. It’s also possible that he makes his first start tonight. Beal played a season-high 34 minutes in the Wizards last game. His price on FD is too expensive, but he makes a great tournament play on DK, as the Hawks are ranked 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing SGs this season.
Kris Humphries (FD: $4200, DK: $4800 / MPG: 16 / Usage Rate: 22.3)
Humphries will likely draw the start at PF tonight and if so, he’ll be one of the top value plays on the board. He is averaging 0.95 fantasy points per minute this season, which would put him at 20+ fantasy points tonight, assuming that he sees 25+ minutes of action. Check the player news throughout the day and plug the former Mr. Kardashian into your lineups if he gets the start.
Golden State at Miami
- Vegas Line – Golden State -6, 199.5 Over/Under
- Golden State Proj. Starters – Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Green-Bogut
- Miami Proj. Starters – Cole-Chalmers-Deng-Williams-Bosh
| Golden State | Miami | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 199.5 |  | Vegas Total | 199.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -6.0 | Vegas Sprd | 6.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 102.75 | Team Proj. | 96.75 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 101.56 | Team Pace | 92.01 | |||||||||
| 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 | Stephen Curry | Klay Thompson | Harrison Barnes | Draymond Green | Andrew Bogut | Proj Starter | Norris Cole | Mario Chalmers | Luol Deng | Shawne Williams | Chris Bosh | |
| Opp. Season | 7 | 30 | 11 | 2 | 25 | Opp. Season | 27 | 19 | 1 | 19 | 1 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 19 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 27 | Opp. Last 7 | 16 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 22 | |
Golden State
The Warriors have been dominant this season. They are 10-2 with an average point differential of +10.2 per game. They have been blowing out teams which has kept their starter’s minutes in check. This has also kept their daily fantasy salaries at a reasonable level. Tonight they head to Miami to take on the Heat in a game that is projected to remain fairly close. The Warriors are 6-point favorites in a game that features a total of 199.5 points. The Warriors are in a great spot tonight, as the Heat are currently ranked 27th in defensive efficiency this season.
Elite Plays
Stephen Curry (FD: $9900, DK: $9500 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 28.7)
Curry’s current salary is based on his production on a 33-minute per game basis. Curry is going to play more than 33 minutes in any game that stays relatively close. This is a great chance to take advantage of a slightly mis-priced superstar. The Heat have done a reasonable job of defending opposing PGs, but I have a hard time seeing Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier keeping up with Curry. My hope is that the Heat keep this game competitive. If so, Curry should reach value tonight.
Draymond Green (FD: $6900, DK: $6100 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 17.5)
Dollar for dollar, Green is my favorite SF play tonight. His price has slowly come up, but he has been extremely productive in David Lee’s absence. In 12 starts this season, he is averaging 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. He is coming off of back-to-back 35+ fantasy point outings. His ability to fill up the stat sheet gives him a high floor and a high ceiling.
Secondary Plays
Klay Thompson (FD: $7900, DK: $7100 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 27.2)
The masses will likely flock to Tyreke Evans and Jimmy Butler at SG tonight, which makes Thompson a terrific target for tournaments. He has shown his upside this season (topping 35 fantasy points in six of his last ten games), and he’s finally starting to contribute in statistical categories other than just scoring. Thompson draws a friendly matchup against the Heat, who are currently ranked dead last in fantasy points allowed to opposing SGs this season.
Miami
This will be a pace-up game for the Heat, which is typically something to target in daily fantasy basketball. The issue is that it’s a pace-up game against the Warriors. The Warriors are ranked 1st in the NBA in defensive efficiency, holding opponents to an average of only 96.4 points per game. With the exception of Stephen Curry, the Warriors have elite defenders at every position on the floor.
Injury Note: Dwayne Wade is out tonight. Norris Cole is expected to be back in the lineup.
