Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks will back up in Friday’s five-game $30,000 slate on Draftstars where premiums Devin Booker, Damian Lillard and Ja Morant will all be missing due to injuries.
LAST GAME LEARNINGS
Antetokounmpo’s (PF(C) $21,570) Bucks are up against the Toronto Raptors, after taking care of the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday where the Greek posted a massive 69.5 DS points in a dominant display.
Julius Randle (PF(C) $16,180) bounced back from a lean run with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, equating to a DS score of 49.8 points against the Brooklyn Nets, but can he find some consistency?
Number one draft pick Cade Cunningham (PG(SG) $13,000) is finding his groove, with a strong performance for the Detroit Pistons with 26 points and seven rebounds equating to 43.8 DS points, his best score in five games, as he continues to develop. He’s alluring but still hard to trust for consistency.
Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray (PG $19,210) is one of the NBA’s form players and is better value given price.
INJURY NEWS
The Phoenix Suns will be without guard Devin Booker (SG(PG) $15,360) for several games after sustaining a left hamstring injury against the Golden State Warriors earlier this week, so he will not face the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
The Memphis Grizzlies have lost star Ja Morant (PG $16,930) for several weeks with a knee injury, while Portland Trail Blazers gun Damian Lillard (PG $16,400) is out for a few games with an abdominal issue.
Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (SF(PF) $13,670) is out with a hip problem while shooting guard Gary Trent Jr (SG(SF) $13,060) is questionable with a calf.
RJ Barrett (PG(SF) $10,520) went off early for the New York Knicks against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday and is questionable to face the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Impressive OKC rookie Josh Giddey (SG(SF) $12,510) missed his side’s loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday with illness.
VALUE OPTIONS
Cameron Johnson (PF(SF) $9,290) is the likely beneficiary to get more minutes with Booker’s absence. Booker went off in the second quarter on Wednesday, with Johnson playing 29 minutes for 14 minutes, four rebounds and two assists. He managed a DS score of 27, his second-best of the season.
Lillard’s absence along with a fresh injury to Trail Blazers guard Nassir Little makes Ben McLemore (SG $6,000) loom as a good value play, having managed a season-high DS score of 24 points against the Pistons on Wednesday. McLemore got 18 minutes, scoring 17 points.
Blazers teammate Anfernee Simons (SG(PG) $11,830) has had a good three-game run, averaging 32.4 DS points up on his DS season average of 21.1, and will benefit with more opportunity with Lillard and Little out.
In Morant’s absence, Desmond Bane (SF $11,990) is getting more looks although he’s only seen a small spike in DS scores, but Tyus Jones (PG $9,730) is getting more minutes and offers more value.
Jrue Holiday (PG $13,410) feels under-priced, while Scottie Barnes’ (SF(PF) $13,710) three-game average is 40.6 DS points up on his DS season average of 33.7.
Knicks shooting guard Alec Burks (SG(SF) $12,350) is worth a look, while new Milwaukee Bucks addition LaMarcus Cousins (C $6,000) is a bargain, getting 15 minutes on his debut on Wednesday, with seven points and four rebounds but will he back up? Monitor that.
PREMIUM PLAYS
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF(C) $21,570) dominated for the Bucks on Thursday, with 40 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in their narrow win over the Charlotte Hornets equating to 69.5 DS points. He’s the most expensive player in this slate by more than $2k, but his season average almost 10 DS points more than the next best. The Bucks have back-to-back games but he is the Greek freak.
Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray (PG $19,210) is one of the NBA’s form players and is better value given price. He is prone to a drop-off but his three-game average is 53.9 DS points, with double-doubles in his past three games. His combination of points and rebounds makes him enticing.
Chris Paul (PG $16,090) is an option, given he will get more time with the ball with Booker out. The veteran doesn’t deliver premium scores regularly anymore but he managed 50 DS points after Booker went down against the Warriors.
FADES
Julius Randle’s (PF(C) $16,180) recent form is concerning, posting DS scores of 27.3 and 26.5 before a return to normalcy with 49.8 – which was up on his DS season average of 42.6 – against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
So, were those two scores a minor blip? No, it feels like Randle hasn’t quite made the jump into the premium category yet despite being the NBA’s Most Improved Player last year. There’s been five sub-30 DS scores in his past 10 games.
Given his talent and quality, he’ll make the step up at some point but there’s no need to gamble on when that will be.
18+ Gamble Responsibly