NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Wednesday (1/10)

This should be a wild Wednesday card. We had a tiny Tuesday slate, but we have 10 games to talk about here. I, unfortunately, have a rec game when the games are going on, but I can’t wait to make some lineups and see how this large slate plays out. With that said, let’s dive into this Wednesday’s games!

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

• MIN at BOS (BOS -6.5) O/U: 224
• SAS at DET (SAS -3.5) O/U: 239
• WAS at IND (IND -7.5) O/U: 252.5
• SAC at CHA (SAC -6.5) O/U: 233.5
• PHI at ATL (ATL -2.5) O/U: 245
• OKC at MIA (OKC -4) O/U: 234
• HOU at CHI (CHI -4) O/U: 216
• NOP at GSW (GSW -1) O/U: 233.5
• DEN at UTA (DEN -6.5) O/U: 237
• TOR at LAC (LAC -9.5) O/U: 235.5

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

Injury Report

• Cade Cunningham (knee) OUT
• Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) OUT
• Isaiah Stewart (toe) OUT
• Zach Collins (ankle) OUT
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• PJ Washington (foot) Questionable
• De’Anthony Melton (back)
• Jimmy Butler (foot) OUT
• Dillon Brooks (oblique) OUT
• Chris Paul (hand) OUT
• Draymond Green (suspension) OUT
• Joel Embiid (knee) OUT
• Kristaps Porzingis (knee) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (quad) Questionable
• Jrue Holiday (elbow) Questionable
• Al Horford (illness) Questionable
• Clint Capela (Achilles) Questionable
• Caleb Martin (ankle) Doubtful

Core Plays

Jamal Murray (PG/SG – DEN): $8,000 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Murray has always been one of the best point guards when he’s healthy, which appears to be the case right now. The bubble star has scored at least 41 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games, averaging nearly 50 DK points per game in that span. That’s bad news for Utah because the Jazz rank 23rd in points allowed and defensive efficiency. Murray has also mauled the Jazz throughout his career, averaging 42 DK points per game in their last three matchups.

Terry Rozier (PG/SG – CHA): $8,500 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
Scary Terry has been giving opponents nightmares ever since LaMelo Ball went down. That’s skyrocketed Rozier’s usage, scoring at least 44 DraftKings points in 12 of the last 15 games he’s finished. The Charlotte guard is also averaging 48 fantasy points per game in this expanded role and should keep rolling against the Kings. Sacramento sits 22nd in points allowed and 21st in defensive efficiency.

TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Not many people are going to fade McConnell with Haliburton missing this game. We don’t expect TJ to start, but he should play 30 minutes off of the bench and remain the Pacers primary ball-handler. In the six games McConnell has played at least 22 minutes, he’s averaging 36 DK points per game! He’s always been an elite stat-stuffer when given the opportunity, and he’s due for a price bump, with Hali expected to miss significant time.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,000 DraftKings
The Joker is in this section every time he plays, and he’ll remain in it. The big man has scored at least 40 DK points in all but a handful of games over the last three years, averaging over 60 fantasy points per game. He’s third in the NBA in fantasy scoring but is one of the safest bets for 50-60 DK points on every slate. He’s also had his way with Utah, scoring at least 73 fantasy points in five of their last eight matchups.

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $10,000 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
We had Domas in this section yesterday, and we’re going right back to the well after another monster night. The big man has been flirting with triple-double averages over the last month, scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in 14 consecutive fixtures. He’s also posting a 51-point average in that span and should slice right through the Hornets. Charlotte sits 25th in points allowed and 29th in defensive efficiency, with Domas collecting 51 points and 42 rebounds in their last two matchups.

Paul Reed (PF/C – PHI): $5,700 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
With Joel Embiid getting ruled out, everyone is going to use Reed. He should start at center in the MVP’s absence, averaging over 30 DraftKings points per game in this expanded role. He’s been one of the best per-minute producers throughout his career and should never be this cheap with the potential to play 30 minutes. The matchup with Atlanta is astounding too, allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

GPP Targets

Klay Thompson (SG/SF – GSW): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
This sharpshooter has struggled with his shot all season, but he’s starting to find it. Thompson has scored at least 25 DK points in 11 of his last 13 games, dropping 31 or more fantasy points in eight of those. That’s what we’ve been waiting to see, and he should be asked to do more with Draymond Green and Chris Paul missing this game. In his last three matchups with New Orleans, he’s averaging 39 DK points per game against them.

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – WAS): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
I never imagined Poole would be so poor as the primary playmaker in Washington, but he’s still got the potential to be a monster on any given night. The volatile guard has scored at least 38 DK points seven times this year and has a 50-point upside as long as he receives 35 minutes and 15-20 shots. One of those ceiling games is more likely against Indiana, ranked 29th in total defense while playing at the fastest pace in the league.

Andrew Nembhard (PG/SG – IND): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
We like McConnell more than Nembhard, but we expect Nembhard to start at point guard in the absence of Haliburton. In the three games that Nembhard has played at least 27 minutes, he’s averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game. We expect that to happen from here on out, and we love that he faces a Washington team that ranks last in points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Value Plays

Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Jones got off to a slow start in his first month as Washington’s primary point guard, but he’s been finding his role recently. Tyus is averaging 35 DK points per game across his last 14 fixtures. That’s an amazing total from such an affordable player, and he should pummel a Pacers team playing at such a swift pace. When he played them last month, Tyus picked up the first triple-double of his career en route to a season-high 54 DK points!

Nick Richards (C – CHA): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
It’s sad how many injuries Charlotte has suffered, losing LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, and Mark Williams. Those last two injuries should guarantee Richards 30-35 minutes as the starting center, averaging 30 DK points per game in that expanded role. We expect his numbers to get even higher with Washington out now, and we’re not scared of him facing a subpar Sacramento defense.

Jaden Ivey (PG/SG – DET): $6,800 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
We also had Ivey in here yesterday, and we want to continue to use him as long as Cunningham remains out. This guy was already stepping up with Cade, compiling a 32-point average over his last 10 fixtures. That could be his floor with Cunningham’s 30 percent usage rate on the bench and we couldn’t ask for much better of a matchup. San Antonio sits 25th in defensive efficiency and 27th in points allowed while surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Advantageous Pricing

• Myles Turner (C – IND): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $8,900 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
• Ausar Thompson (SG/SF – DET): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,500 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
• Chet Holmgren (PF/C – OKC): $7,700 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
• Alperen Sengun (C – HOU): $8,200 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel
• DeMar DeRozan (SF/PF – CHI): $7,600 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
• Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel

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