NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (1/5)

This scheduling is so annoying. While we had two great games yesterday, having just two games one night and then 14 the next is infuriating. Yes, you read that right. We have 14 games on this card! That means all but two teams are in action, leading to a frantic Friday card. We have plenty to discuss, 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

• UTA at BOS (BOS -14) O/U: 240
• ATL at IND (IND -3.5) O/U: 264
• WAS at CLE (CLE -10) O/U: 240
• OKC at BKN (OKC -5) O/U: 234
• NYK at PHI (PHI -6.5) O/U: 228
• LAC at NOP (LAC -1) O/U: 228
• CHA at CHI (CHI -8) O/U: 224
• MIN at HOU (MIN -3.5) O/U: 218
• POR at DAL (DAL -10) O/U: 238
• ORL at DEN (DEN -10.5) O/U: 225
• MIA at PHX (PHX -4) O/U: 229
• DET at GSW (GSW -9.5) O/U: 228
• MEM at LAL (LAL -4.5) O/U: 240
• TOR at SAC (SAC -4.5) O/U: 238

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

Injury Report

• Kevin Durant (hamstring) Questionable
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Franz Wagner (ankle) OUT
• Nikola Vucevic (groin) Questionable
• Jimmy Butler (old) OUT
• Darius Garland (face) OUT
• Evan Mobley (knee) OUT
• Zach LaVine (foot) Questionable
• Ben Simmons (back) OUT
• Deandre Ayton (knee) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (calf) OUT
• Al Horford (old) Questionable
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Dante Exum (heel) Doubtful
• Dereck Lively (ankle) Questionable
• Tari Eason (leg) Questionable

Core Plays

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $10,200 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
It’s hard to understand how good of a playmaker Hali has become. This guy is averaging 12.7 assists per game, stuffing the stat sheet for the fastest-paced team in the NBA. That’s led to Haliburton scoring at least 61 DraftKings points in six straight fixtures. We can’t fade him in a game with a total above 260 points because Atlanta ranks 28th in total defense. When they played a month ago, Hali had 37 points, five rebounds, and 16 assists!

Donovan Mitchell (PG/SG – CLE): $9,500 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
Mitchell is having a career year in Cleveland, and he will have to keep going off with Evan Mobley and Darius Garland both sidelined. That’s led to DM scoring at least 52 DraftKings points in seven of his last 10 outings. That’s not far off his 48-point average for the year, but he should go wild against Washington. The Wizards rank last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Anfernee Simons (PG/SG – POR): $7,800 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Simons has quietly taken over this Portland offense with Damian Lillard out of town. He’s scored at least 36 DraftKings points in nine of the 11 games he’s finished, averaging 44 DK points per game in that span. It’s the role that’s allowing him to go off, averaging 36 minutes and 23 shots in those 11 games. We love that against Detroit, ranked 22nd in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,600 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Luka Magic is trying his best to hop into the MVP race with Jokic and Embiid. The Slovenian point guard is averaging 33.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists. That stat-stuffing has established a 60-point floor over the last month, averaging nearly 70 DK points per game in that span. That total should be easy to reach since half of Dallas’ roster is on the injury report, especially since Doncic is averaging 65 DK points per game in their two matchups this year.

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,500 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel
Embiid took down MVP honors last season, but he’s much better than he was then. The big man leads the NBA with over 65 DraftKings points per game. He’s also scored at least 67 fantasy points in 12 of his last 13 outings, taking over this offense in the absence of James Harden. They’re also expected to be without De’Anthony Melton, and it’s scary to think how high Embiid’s usage will be here.

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,400 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
The Joker just had the moment of the season on Thursday night, knocking down a game-winning halfcourt shot against the Warriors in an epic comeback win. That’s no surprise for the two-time MVP, averaging over 60 DraftKings points per game. He’s also established a 50-point floor and is one of the safest options on every slate. When he saw Orlando earlier in the season, he had a triple-double and fell just shy of 80 fantasy points!

GPP Targets

Myles Turner (C – IND): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
We want to have a ton of exposure to this Indiana-Atlanta matchup, and Turner looks like one of the best per-dollar plays out there. The big man is averaging 34 DraftKings points per game, scoring 31 DK points across 25 minutes in his last matchup with Atlanta. We expect that to be his floor because Atlanta allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Caris LeVert (SG/SF – CLE): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
LeVert is always one of our top-value plays whenever Garland or Mitchell is out for the Cavs. That’s what we have now, with LeVert seeing a massive boost in usage with one of them out. He’s averaging over 30 DK points per game without Garland but has at least 40 fantasy points in three of his last four fixtures. We love that against the worst defense in the NBA, surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

Dwight Powell (PF/C – DAL): $4,300 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
This Dallas roster suffered numerous injuries on Wednesday, and it should force Powell into the starting lineup. We expect him to start at center and play 25-30 minutes for Dereck Lively. Powell has played at least 28 minutes in eight games since the start of last season, averaging over 30 DK points per game in that expanded role. You’re way ahead of the field if you get that from someone this cheap. We didn’t even mention that Portland posts a 24th OPRK against opposing centers.

Value Plays

Jalen Johnson (PF – ATL): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
This kid put on a highlight reel on Wednesday, and he’s genuinely looking like one of the most improved players in the NBA. JJ has scored at least 43 DraftKings points in three of his four games since returning from injury but had a 33-point average through his first 13 fixtures. That shows just how much this kid is growing, and we love his athletic style of play against an Indiana team allowing the most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Isaiah Hartenstein (C – NYK): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
It’s hard to understand why Hartenstein is just $6,000 on DraftKings. He’s the starting center in New York for Mitchell Robinson, playing 35 minutes a night in this expanded role. He’s also got a 34-point average across his last 10 outings, seeing his minutes rise in seemingly every game. Facing Philly is challenging, but Hartenstein might have to play 40 minutes to match up with Embiid.

Nick Richards (C – CLE): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Here we are with another injury fill-in. Richards has been starting at center for Mark Williams, scoring at least 26 DraftKings points in eight of his last 11 outings. He’s also averaging over 30 DraftKings points per game in that span, but he could be asked to do even more with Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball injured as well. This is one of the few teams Charlotte has a good matchup with because Chicago is surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Advantageous Pricing

• Isaiah Hartenstein (C – NYK): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
• Caris LeVert (SG/SF – CLE): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
• Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG – UTA): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
• Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,400 DraftKings, $11,700 FanDuel
• Craig Porter (PG/SG – CLE): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Rudy Gobert (C – UTA): $7,000 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
• Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts