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 examine Tuesday's eight-game slate and highlight a few options to target, as well as some to possibly avoid.
Players to Target
Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. BKN: Over 30.5 Points + Rebounds: This line seems way too low. In the scoring column alone, Tatum has averaged 34.8 points across the last six games. As far as rebounds go, he's averaged 8.8 during that same stretch. So, what gives? Well, maybe part of the reason for this deflated line is the expected return of Kemba Walker, who has missed the past five games with a knee injury. However, Walker will likely be on a minutes limit if he does play. Tatum has also been battling an illness, which has resulted in him being listed as questionable. If he plays, he could easily hit the over here.
Zion Williamson, NO vs. MIN: Over 26.5 Points: Williamson couldn't lift the Pelicans over the Lakers on Sunday, but he certainly played well with 35 points and seven rebounds. He was 12-for-16 from the field and is now shooting a stellar 59.3 percent for the season. He's scored at least 27 points in five of his last seven games and has an excellent chance to keep things rolling against a Timberwolves team that has allowed the third-most points per game in the league.
Steven Adams, OKC vs. LAC: Over 1.5 Blocks + Steals: The Thunder have had some time to ponder their 47-point loss at the hands of the Bucks on Friday. Adams logged 17 minutes in that game, so don't read too much into his muted stat line. Adams had averaged 2.2 steals and 1.5 blocks across the six games prior to the blowout loss. He's been productive in both categories for the majority of the season, so taking on chance on the over here could pay off. He's faced the Clippers twice this season, recording at least two steals alone in both contests.
Players to Avoid
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. GS: 17.5 Rebounds + Assists: Jokic was excellent in the Nuggets defeat of the Raptors on Sunday, producing 23 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists in 35 minutes. He's rebounded from a slow start to the season to once again be a valuable contributor in several categories. With the Warriors sporting the fifth-worst defensive rating in the league and a lack of size up front, this might seem like a good opportunity for Jokic to hit the over. However, this game could also get out of hand in a hurry, which would likely leave him with limited playing time. This total could go either way, so it might be best to avoid picking a side.
Jamal Murray, DEN vs. GS: 24.5 Points + Rebounds: Murray's 22 points against the Raptors was impressive, as Toronto has the second-best defensive rating in the league. He only had one rebound, though, and he's averaging just 3.8 boards per game for the season. Given how poorly the Warriors have played on defense, Murray has a legitimate shot of hitting the over on this combined total just with his contributions in the scoring column, but the potential for a blowout could possibly limit his playing time, too. Avoiding him could prove to be a wise decision.
Paul George, LAC at OKC: 9.5 Rebounds + Assists: The bad news for George is that he's been limited to only 38 games this season because of injury. The good news is that he played 30 minutes against the Sixers on Sunday and appears to be trending in the right direction. But the Clippers won't take any chances with him since they want to be sure that he's healthy for the playoffs. His minutes could be unstable moving forward, which makes him a risky option.
