NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Tuesday (1/2)

Traditional scheduling in the NBA can be frustrating at times, but it feels like they’ve been trying to even out the games more often. That’s what we like to see because we always want numerous teams to talk about for DFS purposes. This one is perfect in that aspect because we have six games to discuss. That’s not too many to be overwhelmed with, but it still gives us plenty to discuss!

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

• CHI at PHI (PHI -10.5) O/U: 224
• BKN at NOP (NOP -6.5) O/U: 230
• BOS at OKC (BOS -2.5) O/U: 238
• SAS at MEM (MEM -12) O/U: 232
• ORL at GSW (GSW -3.5) O/U: 232
• CHA at SAC (SAC -15.5) O/U: 233.5

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros,

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Terry Rozier (illness) Questionable
• Nikola Vucevic (groin) OUT
• Keldon Johnson (back) Questionable
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Ben Simmons (back) OUT
• Draymond Green (suspension) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (calf) OUT
• Zach Collins (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Trey Murphy (knee) Questionable
• Markelle Fultz (knee) Questionable

Core Plays

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
SGA is a monster. This kid is leading the way for OKC, scoring at least 46 DraftKings points in all but four games this season. That has him sitting at a 54-point average, and you know he’ll be motivated against an elite team like Boston. In their one matchup last season, Gilgeous-Alexander scored nearly 60 DK points.

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $9,800 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
Sabonis has been stuffing the stat sheet at ease recently, recording a massive triple-double in his most recent outing. That has the big man averaging 21.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 9.0 assists across his last nine games. Those are Nikola Jokic-type numbers, making him an easy play against Charlotte. They own a 27th OPRK against opposing centers while sitting last in defensive efficiency.

Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $8,200 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Drum used to be this expansive in his days with Detroit because he’s among the best per-minute producers in the NBA. The big man is averaging 21 DK points across 14.5 minutes this season, which is amazing since he’s filling in as a 30-minute starting center for Nikola Vucevic. That’s led to Drum scoring at least 57 fantasy points in two of his three starts.

Cash Game Considerations

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,000 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
It looks like the MVP is going to return here! That automatically puts Embiid in the cash game section because he’s been the best cash game option over the last month. The center had at least 67 DraftKings points in 11 of 12 games before getting injured, averaging over 70 fantasy points per game in that span. That’s the highest total in the NBA, and it’s scary to think how good he’ll look since he’s healthy for the first time since the opening weeks.

Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Ja has been superb since his return from suspension. The athletic point guard is averaging 45 DraftKings points per game since his return. He says he’s playing at just 75 percent, and we know this All-Star will get better as the season progresses. The matchup is our favorite variable when examining Ja, with San Antonio surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing point guards. Not to mention, Morant has scored at least 47 DK points in all five matchups with the Spurs over the last three years.

De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $9,600 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
This speedy point guard has developed into one of the best players in the NBA. Fox has scored at least 36 DraftKings points in all but one game he’s finished this year, posting a 50-point average. That’s scary for this subpar Charlotte defense, with the Hornets ranked 26th in points allowed and last in defensive efficiency ratings. In their most recent matchup, Fox finished with 47 fantasy points!

GPP Targets

Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF – MEM): $7,200 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
JJJ has really struggled since Ja returned to action, but this price has fallen too far. The defensive stud was above $8K just a few weeks ago, and he’s flashed a 50-point ceiling numerous times this season. We believe one of those is in play against San Antonio, sitting 25th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed. He’s faced them four times since the start of last season, scoring at least 37 DraftKings points in all of those!

Keegan Murray (PF – SAC): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
This sophomore can be frustrating with his volatility, but Murray has one of the highest ceilings in the NBA. We saw that a few weeks ago, with Keegan collecting 70 DK points in one of the games of the year. He’s also averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game and should thrive since Charlotte surrenders the most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

Klay Thompson (SG/SF – GSW): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
It finally looked like Klay was out of his season-long slump, but his 1-of-11 showing in his most recent outing has fantasy managers horrified. In any case, Klay had at least 26 DK points in seven of eight games before that stinker, averaging nearly 35 DraftKings points per game in that span. A matchup with Orlando is tough, but that sort of form makes Thompson an enticing GPP option because of his career averages.

Value Plays

Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
Claxton has developed into one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, and it’s always intriguing to see him sitting around $7K on both sites. The Nets center has scored at least 31 DraftKings points in over half of his games this season, generating a 33-point average. What makes him such a good option is that he can do damage without scoring, which was crystal clear when he had 38 DK points in his last matchup with the Pels despite taking just four shots!

Marcus Smart (PG/SG – MEM): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
Smart and Morant returned to action simultaneously, but seeing Smart this cheap is strange. This defensive stud has been around $7K for most of his career, averaging nearly 30 DraftKings points per game. His most impactful variable is this matchup with San Antonio, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Chris Paul (PG – GSW): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
CP3 has been one of the best point guards in the NBA for 15 years, and it’s hard to believe he’s sitting around $6K. The Point God is averaging 28 DraftKings points per game and averages above 30 DK points per game when Draymond Green is out of the lineup. That’s amazing since he dropped 45 DK points in his most recent outing, which he can definitely duplicate in this expanded role.

Advantageous Pricing

• Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,000 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $8,200 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
• Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $8,500 DraftKings, $9,700 FanDuel
• Luke Kornet (C – BOS): $3,900 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Dennis Smith Jr.(PG/SG – BKN): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Trayce Jackson-Davis (PF/C – GSW): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel

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