NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Monday (2/12)

We’re about to hit the All-Star break! That means we have many games on Monday and Wednesday because they want these clubs to get some action before a week off. That has us staring at a 10-game slate to start the week, and we have some of the best players in the league on display. Those guys will be featured in the cash game section, but we’ve also had some emerging studs from the trade deadline. Those will be in other sections, so let’s start with the schedule and odds!

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 CLE (CLE -9.5) O/U: 229
• IND at CHA (IND -11) O/U: 238
• CHI at ATL (ATL -3.5) O/U: 237
• SAS at TOR (TOR -6) O/U: 234
• NYK at HOU (NYK -4.5) O/U: 221
• DEN at MIL (DEN -1) O/U: 232
• NOP at MEM (NOP -8.5) O/U: 222
• WAS at DAL (DAL -14.5) O/U: 248
• GSW at UTA (UTA -1) O/U: 242
• MIN at LAC (LAC -4) O/U: 222

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

Injury Report

• Joel Embiid (knee) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) Questionable
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Clint Capela (adductor) OUT
• Julius Randle (shoulder) OUT
• Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) Questionable
• Alperen Sengun (back) Questionable
• Fred VanVleet (adductor) OUT
• Michael Porter Jr.(knee) Questionable
• Khris Middleton (ankle) OUT
• Ja Morant (shoulder) OUT
• Desmond Bane (ankle) OUT
• Marcus Smart (hand) OUT
• Dereck Lively (nose) OUT
• Norman Powell (face) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (foot) Questionable

Core Plays

Stephen Curry (PG – GSW): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,700 FanDuel
Chef Curry had one of the shots of the season on Saturday, and he’s single-handedly getting Golden State out of their deep hole. The former MVP has scored at least 39 DraftKings points in 11 of his last 12 games, scoring 55 or more DK points in five of his previous nine outings. That should bode well against a team like Utah, surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $8,600 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel
It’s risky to recommend Haliburton with how few minutes he’s been held to recently, but we’re finally seeing that restriction loosen. The All-Star has played at least 26 minutes in three straight games and at least 29 minutes in two. This guy averaged 51 DraftKings points per game in a 34-minute role through the opening months, and we have to assume he’ll return to that soon. We also love that Charlotte posted the worst defensive rating in the NBA.

Scottie Barnes (SF/PF – TOR): $8,500 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel
Toronto made significant changes at the trade deadline, but they want to run things through Barnes. The former Rookie of the Year has at least 44 DraftKings points in four of his last six outings, nearly recording triple-doubles in back-to-back games. That’s the stat-stuffing we want to see, especially against a San Antonio team that sits 25th in total defense. When they played in November, Scotty scored 61 DK points!

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
Luka has to be happy that Dallas traded for two big men. That will only make him better, with the Slovenian leading the NBA with 65 DraftKings points per game. He’s also established a 50-point floor, scoring at least 75 fantasy points in seven of his last 11 outings. That’s scary for this woeful Washington defense, allowing the most points in the NBA.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,700 DraftKings, $11,800 FanDuel
Giannis isn’t in the MVP conversation, but he’s been the second-best player in DFS for two months now. The Greek Freak is averaging 62 DraftKings points per game in that span, showcasing a 96-point upside. That’s tough to overlook in a premier matchup with the Nuggets because he’s got at least 54 fantasy points in three meetings with the Nuggets over the last two years.

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,500 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
The Joker has been as dominant as last year, but it’s hard to argue with a 60-point average. That’s what we’ve seen for four years now, with Joker averaging at least 60 fantasy points in each of those. That displays how consistent this beast is, and a matchup with Milwaukee is far from concerning. The Bucks rank 23rd in total defense, with Joker collecting 77 DK points in their matchup earlier in the year.

GPP Targets

Amen Thompson (PG/SG – HOU): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
These Thompson twins look like a force to be reckoned with, and it’s exciting to see Amen get some work in Houston. He’s been starting in the absence of Fred VanVleet, averaging 36 DK points per game across 32 minutes a night in his four starts. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, and it’s a reliable stat line with how this kid stuffs the stat sheet.

Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Utah made a few deals at the deadline, and they will start Kessler from here on out. This kid was a $7K player as a starter last season, flirting with a 40-point average in that expanded role. That’s what we saw in his first game back in the starting lineup, dropping 36 DK points across 27 minutes. All he needs is 25-30 minutes to provide 30-40 fantasy points, which makes him about $1,000 too cheap on both sites, particularly against an undersized Golden State team.

Marvin Bagley (PF/C – WAS): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
The Wizards parted ways with Daniel Gafford at the deadline, forcing Bagley into a start on Saturday. While he did nothing in that game, we’re encouraged by the opportunity. This former Top 5 pick had 42 and 47 DK points in his two previous starts and has the ability to be the best per-dollar play if he gets rolling. If he continues to see 30 minutes as a starter, Bagley will be a $7K player in no time.

Value Plays

Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Here we are with another fill-in! Big O has been starting at center in the absence of Clint Capela, guaranteeing him 30-35 minutes as the starting center. This youngster has always been a beast in limited minutes, but he’s averaging over 30 DK points per game whenever he plays 30 minutes. That makes him an excellent per-dollar play against anyone, and he needs to play big minutes to oppose Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond.

Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
It’s been a nightmarish season for the Wizards, but Jones continues to look like a solid signing. The Washington point guard has scored at least 34 DraftKings points in three straight fixtures, posting a 34-point average across his last 29 games. That makes the pricing difficult to understand, especially since he faces a Dallas team allowing the most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Tre Mann (PG/SG – CHA): $4,600 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
We weren’t sure what to make of the Mann trade, but it appears Charlotte wants to make him their starting point guard until LaMelo Ball returns. We haven’t seen much of this kid, but he did record a triple-double in last year’s finale as the highlight player for the Thunder. Mann had 31 DK points across 27 minutes in his first start with the Hornets. That’s hard to find from players in this price range, and the matchup with Indiana is incredible. The Pacers play at the fastest pace in the NBA while ranked 26th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.

Advantageous Pricing

• Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
• Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• Tre Mann (PG/SG – CHA): $4,600 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Cameron Payne (PG/SG – PHI): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $8,900 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
• Kelly Olynyk (PF/C – TOR): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
• Zion Williamson (PF – NOP): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
• Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
• Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel

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