These 3 NBA Matchups are a Fantasy Basketball Goldmine on Sunday
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Sunday.
Sundays are just so different outside the football season. They try filling the gaps with things like the UFL and multi-time defunct XFL, but nothing can come close to an NFL Sunday.
Basketball used to have a snug spot on Sunday television, with the NBA on NBC a major event on Sunday mornings/afternoons, but even though games are being broadcast, the season just doesn't have the same zest as it used to, even as we approach playoff time.
Moving to fantasy basketball, let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Sunday. We'll focus on the guys who get on the court and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from NBA.com.
Use FantasySP's defensive rankings to find the players and teams with the best matchups every day!
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Washington Wizards
Washington plays at the sixth-fastest pace and has the second-worst defensive rating of any team. Trae Young made his debut for the Wizards back on Thursday, scoring 12 points in 19 minutes. He will likely play sparingly the rest of the way (Washington needs to secure their lottery odds), but it's at least a peek at what might come next season.
The Pelicans are on our streaming list on the right days, showing ineptitude on defense but not always playing at the high speeds we look for. There's not much hope right now in New Orleans, but at least the Saints have a top-10 pick! (The Pelicans don't own their first, which could easily end up in the top five.)
Guard
Murray started by playing around 25 minutes per game, but he has reached 28 and 30 in his past two contests, totaling 30 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists in those two games. There's upside to Murray, who is owned in around 50% of leagues, and he's a worthy pickup. The rookie Fears shows plenty of flashes around inconsistency; he'll be a fantasy fixture soon, though not quite yet.
Forward
Bey is another guy owned in about 50% of leagues, leaving enough availability to make it worth checking. He has been at his best since the new year, averaging 21.2 points per game in both January and February; he is at 17.8 through four games in March. Jones isn't much of a statistical player, not on the fantasy radar.
Center
Queen was owned in more leagues through much of the season but has seen that number drop along with his production. He averaged around 10 or 11 points and seven or eight rebounds in each of the past two months, fine work, but it leaves him with a lower ceiling. Missi is another guy who just doesn't do enough to be worth fantasy consideration.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Indiana Pacers
Indiana plays at the eighth-fastest pace and has the seventh-worst defensive rating. This team was on the other side of the top/bottom 10 for much of the season while remaining close to the cut-off, but they have slowly and surely worked their way into prime target territory.
The Blazers have been trading wins and losses recently, and while that might not be exciting for anyone, it will be enough to keep them in the play-in if they can keep it up; Memphis is seven games behind Portland in the win column and six back overall.
Guard
There's not a lot of streaming value in the backcourt in Portland. Henderson scored in double figures in his first eight games after making his season debut on February 6, but in the four games since, he has averaged just 7.8 points without adding much else.
Krejci had a few decent scoring games of his own but hasn't shown enough consistency and doesn't add other stats often enough to make up the difference.
Forward
This is where the real value is with the Blazers. Both Grant and Camara are owned in about 50% of leagues and are worthy of consideration in any game, particularly when the matchup is right. Deni Avdija has also remained out with a back injury, leaving more touches and shots for these two (Avdija's return is uncertain, though it could come here).
Grant has been hot as a scorer, putting up at least 15 points in 12 of his past 15 games. He doesn't add the rebounds (or anything else) that you would hope for from a power forward, but Grant has one undeniable skill that makes him a good fantasy option. Camara doesn't score as much, but he adds more rebounds, assists, and steals. The player you prefer might depend on where you need help.
Center
Williams isn't on the fantasy radar when Donovan Clingan is in the lineup; on Wednesday when Clingan left early with injury, though, Williams finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks against the Grizzlies. Clingan is back, limiting Williams' ceiling, but Williams showed he can still put up stats when given the chance.
Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls
Chicago plays at the fourth-fastest pace and has the eighth-worst defensive rating. The Bulls have held two of their past three opponents under 105 points, but the season-long numbers paint a much bleaker picture around Chicago's defense.
The Kings are another team that is among our secondary/tertiary targets on the right days. They have a poor defense but play at a league-average pace, leaving them a step below teams like Washington, Chicago, and Utah on the target pecking order.
Guard
Clifford has really seen his minutes spike since the last week in January, playing over 30 per game in February and continuing that into March. He averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.1 steals in February, beating his season averages in each mark, and he continued that production in three March games.
Sacramento's sixth man, Monk puts the ball in the basket but doesn't add much else. He is averaging 12.4 points and 2 3-pointers on the season, numbers that have stayed consistent since January.
Forward
There's less streaming potential in the frontcourt, where neither Achiuwa nor Plowden has put up consistent stats this season.
Achiuwa has been hot lately, averaging 17.5 points and 9.6 rebounds over his past eight games, and he's a sneaky pickup if you need forward help. Plowden doesn't have the same upside while also holding a lower floor.
Center
Raynaud has seen his fantasy ownership rise to over 30%, and it is well earned after his February performance, when he averaged 13.6 points and 9 rebounds. He was even better than that in December, and he has carried the good vibes into March and will likely continue getting plenty of minutes with Sacramento banged up and surely happy to lose plenty of games while getting their young guys experience.
Though he has scored in double figures in three of his past four games and is coming off a double-double, Eubanks is far too inconsistent to trust unless you're desperate for center help.
