NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (12/2)

That Thursday card was disappointing, but we’re back to normal here. We have 11 games making up this Friday slate, with numerous premier matchups. It’s hard to understand why the NBA would give us a 13-game slate, a single-game card, and an 11-game slate on three consecutive days but trying to figure out anything the NBA does will give you a headache. In any case, I’m excited to break it down, so let’s take a look at the schedule and odds!

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

Schedule and Odds

• WAS at CHA (WAS -3.5) O/U: 221.5
• DEN at ATL (DEN -1) O/U: 231.5
• MIA at BOS (BOS -8.5) O/U: 224.5
• ORL at CLE (CLE -10.5) O/U: 214
• LAL at MIL (MIL -8.5) O/U: 228
• TOR at BKN (BKN -2.5) O/U: 222.5
• NOP at SAS (NOP -7.5) O/U: 231.5
• PHI at MEM (MEM -5.5) O/U: 218
• HOU at PHX (PHX -11.5) O/U: 229.5
• IND at UTA (UTA -5.5) O/U: 239.5
• CHI at GSW (GSW -7.5) O/U: 234.5

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

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (shoulder) OUT
• Terry Rozier (illness) Questionable
• Michael Porter Jr.(heel) Questionable
• Jimmy Butler (knee) OUT
• Robert Williams (knee) OUT
• Wendell Carter Jr.(foot) Questionable
• Jalen Suggs (ankle) Questionable
• Mo Bamba (back) Questionable
• Khris Middleton (wrist) OUT
• Ben Simmons (knee) OUT
• Brandon Ingram (toe) Questionable
• Jakob Poeltl (knee) OUT
• James Harden (foot) OUT
• Tyrese Maxey (foot) OUT
• Desmond Bane (toe) OUT
• Chris Paul (heel) OUT
• Mike Conley (knee) OUT

Core Plays

Devin Booker (SG – PHX): $10,100 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
Booker has been unstoppable without Chris Paul this season. He’s running things in Phoenix with the Point God sidelined, posting a career-high 37 percent usage rate with CP3 off the floor. It’s led to some absurd production, scoring at least 52 DraftKings points in four straight games. He’s also got 69 fantasy points in back-to-back outings and should go nuts in this matchup. Houston sits 27th in total defense while surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Zion Williamson (PF/C – NOP): $9,000 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel
We love Zion in this expanded role. The Pelicans are missing CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram, allowing Zion to run the show in their absence. Williamson has compiled 56 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists, five steals, and five blocks in the last two games without those guys. That’s some of the best stat-stuffing of his career, but it’s really no surprise with so much usage sidelined. Sam Antonio is a sensational matchup, too, sitting dead last in points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C – WAS): $8,700 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel
Porzingis is amid a career year, and Dallas fans have to regret trading him. The big man has at least 36 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games, scoring 58 and 63 DK points in his previous two outings. That’s more indicative of an $11,000 player, and it’s hard to understand why his price hasn’t bumped to five figures. Charlotte is a stellar matchup, too, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,400 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
Jokic has been in the cash game section for three years now, and he’ll remain in this section. He’s actually scored at least 39 DraftKings points in all but three games since the start of last year. That’s a fantastic floor, and it looks even better since he’s got over 60 DraftKings points per game since 2020. That’s the highest total in the NBA, and we obviously don’t mind that Atlanta owns a 24th OPRK against opposing centers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $12,300 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
Antetokounmpo leads all players on this slate with 58 DK points per game. That makes him an excellent cash game option, scoring at least 40 DK points in every game this year. Giannis went crazy against the Lakers last season, too, averaging 45.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in their two meetings. LA’s defense might be even worse this year, and you know Giannis wants to put it to LeBron’s team.

Terry Rozier (PG/SG – CHA): $7,600 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
This Hornets roster hasn’t been able to stay healthy all year. LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Dennis Smith Jr.are all sidelined right now, leaving Rozier as the only playmaker left. That’s huge for his fantasy value, with Rozier registering a 36 percent usage rate with all of those guys off the floor. He’s also averaging 37 fantasy points per game, and that alone is massive for a sub-$8K player. If he gets the 35-40 minutes and 2o shots we anticipate, Rozier should go crazy.

GPP Targets

Cameron Payne (PG – PHX): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Payne has hit a bit of a slump over recent weeks, but this price has dropped too far. This is still the starting point guard for Phoenix, averaging 32 DK points per game in his 11 starts this year. Filling in for Chris Paul will do that, with Payne flashing a 47-point upside in three of those games. That ceiling could be in play against Houston, who allows the most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Klay Thompson (SG/SF – GSW): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
It’s been a rough year for Klay, but this sharpshooter is starting to find his stroke. The shooting guard has scored at least 28 DraftKings points in nine of his last 12 games. He’s also averaging over 30 fantasy points per game in that span, flashing a 59-point gem as well. That’s the stud we used to love, and it makes him a worthy GPP option at just $6K. Facing Chicago isn’t too bad either, allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season.

Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
It’s been tough to get a read on how JV’s minutes will play out, but he’s always a beast when given the opportunity. He’s played at least 25 minutes in eight games this year, averaging over 40 fantasy points per game in those outings. We believe he’ll reach that total here, with Ingram, McCollum, and Nance all possibly missing this game. The best part is the matchup, though, with the Spurs surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Value Plays

Collin Sexton (PG/SG – UTA): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
Why are these DFS sites keeping Sexton so cheap? This acquisition has been stuck behind Mike Conley when the veteran was healthy, but Sexton is the guy with Conley getting injured. He’s averaging over 30 DK points per game since taking on this expanded role, and we saw Sexton play at a $7K level in the same role in the past. That makes this $5K price tag laughable, especially since he faces an Indiana defense that owns a 23rd OPRK against opposing guards.

Trey Murphy (SF/PF – NOP): $5,700 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Injuries have pummeled this Pelicans team over recent weeks, but it’s made Murph a monster. The talented forward has played 37 minutes in the two games since McCollum and Ingram went down, averaging 37 DK points per game in that span. He’s now played at least 25 minutes in 14 games, posting a 31-point average in that span. You can’t ask for any more from a sub-$6K player, especially against the worst defense in the NBA.

Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
I don’t understand why Horford remains so cheap. This veteran has been solid all season, scoring at least 26 DK points in 11 of his last 13 games. He’s also got a 30-point average in that span, which should continue with Robert Williams sidelined. Miami can be a tough matchup, but Horford averaged 33 DK points per game in their three meetings last season.

Advantageous Pricing

• Fred VanVleet (PG/SG – TOR): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
• TJ Warren (SF – BKN): $5,500 DraftKings, $3,700 FanDuel
• Bam Adebayo (C – MIA): $8,100 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
• Caris LeVert (SG/SF – CLE): $5,600 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel
• Austin Reaves (SG/SF – LAL): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Jevon Carter (PG – MIL): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $10,800 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
• De’Anthony Melton (PG/SG – MEM): $7,200 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
• Tyus Jones (PG – MEM): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel

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