NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (12/16)

This should be an exciting slate. We have a ton of games, and none of them is the second half of a back-to-back set! That’s something we rarely see, and it makes me ecstatic as someone who writes the night before. That means less guessing and more predictable rotations. There are still a million injuries across the league, though, so let’s start with the schedule and then get into that injury report!

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

Schedule and Odds

• SAC at DET (SAC -5.5) O/U: 238.5
• ATL at CHA (CHA -1) O/U: 232.5
• ORL at BOS (BOS -13.5) O/U: 227.5
• IND at CLE (CLE -7.5) O/U: 223.5
• GSW at PHI (PHI -7.5) O/U: NA
• BKN at TOR (BKN -1.5) O/U: 226.5
• NYK at CHI (CHI -2.5) O/U: 228.5
• MIN at OKC (OKC -1.5) O/U: 231.5
• POR at DAL (DAL -3.5) O/U: 222
• DEN at LAL (DEN -1.5) O/U: 237

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

Injury Report

• Kevin Huerter (ankle) Questionable
• Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
• John Collins (ankle) OUT
• Dejounte Murray (ankle) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (shoulder) OUT
• Wendell Carter Jr.(foot) OUT
• Robert Williams (knee) OUT
• Stephen Curry (shoulder) OUT
• Andrew Wiggins (adductor) Questionable
• Tyrese Maxey (foot) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) Questionable
• OG Anunoby (hip) OUT
• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• D’Angelo Russell (knee) Questionable
• Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
• Michael Porter Jr.(heel) OUT
• Rudy Gobert (ankle) Questionable

Core Plays

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,300 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
The Mavs haven’t been playing well, but it’s certainly no fault of Luka. The MVP candidate is leading the NBA with 62.2 DraftKings points per game. That’s far from surprising with the way he stuffs the stat sheet, especially since he has a league-leading 38 percent usage rate. Portland is a phenomenal matchup, too, with Doncic dropping 83.3 DraftKings points in their one matchup earlier this season.

Trae Young (PG – ATL): $10,000 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
Trae has been struggling with his shot, but this guy is impossible to fade with Dejonute Murray sidelined. With Murray off the floor, Young has a 41 percent usage rate while averaging 1.6 DK points per minute. That equates to 60-70 DK points in this workload, which is incredible since he’s got at least 38 fantasy points in all five meetings with Charlotte since the start of last year.

De’Aaron Fox (PG/SG – SAC): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Fox is in a bit of a slump right now, but he’s still one of the most reliable options in fantasy. The speedy guard has scored at least 29 DraftKings points in all but two games this year, and he actually suffered an injury in both of those. Fox has a 41-point average in the other 22 games this year, which makes him a good value at just $8K. The matchup is the icing on the cake, though, with Detroit sitting 29th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,900 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
The Joker got off to a slow start by his standards, but a slow start for him is great for anyone else. The big man has scored at least 39 DraftKings points in all but seven games since 2020, posting a 55-point average this year. His recent form is fantastic, scoring 81 and 82 DK points in his last two games. That’s truly absurd, and it’s likely to continue with Jokic averaging 62 DK points per game in his two meetings with LA this year.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $9,700 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
This kid is incredible. SGA would be an MVP candidate if this guy had some decent teammates, averaging 50 DraftKings points per game. Gilgeous-Alexander has also scored at least 33 DK points in all but one game this year, providing one of the best floors in the NBA. That makes him tough to fade against Minnesota, owning a 29th OPRK against opposing guards. SGA is averaging over 53 DK points per game in their two matchups this season.

Donovan Mitchell (PG/SG – CLE): $8,600 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel
Mitchell has been remarkable since joining the Cavs. The sharpshooter is averaging over 45 DK points per game this season, scoring at least 35 DK points in nine of his last 10 games. That total should be easy to reach against Indiana, who surrender the second-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards. As long as Mitchell takes the 20-25 shots and plays the 35-40 minutes he regularly does, he should flirt with 50 DK points at ease.

GPP Targets

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG/SF – ATL): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Atlanta has been trying to cope without Murray and John Collins, but Bogey has been balling out since then. The boost in usage has led to Bogdanovic posting a 38-point average across his last three games. That’s amazing from a $6K player, but we’ve seen Bogey play like this for months at a time. Charlotte is a sensational matchup, too, ranked 25th in defensive efficiency.

Christian Wood (C – DAL): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,500FanDuel
There’s been some frustration going on in Dallas, and people want Wood to start. That forced Jason Kidd‘s hand in the most recent defeat, giving Wood a starting nod in the second half. The workload is the only thing holding this guy back because Christian is one of the best per-minute producers in the NBA. If this guy stumbles into a 35-40 minutes role, he will be an $8K player in no time. We also don’t mind that Portland owns a 23rd OPRK against opposing big men.

Onyeka Okongwu (PF/C – ATL): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
With Clint Capels getting ruled out. Big O should be in for a 30-minute start. This dude is a monster in that sort of role, with Onyeka playing at least 26 minutes in 14 games since being drafted. He’s averaging 35 DraftKings points per game in those outings, which is an unbelievable rate for a $5K player. Collins being out only adds to OO’s value, especially since Charlotte is surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Value Plays

Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Robinson has always been an elite per-minute producer, and it’s hard to understand why he’s just $5,200 on DK. The big man has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in eight of his last 10 games, generating a 30-point average in that span. That’s quite the total from a player in this price range, and it doesn’t even consider his 50-point upside. Facing Chicago isn’t too bad either, and we’ll dive into that in the subsequent write-up.

Quentin Grimes (SG – NYK): $4,700 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
The Knicks have stumbled into some nice pieces this season. Grimes is hard to take off the floor right now, averaging 23 DK points per game across 33 minutes a night over his last 12 games. He’s also played at least 37 minutes in three of his previous five games, and that’s brilliant from a sub-$5K player. Squaring off with Chicago is superb, too, with the Bulls owning a 26th OPRK against opposing guards.

Jalen Duren (PF/C – DET): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Duren has finally earned a starting job in Detroit, and it’s about time. This rookie looks like one of their most talented players, scoring at least 24 DK points in four straight games. He’s also averaging 31 DraftKings points per game in that span, and it makes no sense why DK is keeping him at $4,400. The beautiful matchup makes it even more baffling, with Sacramento sitting 21st in defensive efficiency and 22nd in points allowed.

Advantageous Pricing

• Jaden Ivey (PG/SG – DET): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• Franz Wagner (SF – ORL): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
• Bol Bol (PF/C – ORL): $6,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Myles Turner (C – IND): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Aaron Nesmith (SG – IND): $3,800 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
• Thaddeus Young (PF – TOR): $3,400 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
• Tobias Harris (SF/PF – PHI): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Aleksej Pokusevski (PF – OKC): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Austin Reaves (SG/SF – LAL): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Justise Winslow (SG 0 POR): $3,900 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Jalen Duren (PF/C – DET): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel

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