Elite Plays
Mario Chalmers (FD: $6100, DK: $6400 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 22.8)
Chalmers has been close to “must play” ever since Dwyane Wade went down with his injury. Over his last six games, he is averaging 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. His price has slowly come up, but it still doesn’t match his recent level of production. He’s still under $6,500 on both FD and DK, and is one of the top plays for both cash games and GPPs. He draws an extremely favorable matchup against the Warriors, who are ranked 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing PGs this season.
Secondary Plays
Chris Bosh (FD: $8700, DK: $8500 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 29.5)
The Warriors are ranked 1st in fantasy points allowed to opposing centers this season, but Bosh isn’t your prototypical center. He plays outside-in and may cause some problems for Andrew Bogut. Bosh has a very high usage rate of 29.5 and he will continue to shoulder the load offensively with Dwyane Wade out. This is a case where you have to look beyond the numbers, as this should be a favorable matchup for Bosh.
Sacramento at New Orleans
- Vegas Line – New Orleans -3.5, 203.5 Over/Under
- Sacramento Proj. Starters – Collison(Q)-McLemore-Gay(Q)-Thompson-Cousins
- New Orleans Proj. Starters – Holiday-Miller-Evans-Davis-Asik(Q)
| Sacramento | New Orleans | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 203 |  | Vegas Total | 203 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 3.5 | Vegas Sprd | -3.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 100.0 | Team Proj. | 103.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.45 | Team Pace | 95.49 | |||||||||
| 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 | Darren Collison | Ben McLemore | Rudy Gay | Jason Thompson | DeMarcus Cousins | Proj Starter | Jrue Holiday | Darius Miller | Tyreke Evans | Anthony Davis | Omer Asik | |
| Opp. Season | 12 | 8 | 29 | 16 | 15 | Opp. Season | 25 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 9 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 24 | Opp. Last 7 | 2 | 25 | 29 | 26 | 3 | |
Sacramento
Rudy Gay, Darren Collison, and Ramon Sessions are all questionable for tonight’s game against the Pelicans. Make sure to check for an update on these players closer to tip-off. If they were forced to miss tonight’s game, Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum would both see a nice fantasy boost. In terms of the matchup against the Pelicans, this is a decent one. The Pelicans play at a fairly quick pace, and are ranked 25th in defensive efficiency this season.
Elite Plays
DeMarcus Cousins (FD: $10300, DK: $10400 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 32.3)
Cousins will be in play either way, but if Omer Asik isn’t able to suit up, he immediately becomes my favorite tournament play. Cousins faced the Pelicans without Asik a few games ago, and finished with 24 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. With Darren Collison and Rudy Gay both questionable for tonight’s game, Cousins may have to shoulder the load offensively. He has now topped 38 fantasy points in each of his last five games.
Secondary Plays
Darren Collison (FD: $7400, DK: $7000 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 20.1)
Obviously, Collison will only be in play if he gets the green light to suit up tonight. He has been very good for the Kings this season, averaging 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. His price is more than reasonable on both FD and DK. Assuming that he plays, Collison is a safe cash game play tonight.
New Orleans
Eric Gordon is out for tonight’s game. Darius Miller will start in his place, but is not a recommended fantasy option at this point. Omer Asik is listed as questionable. Once again, if he sits out, Ryan Anderson would see the biggest fantasy boost. The Pelicans are 3.5-point favorites tonight against the Kings in a game that features a total of 203 points. The Kings play at a fast-pace, and are right around the league average in defensive efficiency.
Elite Plays
Anthony Davis (FD: $12000, DK: $11500 / MPG: 37 / Usage Rate: 27.1)
Without factoring in salary, Davis is the top overall play tonight. The issue is whether or not you are willing to pay $12,000 for him on FD, or $11,500 on DK. He’s shown that he has 70 fantasy point upside, but if he has a somewhat disappointing outing of say, 35 fantasy points, he is really going to hurt your lineups. Davis had 28 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals against the Kings in their last meeting, but again, can he pay off that hefty price tag?
Tyreke Evans (FD: $7500, DK: $7200 / MPG: 34 / Usage Rate: 24.4)
Right when I start to tout Evans as a reliable cash game play, he has his worst three-game stretch of the season. The good news is that his price has come down a bit. Evans has a higher usage rate than Jrue Holiday and is the primary play-maker in this offense. Tonight he is facing his former team, which may add a little extra motivation for him to play well. He’s right there with Jimmy Butler as the top SG on the board tonight.
