NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (1/26)

What a wonderful week of basketball we just witnessed! We saw some historical performances, and it felt like there were close games every night. That motivates me to finish the week strong, and we have the perfect amount of games to close the week. We have eight games making up this Friday card, so let’s go ahead and 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

• DAL at ATL (DAL -1.5) O/U: 243
• PHX at IND (PHX -4.5) O/U: 242
• HOU at CHA (HOU -5) O/U: 224
• LAC at TOR (LAC -7.5) O/U: 233
• OKC at NOP (NOP -2) O/U: 241
• CLE at MIL (MIL -5.5) O/U: 238
• ORL at MEM (ORL -5) O/U: 213
• POR at SAS (SAS -2.5) O/U: 231

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

Injury Report

• Kyrie Irving (thumb) Questionable
• Trae Young (concussion) Questionable
• Tyrese Haliburton (hammy) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (calf) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Jakob Poeltl (calf) OUT
• Darius Garland (face) OUT
• Evan Mobley (knee) OUT
• Ja Morant (shoulder) OUT
• Desmond Bane (ankle) OUT
• Marcus Smart (hand) OUT
• Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal) OUT
• Tre Jones (foot) Questionable
• Immanuel Quickley (thigh) OUT
• Clint Capela (calf) Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon (tanking) Questionable

Core Plays

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,100 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel
SGA has been one of the best reliable players in the league this season. The MVP candidate averages 53 DraftKings points per game, scoring at least 38 DK points in all but three games this year. That consistency makes him impossible to overlook against New Orleans, scoring at least 43 DK points in each of their last nine matchups while posting a 56-point average against them.

Kevin Durant (SF/PF – PHX): $9,200 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
Durant wants to be part of the GOAT conversation, but we’ll keep him in DFS for now. The Slim Reaper has scored at least 36 DraftKings points every game this year en route to a 51-point average. He’s also got 61 and 71 DK points in two of his last three outings and should have another big night against Indiana. Not only do the Pacers play at the fastest pace in the NBA, but they rank bottom three in points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Alperen Sengun (C – HOU): $8,600 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
Sengun has taken the step into stardom this season, playing a Nikola Jokic-type role for the Rockets. The Turkish center has scored at least 35 DraftKings points in 19 of his last 21 games, averaging 48 DK points per game in that span. He has at least 58 fantasy points in three straight outings and should slaughter Charlotte. The Hornets have the worst defensive rating in the NBA while surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,300 DraftKings, $12,300 FanDuel
Luka Magic is a special player and is always one of the best cash game options out there. The Slovenian is second in the NBA with 63 DraftKings points per game, matching that with an absurd 50-point floor. He’d be a worthy option against anyone, but he’s fantastic against a 27th-ranked Atlanta defense. We’ve also seen Doncic post a 74-point average across his last three outings, and he would be a must-roster player if Kyrie is out again.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,000 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
The Greek Freak has been unbelievable recently. The former MVP has 81 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, averaging nearly 70 DK points per game since the end of November. Some might be concerned with the matchup against Cleveland, but Antetokounmpo is averaging over 70 DK points per game against them in their last four matchups.

Devin Booker (SG – PHX): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,700 FanDuel
Booker was feeling it Wednesday night against Dallas, and it looks like he’s comfortable as the Suns primary playmaker. The All-Star has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in 31 of 35 games, surpassing 60 DK points twice over the last week. We don’t want to fade that hot streak against Indiana, allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing guards. DB had 26 points, six rebounds, and eight assists when they played last week!

GPP Targets

Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Bro-Lo can be a frustrating player to roster at times, but the big man is starting to get hot once again. We saw him post a 40-point average for a month-long stretch earlier in the year while scoring at least 40 DK points in three of his last five fixtures. He’s also played Cleveland in two competitive games this year, averaging 34 DK points per game against them. All of that has Bro-Lo as an exciting GPP option below $7K on both sites.

TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
We had McConnell in here yesterday, and we definitely want to go back to him with Haliburton sidelined. When the All-Star was out over the last few weeks, McConnell averaged nearly 30 fantasy points per game. He did that damage despite barely playing over 20 minutes a night, but we expect TJ to see 25-30 minutes because they need his playmaking on the floor. The playing time worries us, but it’s a great time to pivot to McConnell in a GPP because he can stuff the stat sheet at will.

Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $5,000 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
Fultz hasn’t looked great since returning, but we’re encouraged by his role. The former top pick just returned to the starting lineup in Orlando’s most recent game and has played at least 29 minutes in two of his last three outings. We saw Fultz play at a $7K level when he played 30 minutes a night last year, and we want to bank on him when this price is the lowest it’ll be all season. We also don’t mind that Memphis allows the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Value Plays

Malcolm Brogdon (PG/SG – POR): $NA DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
The Blazers look like a different team when Brogdon is their starting point guard. They had him in there earlier in the season and regressed back to that a few games ago. If you look at Brogdon’s last 13 starts, he’s averaging over 35 DraftKings points per game. That’s why his price is climbing, but it’s still not high enough as Portland’s primary ball-handler. This is also one of the few games where the Blazers can win, squaring off with a San Antonio team that sits 25th in points allowed and 26th in defensive efficiency.

Tre Jones (PG – SAS): $NA DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Jones is questionable for this game, but we love him if he’s able to go. This guy has taken over as the starting point guard over the last three weeks, averaging 31 DraftKings points per game in this expanded role. That means his price still needs a bump, especially in this tremendous matchup with the Trail Blazers. Portland ranks 22nd in defensive efficiency while posting a 24th OPRK against opposing point guards.

John Konchar (SG/SF – MEM): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
I used Konchar across all of my lineups on Wednesday, and we have to use him with how shorthanded Memphis is right now. They’re missing four of their five starters, forcing Konchar into a 30-minute starting role. That led to JK scoring 28 and 32 DK points in his two most recent outings, stuffing the stat sheet in both. That’s amazing for such an affordable player, and he’s a great pairing with studs like Doncic and Antetokounmpo.

Advantageous Pricing

• Alperen Sengun (C – HOU): $8,600 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
• Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,300 DraftKings, $12,300 FanDuel
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,000 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
• John Konchar (SG/SF – MEM): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
• Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $4,600 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
• Dereck Lively (C – DAL): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• Amen Thompson (SG/SF – HOU): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
• Scottie Barnes (PG/SF – TOR): $8,500 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
• Khris Middleton (SF – MIL): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
• Caris LeVert (SG/SF – CLE): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• Chet Holmgren (PF/C – OKC): $7,200 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
• GG Jackson (SG/SF – MEM): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel

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