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FanDuel NBA: Best Picks And Lineup For Jan. 4

By Michael Yaffe

Dec 31, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) shoots over Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) shoots over Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Four Centers

  1. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies ($8,100) vs. Portland Trail Blazers
  2. Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets ($8,700) vs. Boston Celtics
  3. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves ($7,800) vs. Philadelphia 76ers
  4. Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets ($8,000) vs. Utah Jazz

Rationale:

  • Lopez has been on fire lately, as he’s surpassed 39 fantasy points in six of his last seven outings (including 48.6 vs. the Celtics on Saturday). Having said that, home-and-home series tend to get chippy in the second game, and it remains to be seen whether Shane Larkin can feed him the ball (or create space) as well as former starter Jarrett Jack could during Lopez’s hot streak.
  • Towns has exceeded 37 fantasy points in three of his past five games and the Sixers are fourth-worst overall vs. opposing centers. Consistent with his team’s better record on the road, the rookie has averaged 17.2 PPG in those games as opposed to 15.2 PPG at the Target Center.
  • Howard is averaging 47.7 FPPG over his last three contests and Utah is third-worst against centers over their last five games, but since his scoring average is lower on the road (11.8 vs. 15.4 PPG) he slides down the list.

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