These fantasy basketball picks are your guide to winning BIG money tonight!

Saturday night, Kevin Love (39) was the narrative king with his solid performance against the Timberwolves, while Josh Smith (23.5) got off to a blazing start before disappearing against his former team. DeMar DeRozan (36.75) continued his solid play over the past week, while Brian Roberts (12.25) continued to disappoint, even at his low salary. Stephen Curry (46.50) was solid in a game that fell well short of expectations , and Timofey Mozgov (20.25) didn’t kill you, but he didn’t do much for you either. LaMarcus Aldridge (32) struggled from the field, but managed to have a solid day, which is more than we can say for Jodie Meeks (5). Tonight’s 8-game slate is an exciting one, but also one that could change dramatically due to injury news. Let’s dive right in.

These plays are intended to help you gain a solid return on salary (at least 2.5X, with the ideal level being 3x or higher) with each player you roster. Sometimes I will highlight a minimum salary player, and the intent is to maximize the number of roster spots where you have potential to hit 3X salary. Keep in mind that a minimum-priced player on DraftDay is even more valuable than a minimum-salary player elsewhere, due to the large gap in pricing with a $100,000 cap. Another key to remember is that in DFS, late injury news can be HUGE when deciding your final rosters. Just because someone was a great play in the morning doesn’t necessarily mean that better options won’t arise throughout the day. Monitor Twitter closely before locking in your lineups.

Today’s Top Plays

Guard:

Russell Westbrook ($18,450) vs Orlando – The Magic have shifted their focus to an up-tempo style, which has worked out well for them in most situations. Tonight is not a good spot for the Orlando defense. The most explosive PG in the game comes in at a huge discount in a game with the highest total on the night. Westbrook should run wild against Elfrid Payton and company. The Magic are severely lacking in rim protection, as Nikola Vucevic is a solid rebounder, but not a great defender. Expect Westbrook to attack early and often in this one.

Monta Ellis ($15,000) vs Minnesota – We meet again, Mr. Ellis. I’ve had the worst timing in targeting Monta, but once again he finds himself in an ideal spot. Rajon Rondo has an orbital fracture, and won’t be playing for the forseeable future, and Ellis stepped right in to the primary ball-handler role, scoring 25 points and dishing out 13 assists against the Magic. Minnesota is the worst defensive team in the NBA. Ellis should have another great performance tonight.

Lou Williams ($9,900) vs Milwaukee – “Sweet Lou” has been phenomenal off the bench for the Raptors, and has posted 39.75, 35.25, and 33.25 FP in his last three games. I’m a big fan of his teammate DeMar DeRozan ($13,850) tonight, but I’m going to take the discount of nearly $4,000 with Williams. He doesn’t have the upside that DDR does, but he has a high floor and is locked in to 25+ minutes right now.

Devin Harris ($7,950) vs Minnesota - If you’re looking for a discount in the backcourt, Harris is your man. I already mentioned that Rajon Rondo will miss some time, and Harris looks to be the one soaking up his minutes. While I do believe a lot of the production will go to Monta Ellis, Harris makes a fine play at a sub-8K price tag. I expect him to be a safe bet to reach value.

Forward:

Blake Griffin ($17,000) at Brooklyn - Blake has been incredible this season, averaging 22.8/7.6/5, and has at least 29 FP in each of his last 14 games. The Nets rank 19th in defensive efficiency and are 23rd in rebounding differential. Blake’s athleticism is a terrible matchup for Brooklyn down low. He should have a huge game against Mason Plumlee and company in a game with a 200 point total. 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($9,750) at Washington - The Wizards are a tough defensive matchup, but their biggest weakness is at SF. MKG has posted some big numbers with Kemba Walker on the shelf, and is coming off of a 17/13/3 line that was good for 41.25 FP against Denver. While I don’t anticipate him replicating those numbers, he contributes in a myriad of ways, and a matchup with Paul Pierce doesn’t concern me in the least.

Andrew Wiggins ($11,400) at Dallas - Wiggins had his shot against LeBron James last time out, and was tremendous, posting a 33/1/1/ line with 4 steals. His confidence will be riding high going into tonight’s matchup against the Mavericks, and if he draws the matchup against Monta Ellis, that’s a battle that he will win on the offensive end more often than not. I’m a big fan of Wiggins in a game with a 206 point total. Minnesota will need their young star to step up if they are going to keep this one close.

Tobias Harris ($9,750) at Oklahoma City - Yes, Harris has struggled since his return, but he has also shot just 8/30 over his last 3 games, and he won’t continue to shoot so poorly. He finally returned to the starting lineup against Dallas and saw 30 minutes of action. His price is as low as it has been all season, and I’m going to take the discount here and throw him in some lineups tonight.

Center:

Al Horford ($15,350) at New Orleans - Horford has been playing lights out over the last 12 games, with at least 32 FP in each contest. His price tag is up, but the Hawks will need to go big tonight, which should lead to big minutes and production for the Hawks big man. Horford can do it all, and is averaging 15.5/6.9/3.3 this season, and his production has really ramped up during the Hawks impressive run.

You can find me on Twitter @BigItaly42 and I’d love to help you out with any questions you have about determining salary, finding value, or any lineup construction tips!