The second game of tonight’s ESPN double header is lining up to be a fun one in downtown Los Angeles when the Lakers host the Grizzlies. For Memphis, they are once again without both Ja Morant and Desmond Bane as it seems this franchise can never get fully healthy for a significant amount of time. What’s exciting about the game is that both are on win streaks as Memphis has won three in a row and the Lakers have won two in a row. Both teams are looking for dramatic improvements from the 2023-24 season and both are off to fast starts so who will stop the other’s momentum?
Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers DFS Start’em
Grizzlies F Santi Aldama ($7,000 on DraftKings)
With the injuries to the backcourt, it seems Santi Aldama has been the player who has stepped up his game to another level. Not just is Aldama in double figures in scoring but he is around five to six assists and rebounds per game over the last week or so. This is really a huge plus for the team as they need players to step up. Due to his complete production across the board in the stat sheet, this becomes a slam dunk start.
Lakers F Cam Reddish($4,200 on DraftKings)
The former Duke forward might have finally found his NBA fit with the Lakers. After not living up to his lottery pick choice, he has found a role on a Lakers team that is ready to win now. Since D’Angelo Russell has been kicked out of the starting lineup, Reddish was the guy who was put in and he has been great. He has been a lot better defensively but he has that scoring ability especially being able to catch and shoot with a passer like LeBron James on the court. He might not light up the stat sheet but at this value, this is worth the risk because he has guaranteed good minutes in the game.
Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers DFS Sit’em
Grizzlies G Marcus Smart($5,800 on DraftKings)
Smart was a great find for this franchise especially given the unhealthy back court that they have. He brings a toughness and a veteran presence that the team just simply doesn’t have. While that all can be the case, that doesn’t mean he is a worthy start in DFS. Smart hasn’t played since October 30th and even when he was playing at full strength, he was playing 20 minutes a game but the production across the board has been down. Smart is far past his prime so with all of that said, this is the easiest sit for this game.
Lakers F Rui Hachimura($6,000 on DraftKings)
While Hachimura remains a vital piece to the Lakers team, that hasn’t translated well to fantasy over the last two weeks. Hachimura hasn’t scored in double figures since October 28th which means he has scored in the single digits for five consecutive games. With the rebounding ability of both James and Anthony Davis, that has been tough for him as well. Until DFS players see a little hope in the scoring department, sadly it feels like Hachimura should not be starting tonight.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, this game is a must watch in the NBA tonight as both teams want to be seen as legit contenders in the 2024-25 season. The Lakers are shockingly the healthier team to start the season which has given Lakers fans some real hope to begin the season. J.J. Redick has seemed like a good fit with this roster while the Grizzlies have some stars hut which has allowed for the newer additions to gel with the team. Winner of this one will have a top 5 record in the West while the other will be barely over the .500 mark.
