NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Thursday (1/25)

This has been one of the best weeks of basketball all season, and we can thank the schedule makers for a beautiful job. They’ve had some missteps with some bizarre slates along the way, but we’ve had a fair share of games every day this week. They’ve also been some great matchups, and we have more here. With that said, let’s dive into this Thursday 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

• PHI at IND (PHI -4.5) O/U: 237
• UTA at WAS (UTA -7) O/U: 244
• BOS at MIA (BOS -6.5) O/U: 224
• MIN at BKN (MIN -4) O/U: 219
• DEN at NYK (DEN -2) O/U: 224
• SAC at GSW (GSW -2) O/U: 240
• CHI at LAL (GSW -1.5) O/U: 240

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

Injury Report

• Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) OUT
• Zach LaVine (ankle) OUT
• LeBron James (ankle) Questionable
• Tobias Harris (illness) Questionable
• Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) Questionable
• Jaime Jaquez (groin) OUT
• Chris Paul (hand) OUT
• Ben Simmons (back) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) OUT
• Mike Conley (illness) Questionable
• Cam Johnson (shoulder) Questionable
• Day’Ron Sharpe (knee) OUT

Core Plays

Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,200 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
Davis has been one of the best players in the NBA this season. The big man averages 54 DraftKings points per game, scoring at least 50 fantasy points 31 times this year. That’s the average and floor we’re looking for, and you know he’ll be motivated against his childhood team. In his last two matchups with the Bulls, AD averages 58 fantasy points per game!

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $9,900 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
The Kings have been struggling recently, but it’s no fault of Sabonis. The big man has been flirting with triple-double averages over the last month, averaging 21 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 8.7 assists across his previous 24 fixtures. The matchup with the Warriors is wonderful, too, sitting 21st in total defense while posting a 21st OPRK against opposing centers.

Kyle Kuzma (PF – WAS): $7,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe, but Kuzma has been the Wizards best player this season. The volatile forward averages 39 DraftKings points per game, scoring at least 35 fantasy points in nine straight outings. That means he should be above $8K on both sites, especially in this matchup. Utah ranks 22nd in total defense while surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Cash Game Considerations

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,600 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel
Can we really fade Embiid after what we saw on Monday? The big man finished with 70 points and 18 rebounds en route to 106 DraftKings points. That’s the highest total of the season, and it’s less surprising since he’s leading the league with 66 fantasy points per game. We wouldn’t fade him against anyone with averages like those, but we will use him against an Indiana team that ranks 27th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed while playing at the fastest pace in the league.

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,300 DraftKings, $12,100 FanDuel
We have Joker in this section whenever he’s on the slate. The two-time MVP has established a 50-point floor while averaging over 60 DraftKings points per game. His stat-stuffing makes him one of the safest options on every slate, and you know he’ll be motivated in Madison Square Garden. He’s got 50 and 54 DK points in his last two games at MSG.

Lauri Markkanen (SF/PF – UTA): $8,000 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
The Jazz have revived their season over the last month, and Markkanen is the primary reason for that success. Despite an 18-point dud in his most recent outing, Markkanen averaged 44 DK points per game across his previous 17 outings. The most impactful variable is the matchup with Washington, ranked 29th in defensive efficiency and last in points allowed.

GPP Targets

Klay Thompson (SG/SF – GSW): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
We had Thompson in here yesterday, and we want to go right back to him after another successful outing. This sharpshooter has been sharpening his scope recently, averaging 32 DraftKings points per game over the last month. Squaring off with Sacramento is our favorite part of this, with the Kings ranked 21st in points allowed. We didn’t even mention that Thompson has some of his best career averages against them, dropping 40 fantasy points in their most recent meeting.

Spencer Dinwiddie (PG/SG – BKN): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
It’s tough to trust Dinwiddie with some of the duds he’s posted recently, but he’s also mixed in some upside games. The Nets point guard had at least 32 DraftKings points in three straight games before that most recent stinker, averaging 29 DK points per game this year. That’s an amazing total from a $5,200 player, and we saw Dinwiddie score at least 33 DK points in all four matchups with Minnesota last year.

Alex Caruso (PG/SG – CHI): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Caruso has stepped into the starting lineup with Zach LaVine injured, averaging nearly 30 DK points per game in this expanded role. That’s tough to find from a player barely cracking $5K, scoring at least 26 fantasy points in four of his last five fixtures. He should also be motivated against his former team, especially since LA owns a 27th OPRK against opposing guards.

Value Plays

Collin Sexton (PG/SG – UTA): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe, but Sexton has been one of the best players in the Western Conference over the last month. The athletic guard has scored at least 35 DraftKings points in seven straight outings, averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game in that stretch. It’s hard to believe he remains so affordable with that sort of production, and Washington couldn’t be a much better matchup.

Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
Gafford is one of the most underrated players in the league, and he’s one of the best per-minute producers around. The Washington big man is averaging 33 DraftKings points per game since December 1. He’s doing that damage across just 27 minutes a night, and he could be an $8K talent if he stopped getting in foul trouble. Utah is an excellent matchup for him to build off that success, surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
It was strange to see McConnell play just 21 minutes in the last game Haliburton missed, but this guy was a stud when Hali was out two weeks ago. Before Haliburton returned to the lineup, TJ averaged 29 DK points per game across his previous 10 outings. He was playing just 22 minutes a night in that span and shouldn’t be this cheap, with Indiana needing a playmaker on the floor.

Advantageous Pricing

• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,200 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
• Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,600 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel
• Collin Sexton (PG/SG – UTA): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• John Collins (PF/C – UTA): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
• Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
• Kris Dunn (PG/SG – UTA): $3,900 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
• Paul Reed (C – PHI): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
• OG Anunoby (SG/SF – NYK): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
• Jrue Holiday (PG/SG – MIL): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $4,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel

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