NBA GPP Green Light 11-22-17

We have a massive helping of games leading up to Thanksgiving, before we have massive helpings of food, and a lot of great plays tonight. With 14 games on the slate it will be imperative to monitor the news throughout the day, as we could get plenty of slate changing injuries, but as of now we are fairly injury free. Kevin Durant is listed as questionable, but should give it a go, the Hawks have ruled out Babbitt and Muscala, and Trevor Booker is listed as questionable against the Cavs tonight, and Wilson Chandler is nursing a back injury. We also have Paul Millsap already ruled out with a wrist injury, which will open up some things in Denver. With four games opening with projected totals over 220 points, and the Denver/Houston game expected to be over that as well, we will have plenty of great games to target.

DK Salary: $11,300 / FD Salary: $11,600

With LeBron James facing off against Brooklyn, and Giannis facing Phoenix, there is a very real chance that James Harden will go overlooked tonight as he faces off against the Denver Nuggets. Harden, despite the return of Chris Paul, still has the ability to put up a great game against a Nuggets team that has surrendered 106.2 points per game to opponents this season, and allowed Houston to average 118 points per game against them in four games last season. Not only are the Nuggets allowing opponents to shoot 47 percent from the floor, but they are also allowing them to shoot 38 percent from beyond-the-arc and have surrendered a staggering 1.08 points per possession on isolation possessions this season. Harden is one of the league's top isolation players, averaging 1.24 points per possession in isolation, and he is doing that on 29.2 percent of his possessions. There will most certainly be talk today about Harden's usage rate decreasing with Chris Paul returning, but that shouldn't be too much of a concern tonight. Harden is still averaging a 34.2 percent usage rate in 48 minutes with Paul on the floor this season, which would place him second in the NBA overall.

DK Salary: $8,300 / FD Salary: $8,300

Coming off a huge 51.5 fantasy point outing against the Trail Blazers on Monday, Gasol finds himself in a prime spot to perform against the Mavericks tonight. Targeting the Mavericks with big men this season has been a profitable strategy, as they have been allowing over 46 rebounds per game to opponents, while allowing 39.3 points in the paint and allowing opponents to shoot a staggering 69 percent at the rim. The Mavericks rank around league average in defensive efficiency to centers going into today, but that is a rather deceiving number, as they have allowed six opposing bigs to eclipse 45 fantasy points in their 18 games this season. Gasol has been able to rack up 45.3 and 52.8 DraftKings points in two games against them this season, and should be able to produce comparable games tonight. Gasol is averaging 1.20 DraftKings points per minute, to go along with his 30.1 percent usage rate, without Conley on the floor this season, and will continue to be the guy the offense runs through for the Grizzlies.

DK Salary: $6,500 / FD Salary: $6,400

I couldn't post this article today without at least including one of the many #NarrativeStreet plays from tonight's slate. Instead of going with the Warriors or Thunder players, I am going to go with Eric Bledsoe as he heads back to Phoenix to face off against the team that exiled him just a couple weeks ago. Putting the revenge game aside, things line up for Bledsoe tonight as the Suns are one of the worst defenses in the NBA, and rank 30th against the point guard in efficiency, allowing 51.3 points per game to them this season. The Suns are allowing 115.9 points per game overall, and have allowed them to shoot 47 percent from the floor. Bledsoe hasn't shot the ball very well in Milwaukee, hitting only 36 percent of his shots, but was able break out against Washington, shooting 46 percent on his way to 35 fantasy points. He saw a season-high 35 minutes in that game, which was promising, and should continue to play a heavy dose of minutes as he learns to play alongside Giannis and the rest of the Bucks. Bledsoe will likely be a popular option tonight, but he makes for a very high upside option in the mid-6K range.

DK Salary: $5,200 / FD Salary: $5,800

Tonight's matchup between the Nuggets and Rockets should be filled with lots of fantasy goodness, and Gary Harris is my favorite option from the Denver side of this game. Harris has posted two games over 30 fantasy points in his three games back from injury, and he has shot a blistering 64.9 percent from the floor in those three games. Harris saw 39 minutes against the Kings on Monday, an increase due to injuries to Chandler and Millsap, and will likely see a heap of minutes again tonight as the Nuggets will still be shorthanded and will need his defensive prowess to guard Harden and Chris Paul. The Rockets struggle to defend in transition and against spot up shooters, two areas where Harris excels, and have allowed opponents to shoot 38 percent from the floor on three pointers. With Harris' recent hot streak, the increased minutes, and the extra shots to go around with Denver shorthanded, Harris should be able to rack up a big game tonight at a low price.

DK Salary: $4,600 / FD Salary: $5,600

Stacking against Cleveland didn't work out so well last game, as they blew the doors off Detroit, but I am going back to that strategy again tonight as they take on the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn is pretty banged up right now, with Russell and Lin sidelined for the majority of the season and Trevor Booker battling an ankle injury, so their depth will be tested tonight. Crabbe has been inserted back into the starting lineup as of late and he has not disappointed, averaging 14.8 points and five boards in 31.4 minutes over the last five games. He has played at least 30 minutes in all five of those games and he has had double-digit field goal attempts in four of those five games. He has over 30 fantasy points in back-to-back games, and 29 the game before that, and hasn't seen his price rise significantly. As long as he continues to play over 30 minutes, he has a great chance to put up a big game against a Cavs defense that is allowing opponents to shoot 47 percent from the floor and score 110.8 points per game.