NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (3/15)

This sounds wild, but we only have a few Fridays left in the regular season. It’s hard to believe we’re winding down to the end, but this is one of the best days to play DFS. DraftKings is running its new no-late-swap GPP, one of the best tournaments all year. That helps close the gap between the sharks and amateur players in DFS, making it more fun for everyone! I enjoy it because I don’t have to be glued to my computer all night, and I can’t wait to talk about it!

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

• MIA at DET (MIA -6.5) O/U: 213
• PHX at CHA (PHX -9) O/U: 217
• ORL at TOR (ORL -7.5) O/U: 217
• LAC at NOP (NOP -6) O/U: 218
• DEN at SAS (DEN -9.5) O/U: 222
• ATL at UTA (ATL -1.5) O/U: 223

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

Injury Report

• Tyler Herro (knee) OUT
• Ausar Thompson (illness) Questionable
• Kawhi Leonard (B2B) Questionable
• Paul George (B2B) Questionable
• James Harden (B2B) Questionable
• Russell Westbrook (hand) OUT
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Scottie Barnes (hand) OUT
• Jakob Poeltl (finger) OUT
• RJ Barrett (personal) OUT
• Gary Trent Jr.(groin) Questionable
• Chris Boucher (knee) OUT
• Trae Young (hand) OUT
• Jalen Johnson (ankle) Questionable
• Onyeka Okongwu (toe) OUT
• Saddiq Bey (knee) OUT
• Lauri Markkanen (quad) Questionable
• Cade Cunningham (knee) Questionable
• Jordan Clarkson (groin) OUT

Core Plays

Kevin Durant (SF/PF – PHX): $9,600 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
Durant is one of the most reliable options in fantasy, scoring at least 35 DraftKings points in all but two games this year. He’s been even more ridiculous recently, scoring at least 57 DK points in three of his last four fixtures. Another one of those ceiling games could be in play against Charlotte, sitting 26th in defensive efficiency ratings. When they played earlier in the year, KD dropped 53 DK points despite taking only 11 shots!

Paolo Banchero (SF/PF – ORL): $8,900 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
This top pick from last year is starting to step into stardom, averaging over 40 DraftKings points per game. He’s been even better in the second half, averaging 45 DK points per game across his last 37 outings. Our favorite variable is that he gets a matchup with Toronto’s terrible defense, sitting 28th in defensive efficiency since the All-Star break.

Bam Adebayo (C – MIA): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
Big Bam hasn’t been shooting well recently, but he continues to provide value for DFS. The big man has established a 26-point floor this year while scoring 44 and 46 fantasy points in his two most recent outings. He’s also averaging 43 DK points per game across his last 13 fixtures and should destroy Detroit. The Pistons rank 27th in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency while surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,800 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
The Joker is in this section every time he takes the floor, and it’s easy to understand why. The two-time MVP averages 60 DraftKings points per game while providing a 50-point floor. That’s hard to find on such a short slate, and the matchup with San Antonio couldn’t have been much better. The Spurs sit 23rd in defensive efficiency and 25th in points allowed, with Joker averaging 70 DK points per game in their last three matchups,

Dejounte Murray (PG/SG – ATL): $9,500 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
This man has taken over since injuries obliterated this roster. They’ve recently lost Young, Johnson, Bey, and Okongwu, allowing Dejounte to score at least 43 DK points in nine of his last 10 outings. He’s also averaging nearly 50 fantasy points per game in that span and should obliterate Utah. The Jazz rank 27th in points allowed and 29th in defensive efficiency while allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Jimmy Butler (SF/PF – MIA): $8,400 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel
Playoff Jimmy is smelling the postseason, and we’re seeing sniffs of the stud we saw last May. The All-Star has scored at least 46 DraftKings points in seven of his last 11 games, averaging 46 DK points per game in that stretch. That’s pitiful for the Pistons, who posted their 28th OPRK against opposing forwards. Not to mention, JB has at least 47 DK points in all three matchups with Detroit over the last two years.

GPP Targets

Michael Porter Jr. (SF – DEN): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
MPJ is a volatile forward because of his shooting, but he can knock down threes with anyone. He’s shown that recently, scoring at least 32 DK points in six of his last seven fixtures. Porter also provided a 37-point average in that span, taking 15 shots across 33 minutes a night. That sort of workload should allow him to slice through the Spurs, scoring at least 39 fantasy points in two of their last three meetings.

Keyonte George (PG/SG – UTA): $6,600 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
This rookie has been a revelation, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take over this offense in the final month. That’s what we’ve seen over the last month, scoring at least 38 DK points in each of the previous four games he’s finished. That’s hard to overlook, especially since Keyonte is averaging 35-40 minutes and 20 shots a game in that span. Facing Atlanta is amazing, too. Atlanta is ranked 27th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.

Norman Powell (SG/SF – LAC): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
This is a risky option, but that’s what we’re looking for in a GPP. Westbrook being out has already made Powell the sixth man, but with Harden, George, and Leonard all on the injury report, Powell could be one of the focal points of the offense. Even if one of those guys sits, Powell could play 30-35 minutes and take 15-20 shots. We’ve seen this guy play at a $7K level in that type of role in the past, and it’s a worthy dice roll on such a short slate.

Value Plays

John Collins (PF/C – UTA): $7,100 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
This Jazz rotation has been plagued by injuries, but JC has been a steady veteran. The big man has scored at least 28 DraftKings points in 19 of his last 21 outings, posting a 36-point average in that stretch. He’s also surpassed 41 fantasy points six times in that span and could surpass that ceiling against Atlanta’s atrocious defense. Not only is it a revenge game for JC, but the Hawks allow the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

Vasilije Micic (PG – CHA): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
With LaMelo Ball gone, Micic has taken over as Charlotte’s primary point guard. We saw him have a career night in his most recent outing, dropping 43 DraftKings points. He’s scored at least 30 fantasy points in four of his last five outings and needs a price bump in this newfound role. This is the one position the Suns struggle with, too, surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

De’Andre Hunter (SF/PF – ATL): $5,600 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
We just talked about how Atlanta is missing four key players, which should lead to Hunter doing much more. He’s already been one of the focal points of the offense in a reserve role, averaging nearly 30 DK points per game over the last three weeks. With so many Atlanta players out, we could see him creep closer to 35 minutes and 15-20 shots, Making him an enticing option against a 28th-ranked Utah defense.

Advantageous Pricing

• Bradley Beal (SG – PHX): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Kawhi Leonard (SF/PF – LAC): $8,500 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
• Larry Nance(PF/C – NOP) $3,600 DraftKings, $4,600 FanDuel
• Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Reggie Jackson (PG – DEN): $3,600 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel

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