Tonight in the NBA there are two games that offer good potential for fantasy players. The Lakers, looking to end their road trip on a high note after a tough 18 point loss in Washington on Sunday, are taking on the Nets in Brooklyn and the Western Conference leading Denver Nuggets will be looking to extend their three game win streak as they face off with the Dallas Mavericks in the Mile High City.
With Rajon Rando and Brandon Ingram both out with injuries, Lonzo Ball ($6,800/25.95 FPPG) has been taking on an increased role with the team and has also been working to become more important to the offensive production of the Lakers. Still fresh off his triple-double in Charlotte, Lonzo wasn’t as hot with a 10 point game in Washington on Sunday but he helped the offense in other ways, putting up 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 3 steals. As far as fantasy performance goes, with the exception of one poor showing in Memphis he has been pretty consistent this month, scoring above 30 fantasy points in 62.5% of the Lakers games in December, including a season high 59 FP in his triple-double game. With Lonzo playing an average 33.4 minutes this month, he should have plenty of time tonight to put his offensive skills to the test against a Nets team that is 22nd in the league in defensive rating.
For fantasy players that want to take advantage of the Brooklyn side of this matchup, Joe Harris ($4,900/22.00 FPPG) is a decent pick for those looking for a good value. He is coming off a strong performance in the Nets victory against the Hawks, where he put up 16 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists and a steal. The 6 assists tied a season record for him and even though he hasn’t been Brooklyn’s highest scorer, he has been one of the team’s most consistent shooting guards. With an average of 14.2 points in the six games he has played this month he doesn’t have the highest ceiling but is still averaging 25.4 fantasy points in that same period. This combined with his low price makes him a valuable addition to fantasy lineups tonight.
For those looking to play in contests later tonight, the Mavericks and Nuggets matchup offers many valuable additions to fantasy rosters. Jamal Murray ($8,100/31.62 FPPG) is a pick that has the ability to offer a lot of upside for fantasy players. He was one of the factors that helped ensure Denver’s late comeback from a double-digit deficit against Toronto on Sunday with his strong finish, scoring 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. He has had a strong offensive presence this month, shooting around 40% for an average 18.6 points per game and also averaging 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists. His fantasy showing this season has also been strong. He has put up above 30 fantasy points in 48% of games this season while averaging 34.6 FP in the month of December making him a secure pick with great potential for tonight’s fantasy lineups.
For those willing to take some risk in their lineups, Harrison Barnes ($5,600/26.24 FPPG) is a player that definitely carries some risk on the low end but could still end up being a decent addition to fantasy lineups tonight. While his accuracy has been lower this season, he is still averaging 18.1 points in December along with an average 3.9 rebounds in the same span. This month, Barnes hasn’t had the highest fantasy points with only two games above 30 FP, but with an average 25.2 FP across the team’s previous eight games he remains a viable option especially if he can improve his accuracy and work on getting more rebounds.
With the Lakers looking to finish their road trip strong in Brooklyn after a disappointing loss and the Nuggets working to strengthen their lead in the West and extend their three game win streak in a home game against the Mavericks, tonight’s games offer up plenty of potential to build a great fantasy lineup with. Whether looking for young talent, more experienced players, players on a streak or players trying to improve, all of these picks and more are available for fantasy players tonight making these matchups sure to be entertaining for all.