NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Thursday (3/17)

This last week has been nuts. We’ve had two 60-point games and some magical performances from some of the best players in the league. That’s a good indicator of where we’re at in the season, with every game being critical at this point. There are only a few weeks left in the season, and it’s go time for most of these teams!

We all know that its college basketball’s day to shine, but this is a crime by the NBA. We have just one game on this Thursday card, with two of the worst teams in the NBA suiting up. That means we’re looking at single-game contests and the strategies are way different in this format. There’s still plenty to discuss, though, so let’s take a quick look at our one game!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Schedule and Odds

• DET at ORL (ORL -4)

This is the standalone game of the day. These are some terrible teams, but there’s plenty of talent on the court. Both of these clubs struggle defensively, so it should be a high-scoring battle. It should also be close because neither of these teams knows how to win games.

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Cade Cunningham (illness) Questionable
• Jerami Grant (knee) OUT
• Jalen Suggs (ankle) OUT
• Wendell Carter Jr (ankle) Questionable
• Chuma Okeke (knee) Questionable
• Hamidou Diallo (finger) OUT

Core Plays

Cade Cunningham (PG – DET): $16,200 DraftKings, $14,500 FanDuel
We don’t exactly know the status of Cunningham at this point, but he’s the best play on the board if he suits up. The Rookie of the Year candidate has at least 32 DraftKings points in 11 straight games, posting a 41-point average in that span. That’s why he was the top pick in the draft, and it should continue against an Orlando team that ranks 22nd in both points allowed and defensive efficiency. With all that said, Cory Joseph and Killian Hayes would become exceptional values if Cade ends up sitting.

Cole Anthony (PG – ORL): $12,600 DraftKings, $13,000 FanDuel
Anthony has quietly had a breakout season for the Magic. He’s averaging 35 DK points per game for the season and is being asked to do even more right now with Suggs out of the lineup. We absolutely love that in this expanded role against Detroit, with the Pistons owning a 25th OPRK against opposing point guards. Cole is averaging 37 DK points per game in their three matchups this season!

Cash Game Considerations

Wendell Carter Jr (C – ORL): $14,100 DraftKings, $14,000 FanDuel
This is probably the most reliable option on the board. WCJ has at least 30 DraftKings points in 13 straight games, providing a 39-point average in that stretch. That should be easy to continue against one of the worst frontcourts in the NBA, with Detroit surrendering the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season.

Saddiq Bey (PF – DET): $11,700 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
With Grant sitting out for Detroit, Bey should see a much larger workload. We love that for a sharpshooter like this, with Saddiq scoring at least 24 DK points in 14 of his last 16 games. He’s also got a handful of 40-point gems in that span, averaging over 29 fantasy points per game in his three matchups with the Magic this season. That’s far from surprising when you see that Orlando surrenders the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wings.

GPP Targets

Mo Bamba (C – ORL): $10,800 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
Mo always seems to play well whenever he’s given the opportunity. We’re talking about a guy who’s averaging 27 DK points per game in fewer than 26 minutes a night for the year. That’s a great per-minute average, especially since Mo has played at least 32 minutes in two of his last three games. He’s played well against Detroit, too, averaging 28 fantasy points per game in their three matchups this year.

Isaiah Stewart (C – DET): $8,100 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
Stewart just returned from a knee injury in his most recent outing, playing 20 foul-riddled minutes. The good news is that we expect him to get closer to 30 here, particularly with Grant sitting this game. That’s big news since Stewart had at least 22 DK points in 16 straight games before his injury. This might be the best matchup on the slate, though, with Orlando surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Value Plays

Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $6,600 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
Fultz has been extremely limited in his return from a lengthy absence, but he’s going crazy in the small minutes he’s playing. In fact, Fultz has at least 17 DK points in five of his six games this season, averaging 22 DK points across 17 minutes a night. We have to believe his minutes will creep up as the season continues, especially with Suggs sitting this game.

Mo Wagner (PF/C – ORL): $6,900 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
We never really know how much Mo will play, but he’s been excellent in the time he’s given. He’s got at least 23 DraftKings points in five of his last six games, averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game in that span. Good luck finding that from another player this cheap, particularly with Detroit struggling so severely with opposing big men.

Advantageous Pricing

• Isaiah Stewart (C – DET): $8,100 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
• Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $6,600 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
• Isaiah Livers (SF/PF – DET): $3,600 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel

Get a $5 bonus when you make your first deposit at FanDuel

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts