NBA DFS action on Wednesday, March 10, locks at 8:00 p.m. EST with a two-game main slate on Yahoo, DraftKings, FanDuel and SuperDraft. Before you lock in your lineups on Yahoo, DraftKings, FanDuel and SuperDraft, make sure to check out Awesemo’s daily fantasy basketball picks, rankings and projections. Let’s dig into some daily fantasy basketball picks, including Russell Westbrook, Ja Morant, Luka Doncic and more.
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NBA DFS Picks: Building Blocks, Wednesday, March 10th
Yahoo Play of the Day – Russell Westbrook: Washington Wizards at Memphis Grizzlies
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 50.23 | DraftKings: 53.01
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 50.8% | FanDuel 61.2% | DraftKings 46.1%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $45 | FanDuel $9,800 | DraftKings $10,100
For just the second time in the last 11 seasons, Russell Westbrook was not a participant in the NBA All-Star Game. This works out for us in two ways. First, he should be rested and second, if you are into subplots, he was snubbed (at least in his mind). Personally, I am happy with the former, though if the latter is true, that is just fine by me as well.
Memphis has been reasonable on defense this year, although they have slipped in the 19 games since the team was quarantined for a week back in late January. The Grizzlies have been in the top five with regards to pace, and they are going against the Wizards, who are the fastest-paced team in the league. This game has a 238.0 projected total, which seems attainable when we remember these teams combined for 236 points in Washington just before the break. Westbrook, Bradley Beal and Luka Doncic are likely to be the trio vying for the top fantasy score tonight.
Luka Doncic: Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 52.61 | DraftKings: 56.04
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 42.8% | FanDuel 53.5% | DraftKings 50.3%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $53 | FanDuel $11,000 | DraftKings $10,700
All-Star Sunday was not much of a showing for Luka Doncic. In the Skills Challenge, he lost in the first round to eventual champion Domantas Sabonis. Then in the All-Star Game, where he was a starter for a second straight year, he had an underwhelming 32 minutes with 8 points, 8 assists and 2 rebounds. Fortunately, that is in the rearview mirror, and the Mavericks need to get down to business over the back half of the season.
Dallas is eighth in the Western Conference standings, but that is smack in the “play-in” zone and there are five teams trailing by five or fewer games. On the flip side, the Mavericks are only 2 1/2 games out of fifth place. The Western Conference is going to be a roller coaster, and teams really need to get serious.
This will be the second of three matchups between these Texas-based franchises, and the Mavs took the first game 122-117. Tonight they are 5-point home favorites in what should be a tightly contested matchup. Doncic continues to put up eye-popping numbers while leading his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Every time he laces up his sneakers, he is a threat for a triple-double. While he is going to be hard-pressed to match his pace of one every 3.6 games, he still is reaching that gaudy statistical milestone once every 4.6 outings.
Ja Morant: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Washington Wizards
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 36.9 | DraftKings: 38.84
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 41.8% | FanDuel 45.6% | DraftKings 36.7%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $33 | FanDuel $8,000 | DraftKings $7,800
In the final two games leading into the break, we saw Ja Morant get to the free throw line 11 and 14 times. If this is something he can sustain even partially, it is going to help him take his game to the next level. By comparison, in the preceding five games, he went to the charity stripe just 17 times combined. Morant is going to be a popular NBA DFS pick on the short slate Thursday, but do not be one to shy away from this cherry matchup.
Good Value
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Washington Wizards
On a two-game slate, it is often hard to find good value as essentially anyone with viable minutes is going to be well represented in most formats. However, some plays are still better than others. With Grayson Allen in the concussion protocol and Jaren Jackson Jr. still a week away from his return from a torn meniscus, the Grizzlies’ tertiary players are going to be the best options for salary relief.
If Desmond Bane continues to start, he is a solid cheapy, though he will be wildly popular. Justise Winslow should once again see something in the 22- to 24-minute range as he works his way back after having missed nearly an entire calendar year. There are a couple of things that could still upset the apple cart that we need to acknowledge. Killian Tillie actually played in two of the three games leading into the break after missing the rest of the first half with foot and hamstring injuries. The second shoe that may or may not drop on Wednesday is Jontay Porter being recalled from the G-League, where he has been working his way back from a knee issue. Taking our chances against the Wizards’ poor defense is likely the best route to success tonight. However, we will not be alone in this assessment.
Risky Value
San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks
It will be interesting to see what transpires with the San Antonio rotation. Currently they are slated to have everyone return from the health-and-safety protocol with the exception of Devin Vassell. That means we will be seeing Gregg Popovich with most of his options at his disposal. Of course, he has already been forthcoming in saying different players are further along in their conditioning than others. Naturally, we have not had any indication of who falls in which bucket. Derrick White and Rudy Gay will cut into the minutes for the guards and wings.
DeMar DeRozan and Dejounte Murray are still going to be the two best NBA DFS picks from San Antonio. However, their upside potential will be a little tougher for them to reach on raw minutes. Patty Mills and Lonnie Walker will feel the biggest pinch. LaMarcus Aldridge has been dealing with a hip injury as well as a non-COVID illness. It makes sense that his new role may be coming off the bench, which cuts into his upside as well. If Trey Lyles continues to start, he can be considered a discount dandy given there are only four teams in Wednesday’s player pool.
Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball Discount Dandies
- Justise Winslow: MEM vs. WAS – $11
- Davis Bertans: WAS at MEM – $11
- Xavier Tillman: MEM vs. WAS – $10
SuperDraft Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks
- Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook: WAS at MEM – 1.20x multiplier
- Dejounte Murray: SAS vs DAL – 1.35x multiplier
- Jonas Valanciunas: MEM vs. WAS – 1.40x multiplier
Final Thoughts on the Wednesday, Mar. 10 NBA DFS Slate
Tonight there is a two-game appetizer to tide us over until Thursday’s 11-game feast. Do not go too crazy with your bankroll, as there is plenty of basketball ahead. Keep in mind that salaries and scoring formats differ across the various fantasy sites, and a slam-dunk play on Yahoo may be a below-average NBA DFS pick on DraftKings or FanDuel.
