Thursday’s main roster was smaller, but there was no shortage of top-notch performances. Two players have scored at least 40 points by the last signal of the four-game list, while three others have reached the 30 point threshold. One of the NBA’s newest all-star pairings has made it big against a legitimate Eastern Conference rival, and there’s plenty more to mention. We’ll take a look at who’s hot and who’s not and issue a DFS on Friday to get you here for the weekend.
Who is hot
Luka Doncic
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Doncic and Kyrie Irving finally won a joint victory with the Dallas Mavericks. The dynamic duo started their tenure as teammates with a 0-3 record but edged out the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Doncic scored a game-high 42 points on 12 rebounds while Irving scored 40 of his own. While it’s unlikely that two stars can consistently deliver such numbers, it’s clear that they can coexist in the same backcourt and maintain a high level of performance.
Jacob Poeltl
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Poeltl’s second stint with the Toronto Raptors is still going very well. The former San Antonio Spurs big man had 23 points on 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a couple of blocks in his last loss to the Washington Wizards. He averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game on 76.1% shooting since the trade. Other Raptors centers are just hoping to get his leftovers.
Jeremy Sochan
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Sochan holds his strong finish from the end of February to March. The rookie recorded his first career double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. He’s been on a roll since taking a pre-game rest after the All-Star break. Sochan averaged 19.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per fight compared to his previous three fights. He has 22 points in two of his last three games but could regress a bit once Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell start again.
Who is not
Christian Wood
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No wonder Wood is losing popularity now that he has two superstars to compete with. With the arrival of Irving, the big Mavericks averaged only 18 minutes per game and is not as effective when Irving and Doncic start together. Wood fell below his season averages in points and rebounds in five straight contests. Maxi Kleber’s return to the rotation doesn’t help his fantasy vision either. Wood is bound to show up here and there, but there’s no clear path to a significant role when Dallas is healthy now.
DFS play
Kelly Obre Jr.
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Obre made his first start since December on Wednesday after LaMelo Ball suffered a season-ending ankle injury and is likely to keep his place going forward. He scored 26 points and nine rebounds against the Phoenix Suns for the last time in a career-high 38 minutes of play. This season, he averaged 21.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21 games without Ball. His height and athleticism as a shooting guard should make it harder for Gary Harris to defend.
Still deciding who to commit to your DFS list? Below we have identified a player to ban and one to avoid until cautioned, but you can get my full selection of stud and value play in every position by going to SportsLine.
Source: www.cbssports.com
