NBA

FantasyScore Daily Fantasy Basketball Primer: Tuesday 3/24/15

Enes Kanter put on a show in his return from his ankle injury, and should stay hot tonight against the defensively-challenged Lakers. Who else should you start on FantasyScore?

If you're into fantasy basketball and your season-long league team just isn't working out, why not change things up and play daily fantasy basketball? More specifically, why not play over at FantasyScore.com?

FantasyScore has tons of games to choose from and compete in for real cash prizes. And the best part is that you have zero season-long commitments -- you can draft a new team tomorrow if you want.

With a small six-game slate tonight in the NBA, it's a perfect time to try it out. And to help you, we're giving out our FantasyScore optimized lineup, which you can find below.

PlayerPositionProjected FPCostValue
Russell WestbrookG57.359500.006.04
DeMarcus CousinsC47.239200.005.13
Rudy GayF37.17100.005.23
Tim DuncanF35.357000.005.05
Enes KanterC33.76000.005.62
Reggie JacksonG33.035500.006.01
Arron AfflaloG23.283500.006.65
Dorell WrightF20.082200.009.13

With Kevin Durant sidelined indefinitely and Serge Ibaka out for at least another few weeks, the Russell Westbrook show will continue for the foreseeable future. The Thunder point guard has been otherworldly since the All-Star break, averaging a ridiculous 31.6 points, 11.3 assists and 9.7 rebounds since the break. Tonight, the short-handed Thunder take on a Lakers team who has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards this season. Westbrook is our highest projected player on the board tonight.

Contrary to popular belief, Westbrook has not been able to keep the Thunder afloat by himself. With Ibaka going down the Thunder have been forced to rely much more heavily on newly acquired center Enes Kanter and boy has he delivered. Banter is averaging 17.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists since coming to Oklahoma City and has been outstanding as the team's second option on offense since Ibaka has been sidelined. As I already mentioned, the Thunder take on the defensively-challenged Lakers tonight, which means Kanter draws a spectacular matchup. He is an absolute steal at just $6,000 tonight.

Speaking of Thunder trade deadline moves, Reggie Jackson has looked outstanding since parting ways with Oklahoma City. Jackson has posted 15.3 points, 8.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game since joining the Pistons and is coming off of four straight double-doubles, including one triple-double. Over that stretch, the Pistons' point guard is averaging 18.3 points, 13 assists and 6.3 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game. With a matchup against a Raptors squad who has allowed the seventh most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards on the docket, Jackson should provide excellent value at just $5,500 tonight.

The Thunder aren't the only team that will be shorthanded tonight. The Trailblazers -- who already lost Wesley Matthews for the season with a torn achilles -- will likely be without both LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum who are both listed as doubtful to play tonight. With those two sidelined, our algorithms recommend you take advantage in boost in workload for two other Blazers players -- Arron Afflalo and Dorell Wright.

Afflalo has played big minutes since Matthews went down, but has yet to find his rhythm in Portland's offense. With Batum and Aldridge out, the Blazers' swing man should see a significant increase in both playing time and usage rate, which makes him a spectacular value play at just $3,500. Similarly, even if Wright doesn't slide into the starting lineup he will see a massive increase in workload tonight. Wright has been productive when on the floor this season, averaging 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists on a per-36 minute basis and should see 30-plus minutes tonight. At just $2,200, he may be the best value play available on tonight's slate.

Put this lineup to use on FantasyScore now!