NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (12/8)

We just saw the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals on Thursday, and it’s left us with a massive Friday card to dissect. I’d be lying to you if I said I was excited about this from a DFS standpoint because we have almost every team in action. While it’s fantastic from a viewing standpoint, it can be frustrating to figure out for DFS. There are too many options out there, and it’s never easy to make lineups when almost every team is in play. With that said, I’ve gone deep into the player pool, so let’s get into it!

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

• DET at ORL (ORL -11.5) O/U: 229.5
• ATL at PHI (PHI -7.5) O/U: 241.5
• TOR at CHA (TOR -4.5) O/U: 223
• WAS at BKN (BKN -9) O/U: 240
• CLE at MIA (MIA -1) O/U: 218
• GSW at OKC (OKC -3.5) O/U: 236
• MIN at MEM (MIN -5.5) O/U: 214.5
• CHI at SAS (CHI -2.5) O/U: 225
• HOU at DEN (DEN -8) O/U: 219
• DAL at POR (DAL -7.5) O/U: 226.5
• LAC at UTA (LAC -6.5) O/U: 225.5
• NYK at BOS (BOS -6.5) O/U: 220
• SAC at PHX (SAC -1.5) O/U: 234

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

Injury Report

• Wendell Carter Jr.(hand) OUT
• Markelle Fultz (knee) OUT
• Ja Morant (suspension) OUT
• Marcus Smart (ankle) OUT
• Ben Simmons (back) OUT
• Jalen Johnson (wrist) OUT
• Tyler Herro (ankle) OUT
• Bam Adebayo (hip) OUT
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) OUT
• Jerami Grant (concussion) Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon (knee) Questionable
• Trae Young (illness) Questionable
• Kevin Durant (ankle) OUT
• Kristaps Porzingis (calf) Questionable
• Evan Mobley (knee) Questionable
• Jerami Grant (concussion) OUT
• Jordan Clarkson (thigh) Questionable
• Deandre Ayton (knee) Doubtful
• Jalen Duren (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (back) Questionable
• Bradley Beal (back) OUT
• Jalen Suggs (ankle) Questionable
• Daniel Gafford (ankle) Questionable

Core Plays

Devin Booker (PG/SG – PHX): $10,100 DraftKings, $10,800 FanDuel
Book has been one of the best players in the NBA, and he will be a sneaky option on this monstrous slate. The Suns guard has been running the show for Phoenix, averaging 52 DraftKings points per game. His floor has been even more ridiculous, scoring at least 44 DK points in all but one outing. That should be easy to reach against Sacramento, sitting 21st in defensive efficiency and 22nd in points allowed. Book averaged nearly 60 fantasy points per game in their four matchups last season and should crush with no Durant or Beal!

Mikal Bridges (SG/SF – BKN): $8,700 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
Bridges got off to a slow start this season, but he’s been rolling ever since Ben Simmons got injured. That’s forced Mikal into playmaking opportunities, scoring at least 42 DK points in six of his last seven outings. He’s also got 50 and 61 DraftKings points in his two most recent games, regularly playing 40 minutes a night. We definitely don’t want to fade him against Washington, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing small forwards.

DeMar DeRozan (SF/PF – CHI): $8,400 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
DeRozan has been rough at times this year, but we love him with Zach LaVine sidelined. That means he’s the focal point of this offense and should be locked into 35 minutes, 20 shots, and a 30 percent usage rate. That bump has led to DD scoring at least 43 DK points in three of his last four fixtures. One of those upside games should be in play against San Antonio, sitting 27th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel
Joker had one of the worst games of his career on Wednesday, and he still finished with a triple-double! That tells you how absurd this guy is, averaging nearly 65 DraftKings points per game. He’s also established a 50-point floor and is the safest play on every slate, no matter who he plays. He’s rolled the Rockets this season, scoring 81 and 74 fantasy points in their two matchups.

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,800 DraftKings, $12,400 FanDuel
Luka played just three quarters on Wednesday but finished with a 40-point triple-double. That’s an indicator of how special the Slovenian is, averaging over 60 fantasy points per game. Not many guys can match the floor that Doncic provides, and he should destroy a 20th-ranked Portland defense. In their last four matchups, Luka averages over 62 DraftKings points per game!

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,700 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe, but Embiid is playing better than he did in his MVP campaign. The big man has scored at least 68 fantasy points in four straight fixtures, falling just shy of 80 DK points in his most recent outing. There’s simply no matching up with these three superstar players, and it’ll be up to you to pick the right one because they’re all going to score between 50 and 80 DK points!

GPP Targets

Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
We had Claxton in here on Wednesday, and we’re going right back to the well. We love this guy’s upside, and he’s in for some big games with the minute’s restriction being lifted recently. The reason we could see one of those ceiling games is this matchup with Washington’s woeful defense, surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers. In their two most recent meetings, Clax has compiled 38 and 47 fantasy points!

Orlando Robinson (PF/C – MIA): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
O-Rob started at center for Bam Adebayo on Wednesday, and he’s looked amazing in this expanded role. The big man dropped 27 DK points across 29 minutes in his first start for Bam over the weekend and backed that up with 46 DraftKings points across 33 minutes on Wednesday. We’ve always known this guy can be a per-minute stud, and we can’t fade him in a 30-minute role.

Scoot Henderson (PG – POR): $5,700 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
Scoot has not shown us much reason to use him, but the injuries might force him into a prominent role. Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon might both miss this game, and it’s about time Henderson gets more work. He’s showing flashes of breaking out, scoring a season-high 30 DK points just two games ago. We all know this Top 3 pick has the ability to be a stud, and now’s the time to bank on it against a 26th-ranked Dallas defense.

Value Plays

Alex Caruso (PG/SF – CHI): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Caruso is one of the best all-around players in the league, providing value though hustle and defense. The feisty guard has been starting for LaVine, regularly playing 30 minutes a night. If you look at the seven games AC has played at least 27 minutes, he’s averaging 30 fantasy points per game. That’s all you can ask for from a player in this price range, and we love that he faces a San Antonio team posting a 28th OPRK against opposing guards.

Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Gafford has been a per-minute stud throughout his career, and we love that he’s the starting center for the Wizards this season. He’s scored at least 35 DK points in three of his last four fixtures, dropping 38 fantasy points across 23 minutes on Wednesday night. That shows just how special this guy can be in limited minutes, but we don’t expect him to get in foul trouble against an offensively inept Claxton. If we get 25-30 minutes, Gafford should be $1,000 more on DraftKings!

PJ Washington (PF/C – CHA): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Washington has been limited to a bench role, but we don’t want to fade him with LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams both nicked up. PJ is still the primary playmaker off the bench, scoring 38 DK points in two of his last three games. We’ve seen this guy average 40 fantasy points per game for a month at a time in the past, and Charlotte will need him to swallow up big minutes to oppose this huge Toronto team.

Advantageous Pricing

• Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Jakob Poeltl (C – TOR): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• Rudy Gobert (C – UTA): $7.400 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
• Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG – UTA): $7,500 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
• Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
• Malcolm Brogdon (PG/SG – POR): $8,500 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel

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