Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Phoenix. The Suns won 115-97. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 44.29 DK - 46.54
Getting Chris Paul back is just what the Suns needed as they have now gone 3-1 on the back of some elite basketball. He is coming off a monster, 60-point fantasy performance on Saturday and has tallied a double in all four game since his return while averaging 22.3 points, 10.8 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks+steals. With the Suns still short-handed(Booker, Shamet, Payne out) and in a plus matchup against the Raptors 19th ranked defence, Chris Paul is once again a core play for me in all formats.
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 37.45 DK - 38.46
Beal has missed a lot of time this season and hasn't exactly been able to get into a rhythm but a season-low price on DraftKings has our system's attention on Monday. The good news is that isn't the only box he checks tonight as he has seen his usage return in recent games with 17 shots in three straight while running cold at about a 9% rate lower than his career average. The other plus here is the terrific matchup against the Spurs who run a Top 10 pace and rank dead last in defensive efficiency. All things considered, I am on board with Beal in all formats on DraftKings.
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 28.1 DK - 31.12
Burks has drawn the start in each of the Pistons' last two games and has provided at least 6x value on DraftKings in both games. He can be very shooting-dependent but is riding a hot hand as he has dropped 12 of 21 shots(57%) in those two games while adding seven rebounds and six assists. While the Mavs are one of the slowest teams in the league(29th in pace), this is still a plus matchup as they rank 24th in defensive efficiency and could be without Luka for a second straight game. With a price that hasn't budged, Burks will once again be a core play if in the starting lineup.
Also consider Spencer Dinwiddie(DAL) a core play once again if Luka Donic were to sit out a second straight game.
Opponent - SAC
Proj Pts FD - 45.83 DK - 46.86
It has been an excellent run for the Timberwolves who have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games and have leapfrogged three teams to get to the five seed in the West. It has Ant Man who has put the team on his back over those 10 games as he is in one of his best stretches of the season averaging 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.6 blocks+steals for over 50 fantasy points a game. He provides value in every category and now gets a plus matchup against the Kings 21st ranked defence in a game that should be high-scoring and stay close throughout. Edwards is a core play in all formats on Monday.
Opponent - PHO
Proj Pts FD - 37.51 DK - 36.84
It feels like I just go from one Raptors player to another for each article but the starting lineup is stacked and provides value from top to bottom, at least until one or multiple pieces are shipped off at the trade deadline. One piece that I think remains and is the building block for the future is Scottie Barnes who is coming off a Rookie of the Year award and continues to be very consistent in 2023. Barnes has been especially good in the short term averaging 19.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists over his last 10 games for over 40 fantasy points a game on both sites. He also receives a bit of a boost with OG out of the lineup and while I like him on both sites, it's DraftKings where I am most interested in Scottie on Monday.
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 23.11 DK - 23.41
Earlier in the season, it was very difficult to find ways to play Sochan outside of deep GPP's as it was a wild roller coaster ride with mostly lows. That seems to be no longer the case as the word consistency is sneaking into the discussion as he has provided 27 or more DraftKings points in six straight games while averaging 18.2 points and 6.5 rebounds. It has earned him some extra usage in the offense so despite the average matchup(WAS 14th in Def Eff), I have interest in all formats at these prices.
Opponent - LAL
Proj Pts FD - 42.26 DK - 40.95
Speaking on consistent and backing up a rising price, Nic Claxton has been playing his best basketball of the season for the Nets lately. He comes in with double-doubles in four straight and seven of his last eight games while averaging 20.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. For fantasy, he has provided a 40-point floor in seven of those games and is averaging over 48 in his last four games. The Nets now face a Lakers 18th ranked defence that will be without their superstars. Fire up Claxton in all formats.
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