Secondary Plays
None
Detroit at Milwaukee
- Vegas Line – Milwaukee -3, 191.5 Over/Under
- Detroit Proj. Starters – Jennings(Q)-Caldwell-Pope-Smith-Monroe-Drummond
- Milwaukee Proj. Starters – Knight(Q)-Antetokounmpo-Middleton-Parker-Sanders
| Detroit | Milwaukee | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 191 |  | Vegas Total | 191 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 3.0 | Vegas Sprd | -3.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 94.3 | Team Proj. | 97.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 93.47 | Team Pace | 95.50 | |||||||||
| 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 | Brandon Jennings | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Josh Smith | Greg Monroe | Andre Drummond | Proj Starter | Brandon Knight | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Khris Middleton | Jabari Parker | Larry Sanders | |
| Opp. Season | 18 | 25 | 12 | 12 | 28 | Opp. Season | 8 | 22 | 2 | 17 | 27 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 25 | 30 | 6 | 7 | 23 | Opp. Last 7 | 22 | 13 | 19 | 6 | 16 | |
Detroit
This is a game that seriously lacks elite fantasy options. The Pistons are 3-point underdogs in a game that features a total of 191 points. Both of these teams play at a slower than average pace, which should lead to a low scoring game. In terms of the matchup against the Bucks, this is a tough one. The Bucks are ranked 8th in defensive efficiency, holding opponents under 100 points per game this season.
Injury Note: Brandon Jennings is expected to miss tonight’s game.
Elite Plays
D.J. Augustin (FD: $4000, DK: $3900 / MPG: 22 / Usage Rate: 25.1)
Augustin is one of the best back-up PGs in the NBA. With Brandon Jennings expected to miss tonight’s game, he has a chance to prove that tonight. On the season, he is averaging 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in only 22 minutes of action per game. He should see closer to 35 minutes of playing time tonight and should be a staple throughout your cash game lineups tonight.
Secondary Plays
Greg Monroe (FD: $7000, DK: $7000 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 23.8)
Monroe is a tough sell for cash games because he plays on a very inconsistent Pistons team. The good news for his fantasy value is that D.J. Augustin will likely draw the start at PG tonight. Augustin is a good scorer, but he’s more of a pass-first PG than Brandon Jennings is. Monroe’s price is reasonable on both FD and DK, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him top 35 fantasy points tonight against the Bucks.
Milwaukee
The Bucks are 3-point favorites tonight against the Pistons. This will likely be a pace-down game for the Bucks. That, combined with the low total, leaves very little fantasy appeal. The Pistons have actually been decent defensively, ranking 14th in defensive efficiency and 10th in rebounding differential.
Injury Note: Brandon Knight is questionable for tonight’s game.
Elite Plays
Giannis Antetokounmpo (FD: $5700, DK: $6200 / MPG: 26 / Usage Rate: 21)
The Human Alphabet has been terrific since being inserted into the starting lineup. In his last four games where he has played at least 30 minutes, he is averaging 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game. His price tag on FD is certainly appealing if you don’t want to pay up for the likes of Butler, Evans, and Thompson. He has a nice matchup against the Pistons, who are ranked 22nd in fantasy points allowed to opposing SGs.
Secondary Plays
Brandon Knight (FD: $7400, DK: $7100 / MPG: 34 / Usage Rate: 26.1)
Knight is currently listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Pistons, which makes him an appealing GPP option. His injury will likely keep his ownership levels extremely low. Knight is one of the few players in the NBA that can fill up all areas of the stat sheet. He routinely tops 35 fantasy points, which is basically 5x his current salary. As long as he gets the green light to play tonight, he makes for an excellent tournament play against the Pistons, who just so happen to be his former team.
