It was a fun weekend of basketball, and it’s strange that no games are scheduled next week. That’s the first time I’ve seen that, but that’s the new norm with the NBA In-Season Tournament. It’s unclear how that tourney might affect teams as we advance, and we’re not even sure how some of the DFS slates will work when we get into the final games of that tourney. I’m learning along with the rest of you guys, but we’re back to regular-season matchups here!

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

• WAS at DET (DET -3.5) O/U: 234
• POR at IND (IND -12.5) O/U: 240
• LAL at PHI (PHI -4.5) O/U: 231.5
• NOP at UTA (NOP -4.5) O/U: 229
• DEN at LAC (LAC -4.5) O/U: 219.5

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

Injury Report

• Jordan Poole (ankle) Questionable
• Jordan Clarkson (illness) Questionable
• Aaron Gordon (heel) Questionable
• Anfernee Simons (hand) OUT
• CJ McCollum (lungs) OUT
• Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) questionable
• Jamal Murray (hamstring) OUT
• Kelly Oubre (ribs) OUT
• LeBron James (calf) Questionable

Core Plays

Tyrese Haliburton (PG/SG – IND): $11,000 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
Haliburton is developing into one of the best shows in the NBA, and he’s been the second-best option in DFS over the last two weeks. The Pacers point guard has at least 57 DraftKings points in five of his previous seven outings, showcasing a 75-point upside in two of those. That should continue with the Pacers playing at the fastest pace in the league, especially since he faces a Portland team that ranks 19th in defensive efficiency.

Cade Cunningham (PG – DET): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
Detroit has been a disaster this season, but it’s no fault of Cunningham. This former top pick has been phenomenal, averaging nearly 40 DraftKings points per game. He’s also scored at least 34 fantasy points in 12 of 16 games this season, and that should be his floor against Washington. The Wizards rank 29th in defensive efficiency and points allowed while surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,800 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel
The Joker is on his way to another MVP. The big man is leading the NBA with 63 DraftKings points per game. He’s been even better since Jamal Murray went down, scoring at least 67 DK points in nine of his last 11 outings. Only a few players will score 67 DK points all year, let alone do it that many times in a three-week span. Los Angeles can be a challenging matchup, but Joker has 68 and 86 DK points in their two most recent matchups. Those numbers don’t even sound real!

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,700 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
Joel stole the MVP from Jokic last season, but he’s been even better this year. The big man has seen an increased role with James Harden out of town, averaging 60 DK points per game. He’s also scored at least 42 fantasy points in every game, dropping 55 or more DK points in 12 of 15 games. There are no safer fantasy options right now than Jokic and Embiid. You know he’ll be motivated against the star-studded Lakers, scoring at least 59 DK points in their last three matchups.

Malcolm Brogdon (PG – POR): $7,900 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
Brogdon was a sneaky signing by Portland, and he’s proven to be their most valuable player with Anfernee Simons injured. That’s allowed Brogdon to run the show for the Blazers, scoring at least 28 DraftKings points in every game he’s finished this year. He’s also flirting with a 40-point average and should continue to do that for this pitiful Portland team. This couldn’t be a better matchup because Indiana plays at the fastest pace while surrendering the most points in the NBA!

GPP Targets

Jalen Duren (C – DET): $6,700 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
This kid came off the bench in his first game back from injury, and that’s the only reason he’s in the GPP section. This sophomore is amid a breakout season, averaging 37 DK points per game in the eight games he’s finished. Duren has also flashed a 56-point ceiling, which is far from shocking when you watch how he dominates the paint. Washington’s woeful defense won’t slow him down, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing centers this season.

Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Kessler is another player that made a return to action over the weekend. The big man came off the bench for Utah in his return from an elbow issue, recording a double-double in fewer than 20 minutes. That’s the per-minute stud we saw last season, and we have to assume he’ll resume his role as the starting center here. This guy was $7K with that opportunity last season, and it’s just a matter of time before he gets back there. That game over the weekend was this same matchup against New Orleans, which is fantastic since Kessler has at least 30 DK points in their last three matchups.

Buddy Hield (SG/SF – IND): $6,400 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
Buddy was moved to the starting lineup last week, and it will be massive for his fantasy value. All we need is 30 minutes and double-digit shots from this sharpshooter to get him going, and that looks like a lock for the fastest-paced team in the NBA. In the first three games in this expanded role, Hield has a 36-point average! That’s awesome from such an affordable player, especially since Portland is surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

Value Plays

Jaden Ivey (PG/SG – DET): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
This sophomore was incredible in the final month of his rookie season, and a move back to the starting lineup is just what the doctor ordered. The Top 5 pick has 27 and 35 DK points in his two most recent starts, playing at least 28 minutes in four straight fixtures. As long as this kid has that sort of role, Ivey needs a price adjustment. The pricing is even more bizarre since he faces Washington, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $6,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Tyus’s debut season with the Wizards has been terrible, but this pricing is insane. We saw this guy average nearly 35 fantasy points per game when he started for Ja Morant, and Washington needs him to play at that sort of level. We believe in the talent and will keep using him until he gets closer to $7,000. The matchup is a great way to get him on track because the Pistons allow the most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Advantageous Pricing

• Buddy Hield (SG/SF – IND): $6,400 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Skylar Mays (PG – POR): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $9,800 DraftKings, $10,800 FanDuel
• Reggie Jackson (PG/SG – LAC): $5,800 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel

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