NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (11/17)

Here we are with more NBA In-Season Tournament games! If it’s anything like Tuesday, we’re in for a wild night. We saw three squabbles on Tuesday, and these players are motivated to participate in this tournament. That has fans excited and has me motivated to have a big finish to the week. With that in mind, let’s dive into this Friday card!

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

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• NYK at WAS (NYK -6.5) O/U: 227.5
• MIL at CHA (MIL -6.5) O/U: 236
• PHI at ATL (PHI -1) O/U: 233
• DET at CLE (CLE -8) O/U: 221
• SAC at SAS (SAC -6) O/U: 232.5
• BOS at TOR (BOS -5.5) O/U: 217
• DEN at NOP (DEN -4) O/U: 223
• ORL at CHI (CHI -1) O/U: 216
• LAL at POR (LAL -7.5) O/U: 222
• PHX at UTA (PHX -5) O/U: 236
• HOU at LAC (LAC -5.5) O/U: 217.5

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• RJ Barrett (migraines) Questionable
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) Questionable
• Terry Rozier (groin) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (hamstring) Questionable
• Jalen Duren (ankle) OUT
• Darius Garland (neck) Questionable
• Keldon Johnson (knee) Questionable
• OG Anunoby (finger) Questionable
• Jamal Murray (hamstring) OUT
• CJ McCollum (ribs) OUT
• Markelle Fultz (knee) Questionable
• DeMar DeRozan (personal) Questionable
• Anfernee Simons (hand) OUT
• Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) OUT
• Scoot Henderson (ankle) OUT
• Bradley Beal (back) Doubtful
• Walker Kessler (elbow) OUT
• Joel Embiid (hip) Questionable
• Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) Questionable
• Jaylen Brown (illness) Questionable
• Kristaps Porzingis (knee) Questionable
• Devin Vassell (adductor) OUT

Core Plays

Donovan Mitchell (PG/SG – CLE): $9,500 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
The Cavs have struggled this season, but it’s no fault of Mitchell. This guy has been one of the best guards in the NBA, scoring at least 37 DraftKings points in every game. He’s also flirting with a 50-point average and could be looking at an insane usage with Darius Garland nicked up. That will likely have Mitchell looking at 40 minutes, 20 shots, and a 35 percent usage rate against a 23rd-ranked Detroit defense.

De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $9,000 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel
Fox just returned from an ankle sprain earlier in the week and looks as healthy as ever. The speedster has scored at least 36 DraftKings points in all five games this season, scoring at least 55 DraftKings points in three of his last four fixtures. That makes Fox tough to fade against San Antonio, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards. They’re also 29th in defensive efficiency and 30th in points allowed, with Fox averaging 27.5 points and 6.3 assists in four matchups last season.

Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $8,800 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
It’s been a rough season for Randle, but the All-Star is starting to find it. Julius has at least 42 fantasy points in five straight fixtures, seeing the usage that’s made him a stud throughout his career. This guy is guaranteed 35 minutes and 15-20 shots, making him an excellent option against Washington’s woeful defense. The Wizards rank 27th in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency. In their most recent matchup, Randle registered nearly 60 fantasy points!

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,500 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
Not much needs to be said with Jokic. This guy has been the leading scorer in DFS for three straight years, averaging over 60 fantasy points per game in each of those. He’s also surpassed 40 DraftKings points in all but a handful of games in that span, but 60 DK points look like his floor without Jamal Murray. In the six games since Murray’s injury, Joker has at least 68 fantasy points in all of them! One of those was against New Orleans, dropping a season-high 79 fantasy points!

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,400 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
Many people believed that Embiid didn’t deserve MVP last season, but he’s trying to prove the haters wrong. Since struggling in the opener, Joel averages nearly 65 DraftKings points per game! The only player with a higher total is Jokic, and Embiid will be utilized more heavily all season with James Harden shipped to LA. Atlanta is a fantastic matchup, too, with Embiid averaging 32.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks in their three matchups last season.

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $10,000 DraftKings, $10,300 FanDuel
Domas is a different player when De’Aaron Fox is in the lineup. It’s rare that another superstar improves the value of another one, but that’s the case here. Sabonis is flirting with triple-double averages over the last four games, averaging 24 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks in that span. Those are Jokic-type numbers, and we can’t overlook the fact that he faces the worst defense in the NBA. That was on full display when Sabonis scored at least 48 DK points in each of their last three matchups.

GPP Targets

Jarrett Allen (C – CLE): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Allen has been staring at a minutes restriction all season, but it’s close to getting lifted. The big man played a season-high 29 minutes in the Cavs most recent win and has fallen one rebound shy of a double-double in his two most recent outings. That means things are rounding into shape for the big man because he was a $7K player in a 30-minute role last season. Despite three blowouts, Allen averaged 19,3 points and 9,3 rebounds against Detroit’s disastrous defense last season.

Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Robinson has a limited ceiling with his lack of scoring, but this is one of those games where he could grab 15-20 rebounds and collect a few blocks. That’s close to what we’ve seen all season, with Mitch-Rob averaging over 12 rebounds and 2.8 blocks/steals per game. Those hustle statistics should be on display against Washington, who allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers. That led to Robinson scoring at least 31 fantasy points in their two most recent matchups!

Dyson Daniels (PG/SG – NOP): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
It’s been tough to know who to pick between Daniels and Jordan Hawkins, but Daniels feels like the more reliable option. He’s started at point guard the last four games for CJ McCollum, scoring at least 25 fantasy points in all of those. We also saw a 41-minute game from him last weekend, and we can’t overlook a starting point guard who’s playing 30-40 minutes in this price range.

Value Plays

Austin Reaves (SG/SF – LAL): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
Most people think a move to the bench is terrible for DFS value, but that’s not always true. On the contrary, it’s been a boost for Reaves value because he’s the primary playmaker for the second unit while still playing clutch time minutes. In his two games since the “demotion,” Reaves is averaging 12.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. That’s the stat-stuffing we love to see, and it’s likely to continue since Portland is surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

Goga Bitadze (C – ORL): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
Goga has been inserted into the starting lineup at the center spot in the absence of Wendell Carter Jr. and he just had one of the best games of the season. The big man had 15 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two steals, playing a season-high 26 minutes. All this per-minute stud needs is 20-25 minutes to be a good value in this price range, and he’d need a massive price bump if he creeps closer to 30 minutes. Not to mention, that season-best game came against this subpar Chicago defense.

Reggie Jackson (PG – DEN): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
Reggie has developed into a solid veteran and is a great fill-in for Jamal Murray. That’s made R-Jax the starting point guard, averaging 28 DK points per game across 30 minutes a night over his last three outings. You can’t ask for any more from such an affordable player because Denver needs him out there for 30 minutes as the primary ball-handler. We also don’t mind that New Orleans ranks 21st in total defense, only adding to Jackson’s intrigue.

Advantageous Pricing

• Reggie Jackson (PG – DEN): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
• Damian Lillard (PG – POR): $9,800 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
• PJ Washington (PF – CHA): $7,200 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
• Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Aaron Gordon (SF – ORL): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
• Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• John Collins (PF/C – UTA): $6,200 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,100 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel

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