If It weren’t for that Gordon Hayward injury, yesterday would have been fantastic! Most of our other picks hit and we can’t be upset when one of our highlight guys gets injured! We also have the trade deadline in the coming days, so be sure to check that there aren’t any slate-altering trades before submitting lineups!
This slate is going to be tough. That’s always the case when we have 10 games because there are just too many elite options to pick from. I mean, we have 12 players above $10,000 on DraftKings! You can’t put more than two of those into your lineup, and it’s going to be critical to pick the right ones. With that in mind, let’s get into it!
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Schedule and Odds
- PHX at PHI (PHI -2)
- IND at ATL (ATL -9)
- BOS at BKN (BOS -3.5)
- HOU at NOP (NOP -7)
- LAC at MEM (MEM -6.5)
- DET at DAL (DAL -10.5)
- NTK at DEN (DEN -6.5)
- MIL at LAL (MIL -3.5)
- ORL at POR (POR -3.5)
- MIN at SAC (MIN -3)
Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros
Injury Report
- Ben Simmons (Personal) OUT
- Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) Questionable
- Myles Turner (foot) OUT
- Kevin Durant (knee) OUT
- James Harden (hamstring) Questionable
- Kyrie Irving (vaccine) OUT
- LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) Questionable
- Zion Williamson (foot) OUT
- Paul George (elbow) OUT
- Kawhi Leonard (knee) OUT
- Dillon Brooks (ankle) OUT
- Cade Cunningham (hip) Questionable
- Kristaps Porzingis (knee) Questionable
- Jamal Murray (knee) OUT
- Michael Porter Jr (back) OUT
- Brook Lopez (back) OUT
- LeBron James (knee) Questionable
- Damian Lillard (abductor) OUT
- De’Aaron Fox (ankle) Questionable
Core Plays
James Harden (PG/SG – BKN): $11,200 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
Harden may sit here, but he’s my favorite play on the board if he doesn’t. We say that because Brooklyn will be missing Durant, Kyrie, Aldridge, and Joe Harris. That puts Harden in line for 40 minutes, 25 shots, and a 40 percent usage rate. He’s been a $12K player in this role in the past, regularly providing 30-point triple-doubles.
Karl-Anthony Towns (C – MIN): $10,200 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
Facing the Kings is a treat. Sacramento ranks 29th in both points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers. We love that for Big KAT, scoring at least 38 DraftKings points in 27 of his last 28 games. He’s also averaging nearly 50 fantasy points per game in that span, posting a 48-point average in his previous four matchups with the Kings.
Brandon Ingram (SF – NOP): $9,200 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
If facing the Kings is a treat, playing the Rockets is a feast. These guys bleed on defense, ranked last in both defensive efficiency and points allowed. They also play at the fastest pace in the NBA, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing small forwards. That was on full display when BI dropped 64 DraftKings points in this matchup last week, marking the fourth time he’s surpassed 54 DK points in his last 10 games.
Cash Game Considerations
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,600 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
Here we are again with The Joker! This guy is the most reliable option in fantasy, scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in all but one game this season. He’s also leading the NBA with 60.5 DK points per game and regularly drops 70-point gems. Facing the Knicks is far from scary, with Jokic dropping 54.4 DK points across 26 minutes in their last meeting.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF – MIL): $11,800 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
Giannis and Jokic are the two best options in fantasy, and you know The Greek Freak will be motivated against the Lakers. Antetokounmpo tallied 47 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in their last matchup. Those ancillary numbers are small for Giannis because he regularly flirts with triple-doubles. It’s easy to see why he went off though, with the Lakers ranked third in pace and 26th in total defense.
Josh Hart (SG/SF – NOP): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
It’s hard to understand why Hart remains below $7K on both sites. This guy has at least 30 DraftKings points in 21 of his last 23 games, averaging 35 fantasy points per game in that span. That’s usually what you see from a $7,500 player, and his stat-stuffing abilities make him one of the most reliable options out there. We already discussed how good of a matchup Houston is, with Hart dropping 34.3 DK points against them just last week.
GPP Targets
Cole Anthony (PG – ORL): $7,000 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Cole’s consistency has been all over the map, but it appears he’s starting to turn things around. He’s got at least 29 DK points in six of his last seven games, which is more indicative of the player we saw in November and December. That means his price is a bit too low, especially with Portland ranked 27th in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency.
Jerami Grant (PF/C – DET): $6,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
Grant has been terrible in his return to action, but this dude was above $7K before his injury. He’s still the same player and leads the Pistons in shot attempts and usage. As long as he does that, we should see the 35-point player that put Grant above $7,000 on both sites earlier in the year. Facing Dallas is a tough matchup, but they’re very limited in terms of size, and it could be beneficial for a guy like JG.
Kevin Porter Jr (PG/SF – HOU): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
This DraftKings price is silly. Porter is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now, scoring at least 27 DK points in eight of his last nine games. That directly correlates with Eric Gordon‘s injury, with KPJ taking a ton more ball-handling duties. We certainly don’t mind the matchup with New Orleans either, with the Pelicans owning a 19th OPRK against opposing point guards.
Value Plays
Marcus Smart (PG/SG – BOS): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
This is another price that I don’t understand. Smart is averaging 28.4 DK points per game for the season, which should earn him a $6K price tag on both sites. The thing we love here is the matchup, though, with Brooklyn surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards. That was crystal clear when Smart collected 43 DraftKings points in their one meeting earlier this season.
Alperen Sengun (PF – HOU): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
We’re finally getting the playing time we’ve been dreaming of! Sengun got a rare start over the weekend and has played at least 25 minutes in three straight games. We’re talking about a guy who’s averaging 21 DK points per game across 18 minutes a night for the season, so imagine how good he could be in a 30-minute role!
James Johnson (PF – BKN): $3,600 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel
With so many players missing for Brooklyn, JJ should be looking at another 30-minute start. As long as that’s the case, Johnson should be a $6K player. This dude can stuff the stat sheet with the best of them, averaging 32 DK points per game in the nine outings he’s played at least 29 minutes since the start of last season.
Advantageous Pricing
- James Harden (PG/SG – BKN): $11,200 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
- Brandon Ingram (SF – NOP): $9,200 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
- Kevin Porter Jr (PG/SF – HOU): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
- Tyrese Maxey (PG – PHI): $7,400 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
- Tyrese Haliburton (PG/SG – SAC): $8,600 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
- Jalen Brunson (PG – DAL): $6,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
- Chuma Okeke (PF – ORL): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
- Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $8,300 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
- Damian Jones (C – SAC): $3,700 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.