NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Wednesday (1/4)

That Tuesday card was an ugly one, but we have another full slate here. We actually have 12 games in total, with all but six teams taking the floor. That always leads to some saturated player pools and lengthy injury reports. It also means a lot to discuss, so let’s get started with the schedule and the odds!

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

Schedule and Odds

• PHX at CLE (CLE -5) O/U: NA
• OKC at ORL (ORL -2) O/U: NA
• IND at PHI (PHI -7.5) O/U: 232.5
• MEM at CHA (MEM -7) O/U: NA
• SAS at NYK (NYK -9) O/U: 229.5
• MIL at TOR (TOR -2) O/U: NA
• HOU at NOP (NOP -7) O/U: NA
• BKN at CHI (BKN -5) O/U: 235.5
• POR at MIN (MIN -1) O/U: NA
• DET at GSW (GSW -7) O/U: NA
• MIA at LAL (MIA -3.5) O/U: NA
• ATL at SAC (SAC -1.5) O/U: 244

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

Injury Report

• Devin Booker (groin) OUT
• Darius Garland (thumb) Questionable
• Evan Mobley (ankle) Questionable
• Kelly Oubre (hand) Questionable
• Gordon Hayward (hamstring) Questionable
• RJ Barrett (finger) OUT
• Khris Middleton (knee) Questionable
• Jrue Holiday (hamstring) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
• Brandon Ingram (toe) Questionable
• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
• D’Angelo Russell (illness) Questionable
• Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
• Stephen Curry (shoulder) OUT
• Andrew Wiggins (illness) Questionable
• Anthony Davis (foot) OUT
• Russell Westbrook (foot) Questionable
• Clint Capela (calf) Questionable
• Malik Monk (shoulder) Questionable
• Kevin Huerter (back) Questionable

Core Plays

Joel Embiid (PF/C – PHI): $11,200 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel
Not many people are discussing Embiid as an MVP candidate, but he has been one of the best players in the NBA over the last month. The big man has scored at least 53 DraftKings points in 16 of his previous 19 games, generating a 62-point average in that span. He’s pummelled the Pacers over the last two years, averaging 63 DK points per game in their last three meetings. That’s no surprise since they surrender the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $10,500 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Randle has had a fantastic season in NY, and it’s time people give him more credit. The southpaw has scored at least 58 DraftKings points in six straight games, posting a 61-point average in that span. That’d make him a worthy play against anyone, but San Antonio is the best matchup in fantasy. The Spurs sit dead last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency while owning a 29th OPRK against opposing power forwards. He also had 70 DK points in their one matchup earlier in the year!

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
There’s a chance Zion and Ingram are both out here, leaving CJ to do everything for this offense. In the last six games without both of those guys, McCollum is averaging nearly 50 fantasy points per game. It’s easy to understand why, with McCollum playing 35-40 minutes, taking 20-plus shots, and posting a 35-40 percent usage rate. That’s rough for the Rockets, who allow the most fantasy points to opposing guards this year.

Cash Game Considerations

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $9,900 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
The only concern with SGA is that this is the second half of a back-to-back set. The good news is that he’s played in most of those, averaging over 50 DraftKings points per game this season. The reason we love him here is this outstanding matchup with Orlando, who sit 22nd in defensive efficiency ratings. It’s also a rare OKC game where we expect things to be close, and you know SGA will go off as the best player on the floor. In their one matchup this year. Gilgeous dropped 56 DK points!

LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $10,700 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
LeBron just turned 38, but he’s playing some of the best basketball of his career right now. The superstar has scored at least 37 DraftKings points in every game this year, scoring 68 and 76 DK points in his last two outings. Those are some of the best games of his storied career, but they need him to keep balling out with Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook both nicked up.

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – GSW): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
It’s been exciting watching Poole take over this Golden State offense in the absence of Stephen Curry. That’s allowed JP to average 36 DK points per game in his 19 starts this year. He’s seeing a massive boost in minutes and shot attempts with Chef Curry on the sidelines, leading the team with a 32 percent usage rate. He’s talented enough to be a monster in that expanded opportunity, and we’re not concerned about him facing a 29th-ranked Pistons defense.

GPP Targets

Immanuel Quickley (PG/SG – NYK): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Quickley has always been one of the most talented players on this Knicks roster, and he’s finally getting a full-time role. The skinny guard has played 36 or more minutes in four straight games, totaling a 43-point average in that span. That’s a tremendous total from a player in this price range, and we’re really encouraged that he played 36 minutes in Jalen Brunson‘s first game back. We already talked about this sensational matchup, with the Spurs publicizing the worst defensive numbers in the NBA.

Jalen Duren (PF/C – DET): $5,000 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
There’s not much hope on this disastrous Detroit roster, but Duren looks like a stud in the making. This 19-year-old kid has been starting for a few weeks now, averaging 28 DK points per game across 29 minutes a night over his last 14 games played. That’s scary for a kid this young, and he’s only going to get better from here on out. The Warriors are a wonderful matchup, too, ranked 26th in points allowed.

Steven Adams (C – MEM): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Adams has been vacuuming up rebounds all week. The big man has back-to-back 20-rebound games, scoring at least 42 fantasy points in three straight outings. That’s all you can ask for from a player in this price range, and he should sting a dastardly defense like the Hornets. Charlotte sits 25th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed while surrendering the most fantasy points and rebounds to opposing centers.

Value Plays

John Collins (PF/C – ATL): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
It’s hard to understand why Collins still sits around $6K. This guy has been locked into my article for the last two weeks because of that, and he’s been providing value in almost every game. The big man has scored at least 34 DraftKings points in four of his last five games, getting his minute’s restriction lifted last week. That’s massive since he’s seeing extra time in the absence of Clint Capela, and he should feast once again against a 26th-ranked Warriors defense.

Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
We talked about how Zion and Ingram might be missing this game, but Larry Nance‘s injury is what’s allowing a revival from Valanciunas. All three of those guys out should force JV into a 25-minute role, and he’s been a beast when given that chance this season. In fact, Jonas has played at least 25 minutes in 20 games this season, generating a 36-point average in those outings. That’s the $8K stud we used to adore, and he should have another one of those ceiling games with the Rockets ranked 28th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Kyle Anderson (SF/PF – MIN): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
This T’Wolves roster has been obliterated by injuries, forcing Anderson into the starting lineup. Slo-Mo has been doing his thing in this expanded role, averaging 27 DK points per game across 30 minutes a night in his 13 starts this year. He was also one of the primary playmakers with D’Angelo Russell out on Monday, and if that’s the case again here, KA is one of the best values of the day. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with Portland ranked 20th in defensive efficiency. That was on full display when Anderson averaged 27 DK points in their two matchups this year.

Advantageous Pricing

• Steven Adams (C – MEM): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Jalen McDaniels (SF/PF – CHA): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Jalen Smith (PF/C – IND): $3,500 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Scottie Barnes (PG/SF – TOR): $6,700 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
• Gary Trent Jr.(SG – TOR): $5,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• Ayo Dosunmu (PG-SG – CHI): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Drew Eubanks (C – POR): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Patrick Beverley (PG/SG – LAL): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel

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