The NBA is back! We’ve had two full slates and two short ones, and I hope you’ve followed the content at FantasyPros so far because our writers have been hitting! Tonight we have our first Saturday slate (potential injuries on a b2b, no practice reports), so let’s get down to business. Be sure to follow us on twitter for injury updates, and you can find me @jac3600!
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
TOP PLAY
Kevin Durant, PHX ($9700 DK/$10,800 FD)
With Devin Booker and Bradley Beal set to miss another game for the Suns, it should be the Kevin Durant show once again. Durant had a bonkers usage rate last game (44.7%) with the two of them on the shelf, and posted a 107.52 individual offensive rating. He’s priced pretty fairly on FanDuel, but there is no way he should be under 10k on DraftKings. There is so much room to unlock value at that price tag, and Utah was 23rd in defensive efficiency a year ago.
The NBA is back! We’ve had two full slates and two short ones, and I hope you’ve followed the content at FantasyPros so far because our writers have been hitting! Tonight we have our first Saturday slate (potential injuries on a b2b, no practice reports), so let’s get down to business. Be sure to follow us on twitter for injury updates, and you can find me @jac3600!
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
TOP PLAY
Kevin Durant, PHX ($9700 DK/$10,800 FD)
With Devin Booker and Bradley Beal set to miss another game for the Suns, it should be the Kevin Durant show once again. Durant had a bonkers usage rate last game (44.7%) with the two of them on the shelf, and posted a 107.52 individual offensive rating. He’s priced pretty fairly on FanDuel, but there is no way he should be under 10k on DraftKings. There is so much room to unlock value at that price tag, and Utah was 23rd in defensive efficiency a year ago.
Other options
CASH PICKS
Jaren Jackson Jr. MEM ($7800 DK/$8400 FD)
Jaren Jackson went from bad chalk against New Orleans to good chalk against Denver in the first two games of the year (go figure). I was incorrect on him both times, but I’m absolutely going back to the well tonight against Washington. The Wizards were projecting to come into this season as the worst defense and they didn’t disappoint, allowing the Pacers to hang 143 points on them in regulation. Jaren Jackson has eight blocks through two games so far this year, and should be a featured player again tonight with Memphis decimated by injuries in the frontcourt (plus Ja Morant is suspended)
DeMar DeRozan, CHI ($7500 DK/$8000 FD)
DeRozan is a solid option for tonight simply based on price and situation. At his mid-tier price tag, he comes with a floor anyway, and Zach LaVine‘s status looks to be truly up in the air after he said he was “in pain” last night. If the latter sits, DeRozan goes from “fairly priced” to “underpriced”. DeRozan’s usage rate only rose marginally last season with LaVine off the court, but his PPG went from 24.2 to 30.5. Detroit ranked 28th in defensive efficiency a year ago and are 25th to start this season.
Other options
VALUE PLAYS
Marcus Smart, MEM ($5900 DK/$6200 FD)
Marcus Smart is usually not the one we turn to for slate-breaking games, but he’s a perfect cash floor play at price tags hovering near 6k. Smart has gotten off to a great start in his Memphis tenure, with a 23.3% usage rate and seven steals through the first two games. I highlighted the matchup against Washington in the Jackson blurb above, and Smart’s role is secure with Ja Morant suspended for a large portion of the first half.
Jalen Duren, DET ($5900 DK/$7800 FD)
This is a DK-specific value, as Duren’s price has gotten out of hand on FD. The second-year center has burst onto 2023 with 31 points and 31 boards in his first two games of the year. He’s also averaging 33.5 MPG so far, so it’s clear the Detroit management is committed to using their young big guy. The matchup against Chicago and Vucevic is not ideal, but neither was Miami on opening night when Duren when 14-17. He’s also contributing on the defensive end, with six blocks.
Grayson Allen, PHX ($4500 DK/$4100 FD)
The Suns right now are basically Durant, Nurkic, and a “take your pick” of the plethora of guards and wings they have. I’m taking my pick with Grayson Allen, who hasn’t been good so far but who also hasn’t seen his price tag move (and it’s even gone down on FD). Allen played 35 minutes last game in the absence of Booker and Beal, and there’s really no reason to think he won’t see those minutes again. Utah is a soft matchup for three-point shooters, and Allen has already attempted nine this year.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
