FanDuel NBA Lineup Advice: Friday (2/21)

Tonight’s slate features a nine-game lineup, all of which are included on the main slate which tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST. Only the Memphis Grizzlies are operating on a back-to-back, doubling down on a trip throughout California. Please adjust your lineups accordingly.

Check out today’s NBA Shot from FanDuel

Point Guard

Jamal Murray (PG – DEN): $7,200 @ OKC
There may not be a hotter player entering tonight’s slate post-all-star break than the Canadian point-man. Murray played over 34+ minutes in four straight games prior to the break, with two of those contests ending in 40+ minutes. Not only is his workload incredibly high, but Murray was a scoring machine, managing to top 26+ real-life points in each of those four games, with the remaining three performances all topping 30+. The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t a great matchup as they rank 12^th in defensive rating and 23^rd in pace, but the hot hand takes precedence here.

Anfernee Simons (PG – POR): $4,800 vs. NO
Simons is a major play tonight with starting PG Damian Lillard sidelined due to an injury sustained prior to the break. Simons registered 27 minutes of playing time in his first contest with major minutes since Lillard’s injury and managed to total 30.9 FanDuel points in that contest on the back of a 22 real-life point performance. Simons is likely to be a chalky play tonight as the matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans is a great one. The Pelicans rank 23^rd in defensive rating and 3^rd in pace. As it currently stands, this contest leads the implied totals of the night by far.

Shooting Guard

Marcus Smart (SG – BOS): $5,400 @ MIN
Just like Simons, Smart is expected to draw another start tonight with starting PG Kemba Walker already ruled out of tonight’s contest. Smart’s DFS playability doesn’t rely solely on scoring, which is a positive because it leads to strong games on nights regardless of his offensive performance. Smart’s defensive prowess should come into play tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who’re going to be missing Karl Anthony-Towns by way of injury. In addition to missing their best player, the T-Wolves rank 16^th in defensive rating and 7^th in pace, presenting all Boston Celtics options with a strong opportunity to produce.

C.J. McCollum (SG – POR): $6,900 vs. NO
With Lillard sidelined, and with such a great matchup on the horizon, McCollum had to be included in this lineup. Not only is the two-guard expected to play a ton of minutes tonight, but his usage rate should absolutely skyrocket with the Portland Trailblazers lacking any semblance of a rotation. Expect to see a fast-paced game that results in a strong night for both sides, though no player is more likely to have a larger workload than McCollum.

Small Forward

Juancho Hernangomez (SF – MIN): $4,700 vs. BOS
Since being acquired by trade, Hernangomez has started in his new home in Minnesota and has performed relatively well. Hernangomez has topped 21.5+ FanDuel points in all of his last four contests, with the most recent game totaling 36.4 points. With KAT sidelined, Hernangomez should see a larger workload and has the opportunity to clean up around the rim, both defensively by rebounding and offensively by finishing.

Brandon Ingram (SF – NO): $8,400 @ POR
Ensure Ingram is active tonight as he’s missed three of his past four games, with the remaining contest resulting in only eight minutes of playing time. If Ingram can suit up tonight without any minutes restriction, he could be looking at a big night due to a pristine matchup. The Trailblazers rank 27^th in defensive rating and 11^th in pace. This game is going to be a back-and-forth throughout, and Ingram is one of the most talented players in the contest that possesses a superb ability to score baskets.

Power Forward

Zion Williamson (PF – NO): $7,500 @ POR
As you can tell, I’ve revisited this contest on multiple occasions now, and with good reason. It’s going to be one of the pacier games of the night, leads the implied totals in scoring, and has two teams that aren’t very interested in playing defense involved. Zion is probably the key cog in this contest, with his price tag slowly rising as he continues to put together one strong performance after the next. The Trailblazers simply don’t have anybody who can defend the unique power forward, and Zion always possesses the ability to have a massive night on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in an offensive matchup that will operate at a torrid pace such as this game.

James Johnson (PF – MIN): $5,200 vs. BOS
Just like Hernangomez, Johnson has found new light at the end of the tunnel since being traded to the Timberwolves. In his last three contests, Johnson has played 20, 27, and 32 minutes, slowly increasing his playing time (latest contest) due to KAT’s injury. In those three games, Johnson has totaled 32+ FanDuel points twice and has a shot to do so again tonight even in a tough matchup against the Celtics. Expect Johnson to draw the start at the five-spot.

Center

Andre Drummond (C – CLE): $9,700 @ WAS
Even though he was traded to an incredibly random team with an already steady rotation in the frontcourt, Drummond hasn’t looked too shabby with the Cavaliers. The big man stepped right in the starting center spot, though he has yet to top 29 minutes of playing time or 45.3 FanDuel points. Drummond’s matchup tonight against the Washington Wizards presents the perfect opportunity to get back on track as the Wizards rank 30^th in defensive rating, 5^th in pace, and have been awful at defending big-men all season.

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Sosa Kremenjas is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Sosa, check out his archive and follow him @QBsMVP.