This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There are eight games Sunday, but two of them are early (Suns at Bucks, Spurs at Lakers) and FanDuel's "main" contests are for the later six games. The article below will focus on those six games, but for those playing the early games, I look for value among the teams that just recently traded a player away. The Lakers traded leading scorer Lou Williams, and in their first game after you saw D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson have strong games. The Suns, meanwhile, traded forward P.J. Tucker and in their first game after, T.J. Warren and Marquese Chriss both looked good. With that said, let's go ahead and take a closer look for value plays on the main schedule.
Russell Westbrook, OKC at NO ($12,800): Westbrook is always hard to judge, because his price is so extreme. But he has averaged 27.5 points, 16 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.5 combined steals/blocks and 6.0 turnovers with back-to-back triple-doubles in his last two games. Plus, with all of the value plays Sunday due to injuries and trades, this is a day that you can build a decently strong team around him despite his price tag.
DeMar DeRozan, TOR vs POR ($8600): DeRozan's price is a bit higher than moderate, but he's clearly the best shooting guard on paper for Sunday with a matchup against a relatively weak Blazers defense (tied for tenth most fantasy points allowed to shooting guards over the past ten games) and the prospect of another game where he has to make up for the loss of Kyle Lowry in the Raptors' lineup. He's just coming off a 43-point, five-rebound, five-assist outing Friday, as well.
Cory Joseph, TOR vs POR ($4200):Kyle Lowry was announced as out "indefinitely" with his wrist injury Saturday, which puts Joseph in line for another start Sunday. Joseph had a monster outing in his first start of the season, but was solid Friday in his second outing with a 26.2 fantasy-point effort. He has solid upside for a low price against a Trail Blazers defense that has allowed the 12th fewest fantasy points to point guards.
Blake Griffin, LAC vs CHA ($9500): Griffin scored 29 points with nine rebounds and five assists Friday against a Spurs defense that has allowed among the fewest fantasy points to opposing bigs all season. On Sunday he has an easier matchup against a Hornets defense that has allowed the ninth most fantasy points to power forwards in the last ten games.
Gordon Hayward, UTA at WAS ($7800): Hayward has averaged 25.8 points, 4.8 boards and 3.7 dimes in his last nine outings and has an excellent matchup Sunday against a Wizards defense that has allowed the fourth most fantasy points to small forwards in the last ten games. They also just got torched by the 76ers forwards (Robert Covington and Dario Saric) on Friday.
Maurice Harkless, POR at TOR ($4700): Harkless has been starting in place of Evan Turner, who is out with a hand injury. In those three games, he has averaged 12.3 points, 6.3 boards, 1.7 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals in a bit less than 32 minutes per contest. On Sunday he faces a Raptors squad that has struggled of late against opposing wings, allowing the fourth most fantasy points to small forwards in the last five games.
DeMarcus Cousins, NO at OKC ($10,000): On Saturday, DeMarcus Cousins got only nine shots from the field against Anthony Davis' 34. As they try to find their balance together, it seems like it's Cousins' turn to get the rock against the Thunder. Cousins has been absolutely dominant outside of scoring in his two games with the Pelicans, averaging 14.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 2.0 blocks.
Frank Kaminsky, CHA at LAC ($5900): This recommendation is predicated on Cody Zeller (game-time-decision) sitting again Sunday, which would give Kaminsky more responsibility. He has run with that role of late, averaging 19.8 points with 7.6 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals in his last five games. On Sunday, he matches up against a Clippers defense that has allowed the eighth most fantasy points to centers in the last ten games.
Jusuf Nurki, POR at TOR ($5500): Nurkic has taken over as the starting center for the Trail Blazers, and in his first start scored 12 points with 12 boards, five dimes, three steals and two blocks. His Sunday matchup is tougher against a Raptors defense allowing the eighth fewest fantasy points to opposing centers, but he's playing really well right now at a low price.
