NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (3/1)

If you’re playing on DraftKings, we have a new contest! The biggest contest of the night doesn’t have a late swap, and that’s something many DFS managers love. That means you don’t have to be glued to the computer, and it evens the field with all of the DFS sharks that swim these murky waters. I’m looking forward to the change, and it’ll be interesting to see how lineups look with the slight adjustment!

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

• CLE at DET (CLE -9) O/U: 221
• CHA at PHI (PHI -11) O/U: 216
• DAL at BOS (BOS -9) O/U: 237.5
• GSW at TOR (GSW -2.5) O/U: 236
• IND at NOP (NOP -4.5) O/U: 238.5
• SAC at MIN (MIN -6) O/U: 223.5
• POR at MEM (MEM -2.5) O/U: 210
• MIL at CHI (MIL -3.5) O/U: 222
• WAS at LAC (LAC -14) O/U: 240.5

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

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Luka Doncic (ankle) Questionable
• Joel Embiid (knee) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) OUT
• Andrew Wiggins (personal)
• Aaron Nesmith (ankle) Questionable
• De’Aaron Fox (knee) Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) OUT
• Deandre Ayton (hand) Doubtful
• Ja Morant (shoulder) OUT
• Desmond Bane (ankle) OUT
• Marcus Smart (hand) OUT
• Jaren Jackson Jr.(quad) OUT
• Alex Caruso (hamstring)
• Deni Avdija (heel) Questionable
• Paul George (knee)
• Donovan Mitchell (knee) Questionable
• Anthony Edwards (ankle) Questionable
• Scoot Henderson (adductor) OUT

Core Plays

Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $9,100 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel
Chef Curry hasn’t been as consistent as we’ve seen in the past, but he’s showcased some monster upside games in the second half of the season. The sharpshooter has scored at least 47 DraftKings points in 12 of his last 19 games, dropping over 54 fantasy points in eight of those. One of those ceiling games could happen against Toronto’s terrible defense, ranked 25th in defensive efficiency over the last month.

Kawhi Leonard (SF/PF – WAS): $8,800 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Kawhi and the Clips had one of the worst collapses of the season on Wednesday, but that overshadows an absurd stretch for this superstar. The Claw has at least 35 DraftKings points in 34 of his last 37 games, posting a 47-point average in that span. That’s terrible news for this woeful Wizards defense, ranked last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency. When they played a month ago, Kawhi collected nearly 60 fantasy points.

Tyrese Maxey (PG/SG – PHI): $8,700 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
With Joel Embiid sidelined, this is Maxey’s show in Philly. The efficiency has dropped for the All-Star, but he’s still averaging nearly 50 DK points per game with the MVP off the floor. That’s no surprise since he’s locked into 35-40 minutes, 20-25 shots, and a 35 percent usage rate. Squaring off with Charlotte is the best part of this, with the Hornets ranked 25th in points allowed and 29th in defensive efficiency.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,100 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel
Doncic is playing on a different level right now. The Slovenian is leading the league with 65 DraftKings points per game but has his average north of 70 DK points over the last two months. He’s also scored at least 69 fantasy points in 12 of his previous 17 games and is impossible to avoid right now. A matchup with the Celtics is concerning for most, but Luka had 33 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists against them a month ago.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,400 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
We had Giannis in here yesterday, and we’re going back to the well for all the same reasons. The Greek Freak has averaged over 60 DraftKings points per game over the last month while displaying a 50-point floor. He’s also scored at least 59 fantasy points in three of his last four fixtures and has slaughtered Chicago throughout his career. Giannis has at least 52 DK points in 16 of his last 19 games against the Bulls.

James Harden (PG – LAC): $8,900 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Harden isn’t quite the stud we saw in his Houston days, but this guy is still a beast. The Beard has at least 34 DraftKings points in 36 of his last 41 games, generating a 43-point average in that span. That could be his floor with Paul George nicked up, especially since he faces the worst defense in the NBA. When he played the Wizards last month, Harden had nearly 60 fantasy points!

GPP Targets

Vince Williams (SG/SF – MEM): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
This kid has done an excellent job of filling in for Memphis. This team is missing four of their five starters, allowing Williams to take over this offense. Vince has at least 27 DraftKings points in 19 of his last 22 outings in this expanded role. He’s also posting a 34-point average in that span and should keep it going against Portland. Not only is it expected to be a rare competitive game, but the Trail Blazers rank 22nd in defensive efficiency.

Paul Reed (PF/C – PHI): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Reed has been frustrating at times filling in for Joel Embiid, but he’s an excellent GPP option. This guy has one of the best per-minute averages over the last few years and is finally playing 25-30 minutes a night. This guy can average 40 fantasy points per game in that type of role, scoring at least 27 DK points in six of his last nine outings. That’s hard to overlook since Charlotte surrenders the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Norman Powell (SG/SF – LAC): $5,000 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Powell should continue to provide value as long as PG13 remains out. They’re essentially asking Powell to take over that George role, scoring at least 25 DraftKings points in four straight fixtures. That alone is amazing from such an affordable player, and one of those ceiling games could be in play against a Washington team that surrenders the most fantasy points to opposing small forwards.

Value Plays

Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Green has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this season, but he’s quietly had a bounceback year for Golden State. The undersized big man averages 33 DraftKings points per game across his last 22 outings. He’s done that damage across just 28 minutes a night and should roll through a Toronto team allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Jakob Poeltl (C – TOR): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Poeltl has sat below $7K all season, and it’s hard to understand why. He’s been doing much more since the Pascal Siakam trade, scoring at least 30 DraftKings points in nine of his last 11 outings. He’s also got at least 37 fantasy points in four of his last five fixtures and should never be this cheap against an undersized Warriors team.

Duop Reath (PF/C – POR): $4,200 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
This is risky, but we love Reath if Deandre Ayton has to sit with his hand issue. That should force Reath into a 30-minute role as the starting center, and nobody in that type of role should be this cheap. In the eight games he’s played at least 24 minutes, Reath is averaging 31 DK points per game;. If you get that from someone this cheap, you have a piece of the optimal lineup. A matchup with Memphis is great, too, because that team is missing half of their rotation.

Advantageous Pricing

• Jakob Poeltl (C – TOR): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Jalen Duren (C – DET): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Derrick White (PG/SG – BOS): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Jrue Holiday (PG/SG – BOS): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
• Dereck Lively (C – DAL): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Chris Paul (PG – GSW): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
• Isaiah Jackson (C – IND): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $8,500 DraftKings, $9,700 FanDuel
• Naz Reid (PF/C – MIN): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel

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