NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Thursday (2/8)

This is one of the weirdest slates of the season. This is trade deadline day, and numerous NBA players are packing their bags and moving cities. That makes some of the rotations downright bizarre, and things could change by the time you read this. We’ll try our best to avoid players on the move, but it could be a chaotic deadline. With that in mind, let’s look at this lengthy schedule!

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

• GSW at IND (IND -5.5) O/U: 251
• SAS at ORL (ORL -10.5) O/U: 224
• CLE at BKN (CLE -5.5) O/U: 223
• DAL at NYK (DAL -2.5) O/U: 231
• MIN at MIL (MIL -2) O/U: 229
• CHI at MEM (CHI -5) O/U: 213
• UTA at PHX (PHX -6.5) O/U: 243
• DEN at LAL (DEN -3.5) O/U: 229
• DET at POR (POR -5) O/U: 229

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

Injury Report

• Luka Doncic (nose) Probable
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) Probable
• Damian Lillard (ankle) Questionable
• Jalen Brunson (ankle) Questionable
• Kyrie Irving (hand) Probable
• Tyrese Haliburton (hammy) Questionable
• Julius Randle (shoulder) OUT
• Jaren Jackson Jr.(hip) Questionable
• Coby White (ankle) Questionable
• Bradley Beal (ankle) Questionable
• OG Anunoby (elbow) OUT
• Khris Middleton (ankle) OUT
• Dante Exum (knee) OUT
• Brook Lopez (baby) Probable
• Chris Paul (hand) OUT
• Bennedict Mathurin (illness) Questionable
• Alex Caruso (thigh) Probable
• Cam Johnson (adductor) OUT
• Dereck Lively (nose) OUT

Core Plays

Kevin Durant (SF/PF – PHX): $9,600 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
The consistency of KD is ridiculous. The Slimp Reaper has scored at least 35 DraftKings points in all but one game this year, posting a 49-point average. That makes it hard to believe he’s below $10K on both sites, especially in an unbelievable matchup against Utah. The Jazz rank 25th in defensive efficiency while posting a 26th OPRK against opposing forwards. In their three matchups this year, KD is averaging over 60 fantasy points per game against them.

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $8,600 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel
Using Haliburton with the minute’s restriction is risky, but we finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. The All-Star reached 29 minutes in his most recent outing, and it looks like he’s ready for 30 minutes from here on out. This stud was a $10K player with that sort of workload early on in the season, and this will likely be the cheapest we see him for the rest of the year.

Paolo Banchero (SF/PF – ORL): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
Banchero is amid a breakout season in Orlando. The former top pick is averaging over 42 DraftKings points per game and is just short of a 50-point average since the opening month of the year. He’s established himself as Orlando’s go-to player, and that’s scary for a subpar San Antonio defense. The Spurs sit 24th in defensive efficiency and 26th in points allowed while surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
Doncic is back to being the best player in DFS. The Slovenian leads the NBA with 65 DraftKings points per game while establishing a 50-point floor. Joel Embiid was the only player doing that, and you know Doncic will dominate in a place like Madison Square Garden. The last time he played the Knicks, Luka had 61 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists in one of the best performances in NBA history.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11.600 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
The Greek Freak is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now. Giannis has scored at least 48 DraftKings points in 37 of his last 38 outings, generating a 63-point average in that span. That could be his floor here because Milwaukee might be without Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton. Facing the Timberwolves is a terrible matchup, but Antetokounmpo averaged 34.5 points, 17 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in their two meetings last year.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $9,500 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel
The Warriors are trying to climb out of the deep hole they’ve dug themselves, and they can thank Chef Curry for their brief resurgence. The sharpshooter has scored at least 39 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games while scoring at least 61 DK points in three of his previous six fixtures. Our favorite part about that is a matchup with Indiana, ranked 26th in total defense while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA.

GPP Targets

Myles Turner (C – IND): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Turner is a frustrating player to trust, but that’s why he’s a solid GPP option. The big man is averaging 32 DraftKings points per game and has showcased a 50-point ceiling numerous times this year. That’s what you want from a GPP option in this price range, especially against a Golden State team that loves to play small ball.

Jacob Gilyard (PG – MEM): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
Anytime you can find a starting point guard sitting around $5K, you have to take a swing on them. That’s what we have with Gilyard because Memphis is missing half of their roster due to injury. That forced JG into a 30-minute role as the starting point guard. He’s averaging 29 DK points per game across his last three outings in this expanded role and should continue this success with so many Grizzlies players sitting.

Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
It’s difficult to pick Fultz with how he’s been playing, but this $4,500 price tag on DraftKings is wild. This former top pick played at a $6K level in the final months of last season, and he’s finally back to a full workload. We have to assume he’ll return to that form sooner rather than later, making him an enticing GPP option at such a low price. The matchup only adds to his intrigue because the Spurs surrender the most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Value Plays

Josh Hart (SF/PF – NYK): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Hart has been excellent since Randle went down, but he’d be impossible to fade if Brunson also has to sit. The Randle injury has forced Hart into the starting lineup, regularly playing 35 minutes a night. This guy has always stuffed the stat sheet in that type of role, scoring at least 26 DK points in six straight games since that injury. Dallas is far from a daunting matchup, posting a 30th OPRK against opposing forwards.

Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
Green has been great since returning from his suspension. The playmaking big man has scored at least 28 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight outings, posting a 34-point average in that span. That’s all you can ask for from a $6K player, and we love these sorts of stat-stuffing players against the fastest-paced team in the NBA. Not to mention, the Pacers allow the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards as well!

Alex Caruso (PG/SG – CHI): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
why is Caruso still just $5,300 on DK? This defensive stud has been locked into a 30-minute role as a starter since Zach LaVine went down, averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game in this newfound role. That’s astounding for such an affordable player, and we’re not worried about him facing a G-League Grizzlies team that’s missing all their starters.

Advantageous Pricing

• Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Buddy Hield (SG – IND): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $8,900 DraftKings, $10,300 FanDuel
• Isaiah Hartenstein (PF/C – NYK): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
• Dennis Smith (PG/SG – BKN): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Scotty Pippen Jr.(PG/SG – MEM): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• Naz Reid (PF/C – MIN): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $4,600 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts