Time is nearing for you to finalize your DraftKings lineups and you may be on the fence about which Mavs players should be in your rotation for tonight’s game against the Suns. I’m here to help you make those decisions.

Story of the game

The biggest story for tonight’s game is the absence of Luka Doncic. Luka is the man that stirs the drink in Dallas and this will be their first game without him this season. The Mavs are also without Maxi Kleber who has missed several games now.

At the same time Kristaps Porzingis is playing his best basketball since the bubble and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. He still wants to be the man deep down and now he will have to be.

For the Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton is back but Frank Kaminsky is out. So how will that affect what the Mavs are able to do?

Who to avoid

Today is not a day to get cute with Mavs players. There are those who are going to try to predict which guard off the bench will step up but that is a dangerous game. Frank Ntilikina ($3000) has been in the regular rotation but will Jason Kidd trust him with the second unit point guard minutes or will he lean on the veteran Trey Burke ($3000)? Neither is likely to make the risk you’re taking by guessing worth your time.

I won’t recommend it, but I won’t stop you

If you want to start one of Tim Hardaway, Jr. ($5300), Dorian Finney-Smith ($4400), or Dwight Powell ($3500). I certainly won’t shut those options down. Powell’s low cost makes him hit his value fairly easily. He has done so in 4 of the last 5 games. Finney-Smith and Hardaway, Jr. are sure to see their shot volumes increase. Hardaway, Jr. has hit his value in 3 of the last 4 games with the only exception being the blowout win against the Spurs ironically. He is the most likely of the 3 to shoot well past his value if he decides to be hot from the field today.

Start them

Kristaps Porzingis ($7400): I was hesitant to make Porzinigs a lock to start but the big man is sure to get over 20 shots and his activity lately has been very promising. Luka being out also means more opportunities for rebounds for the big guy. At $7400, Porzingis hits his value at just 37 fantasy points and in his last 3 games, he’s put up 40.5, 47.8, and 56.3 with the 56 point performance coming in the Nuggets game on Monday. He has only been below his value 3 times in 8 games this season and only once since coming back from his back injury (the 16 point win over the Pelicans)

Jalen Brunson ($5700): Jalen Brunson is the easiest call of the night. He will be the prime beneficiary of Luka’s absence as the ball will be in his hands for most of the night. One of the top points-per-possession scorers in the league getting increased usage? You can bank on him tonight. He will likely be in most people’s lineups tonight so that is something to consider but you won’t want to miss out on a huge performance. Brunson has outpaced his value in 6 of the last 7 games (the Spurs blowout being the exception for him as well) so he should certainly be in your lineups tonight.

That’s all I’ve got for you tonight!

If you’re interested in signing up for Draftkings hit this link: DraftKings Signup and use promo code TBPN!

-Bibs