NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (2/2)

After a slow slate on Thursday, we’re back to normal here. We have 10 games making up this Friday card, and the injury reports are getting ridiculous. It’s difficult to see so many players go down, and it will only get more chaotic with the trade deadline going down next week. These next 10 days of DFS will be chaos, but it’s a great time to capitalize if you have your eyes and ears open to all the breaking news.

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

• LAC at DET (LAC -11.5) O/U: 234
• MIA at WAS (MIA -8) O/U: 231
• PHX at ATL (PHX -3.5) O/U: 246
• SAC at IND (SAC -2.5) O/U: 245
• TOR at HOU (HOU -4.5) O/U: 227
• ORL at MIN (MIN -7) O/U: 212
• NOP at SAS (NOP -7) O/U: 236
• CHA at OKC (OKC -15.5) O/U: 228
• GSW at MEM (GSW -6) O/U: 223
• POR at DEN (DEN -11) O/U: 221

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

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (ankle) Doubtful
• Jalen Williams (ankle) OUT
• Alperen Sengun (illness) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (foot) Questionable
• Immanuel Quickley (quad) Questionable
• RJ Barrett (knee) Questionable
• Jakob Poeltl (ankle) Questionable
• Luke Kennard (knee) OUT
• Ivica Zubac (calf) OUT
• Keldon Johnson (elbow) Questionable
• Chris Paul (hand) OUT
• Isaiah Stewart (ankle) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (calf) OUT
• Jordan Poole (illness) Questionable
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT

Core Plays

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $10,400 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
Sabonis is stuffing the stat sheet at will right now, recording a triple-double nearly 10 times over the last month. The big man is averaging 21.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists across his last 22 outings. That’s incredible against a team like Indiana, ranked 28th in total defense while playing at the fastest pace in the league. It’s also a revenge game for Domas, who dropped 55 DK points in their one matchup earlier in the season.

Devin Booker (PG/SG – PHX): $9,900 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
This Suns team is starting to get scary, and we must attribute it to DB’s sharpshooting. The All-Star is averaging 33.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.0 assists across his last 11 games. That equates to a 53-point average, and we don’t want to avoid him against a team like Atlanta. The Hawks rank 27th in defensive efficiency and 29th in points allowed while allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Brandon Ingram (SF/PF – NOP): $7,700 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
Ingram likely won’t make the All-Star team, but this guy is quietly having a monster season in New Orleans. The forward has scored at least 33 DraftKings points in seven straight games, posting a 43-point average in that span. That’s amazing from an $8K player, and we adore the matchup with San Antonio. The Spurs sit 25th in defensive efficiency and 26th in points allowed, with BI scoring 42 DK points in their matchup last month.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,300 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
The Joker sat a game on Wednesday but was due for a small rest with how he’s been balling. The two-time MVP has established a 50-point floor over the last four years while averaging over 60 DraftKings points per game in that span. Not many people can do what Joker does, and he should pummel this 24th-ranked Portland defense. In their last three matchups, Jokic is averaging 32.7 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
SGA has an uphill battle to win MVP, but being in the conversation shows how absurd this kid has become. Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in all but two games this year, generating a 53-point average. He has at least 56 fantasy points in four of his last seven outings and could reach that against Charlotte. The Hornets have the worst defensive rating in the NBA while surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Kawhi Leonard (SF/PF – LAC): $8,800 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
The Clippers have been the best team in the NBA for over a month, and Kawhi has been a major reason. The former Finals MVP has scored at least 33 DraftKings points in 27 consecutive games, totaling a 49-point average in that stretch. That’s why he’s a perennial All-Star and should destroy Detroit. The Pistons rank 27th in points allowed and 29th in defensive efficiency.

GPP Targets

Jimmy Butler (SF/PF – MIA): $7,800 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
Jimmy Buckets has been struggling along with the rest of this roster, but he’s about to get hot. We’ve seen glimpses of it over the last week, with JB scoring at least 45 DraftKings points in three straight games. He knows he needs to get this team out of this slump, and it’s bizarre to see him this cheap since he’s starting to get going. A matchup with Washington is lovely, too, ranked 28th in defensive efficiency and last in points allowed.

Myles Turner (C – IND): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
We had Turner in this section yesterday, and we’re going back to him for all the same reasons. The big man is averaging 33 DraftKings points per game and has seen his price drop too far. He’s also showcased a 50-point ceiling and could be asked to do more if some Pacers are rested in the second half of a back-to-back set. Facing Sacramento only makes him more enticing, scoring 44 DK points against them in their final matchup last season.

Xavier Tillman (PF/C – MEM): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Here we are with another carryover from yesterday’s piece. We had Tillman in here because Memphis is missing most of their roster. Over his last 13 starts, X has averaged nearly 30 DraftKings points per game. He’s also shown us the ability to score 40 fantasy points in three of those and should be looking at 35-40 minutes with the Grizzlies missing so many key pieces. Not to mention, the Warriors rank 22nd in total defense.

Value Plays

Dennis Schroder (PG – TOR): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
Schroder was relegated to the bench once Toronto acquired Immanuel Quickley, but he’s back to starting now that IQ is sidelined. That’s led to Dennis the Menace scoring at least 32 DraftKings points in three consecutive outings. He wasn’t far off that in this role earlier in the season, and it’s hard to understand why he remains so affordable.

Tre Jones (PG – SAS): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
The Spurs finally inserted Jones into their starting lineup last month, and his fantasy value has skyrocketed. Tre has scored at least 26 fantasy points in 10 straight outings, providing a 34-point average in that stretch. That’s no surprise since he’s the primary ball-handler for this team, and we’ve seen him score at least 33 fantasy points in two of his last three starts against the Pels.

Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
Gafford was the player I highlighted most in the offseason, and he continues to be an immense value in DFS. DG is the only true center in Washington, averaging 34 DraftKings points per game across his last 31 outings. He’s also surpassed 31 DK points in four of his last five fixtures and should play heavy minutes to oppose Bam Adebayo. In his final matchup with Miami last year, Gafford finished with 39 DraftKings points!

Advantageous Pricing

• Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
• Ausar Thompson (SF – DET): $3,700 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
• Bilal Coulibaly (SF – WAS): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Kevin Huerter (SG/SF – SAC): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
• Jonathan Kuminga (SF/PF – SAC): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
• Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $9,300 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
• Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Fred VanVleet (PG – HOU): $6.900 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
• Naz Reid (C – MIN): $4,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel

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