Daily Fantasy Basketball Game Scripts to Target on 1/19/17

LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers

FanDuel Price: $10,500

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have an implied team total of 116.5 points tonight against the Phoenix Suns in a game tied for the highest over/under on the slate (220.5 points). With Kevin Love's status still up in the air, the game script for this game could certainly change, but if anything, it might help James by making the game less likely to be a blow out. As it stands right now, the Cavs are listed as a 12.5-point favorite, which is the largest spread on the slate.

Per the RotoViz Game Splits App, James has only played in three games in which the Cavs have been projected for at least 115.5 points over the past two seasons, and he has averaged 49.2 FanDuel points in those games. Subtracting just two points from that total provides a larger sample size. In games with a 113.5-point implied total, James has averaged 49.6 FanDuel points, as opposed to 45.5 in all other games. James has also excelled in projected shootouts, averaging 48.7 FanDuel points in games with at least a 218-point over/under over the past two seasons.

James has averaged 50.2 FanDuel points without Love in the lineup over the past two seasons. Per NBAwowy.com, his usage has risen from 30.7% with Love playing to 32.7% without Love on the court this season, while his FanDuel points per minute have risen from 1.23 to 1.33.

LeBron should also benefit from the uptempo nature of this matchup against the Suns, who have maintained the third-fastest pace of play this season. Phoenix has allowed the most points in transition on the year, as well as the second-most points per possession in transition. LeBron has scored the fourth-most transition points, and he has a league-high 78.1 percent effective field goal percentage in transition.

James has actually averaged more FanDuel points in games with over a 13-point spread (45.8) than ones without (45.7), so the blowout factor shouldn't be a huge detriment here. He is an excellent play in all formats and is close to a must-play if Love sits.