NBA DFS First Look & Optimal Lineup Picks Today

The Slate Starter is a daily first look at to get your daily fantasy basketball lineup-building process started before lock tonight. Each day we will go through some of the best NBA DFS picks, top stacks and optimal lineup construction for DraftKings and FanDuel. Be sure to check Awesemo’s NBA Starting Lineups page, as it will be updated throughout the day as the NBA injury reports are released and breaking news surfaces. Let’s dive into some of the key players on Wednesday’s 11 game slate.

NBA DFS Picks & Optimal Lineup Construction | Nov. 17

Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Dallas Mavericks

Knowing that Luka Doncic is already ruled out of this game leaves Porzingis at what should be the most popular player on this slate. His salary is not high enough and since the start of last season, Porzingis has a 30.4% usage rate and 1.23 fantasy points per minute. Just this season is a 60-minute sample but the fantasy points per minute are up to 1.47. That is largely on the back of a 67.9% true shooting rate and in his past three games he has shot a combined 32-for-58 from the field and has two double-doubles.

Porzingis and teammate Jalen Brunson will both be focal points of the offense as Brunson leads the team in minutes this year without Doncic. Porzingis goes to the post-up game at the fifth-highest frequency and that likely climbs tonight. Phoenix is just average in points allowed in the paint at 14th and are bottom 10 in rebounding percentage on the season. Porzingis should walk into a double-double relatively easy and his points and rebound props could potentially be exploited in the Awesomo NBA Player Prop Tool.

Ricky Rubio, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers

The salary does not match the potential for Rubio especially on DraftKings. The Cavaliers continue to be short multiple starters in Jarrett Allen, Collin Sexton, and promising rookie Evan Mobley. Veteran forward Kevin Love could come back from the Covid list but only five players saw more than 30 minutes in this past game. Rubio led at 37 and without the trio of starter on the floor, Rubio has had a usage rate over 32%.

That sample needs to be treated with caution because it is under 30 minutes. That is not a surprise since the Cavaliers starters play so many minutes but the bottom line is Rubio is going to play 32 to 35 minutes with potential for more. Rubio has been the ball handler in the pick-and-roll over at a 42.5% frequency and is only shooting 36.6% in that play type. Brooklyn played last night and have managed to hold opponents to the second-lowest field goal percentage in the play type. They are giving up over 16 attempts per game so Rubio can still see his shooting improve this evening.

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Talen Horton-Tucker, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers

Horton-Tucker was over 90% rostered in cash games on the last slate and while that may not be exactly the same tonight, he could still be popular. He has only been back for two games for the Lakers, but he played 37 minutes in this past contest. Even with Anthony Davis being ejected in the third quarter last game, 30 to 35 minutes seems like a lock with LeBron James still out. Horton-Tucker has a usage rate of 26.5% in his first 64 minutes and 1.10 fantasy points per minute. He is yet to surpass the $5,000 threshold on DraftKings and he fits with any style of build. Both the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks are in the top 12 in pace and are no higher than 15th in defensive rating.

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