This article is part of our DFS NBA series.
ThriveFantasy has put a unique spin on Daily Fantasy Sports. First of all, they focus solely on the top-tier players from each sport. That means you don't need to take a guess on whether or not a player coming off the bench is going to get enough minutes that particular night to be productive. Second, there are no salaries involved. Simply pick whether a player will go over or under their respective prop. Out of the 20 options that are available, you will need to select 10 of them for your entry.
Based on how likely or unlikely a player is to hit a prop, you will receive a certain amount of points. Rack up the most overall points and you come away with some extra cash in your pocket. If you have never played on the site, use promo code RotoWire when you sign up.
Let's dive into Tuesday's seven-game slate and highlight a few options to target, as well as some to possibly avoid.
Players to Target
Jayson Tatum, BOS at POR: Over 36.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists: Tatum has been absolutely on fire lately. He almost led the Celtics to an upset victory over the Lakers on the road Sunday, scoring 41 points with five rebounds and two assists across 37 minutes. With Kemba Walker (knee) out again Tuesday, Tatum should once again have an incredibly high usage rate for this game. Considering he's posted at least 37 combined points, rebounds and assists in seven of his last eight games, the over here is very appealing.
Jaylen Brown, BOS at POR: Over 22.5 Points + Assists: Brown was no slouch himself in that game against the Lakers, scoring 20 points with six rebounds and two assists. He was just 8-for-19 from the field, though, which is rare considering he's shot 49.6 percent from the field for the season. He's not likely to get many assists on a nightly basis, which might scare some people away from taking the over here. However, he'll likely receive added scoring opportunities with Walker out. That's big since the Blazers have the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league. Don't be surprised if Brown hits the over here with just his points alone.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC at CHI: Over 22.5 Points + Assists: We saw a very odd performance from Gilgeous-Alexander the last time these two teams met, which was back in the middle of December. He played 34 minutes, but finished with only seven points, three rebounds and two assists. The really strange stat was that he only attempted three shots. Part of that could have been because of Kris Dunn (knee), who is an excellent defender. With Dunn one of the many Bulls injured for Tuesday's game, things should be much easier for Gilgeous-Alexander. The over being worth 105 points could make this a risk worth taking.
Players to Avoid
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at TOR: 0.5 Steals: When I first looked at this, my gut reaction was that it's an easy over. The points indicate as such since selecting the over is worth 75 points while the under is worth 125. Surprisingly, Antetokounmpo has failed to record a steal in three of his last four games. There are a lot of other viable options for this slate, so taking a chance on the over here doesn't seem worth the minimal points that it would provide.
CJ McCollum, POR vs. BOS: 26.5 Points: The absence of Damian Lillard (groin) has put the bulk of the Blazers' scoring responsibilities squarely on McCollum's shoulders. He responded by scoring 27 points against the Pelicans on Friday and 41 points versus the Pistons on Sunday. Shot attempts likely won't be hard for him to come by in this matchup, but the Celtics have the third-best defensive rating, which makes this too risky to judge either way.
Lonzo Ball, NO at LAL: 6.5 Assists: Ball's scoring numbers have been all over the map, but he has dished out at least seven assists in five of his last six games. Given his passing ability and the surplus of talent around him, Ball should remain very productive in that category for the remainder of the season. But the Lakers could hold him at bay considering they have allowed the sixth-fewest assists per game and have the fifth-best defensive rating. This could easily go either way, so avoiding picking a side could prove to be wise.
