Squad Up Daily NBA Fantasy Dose: Blazers, Warriors primed to produce points

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NBA fantasy picture for Wednesday, Jan. 4:

Dynamic Duos

• SG C.J. McCollum (77K) and C Mason Plumlee (60K), Trail Blazers (at Warriors): Damian Lillard has missed the last four games, a stretch in which McCollum (30.3 points) and Plumlee (12.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists) have thrived. Portland could be on the wrong end of a blowout in Golden State, but without Lillard's 27 points per game, McCollum and Plumlee are its best hope of keeping things competitive.

• SG Klay Thompson (54K) and SF Kevin Durant (83K), Warriors (vs. Trail Blazers): It's tough to predict which two members of the Warriors' big four comprise the best combo, but Thompson's relative bargain price and Durant's ability to pile up secondary stats as well as points make them the duo of choice. Golden State has scored 127 and 135 points in each of their two encounters with Portland this season.

• PG Goran Dragic (68K) and PF Willie Reed (43K), Heat (at Kings): Reed was featured here yesterday as a bargain and contributed 22 points and 18 rebounds while starting in place of Hassan Whiteside (eye), while Dragic made his return from injury to post 24 points and nine assists. Miami remains undermanned on the second half of a back-to-back, so the two should again be assured of the 70 minutes they combined for Tuesday.

Bargain Plays

• SG Tim Hardaway Jr. (25K), Hawks (at Magic): Hardaway's playing time fluctuates thanks to his bench role, but after pouring in 29 points in 31 minutes in Sunday's win over the Spurs, he should be given a longer leash than usual. The Magic sit 19th in defensive efficiency, and the two teams combined for 251 points on Dec. 13, a game in which Hardaway tallied 12 points, three rebounds and two assists.

• PG Jerian Grant (26K), Bulls (at Cavaliers): With Rajon Rondo demoted, Grant is now the backup to Michael Carter-Williams. Grant played 27 minutes in Chicago's last game, a 118-111 win over Charlotte on Monday, and contributed nine points, six assists and four steals. Similar production from the former first-round pick would provide a solid return on his near minimum salary.

• PF Brandon Bass (29K), Clippers (vs. Grizzlies): Bass has been seeing some consistent minutes thanks to Blake Griffin's injury, averaging 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds over his last five games. His production won't be overwhelming, but he could end up seeing slightly more playing time than usual against Memphis' physical frontcourt.

Top Fades

• C Roy Hibbert (37K), Hornets (vs. Thunder): Hibbert may continue to start for the concussed Cody Zeller, but he's not worth considering when priced above the absolute minimum. He rarely sees a huge workload, averaging 17.2 minutes in six games as a starter, with 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds. In 22 minutes on Monday, he scored six points while failing to record any other statistical contributions.

• SG Austin Rivers (52K), Clippers (vs. Grizzlies): Priced only 2K cheaper than the Warriors' Klay Thompson, Rivers' inconsistent nature makes him a stay-away even while assured of a starting role with PG Chris Paul sidelined. Rivers hasn't topped 14 points in any of his last three games, and his prospects won't be improved by facing Memphis, owners of the NBA's best defensive rating.

• PG Malcolm Brogdon (49K), Bucks (at Knicks): Brogdon has provided great value as a bargain option at times, but thanks to a triple-double Saturday, his price has now taken a leap into the mid-range. The effort marked the first time the rookie had recorded more than six rebounds or eight assists, and with seasonal averages of 8.4 points and 3.7 assists, he looks destined to disappoint relative to his new valuation.

Contrarian Options

• PF DeMarcus Cousins (106K), Kings (vs. Heat): Price alone may keep many from Cousins, though he has a great matchup against Miami's thin frontcourt. Phoenix Suns C Tyson Chandler gobbled up 20 rebounds Tuesday, including six of the offensive variety, while only attempting four field goals. The NBA's second-leading scorer, Cousins won't be as hesitant to fire away.

• PG Michael Carter-Williams (56K), Bulls (at Cavaliers): The Bulls are firmly SG Jimmy Butler's team, but Carter-Williams can make fantasy contributions in other ways, even if he won't necessarily pile up points. The 6-foot-6 guard owns career averages of 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and six assists, and he was one board away from a double-double Monday. His price isn't so prohibitively high as to represent a stay-away.

• C Tristan Thompson (47K), Cavaliers (vs. Bulls): Thompson is rarely spectacular, but he usually approaches a double-double. Should PF Kevin Love (illness) be unable to play, Thompson will be needed more than ever to help combat Chicago's league-leading 30 percent offensive-rebound rate. With a fairly underwhelming crop of centers on the slate, selecting Thompson allows owners to spend up elsewhere.