Chicago at Denver
- Vegas Line – Denver -4, 203.5 Over/Under
- Chicago Proj. Starters – Rose-Butler-Dunleavy-Gasol-Noah
- Denver Proj. Starters – Lawson-Afflalo-Chandler-Faried-Mozgov
| Chicago | Denver | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 203.5 |  | Vegas Total | 203.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 4.0 | Vegas Sprd | -4.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 99.75 | Team Proj. | 103.75 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.43 | Team Pace | 98.64 | |||||||||
| 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 | Aaron Brooks | Jimmy Butler | Mike Dunleavy | Pau Gasol | Joakim Noah | Proj Starter | Ty Lawson | Arron Afflalo | Wilson Chandler | Kenneth Faried | Timofey Mozgov | |
| Opp. Season | 13 | 4 | 28 | 22 | 18 | Opp. Season | 16 | 14 | 25 | 13 | 24 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 23 | 2 | Opp. Last 7 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 29 | |
Chicago
Once again, we are left to guess as to who will play for the Bulls tonight. Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Kirk Hinrich are all likely headed for game-time decisions. For our purposes, I will assume that they are all going to play. However, make sure to check the injury news throughout the day, and adjust your lineups accordingly. The Bulls are playing the second half of back-to-back road games, but draw a fantasy-friendly matchup against the Nuggets. The Nuggets are currently ranked 21st in defensive efficiency, giving up 104.8 points per game to their opponents.
Elite Plays
Pau Gasol (FD: $8600, DK: $7200 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 25.7)
Gasol returned from injury and immediately made his presence felt. He finished with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks last night against the Jazz. He draws an even better matchup tonight against the Nuggets who have one of the worst interior defenses in the NBA. With Taj Gibson out, Gasol should see 35+ minutes of action again tonight. Gasol is close to a must play on DK, and he’s a strong play on FD.
Jimmy Butler (FD: $7700, DK: $7300 / MPG: 39 / Usage Rate: 22.2)
Butler continues to post quality stat line after quality stat line. On the season, he is averaging 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. He’s also averaging close to 40 minutes of playing time per game. Butler has a fairly high usage rate of 22.2, and he’s proven that he can still be productive even with Derrick Rose in the lineup. Tonight’s game against the Nuggets will be a pace-up game for the Bulls, which also helps his fantasy appeal.
Nikola Mirotic (FD: $3700, DK: $4300 / MPG: 15 / Usage Rate: 18.9)
With Taj Gibson out tonight, Mirotic should see 25+ minutes off the bench. He played 28 minutes last night, and while he didn’t have the best fantasy outing, the minutes are promising. Mirotic is a great scorer that should benefit from a matchup against the Nuggets, who are ranked 21st in defensive efficiency this season. Mirotic offers good value at PF tonight.
Secondary Plays
Aaron Brooks (FD: $4100, DK: $4800 / MPG: 20 / Usage Rate: 26.4)
Use Brooks if, and only if, Derrick Rose and/or Kirk Hinrich are out tonight. If he were to get the start, he would become one of the best value plays on the board.
Denver
The Nuggets have been an ugly team to watch this season. The good news is that they have won four straight. In terms of fantasy production, it’s been Ty Lawson and then everyone else. Coach Brian Shaw continues to mix up his rotations, which makes it tough to predict fantasy performance on a nightly basis.
Elite Plays
Ty Lawson (FD: $8300, DK: $8700 / MPG: 36 / Usage Rate: 22.1)
Over his last eight games, Lawson is averaging 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. He has been the one consistent fantasy option on the Nuggets, and is really the only player that I’m considering for cash games. He draws a decent matchup against the Bulls, who are ranked 16th in fantasy points allowed to opposing PGs this season.
Secondary Plays
Timofey Mozgov (FD: $4900, DK: $5600 / MPG: 25 / Usage Rate: 17.3)
The knock on Mozgov is his lack of consistent playing time, but he has now played at least 26 minutes in four straight games. During that stretch, he is averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds per game. He may still be a bit too risky to use in cash games, but I like the matchup against the Bulls, who are ranked 20th in fantasy points allowed to opposing centers this season.