NBA

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Thursday 8/6/20

Thursday's DraftKings' slate is led by Damian Lillard who's been on a tear through three games.

With six games to choose from on today's NBA slate, let's take a look at how to utilize the DFS possibilities.

Here are some of the top plays on DraftKings. As always, good luck.

Point Guard

Damian Lillard ($9,700) -- Lillard is averaging 26.3 points, 11.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 43 minutes per game through three contests. One of those games was overtime, while the other two were regulation-making his massive amount of minutes impressive. Lillard was one rebound or assist away in two separate games from having three double-doubles, and with his back against the wall, the Blazers are making noise in the bubble.

In three contests versus the Nuggets, Lillard has averaged 22.0 points, 9.3 assists, and 2.7 rebounds over 35 minutes per game. On the season, when Lillard has played 40-plus minutes, he's averaged an excellent 38.1 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.7 rebounds over 12 of his 61 games (19.6%). We've seen him play 40-plus in his last three games, and if that streak continues, he's a must-play in DFS.

Shooting Guard

James Harden ($10,700) -- Harden versus the Lakers is going to be an exciting matchup despite him averaging only 24 points per game in two meetings with them this season. Harden has scored 49, 24, and 23 in that order since the restart, and he's averaged 8.0 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game. He remains one of the top fantasy options, and versus a Lakers' backcourt without Avery Bradley or Rajon Rondo, he's a must-start in most of your DFS tournaments.

Harden's three-point attempts have accounted for 56.8% of his shot attempts through three games, and versus the Lakers, he's gone 1-for-6 (16.7%) and 2-for-9 (22.2%) from three in two meetings. Without two of their key defenders, Harden will have more opportunities to pull up from deep in this one, and if Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell can go 7-for-19 from three, Harden might do severe damage.

Cameron Johnson ($4,900) -- Johnson has had three solid performances for the 3-0 Suns, and in the last two, he's played 38 and 40 minutes. He's shot 54.5% or better in two of three games and is averaging 13 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in the restart. When he's played above 30 minutes, his numbers have jumped drastically to 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists from 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in fewer than 30 minutes.

As the Suns let the youngsters play increased minutes in the bubble, they're finding success, and Johnson has contributed to that. Johnson has never met the Pacers, but they've averaged 119.3 points in the restart and allowed 110 points per game. The Suns have averaged 119.6 points and allowed 114 per game through three games as well. Pacers versus Suns could be a high-scoring game, and if it is, expect Johnson's substantial minute increase to continue and his production.

Small Forward

Mikal Bridges ($4,900) -- Bridges' numbers over the restart aren't anything to brag about; however, this is another solid opportunity for him to be a reliable stream in DFS. Like I stated previously, the Suns and Pacers could be a high-scoring game, and at his price tag, he could make a difference. He's played 34 minutes so far in two of three games and recorded 39 in the other, so he's getting the minutes and potential usage.

On the season and with one day of rest, he's averaging 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, and when he plays between 30-39 minutes, Bridges averages 10.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 30 games and 20 starts. Don't count on him to go off versus the Pacers, but with both teams momentum headed in the right direction, grab a few players for the offensive potential in that game.

Duncan Robinson ($5,000) -- Robinson is a sneaky play depending on what's happening with Jimmy Butler ($7,100). Robinson scored 17 or more in two of three games in the bubble and shot above 50% from the field and 40% from downtown in two of three games as well. The Bucks have allowed an NBA-high 51.7 three-pointers per game in the restart, and if there's anyone that they should be scared of, it's Robinson. He's hit on 9-of-22 three-pointers (40.9%) and made three or more in two games so far.

He doesn't have much else to offer outside of three-pointers and instant scoring with 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists on the season, but he could score 20-plus versus Milwaukee. numberFire's model projects Robinson to hit 3.7 triples and score 13.6 points, but I think that number will be higher versus a vulnerable Bucks perimeter defense.

Power Forward

T.J. Warren ($8,400) -- Warren is on a heater right now, scoring 53, 34, and 32 points in the restart. He's only met the Suns once this season, and he scored 25 points in that game, not good news for Phoenix. Warren's played at least 38 minutes in all three seeding games, averaging 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2.0 steals in addition to his 39.6 points per game.

Warren shot 65.2% from the field, 60.8% from three, and 91.6% from the free-throw line in the restart, and the Suns have allowed 114 points per game in three games (9th). Keep putting Warren in your lineup until he puts up a dud to lose your trust because this is the best three-game stretch of his career.

Anthony Davis ($10,300) -- In one meeting with the Rockets, Davis posted 32 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals. He's played three games in the restart and has been one of the best players thus far. Davis has averaged 30.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in his three seeding games and has played 35 minutes in all three appearances. There's not much to sell you on when it comes to Davis; he's the top big on the slate tonight, power forward or center versus the Rockets and their small-ball lineup. No one will be able to stop him on the Rockets' team, nor tall enough.

Center

Kristaps Porzingis ($8,500) -- Porzingis fouled out of the Mavericks' overtime win versus the Kings, but still finished with a 36.25 fantasy point performance. He's averaged 30.3 points and 10.3 rebounds through his three seeding games and will be the best big man the Clippers have faced so far outside of Davis. Davis gave the Clippers a fit in the opening game, going for 34 points and 8 rebounds. It's not far off that Porzingis can accomplish the same or similar numbers.

The Clippers are expected to still be without Montrezl Harrell, and with Ivica Zubac ($4,800) handling the middle of a small-ball lineup, Porzingis could eat. He went 5-for-13 (38.4%) in his first two games from three, and in his last game, he went 0-for-7 but visited the free-throw line 11 times, finishing with 22 points. A 30-piece versus the Clippers' small lineup is possible, primarily if they focus on Luka Doncic ($11,300) after his monster game.

Dwight Howard ($3,100) -- Howard is the next big man outside of his teammate Anthony Davis to wreak havoc on the Rockets interior. Jusuf Nurkic kept the big man streak alive, going for 18 points and 19 rebounds on Tuesday versus Houston. Howard had 11 points and 5 rebounds versus the Jazz and Rudy Gobert on Monday. Howard hasn't missed a field goal yet (6/6), and he's going to be immovable in the paint when Davis stretches the floor. Howard is a sneaky pick in tonight's slate for his low price.


Vaughn Dalzell is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Vaughn also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his account, username vdalzell. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.