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For the first time since we started the PlaySqorr Playbook, we are moving away from the NFL to another sport. I am looking forward to trying PGA and Premier League cards in the coming weeks, as well as other sports, but first, we turn our attention to the NBA. PlaySqorr has done an excellent job of creating matchups of evenly matched players, which provides a fun challenge. While it is important to consider recent form as well as injuries, I found myself most often leaning on the matchups as a tie-breaker.
NBA Assist
Ja Morant -1.5 vs. Kyle Lowry
Only four teams have allowed fewer fantasy points to point guards this season than the Spurs, while the Suns are in the middle of the pack. Lowry had 24 fantasy points against the Spurs two weeks ago, while the Suns held Morant to 13 fantasy points three weeks ago. I don’t like giving the 1.5 points, but Morant is at home, where he is averaging 5.8 more fantasy points than on the road. That, and the matchup, is enough to swing it in his favor.
C.J. McCollum -1 fantasy points vs. Lonzo Ball
Both of these players face teams in the bottom five in fantasy points allowed to shooting guards, and the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed overall, so I’m not sure either player has an advantage there. If Ball does have an advantage, aside from the extra point McCollum is giving him, it’s that McCollum has missed the last three games with an ankle injury. If he is on any sort of minutes limit or has any rust from the missed time, Ball could win pretty easily.
Montrezl Harrell vs. Jarrett Allen
Harrell has probably been more consistent this month, but Allen is averaging 3.3 more fppg than Harrell over the last week. No team has allowed fewer fantasy points to centers than Orlando this season, and they have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points overall. Allen has played at least 29 minutes in five straight games, and if DeAndre Jordan is out again, I think he’ll keep that streak alive and outscore Harrell.
Payton has at least 15 fantasy points in four straight games with R.J. Barrett out, and there is no reason to believe that will change Sunday against Brooklyn. Smith has been surprisingly good over his last four games as well, though he’s only averaging 26.3 minutes over that span. Atlanta actually hasn’t been terrible in allowing fantasy points to point guards, while the Nets have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to point guards.
I really thought Monte Morris would be better with Jamal Murray out, but he’s only averaging 10.0 fantasy points over the last week. Jeremy Lamb had 24 fantasy points Friday with Malcolm Brogdon out, and while the Warriors were certainly responsible for some of that, the Blazers have actually allowed more fantasy points to shooting guards than Golden State.
Kevin Huerter -0.75 vs. Dejounte Murray
The Wizards are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points in the NBA right now, so the matchup advantage clearly goes to Huerter. It’s kind of crazy that this is even close, considering Huerter averages almost 10 more minutes per game than Murray. Of course, Trae Young dominates the ball so much that Huerter’s usage remains low. I wish the Spurs would just play Murray 30 minutes per game, even with their glut of backcourt players, but until that actually happens, I have to go with Huerter.