NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Thursday (12/28)

These injury reports always get crazier the deeper we get into the year, and this one took me forever to formulate. It’s incredible how many players are missing right now, and it feels like we’re adding to it every day. There’s always drama in the NBA, whether it’s ankle sprains, illnesses, fights, or off-court issues! That is one of the reasons we love it, so let’s dive into this Thursday slate!

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 BOS (BOS -17) O/U: 232
• UTA at NOP (NOP -8.5) O/U: 237
• IND at CHI (IND -2.5) O/U: 240
• DAL at MIN (NA) O/U: NA
• MEM at DEN (DEN -5.5) O/U: 226
• MIA at GSW (GSW -2) O/U: 224
• SAS at POR (POR -5.5) O/U: 232
• CHA at LAL (LAL -12.5) O/U: 228

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

Injury Report

• Draymond Green (suspension) OUT
• Jayson Tatum (ankle) Questionable
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Ja Morant (illness) Questionable
• Victor Wembanyama (ankle) Questionable
• Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) Questionable
• Jaylen Brown (back) Questionable
• Kyrie Irving (foot) OUT
• Nikola Vucevic (adductor) OUT
• Jimmy Butler (ankle) Questionable
• Shaedon Sharpe (groin) Questionable
• Deandre Ayton (knee) Questionable
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (calf) Questionable
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Aaron Gordon (hand/face) OUT
• Bruce Brown (knee) OUT
• Duncan Robinson (ankle) Questionable
• Brandon Miller (ankle) Questionable
• Caleb Martin (ankle) Doubtful
• Isaiah Stewart (shoulder) OUT
• Kyle Lowry (old) Questionable

Core Plays

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $10,300 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
We’ve had Haliburton in this section numerous times this season because he’s developed into the best point guard in the NBA. What’s made him so valuable is that he’s the playmaker for the fastest-paced team in the league, averaging over 52 DraftKings points per game. Hali has also scored at least 38 DK points in all but two games while dropping at least 60 fantasy points in back-to-back outings.

Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $9,700 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
Ja was in the news for all the wrong reasons at the beginning of the season, but he’s been unstoppable since his return. Morant has scored at least 50 DraftKings points in three of four games, posting a 51-point average. He says he’s doing this damage at just 75 percent, and we have to assume he’ll get better the more he plays. Denver can be a daunting matchup, but Ja dropped at least 51 DK points in two of their three meetings last year.

Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $9,900 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
We’re concerned that JT might sit, but he’s one of the safest options below $10K in this matchup. Let’s start there because Detroit ranks 26th in defensive efficiency while posting a 23rd OPRK against opposing forwards. We love that since Tatum has at least 30 DK points in every game, surpassing 37 fantasy points in all but two outings!

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,800 DraftKings, $12,700 FanDuel
Luka has been playing a different game than everyone else. He’s seeing a massive boost in usage with Kyrie Irving out of the lineup, scoring at least 63 DraftKings points in 11 of his last 13 games. He’s also flirting with a 70-point average in that span and is locked into 35-40 minutes, 25-30 shots, and a 40 percent usage rate on a nightly basis. Minnesota is a scary matchup for most, but Doncic dropped 69 fantasy points in their one matchup earlier in the year.

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,300 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
The Joker has been the safest option in DFS for the last five years. He’s scored at least 40 DraftKings points in all but a handful of games in that span, ranked third in the NBA with 61 DK points per game. He’s also established a 50-point floor and is the safest bet for 50-60 DK points on every slate. Memphis is not a matchup we should be worried about, with Joker averaging nearly 60 DK points against them over the last three years.

Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $7,500 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel
Drummond was in everyone’s lineup on Monday, which will be the case again here with Nikola Vucevic ruled out. That means Drum will start at center once again, and this dude was one of the best players in DFS in this role in the past. We saw that on Monday, collecting 24 points and 25 rebounds en route to 67 DK points. That was a regular thing for this guy in Detroit, and he should be guaranteed 30-35 minutes against a 29th-ranked defense with Vooch out.

GPP Targets

Klay Thompson (SG/SF – GSW): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
We’ve been waiting for this sharpshooter to tighten his scope, and we’re finally seeing glimpses of it recently. Thompson is averaging 34 DK points per game across his last seven fixtures, scoring at least 38 DraftKings points in four of those! That’s all you can hope for from a sub-$7K player, but we’ve seen Klay play like this for months at a time in the past. We didn’t even mention that Thompson has a 36-point average in his last four matchups with Miami.

Michael Porter Jr. (SF – DEN): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
MPJ is having a breakout season in Denver, and we like him even more with Aaron Gordon sidelined. Porter is averaging a career-best 32 DraftKings points per game, scoring 38 and 44 DK points in his two most recent outings. What we love is that he’s guaranteed 35 minutes and 15-20 shots with Gordon out, making him an enticing option since Memphis is posting a 17th OPRK against opposing forwards.

Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
It’s been a disappointing sophomore season for Kessler in Utah, but this guy still has a massive upside. Kessler has scored at least 41 DraftKings points in five of his 12 starts this year and had at least 36 DK points 22 times last year. Those are unbelievable numbers from such a young player, and we have to assume Utah will give him more minutes in what’s turning into a nightmarish season. He’s also had his way with New Orleans, scoring at least 30 fantasy points in four straight matchups.

Value Plays

Nick Richards (C – CHA): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
The Hornets rule Mark Williams as doubtful every day for some reason, so it looks like Richards will continue to start at center. He’s done an excellent job in this expanded role, scoring at least 26 DraftKings points in five of his last seven games. He’s also got season-highs in his two most recent outings, providing 43 and 32 DK points in those gems. Good luck finding that from another $6K player, and we also don’t mind that LA allows the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Jaden Ivey (PG/SG – DET): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
The Pistons have been pitiful, but it’s not this kid’s fault. Ivey recently re-entered the starting lineup, scoring at least 26 DraftKings points in five straight fixtures. He’s also averaging 37 DK points per game across 31 minutes in that span. It’s clear this struggling team wants to develop one of their prized youngsters, and he should be out there no matter what the score is.

Scoot Henderson (PG/SG – POR): $5,000 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
Here we are with another talented youngster. This rookie has been terrible in his first month in the NBA, but we’re seeing glimpses of why he was drafted so highly. Scoot has at least 36 DraftKings points three times over the last three weeks! That’s amazing from a rookie in a bench role, and we have to assume Portland will give him more work as the season progresses. This is an outstanding opportunity to see what he’s got because San Antonio is surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Advantageous Pricing

• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $7,500 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel
• Michael Porter Jr. (SF – DEN): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
• Jalen Duren (C – DET): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
• Ayo Dosunmu (PG/SG – CHI): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Dereck Lively (C – DAL): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Dante Exum (PG/SG – DAL): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
• Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $8,700 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
• Duop Reath (PF/C – POR): $3,800 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Brandin Podziemski (SG/SF – GSW): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,000 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel

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