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FanDuel contest lineup advice: Sleeper strategy for Friday, March 11
Check out the best NBA FanDuel options for Friday’s slate of games.
Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
This space is going to be used to give you the five best plays for the games on Fri., March 11. Also, for a limited time SB Nation will be competing against other sites in the FanDuel Partners Basketball Championship. You can play along and follow the contest, as well.
So, with that, let’s get started.
1. Damian Lillard, PG, Blazers ($9,600)
You can bet the Friday night matchup between the Warriors and Blazers is going to be back-and-forth high-scoring affair. It's likely a bunch of players walk away with big box scores, but if you have to go with one then Dame should be your guy. He torched Golden State to the tune of 51 points last time these two teams met, in February, and is averaging a ridiculous 33.5 points in 11 post-All Star Game contests. The Warriors are also surrendering 46.8 FanDuel points to opposing point guards over their last 10 games, the second-worst mark in the league over the span (via RotoWire). A 50-point FanDuel night is in the cards for Lillard.
2. Lance Stephen, SG, Grizzlies ($4,200)
Stephenson is the last man standing in Memphis. Almost literally. Mike Conley is out and now so is Mario Chalmers. Zach Randolph is hurt. Matt Barnes has been missing games. Stephenson is one of the few Grizzlies remaining who can actually handle the ball and so look for him to get major minutes Friday against the Hornets. That New Orleans is one of the worst defensive teams in the league makes this an even more worthwhile gamble.
3. Jae Crowder, SF, Celtics ($6,100)
Crowder won't win you cash by himself. But he's consistent, has a good matchup on Friday and is relatively inexpensive. He's averaging 17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals since the All-Star Game. He also gets to face a Rockets team on Friday that can't guard anyone and that is allowing a league-high 38.6 FanDuel points to opposing small forwards per game.
4. Aaron Gordon, PF, Magic ($6,600)
The Kings have the league's seventh-worst defensive rating and are No. 1 in pace. That's a lot of possessions with a lot of easy points. They will also be without DeMarcus Cousins on Friday, which could make things ugly. Oh, and they are allowing 43.6 FanDuel points to opposing power forwards per night, the fourth-worst mark in the league. So yeah, Aaron Gordon, who's averaging 12.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals since the All-Star break should be in for a big night.
5. Ish Smith, PG, Sixers ($,6700)
Smith is averaging 34.8 FanDuel points per night over the five contests the Sixers have played since Jahlil Okafor went down. That is not a coincidence. He also gets to take on a Nets team that is allowing opposing point guards to score 50.7 FanDuel points per night over their last five games.
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