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FanDuel NBA: Best Buys For Nov. 18

By Michael Yaffe

Nov 15, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo (9) and forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) watch a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Toronto Raptors 107-101. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo (9) and forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) watch a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Toronto Raptors 107-101. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) shoots a jump shot against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Philips Arena. The Jazz defeated the Hawks 97-96. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Favors should have plenty of scoring chances against the Raptors. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Statistical Insights

After losing out on DeAndre Jordan, Mavericks’ coach Rick Carlisle decided to place a premium on rebounding with the players he had remaining. So far the results have been a mixed bag, as the team is ranked 11th overall with 45.7 RPG but they are still giving up 47.3 RPG (difference of minus-1.6), which is 27th in the leaegue.

Boston is actually just behind Dallas with 45.3 RPG, but they are slightly ahead of their opponents’ totals by 0.8, so even though the Mavs have the better average, Boston has a positive net differential, which is more ideal.

In four games last season, the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard averaged 20.0 points and 8.3 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets, which exceeded his overall numbers of 16.5 and 7.2, respectively. The Spurs won all four meetings by 14.3 PPG (112.8-98.5) so Wednesday’s match doesn’t figure to be a nail-biter either.

OKC’s 17.0 turnovers per game are the worst in the league; Russell Westbrook’s contribution is less than a third of it (5.2) so the team in general has been sloppy under new coach Billy Donovan so far. Fortunately, the Pelicans are fifth-worst in forcing opponents’ mistakes (13.3 TOPG), so the Thunder should have an opportunity to mollify their claim to that dubious honor.

In their two game series last season, the Jazz’s Derrick Favors averaged 18.5 PPG against the Raptors on 75 percent shooting from the field, well above his 16.0 PPG and 52.5 percent overall. So far Toronto is sixth-worst against opposing power forwards from a FanDuel standpoint, so there’s a good chance that the erstwhile Yellow Jacket will have continued success tonight.

Injury Notes

The Orlando Magic’s Victor Oladipo has a good chance to clear the league’s concussion protocol in time for Wednesday night’s home game against the Timberwolves. With center Nikola Vucevic back in the fold, this would be the closest the team has been to full strength in a while.

The Suns’ Markieff Morris practiced Tuesday, so he should be back in action for the national game against the Bulls. Morris has been a bit of a letdown so far, but from a talent standpoint there is little depth at frontcourt behind him, so he will be a welcome sight for his team when they take on Pau Gasol and company.

The Wolves’ Ricky Rubio returned to action Tuesday night against the Miami Heat after missing four consecutive games with a hamstring issue, all of which the team lost without him (in Dallas we call this phenomenon the Romo effect).

Still, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to play on consecutive days, and based on recent history the Magic would benefit from his absence if the team exercises caution, or if he has a relapse.

An ankle injury may keep the Bulls’ Derrick Rose grounded against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. Backups Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks would probably share QB duties in his absence, but the Suns’ Brandon Knight is the likely profiteer from Rose’s misfortune.

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