NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (3/29)

This is my final article of the week, and we only have two weeks left in the regular season. It’s hard to believe we’re getting so close to the end, but it’s much more believable when you look at these absurd injury reports. Half the league is on it right now, and some of these tanking teams are driving us crazy. In any case, there are plenty of opportunities to build off of that, so let’s go ahead and finish the week strong!

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

• LAL at IND (IND -3.5) O/U: 242
• LAC at ORL (LAC -1) O/U: 209
• DET at WAS (WAS -3.5) O/U: 229.5
• GSW at CHA (GSW -11.5) O/U: 216
• PHI at CLE (CLE -7.5) O/U: 212.5
• CHI at BKN (CHI -4.5) O/U: 215
• POR at MIA (MIA -14) O/U: 208
• NYK at SAS (NYK -10) O/U: 211
• PHX at OKC (PHX -1.5) O/U: 227.5
• MIN at DEN (DEN -6.5) O/U: 214.5
• HOU at UTA (HOU -7.5) O/U: 230
• DAL at SAC (SAC -1.5) O/U: 230.5

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

Injury Report

• Jaden Ivey (knee) Questionable
• Tyus Jones (back) OUT
• Jonathan Kuminga (knee)
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Joel Embiid (knee) OUT
• Donovan Mitchell (eye) Questionable
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Cameron Johnson (toe) OUT
• Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) OUT
• Jerami Grant (tanking) Doubtful
• Deandre Ayton (tanking) Doubtful
• Anfernee Simons (knee) OUT
• Jimmy Butler (illness) Questionable
• Tyler Herro (knee) OUT
• Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) Questionable
• Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) OUT
• Alperen Sengun (leg) OUT
• Lauri Markkanen (tanking) Questionable
• Jordan Clarkson (tanking) OUT
• Jamal Murray (ankle) Questionable
• Luka Doncic (achilles) Questionable
• Anthony Davis (knee) Questionable
• LeBron James (old) Questionable
• Anthony Edwards (back) Questionable
• Cade Cunningham (knee) Questionable

Core Plays

Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL ): $10,400 DraftKings, $11,800 FanDuel
Davis got a much-needed day off on Wednesday but should be ready to return to action here. The Brow dropped 79 DraftKings points across 51 minutes in the previous game, averaging nearly 60 DK points per game over the last month. That’s bad news for Indiana, ranked 27th in total defense while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA. The last time they played a week ago, AD had 68 fantasy points!

Stephen Curry (PG – GSW ): $8,400 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
Chef Curry isn’t cooking quite like he used to, but this is the sort of matchup where the grill could be turned to 600 degrees. Charlotte sits 28th in defensive efficiency ratings while surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards. It also happens to be Curry’s hometown team, with Steph scoring 56 or more DK points in two of their last three matchups.

Jalen Duren (C – DET ): $7,100 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe this dude isn’t only enough to drink because he’s a force in the paint against some of the largest humans on the planet. The Pistons big man is broadcasting double-double averages, posting a 34-point average for the year. His ability to rebound gives him a fantastic floor, especially since he faces the worst defense in the NBA. The Wizards rank last in points allowed and defensive efficiency, with JD averaging 45 DK points per game in their three matchups this year.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL ): $12,600 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
One guy always stands above the rest every year, and Doncic is that stud. The Dallas point guard leads the league with 66 DraftKings points per game while establishing a 50-point floor. He’s been even better in the second half of the season, averaging over 70 DK points per game across the last two months. We don’t care who he plays, but Luka faces a 22nd-ranked Kings defense.

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN ): $12,000 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
The Joker and Luka are above the rest of the field right now, with both guys looking like elite cash game options on every slate. The two-time MVP is on his way to a third MVP, averaging 60 DraftKings points per game. He’s also showcased a 50-point floor, and is being asked to do more with Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon both nicked up. Most players would struggle against Minnesota, but Jokic has at least 60 DK points in three of their last four matchups.

Jalen Green (PG – HOU ): $8,900 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
We’ve always seen the talent oozing from this kid, but it took a Sengun injury for him to shine. That’s allowed JG to take over, scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in seven consecutive fixtures. He’s also got a 52-point average in that span and shouldn’t be overlooked against Utah. The Jazz rank 29th in points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing guards. Green gobbled up nearly 60 fantasy points when they played a week ago!

GPP Targets

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – WAS ): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Poole was horrid through the opening months of the year, but something has changed since the All-Star break. The talented guard has taken over this offense in Tyus Jones‘s absence, averaging 35 DraftKings points per game across his last 14 outings. He’s also coming off a 59-point masterpiece in his most recent outing and should be an $8K player for the remainder of the year. Not to mention, Detroit ranks 26th in points allowed and 27th in defensive efficiency.

Keegan Murray (SF/PF – SAC ): $5,900 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Murray is one of the best shooting forwards in the NBA, but that carries a ton of volatility. That’s evident by his 60-point upside but also clear by his 10-point floor. All of those swings have led to Murray maintaining a 29-point average, but we’re encouraged that he has a 33-point average over the last three weeks. This matchup could keep him headed in the right direction, with Dallas ranked 21st in total defense.

Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW ): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Draymond had another “incident” on Wednesday but should be ready to go here. This versatile forward has quietly had a bounceback season, averaging 32 DraftKings points per game across his last 40 outings. That should be his floor against Charlotte because they rank 28th in total defense while surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing big men. That’s evident since DG is averaging 33 DK points per game against them over the last two years.

Value Plays

Josh Hart (SF/PF – NYK ): $7,800 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
Hart is difficult to fade right now. Thibs is sending him out there for 40 minutes every game, averaging 41 DK points per game in this robust role. He’s always been known to stuff the stat sheet, which will inevitably happen when you’re playing 40-45 minutes a night. Squaring off with San Antonio only adds to his intrigue, with the Spurs sitting 24th in defensive efficiency and 25th in points allowed.

Daniel Gafford (C – DAL ): $5,500 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Gafford was a magnificent acquisition by Dallas, stepping in as their starting center. He averaged over 30 DraftKings points per game with the Wizards in that same role but has a 36-point average across his last 11 outings. He’s done that damage in fewer than 30 minutes a night, establishing himself as one of the best per-minute producers in the NBA. Sacramento is far from a scary matchup, surrendering the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Vasilije Micic (PG – CHA ): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
Micic was dreadful last week, but he’s been incredible since taking over as the starting point guard in Charlotte. The Serbian has scored at least 22 DraftKings points in 12 of his last 13 games, posting a 27-point average in this expanded role. We saw him drop 34 fantasy points against an elite defense on Wednesday, but Golden State is far from that. The Warriors rank 19th in points allowed while posting a 21st OPRK against opposing point guards.

Advantageous Pricing

• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL ): $10,400 DraftKings, $11,800 FanDuel
• Marvin Bagley (PF/C – WAS ): $4,800 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
• Isaiah Jackson (C – IND ): $3,700 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
• Grant Williams (PF – CHA ): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Cole Anthony (PG/SG – ORL ): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI ): $4,400 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Isaiah Hartenstein (PF/C – NYK ): $5,700 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
• Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS ): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
• Josh Giddey (PG/SG – OKC ): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel

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