NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Tuesday (12/26)

That Christmas slate was fantastic, and we’re back to more basketball here. We have nine games making up this Tuesday card, but none of the true MVP candidates are on this slate. It’s rare to have a slate where Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Luka Doncic are all missing, but it simplifies lineup construction! With that said, let’s dive into this 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

• BKN at DET (BKN -6.5) O/U: 232
• ORL at WAS (ORL -7.5) O/U: 237.5
• MEM at NOP (NOP -4.5) O/U: 229
• ATL at CHI (CHI -1.5) O/U: 234
• IND at HOU (HOU -2.5) O/U: 237.5
• UTA at SAS (UTA -2.5) O/U: 242
• MIN at OKC (OKC -3.5) O/U: 225.5
• SAC at POR (SAC -7.5) O/U: 236
• CHA at LAC (LAC -10.5) O/U: 228

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

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (ankle) Questionable
• Victor Wembanyama (ankle) Questionable
• Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) Questionable
• Shaedon Sharpe (groin) Questionable
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Kawhi Leonard (hip) Questionable
• Ben Simmons (back) OUT
• Talen Horton-Tucker (foot) Questionable
• Keyonte George (ankle) Questionable
• Malik Monk (foot) Questionable
• Mark Williams (shoulder) Doubtful
• Josh Giddey (ankle) Questionable
• Brandon Miller (ankle) Questionable
• Bruce Brown (knee) Questionable
• Marcus Smart (ankle) Questionable
• Jalen Suggs (wrist) Questionable
• Markelle Fultz (knee) OUT
• De’Andre Hunter (knee) OUT

Core Plays

Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $9,800 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe what Ja is doing right now. The Grizzlies point guard missed the first 25 games, but he’s been one of the best players since his return. Morant has scored 57 DraftKings points in two of his three games! He says he’s playing at just 75 percent, and it’s scary to think how he’ll look at 100! The matchup with New Orleans isn’t bad either, with Ja scoring at least 46 DK points in all three of their matchups last season.

Paolo Banchero (SF/PF – ORL): $8,700 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Banchero was the top pick in last year’s draft for a reason. He’s showing that accumine, scoring at least 36 DraftKings points in 11 of his previous 15 games. He’s also averaging over 40 DraftKings points per game in that span but has the best matchup in basketball here. The Wizards rank last in points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing forwards. When they played on the 1st, Paolo provided nearly 60 DraftKings points!

Lauri Markkanen (PF – UTA): $8,600 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
Markkanen was a magnificent acquisition by Utah last season, developing into an All-Star player. He’s averaging nearly 40 DK points per game since joining the Jazz, and he will be asked to do more with so many Utah players on the injury report. We really love this matchup with San Antonio, sitting 25th in defensive efficiency and 27th in points allowed. That was clear when Lauri averaged 46 DK points per game in their three matchups last season.

Cash Game Considerations

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $10,400 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Hali is the best point guard in the NBA. Being the primary playmaker for the fastest-paced team is a recipe for success, averaging over 50 DraftKings points per game. He’s also scored at least 38 DK points in all but two games this year. Facing the Rockets can be rough for most players, but Hali had 29 points and 19 assists in their most recent meeting!

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $10,500 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel
Gilgeous-Alexander is playing some of the best ball in the league right now. The MVP candidate has scored at least 46 DraftKings points in 13 consecutive outings, generating a 61-point average in that span. That’s on par with Jokic and Embiid, making him an easy option against the Timberwolves. Shai has at least 50 DraftKings points in four straight matchups with Minnesota.

Alperen Sengun (C – HOU): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
Sengun is stepping into star territory. He’s truly developed into a Nikola Jokic-type player, running the offense out of the center position in Houston. That expanded role has led to Sengun scoring 42 DraftKings points per game this year. That stat-stuffing will keep him doing that, and it’s terrifying that this 21-year-old gets better every time he’s on the floor. Not to mention, Indiana ranks 29th in total defense while playing at the fastest pace in the league.

GPP Targets

Jaden Ivey (PG/SG – DET): $6,200 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
This Detroit team is a disaster, but it’s not Ivey’s fault. This sophomore has been one of their best players over the last month, averaging 31 DraftKings points per game in his nine starts. He’s also got 45 and 49 fantasy points in his two most recent outings and is becoming one of the focal points of this offense once again. One of those was in this same matchup against Brooklyn, who rank 22nd in defensive efficiency ratings.

Kyle Anderson (SF/PF – MIN): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
This is risky, but we were encouraged to see Anderson start for Karl-Anthony Towns over the weekend. All we need is Anderson to play big minutes because he’s a monster in a 30-minute role. He averaged over 35 DK points per game when he played at least 30 minutes last season, stuffing the stat sheet in this expanded role. We saw him play 29 minutes in the last game without KAT, and he would be one of the best values out there if he duplicates that again.

Naz Reid (C – MIN): $6,400 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
I thought Reid would be the one who would start for KAT over the weekend, but he was kept in a bench role. We’re willing to take a risk on him in a GPP, though, because he averaged nearly 40 DraftKings points per game as a starter last season. He also flashed a 60-point upside numerous times and is one of the most talented big men in the league when given the opportunity to showcase his abilities.

Value Plays

Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Gafford’s price is finally climbing, but it’s about time. This center has been in this section all season because he’s locked into a 30-minute role as Washington’s only true big man. That’s led to DG averaging 34 DraftKings points per game across his last 18 outings. That includes two games where he left early, meaning his average could be even higher! Orlando is an outstanding matchup, too, with Gafford dropping 43 DK points in their most recent meeting.

Alex Caruso (PG/SF – CHI): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
Caruso plays at a ridiculous pace, leading to him missing numerous games. With that said, AC is always productive when he’s on the floor. That’s huge since he’s been starting in the absence of Zach LaVine, averaging 28 DK points per game in the last 14 games he’s finished. You can’t ask for any more from such an affordable player, and we don’t mind that he plays a 27th-ranked Atlanta defense.

Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $6,400 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Zoo has been in this section since James Harden joined LA, and it’s easy to understand why. The Beard makes centers elite fantasy options, setting them up for easy buckets on nearly every possession. That’s allowed Zubac to average 34 DraftKings points per game across his last 14 fixtures. We don’t want to fade that type of production against Charlotte, sitting 26th in points allowed and 29th in defensive efficiency. They’re also surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers as well!

Advantageous Pricing

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $10,500 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel
• Deni Avdija (SF – WAS): $6,600 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Bilal Coulibaly (PF – WAS): $6,100 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
• Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $9,000 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
• Chet Holmgren (PF/C – OKC): $7,700 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel

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