The Golden State Warriors extended their home win streak to an NBA-record 44 in a row with a 121-106 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. Stephen Curry led the way again with a game-high 33 points, but he also got some help from his supporting cast including the tandem of Marreese Speights and Shaun Livingston, who combined for 21 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals off the bench. As is the case with the Warriors, building the optimal fantasy lineup is about finding the perfect combination between superstar talent and strong value options so hopefully this column will help. Here is some important advice to consider for Saturday’s NBA fantasy action.
Weak Defense To Target: Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are coming off consecutive losses and have won just six of their 28 road games this season so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they struggled against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Brooklyn ranks 20th in the NBA with an average of 103.6 points allowed per game this season so it makes sense to have at least one Minnesota player in your lineup in Daily Fantasy Leagues. Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine are both decent options, but we like the rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns as the best play from the Timberwolves. Towns has averaged 18.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 block and 1.0 steal per game over the past week of action and he should produce another strong NBA fantasy stat line against the Nets.
Player Who’s Hot Right Now: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
If there is only one superstar option that you can build your NBA fantasy lineup around this Saturday night, then it is probably Chris Paul, who has been on fire for the Clippers. Paul has averaged 28.0 points, 12.7 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 three-point shots and 1.7 steals per game over the past seven days and it only makes sense to ride the hot hand with the Atlanta Hawks in town Saturday night.
Injuries, Rest Create Opportunities For…. Kent Bazemore, Doug McDermott
The Atlanta Hawks will have their work cut out for them when they visit the Clippers on Saturday, but it might be worth taking a chance on Kent Bazemore as a strong value option. Bazemore has averaged 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 three-point shots per game over the past seven days. He’s now scored in double figures in four straight games. While the points are sometimes hit or miss, Bazemore is likely to provide plenty of help in other categories. He’s averaging 9.8 points per game since the All-Star, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 threes, so you have a pretty good floor with him. If the Hawks want to keep it close against the Clippers, they’ll need him to have another productive NBA fantasy night.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls will look to turn their season around beginning with a date against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Injuries have forced Doug McDermott in to a bigger offensive role and that has resulted in him putting up some solid numbers. McDermott has averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 three-point shot per game over the last week and he could top those averages in NBA fantasy against the Rockets this weekend.
Highest Scoring Game Of The Night: SAC @ SA
The Sacramento Kings can score points in bunches, but the problem has been their inability to stop anybody and it won’t get any easier against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The Kings and Spurs rank third and seventh respectively in points per game this season so this contest should be another high scoring affair. DeMarcus Cousins has been an absolute fantasy beast, but he is also very expensive so it might be worth taking a chance on Darren Collison as a strong value option instead. Collison has averaged 15.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.5 three-point shots and 1.8 rebounds per game over the past seven days and should be able to match those averages. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge have been the only real consistent options for San Antonio of late so it will be a case of buyer beware with this matchup. It might be worth taking a flier on Kyle Anderson is Tim Duncan does not play, but it might make more sense to continue to avoid the Spurs despite the decent matchup for Saturday night.
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