Tuesday Night's NBA Slate: Why You Should Fade the Lakers (Again)
Tuesday's NBA schedule isn't the biggest, but there are some intriguing spots for fantasy managers and daily fantasy players. We've got six games, tipping off with the Pistons at the Knicks at 7:30 PM EST. Then the Spurs head to Miami, followed by the Mavericks in Cleveland. Later, the Lakers visit Utah, the Wizards are in Denver, and the Celtics take on the Warriors in the Bay Area.
Let's talk about the Lakers and Jazz game. LeBron James is questionable with that pesky ankle, and Anthony Davis is a game-time decision with his hip. Even if they play, it feels like a trap. The Lakers have lost three of their last five, including a 130-128 nail-biter against the Kings last week where De'Aaron Fox dropped 44 points. The Jazz, meanwhile, are playing some inspired ball at home. They just beat the Pacers 132-105 on Monday, with Lauri Markkanen pouring in 33 points and 11 boards. Jordan Clarkson is also playing well, averaging 19.3 points over his last three games. I'm steering clear of high-priced Lakers in DFS, even if LeBron and AD suit up. There's too much risk and their road form has been shaky. They're 7-13 away from Crypto.com Arena this season.
**Doncic's Dominance and Miami's Mettle**
Luka Doncic is always a strong play, but especially against the Cavaliers. Cleveland's defense has been good this year, but they struggle with elite primary ball-handlers. Doncic put up 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists against them back on December 27th. He's averaging 33.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists this season, and shows no signs of slowing down. Expect another huge outing from him. On the other side, Donovan Mitchell has been a bit inconsistent since returning from injury. He had 34 points against the Magic on Monday, but only 12 points in the game before that. I'd lean towards Doncic for your high-salary spend.
The Spurs at Heat game could be a bit of a snoozer, but there's value. Bam Adebayo has been a double-double machine, and against a young Spurs frontcourt, he should feast. He had 20 points and 17 rebounds against the Magic last Sunday. San Antonio ranks 27th in opponent rebounds per game. Jeremy Sochan is a decent fantasy streamer if you need points and some defensive stats, but the Heat are a much tougher matchup than his last few. The Spurs are giving up an average of 120 points per game on the road this season.
**Eastern Conference Clash and Nugget Value**
The Celtics and Warriors game is the marquee matchup. Jayson Tatum and Stephen Curry will be going head-to-head. Tatum had 34 points and 11 rebounds in their last meeting, a 132-126 overtime loss to the Warriors on December 19th. Curry went for 33 points in that game. This one could be high-scoring. I like both for DFS, but if I had to pick one, I'd lean Tatum simply because the Celtics are playing better team basketball right now. Boston has won 8 of their last 10 games.
And finally, the Wizards in Denver. Nikola Jokic is always a lock for a triple-double threat. Washington's defense is porous, allowing 123.6 points per game, the worst in the league. Jokic had 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in his last game against the Wizards on January 21st, 2023. Look for him to dominate the paint. Michael Porter Jr. is also a strong play here; he's been hitting his stride lately, averaging 18.5 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last four contests.
My bold prediction for Tuesday? The Jazz absolutely blow out the Lakers by 20+ points, even if James and Davis play. The Lakers are just too fragile on the road against a hot Utah squad.