NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (3/8)

This has been the best week of scheduling all year. Each slate has between 5-10 games, and we love evaluating slates like those. My least favorite is when we have double-digit games because there are just too many players to dissect. That’s why this is the sweet spot because having just a few games doesn’t give us enough options. With that said, let’s finish the week strong with this Friday card!

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

• NOP at PHI (NOP -6.5) O/U: 224
• CHA at WAS (WAS -2.5) O/U: 227
• MIN at CLE (CLE -1) O/U: 209
• ORL at NYK (NYK -1) O/U: 208
• MIA at OKC (OKC -8.5) O/U: 225
• ATL at MEM (ATL -2.5) O/U: 214
• MIL at LAL (LAL -1) O/U: 235
• HOU at POR (HOU -5) O/U: 218

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Joel Embiid (knee) OUT
• Tyrese Maxey (concussion) Questionable
• De’Anthony Melton (back) OUT
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Donovan Mitchell (knee) OUT
• Evan Mobley (ankle) OUT
• Max Strus (knee) Questionable
• Wendell Carter (knee) Questionable
• Julius Randle (shoulder) OUT
• Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) OUT
• Jalen Brunson (knee) Questionable
• OG Anunoby (elbow) OUT
• Tyler Herro (knee) OUT
• Onyeka Okongwu (toe) OUT
• Jalen Johnson (ankle) Questionable
• Trae Young (hand) OUT
• Ja Morant (shoulder) OUT
• Desmond Bane (ankle) OUT
• Marcus Smart (hand) OUT
• Khris Middleton (ankle) Questionable
• LeBron James 9old) Questionable
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (achilles) Probable
• Jerami Grant (tanking) Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) OUT
• Scoot Henderson (adductor) Questionable
• Deandre Ayton (hand) Doubtful
• Shaedon Sharpe (core) OUT

Core Plays

Dejounte Murray (PG/SG – ATL): $9,200 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel
We’ve had Murray in here almost every game since Trae Young got injured, and he’s gained even more value with Jalen Johnson going down. That means Murray has to do everything for the Hawks, performing at a $10K level when he had a similar role in San Antonio. We’ve also seen Murray score at least 43 DraftKings points in seven straight games, and he should perform well against a Memphis team that is missing most of their rotation.

Alperen Sengun (C – HOU): $8,500 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Sengun is having a breakout season in Houston, but his recent play has been absurd. The big man has 83 and 75 DraftKings points in his two most recent outings. That would make him an easy option against anyone, but Portland couldn’t be a better matchup. The Trail Blazers are surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers, with Sengun scoring nearly 60 DK points in their one matchup earlier in the year.

Kyle Kuzma (SF/PF/C – WAS): $7,800 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe, but Kuzma started at center on Wednesday. Missing Daniel Gafford and Marvin Bagley forced him into that role, but Kuz is averaging over 40 DK points per game in a breakout campaign. He’s also scored at least 42 fantasy points in seven of his last eight outings and should slaughter a Charlotte team that sits 28th in defensive efficiency ratings. In their last matchup, Kuz compiled 62 fantasy points!

Cash Game Considerations

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,400 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
The Greek Freak has really turned things around in the second half of the season, averaging over 60 DraftKings points per game over the last two months. He’s also established a 50-point floor, being asked to do more with Khris Middleton sidelined. You know he’ll be motivated in a showcase game against the Lakers, averaging 67 DK points per game against them in their last four matchups.

Josh Hart (SF/PF – NYK): $8,000 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
It’s wild how many minutes Hart is playing right now, but NY needs him out there with most of the starting unit injured. Those absences led Hart to playing 43 minutes a night across his last seven outings. He scored at least 35 DraftKings points in all those while posting a 45-point average. A 40-minute floor is what you want from a cash game option, and we don’t care who he plays with the way he stuffs the stat sheet.

Fred VanVleet (PG – HOU): $7,300 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
VanVleet was slow to get going in his first few games back from an injury, but he’s rolling right now. FVV has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in four straight fixtures, surpassing 52 DK points in two of those. That makes the price tag tough to justify, especially since Portland ranks 21st in defensive efficiency ratings. Not to mention, VanVleet has 42 and 48 DK points in his last two matchups with the Blazers.

GPP Targets

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – WAS): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Poole is having a nightmarish season in Washington, but something has changed since he was moved to the bench. It’s allowed him to take over the second unit, flirting with a 35 percent usage, which is rare in this newfound role. That’s led to JP posting a 38-point average across his last six outings. Those ceiling games could continue against a team like Charlotte, surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing guards. We also don’t mind that Poole provided 40 fantasy points in their last matchup.

Vince Williams (SF – MEM): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
This Grizzlies team is missing most of its rotation, but that has allowed Williams to take over as the primary playmaker. Williams has scored at least 27 DraftKings points in 21 of his last 23 games, posting a 34-point average in this expanded role. His most impactful variable is this matchup with Atlanta, who is ranked 26th in defensive efficiency and 29th in points allowed.

Duop Reath (PF/C – POR): $6,200 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Portland is another one of these tanking teams playing without many rotational players, but that’s led to Reath breaking out in the second half. The big man has started four consecutive games, scoring at least 26 DraftKings points in all of those. You can’t ask for any more from such an affordable player, especially since Reath averages 38 DK points per game when he plays at least 30 minutes. Houston also owns a 24th-OPRK against opposing power forwards!

Value Plays

Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Jones has been cheap all season, and it makes no sense why. He’s taken over as the starting point guard in Washington, averaging 33 DraftKings points per game over the last month. He’s one of the league leaders in assists during that span, and he should hand out a ton against the second-worst defense in the NBA. This is also one of the few Washington games expected to be competitive, which only adds to Tyus’s value.

Vasilije Micic (PG – CHA): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
We didn’t think much when Charlotte acquired Micic from OKC, but they clearly saw something. They made Micic their starting point guard earlier in the week, and he has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in three straight games since the promotion. He’s also coming off a career-high 36 DK points and needs to be $1,000 more on each site if he’s going to play this type of role in the absence of LaMelo Ball.

De’Andre Hunter (SF/PF – ATL): $5,000 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
This Hawks team has been hounded by injuries, losing Young, Johnson, and Okongwu over the last two weeks. That should force Hunter into a more prominent role, scoring at least 28 DraftKings points in seven of his previous nine outings. That’s fantastic production from a player in this price range, and we wouldn’t be shocked to see Hunter start and play 35-40 minutes with so many players out. He’s done that damage in a bench role, and it’s scary to think what he could do with 15-20 shots and 35-40 minutes at this price!

Advantageous Pricing

• Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Trey Murphy (SF – NOP): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• Richaun Holmes (C – WAS): $3,700 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel
• Craig Porter (PG/SG – CLE): $3,600 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
• Josh Giddey (PG/SG – OKC): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
• Jordan Goodwin (PG/SG – MEM): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel

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