NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Thursday (4/6)

That slate on Wednesday was wild. Half the league was on the injury report, which was challenging to navigate. This slate should be much simpler since we only have five games to talk about. The least important game is the most essential from a DFS perspective. That’s the Spurs-Blazers matchup because those teams are both tanking down the standings. They’re both horrific defenses, and both teams are sitting almost the entirety of their starting lineups.

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

Schedule and Odds

CLE at ORL (ORL -6) O/U: 223

MIA at PHI (PHI -5) O/U: 221.5

POR at SAS (SAS -2.5) O/U: 240

OKC at UTA (OKC -5.5) O/U: 234.5

DEN at PHX (PHX -6,5) O/U: NA

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

Injury Report

• Damian Lillard (tanking) OUT
• Jerami Grant (tanking) OUT
• Anfernee Simons (tanking) OUT
• Jusuf Nurkic (tanking) OUT
• Trendon Watford (tanking) OUT
• Keldon Johnson (tanking) OUT
• Zach Collins (tanking) Questionable
• Jeremy Sochan (tanking) OUT
• Devin Vassell (tanking) OUT
• Jordan Clarkson (hand) OUT
• Lauri Markkanen (hand) OUT
• Walker Kessler (concussion) OUT
• Donovan Mitchell (rest) OUT
• Darius Garland (rest) OUT
• Jarrett Allen (rest) OUT
• Evan Mobley (rest) OUT
• Shaedon Sharpe (tanking) Questionable
• Tyrese Maxey (neck) Questionable
• Devonte Graham (adductior) OUT
• Caris LeVert (rest) OUT

Core Plays

Joel Embiid (PF/C – PHI): $11,500 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
Embiid might’ve secured the 2023 MVP with his phenomenal performance on Tuesday. The big man collected 52 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists against an elite Boston defense. That’s no surprise when looking at his recent form, generating a 58-point average across his last 34 outings. A matchup with Miami would be tough for most, but Joel has at least 46 DK points in all four of their meetings since the start of last year.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $10,200 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
The Thunder are battling to stay in the playoffs, and you know they’ll lean on their superstar in this spot. The All-Star has scored at least 41 DraftKings points in 33 of his last 34 games while averaging 52 DK points per game in that span. That should be easy to duplicate against Utah, with the Jazz ranked 24th in total defense while surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Skylar Mays (PG/SG – POR): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
This Portland team has fallen off a cliff, but it’s allowed Mays to have the best stretch of his career. The recent signee has started at point guard the last three games, scoring at least 28 DraftKings points in each. He also had a 49-point gem in his most recent outing, generating a 36-point average in that span. That’s absurd from such an affordable player, but he should be locked into 35 minutes and 15-20 shots with every Portland player on the sidelines. Not to mention, San Antonio ranks last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel
The Joker just returned from a multi-game absence on Tuesday and had one of his worst games in five years. We’re willing to overlook that because Jokic had a 45-point floor before that and a 60-point average. Those totals make him the safest cash game option on every slate, and he’ll have to show up in this showcase game against Phoenix. In their two meetings this season, Jokic is averaging 31 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 12 assists per game.

Kevin Durant (PF – PHX): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
It’s strange to see Durant sitting around $9,000. This former MVP has been above $10,000 for the majority of his career, and we’ve finally seen him play a full allotment of minutes. He’s averaging over 40 DK points per game since his return, and that’s been his floor throughout most of his career. It’s not like Denver has anyone who can cover him, owning a 22nd OPRK against opposing forwards.

Tre Jones (PG – SAS): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
The Spurs are sitting nearly every player in their starting lineup, with Jones being the only one left. That’s allowed the guard to have the best stretch of his career, scoring at least 24 DK points in 11 straight games. More importantly, he’s got 39 and 52 DraftKings points in his two most recent outings, doing everything with Johnson and Vassell all missing. Facing the Trail Blazers is tremendous, too, with the Blazers ranked 27th in defensive efficiency ratings.

GPP Targets

Tobias Harris (SF/PF – PHI): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
This is risky with the way Toby’s role has collapsed, but he’s too good to be this cheap. The efficiency stud is still averaging 30 DK points per game this season and has flashed a 50-point upside numerous times. That makes it hard to believe that he’s well below $6K, especially since Harris had 38 fantasy points in his last meeting with Miami. Not many players in this price range have that sort of ability, making Toby an intriguing GPP play.

Damian Jones (C – UTA): $4,100 DraftKings, $3,700 FanDuel
It looks like Utah is starting to tank, sitting Markkanen and Kessler for the remainder of the year. That led to Jones playing a ton of center on Thursday, tallying 29 DK points across 32 minutes of play. He’s shown flashes of that in the past, and he’d be impossible to fade if he gets 30 minutes. We have to mention that Udoka Azbuike got the start in that game and is an enticing GPP option as well if those studs sit once again.

Ricky Rubio (PG – CLE): $3,1000 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel
Cleveland is resting their starting lineup, and it’ll likely force Rubio into the starting point guard gig. This guy was a $7K player in that sort of role in the past and could be tough to avoid if he ends up in the starting lineup. He’s also a sneaky bet for a triple-double because he could handle the ball on every possession while playing 40 minutes.

Value Plays

Kelly Olynyk (PF/C – UTA): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Utah looks like they’re about to tank, but they continue to throw Oly out there as one of their primary playmakers. This veteran has been one of the best players since the trade deadline, averaging 35 DK points per game since Mike Conley and Jarred Vanderbilt were moved. He’s been even better lately, scoring at least 43 fantasy points in three of his last eight games. One of those ceiling games could be in play against Oklahoma City, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing big men.

Sandro Mamukelashvili (PF – SAS): $5,800 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
San Antonio just signed this guy a month ago, but he’s been one of their best players since then. The Seton Hall alum has scored at least 24 DraftKings points in eight of his last 10 games, amassing a 27-point average in that span. That’s awesome since his role is on the rise, and this final week could be even better! Facing Portland is the best part of it, with the Trail Blazers surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

Drew Eubanks (C – POR): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
Eubanks has been a regular in this section for a couple of weeks, and that’s been the case over the last two years. Portland has rested Jusuf Nurkic in the final month of the last two seasons, and Drew is averaging nearly 30 DK points per game in this expanded role. That’s absurd from such an affordable player, and he shouldn’t have any issues reaching that against the worst defense in the NBA.

Advantageous Pricing

Ricky Rubio (PG – CLE): $3,100 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel

Paolo Banchero (SF – ORL): $7,100 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel

Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel

Wendell Carter Jr. (C – ORL): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel

Jalen Suggs (PG – ORL): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel

Jimmy Butler (SF – MIA): $8,800 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel

Aaron Wiggins (SG – OKC): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel

Deandre Ayton (C – PHX): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,700 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