NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Monday (12/4)

This should be interesting! This is the first time we’re seeing elimination games in the NBA In-Season Tournament, and it’ll be fun to see these teams duke it out. Unfortunately, it leaves us with a weird week of scheduling. We have just two games today and tomorrow, while nearly every team plays on Wednesday. That’s terrible for DFS, but it should be exciting to watch these elimination games. With that in mind, let’s look at these two Monday matchups!

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

• BOS at IND (BOS -4.5): O/U: 239.5
• NOP at SAC (SAC -4.5) O/U: 232.5

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

Injury Report

• Kristaps Porzingis (calf) OUT
• Tyrese Haliburton (knee) Questionable
• CJ McCollum (lungs) Probable
• Obi Toppin (ankle) Questionable
• Jalen Smith (knee) OUT

Core Plays

Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $10,100 DraftKings, $10,300 FanDuel
JT is coming off two of his worst games of the season, but his worst isn’t the same as everyone else. He’s still scored at least 35 DraftKings points in all but two games this year, averaging 48 DK points per game. He’s simply one of the most reliable players in the NBA, and you know he’ll be locked into a playoff-like role in what’s an elimination game. This matchup couldn’t be much better either, with Indiana playing at the fastest pace in the NBA while allowing the most points. That was clear when Tatum tallied 53 DK points across just 26 minutes in their last matchup.

De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $9,600 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Fox has taken his game to another level this season. The speedy point guard has scored at least 50 DraftKings points in nine of 13 games this year, generating a 51-point average. He’s become the go-to playmaker in this offense and shouldn’t be avoided against a New Orleans team that owns a 21st OPRK against opposing point guards. In their last matchup, Fox finished with 23 points, five rebounds, and nine assists.

Cash Game Considerations

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $10,900 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
Hali has developed into one of the best point guards in the league, and he’s thriving in this high-paced Pacers offense. That frantic style has led to Hali scoring at least 42 DraftKings points in all but one game this year. We also saw him drop 73 DK points in his most recent outing, but that’s not even his floor. He’s had two higher games than that, and you know Haliburton will be motivated in this must-win elimination game.

Zion Williamson (PF – NOP): $8,700 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Zion has always had the potential to be a superstar, and we’re seeing glimpses of it now. Williamson has scored at least 35 DraftKings points in 14 of 17 games this season, flirting with a 40-point average. We also love that he faces this subpar Sacramento defense, ranked 22nd in points allowed. That looks even better with Zion scoring at least 39 DK points in five straight matchups with the Kings.

GPP Targets

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,000 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
McCollum has been cleared to fly, so he should be ready for this critical In-Season Tourney game. The Pels point guard is amid one of the best years of his career, averaging 42 DraftKings points per game. That’s a tempting total from an $8K player, and we don’t want to fade him against Sacramento. The Kings are surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this year.

Keegan Murray (SF/PF – SAC): $6,300 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
Murray has been a frustrating player to follow, but he’s the sort of guy we want to exploit in a GPP. He’s an elite three-point shooter who can go off when it’s going down. That was displayed when he had at least 41 DK points in three of his first nine games while posting a 32-point average in that span. An injury has hurt those numbers recently, but he shouldn’t be hovering around $6K with that sort of ability in his back pocket.

Value Plays

Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Big Al has been fantastic throughout his career, and watching him step up in the absence of Porzingis has been incredible. That’s moved Horford back into the starting lineup, scoring at least 32 DK points in every game KP has missed. He’s also just shy of a 40-point average in this expanded role and is due for a price bump behind that production. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with the Pacers posting a 29th OPRK against opposing centers.

Buddy Hield (SG – IND): $6,500 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
We were so excited to see Hield move to the starting lineup for the fastest-paced team in the league. That’s a recipe for success for a sharpshooter like this because Buddy should be locked into 30-35 minutes and 15-20 shots a game. We’ve seen him average 30-40 DK points per game with that type of role in the past, scoring at least 32 DK points in three of his first six games in this newfound role.

Advantageous Pricing

• De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $9,600 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
• Keegan Murray (SF/PF – SAC): $6,300 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Buddy Hield (SG – IND): $6,500 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Kevin Huerter (SG/SF – SAC): $5,900 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel

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