NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (1/20)

After that slow slate on Thursday, we’re back to normal here. We have eight games making up this Friday card, which is the perfect amount for DFS. That means we have plenty of players to pick from, and there are not too many to be overwhelmed with. We also have a multitude of superstars, and it’ll be critical to choose the right ones. With that in mind, let’s start by looking at the schedule and odds!

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

NBA DFS Lineup Advice

Schedule and Odds

• NOP at ORL (NOP -2) O/U: 226
• NYK at ATL (ATL -3) O/U: 232
• GSW at CLE (CLE -6) O/U: 228
• MIA at DAL (DAL -0.5) O/U: 217
• LAC at SAS (LAC -7) O/U: 232
• IND at DEN (DEN -11) O/U: 240.5
• BKN at UTA (BKN -6) O/U: 228
• MEM at LAL (MEM -6.5) O/U: 243
• OKC at SAC (SAC -4.5) O/U: NA

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

Injury Report

• Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
• Brandon Ingram (toe) OUT
• Donovan Mitchell (groin) Questionable
• Tim Hardaway Jr.(ankle) Questionable
• Paul George (hamstring) Questionable
• John Wall (abs) OUT
• Devin Vassell (knee) OUT
• Tyrese Haliburton (knee) OUT
• Kevin Durant (foot) OUT
• Kyrie Irving (calf) Questionable
• Kelly Olynyk (ankle) OUT
• Anthony Davis (foot) OUT
• Austin Reaves (hamstring) OUT
• Lonnie Walker (knee) OUT
• Domantas Sabonis (illness) Questionable

Core Plays

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,400 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
Doncic is the premier core play on every slate. What makes him so valuable is his floor, scoring at least 43 DraftKings points in all but two games this year. That has him leading the NBA with 63 DK points per game, scoring at least 80 fantasy points on eight occasions. Facing Miami is worrisome, but matchups don’t really matter when it comes to a guy like Doncic.

Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $9,800 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Randle is in the best stretch of his career right now, and it’s scary to think that his rebounding will rise with Mitchell Robinson out for the foreseeable future. The big man has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in 22 straight games, scoring at least 53 fantasy points in 12 of his last 15 games. Randle is also flirting with a 60-point average in that span and should thrive with Atlanta owning a 26th OPRK against opposing big men. In their last matchup, Julius dropped 69 fantasy points.

Darius Garland (PG/SG – CLE): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
If Donovan Mitchell is out again, Garland is the best per-dollar play on the board. The talented guard is averaging 48 DraftKings points per game in the six games Mitchell has missed this year, seeing a massive boost in usage, minutes, and shot attempts. He also had a career-high 71 DK points in one of those, and he should be a $10K player in this role. A matchup with the Warriors is wonderful, too, with Golden State allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,700 FanDuel
The Joker is the best player in the NBA. The big man has scored at least 53 fantasy points in 17 of his last 20 games, generating a 62-point average in that span. That makes him a worthy play at any salary, and it makes him impossible to fade in this matchup with Indiana. The Pacers own a 24th OPRK against opposing centers this year while sitting 22nd in points allowed and 25th in defensive efficiency.

Kawhi Leonard (SF – SAS): $10,300 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
Kawhi is finally back to his MVP ways. The Claw has scored at least 37 fantasy points in 12 of his last 14 games, with one of those duds being that Denver game where he was rested in the second half. Leonard is averaging nearly 45 DK points per game in the other 13 outings, and he should go nuts against his former team. The Spurs sit dead last in points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

Kyrie Irving (PG – BKN): $9,900 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Irving should go off as long as Kevin Durant remains sidelined. With KD off the floor this year, Kyrie has a 35 percent usage rate while averaging 1.5 DK points per minute. That’s scary when you consider his recent form, scoring at least 35 fantasy points in 18 straight games. Irving also has a 44-point average in that span, and we expect that to be his floor in this expanded role. Facing the Jazz should be music to Irving’s ears, with Utah ranked 23rd in points allowed and 26th in defensive efficiency.

GPP Targets

Jaren Jackson Jr.(PF/C – MEM): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
JJJ is only a GPP play because we never really know what his role will be. The big man is one of the best per-minute producers in the NBA, averaging 36 DraftKings points per game across 26 minutes a night. That role can make him tough to trust, but this guy could be a $10K player if he got the 30-35 minutes he deserves. We’re expecting one of those upside games against the Lakers, with Los Angeles ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency and 27th in points allowed.

Caris LeVert (SG/SF – IND): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
With Mitchell likely missing this game, LeVert should be back to a playmaking role in the starting lineup. In his 21 starts this season, Caris has compiled a 31-point average across 35 minutes a night. That’s why this guy has been a $7K player at times throughout his career, and he’s tough to fade as long as Mitchell remains out. We already talked about how good of a matchup Golden State is, and he should be in for a big night in this expanded role against such a poor defense.

Michael Porter Jr.(SF/PF – DEN): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
It’s strange to see Porter this cheap. He’s earned it with his lackluster play, but this guy has too much talent to be well below $6K. MPJ was closer to $8K when he was rolling two years ago, showing flashes of that recently. The sharpshooter has scored at least 26 DK points in five of his last seven games, averaging 28 fantasy points per game for the year. We expect that to be his floor against Indiana, owning a 23rd OPRK against opposing forwards.

Value Plays

Kyle Lowry (PG – MIA): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
It’s just strange to see Lowry this cheap. The former All-star has looked like a shell of himself at times this year, but his 30-point average is still impressive from a player in this price range. That’s a heck of a total for a guy barely cracking $5K, and it’s nice that he looks healthy for the first time all year. Dallas can be a daunting matchup, but Lowry averaged 35 fantasy points per game against them in their two meetings last season.

Andrew Nembhard (PG/SG – IND): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
We’ve been trying to figure out who the primary ball-handler will be in Indiana without Haliburton out, and it looks like they want to give Nembhard every chance to succeed. He’s been playing 32 minutes a night over the last month and just dropped 39 fantasy points in his most recent outing. He also flashed a 60-point upside earlier in the season, and we have to assume this rookie will only get better from here on out. We also don’t mind that Denver’s defense allows the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Kenrich Williams (SF/PF – DEN): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
This is a bit risky, but Williams is too cheap right now. This versatile forward has always been great when given the opportunity, and he received a rare start in OKC’s most recent win. Kenrich collected 41 DK points across 22 minutes in that blowout, playing a distributor role in the post. We’ve seen this guy average 30 DK points per game in week-long stretches in the past, and we want to hop on the train before this guy gets too expensive. A matchup with Sacramento is sensational, too, with the Kings surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing small forwards.

Advantageous Pricing

• Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Jarrett Allen (C – CLE): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Josh Richardson (SG/SF – SAS): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Zach Collins(PF/C – SAS): $3,800 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Myles Turner (C – IND): $7,100 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
• TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• Isaiah Jackson (C – IND): $3,700 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $5,700 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
• Tyus Jones (PG – MEM): $4,500 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
• Trey Lyles (PF/C – SAC): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel

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