NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Monday (3/25)

These final three weeks of the NBA season are chaotic from a DFS standpoint. The injury reports are laughable, with nearly half of the league on them. It’s hard to get a grasp on who will play each night, but it’s critical for DFS success. I’ve had some of my biggest cashes at this time of the year because there’s more value than ever before. With that in mind, let’s dive into this Monday slate to kickstart the week!

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

• CHA at CLE (CLE -11.5) O/U: 205
• BOS at ATL (BOS -11) O/U: 225
• DET at NYK (NYK -16.5) O/U: 206
• BKN at TOR (BKN -5) O/U: 215
• WAS at CHI (CHI -10) O/U: 226
• POR at HOU (HOU -9.5) O/U: 216
• PHX at SAS (PHX -10.5) O/U: 232
• MEM at DEN (DEN -17) O/U: 226
• DAL at UTA (DAL -7.5) O/U: 234
• PHI at SAC (SAC -9) O/U: 220
• IND at LAC (LAC -6) O/U: 234

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

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Donovan Mitchell (nose) OUT
• Evan Mobley (knee) OUT
• Max Strus (knee) OUT
• Trae Young (hand) OUT
• Saddiq Bey (knee) OUT
• Jalen Johnson (ankle) OUT
• Jalen Duren (back) Questionable
• Julius Randle (shoulder) OUT
• OG Anunoby (elbow) OUT
• Scottie Barnes (hand) OUT
• Jakob Poeltl (finger) OUT
• RJ Barrett (personal) OUT
• Immanuel Quickley (personal) OUT
• Tyus Jones (back) OUT
• Kyle Kuzma (tanking) OUT
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Anfernee Simons (knee) Questionable
• Deandre Ayton (tanking) Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) OUT
• Shaedon Sharpe (core) OUT
• Alperen Sengun (leg) OUT
• Jabari Smith (suspension) OUT
• Ja Morant (shoulder) OUT
• Marcus Smart (hand) OUT
• Desmond Bane (tanking) Questionable
• Lauri Markkanen (tanking) Questionable
• Jordan Clarkson (tanking) Questionable
• Joel Embiid (knee) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) OUT
• Jrue Holiday (ankle) OUT

Core Plays

Jalen Brunson (PG – NYK ): $9,200 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
Brunson has been a bad man since taking over this offense in the absence of Julius Randle. The stud point guard has scored at least 36 DraftKings points in 42 of his last 44 games, generating a 46-point average in that span. Our favorite part about this is the matchup with Detroit’s disastrous defense, posting a 27th OPRK against opposing point guards. JB had 59 and 66 DraftKings points in their two matchups this year.

DeMar DeRozan (SF/PF – CHI ): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
We always want to use stud players against Washington, and DeRozan is just that. The All-Star is averaging 40 DraftKings points per game and has scored at least 46 fantasy points in six of his last 10 outings. That’s bad news for Washington’s woeful defense, which is ranked last in points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the most DK points to opposing forwards.

Darius Garland (PG – CLE ): $7,700 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
Even though Mobley was able to return on Sunday, it looks like he and Donovan Mitchell will have to sit here. That should allow Garland to run the show, averaging nearly 40 DraftKings points per game when both studs are sidelined. That increased role makes Garland an easy choice against the Hornets, sitting 28th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL ): $12,800 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
Doncic is the best player in DFS. The Slovenian point guard is leading the league with 66 DraftKings points per game but has his average north of 70 fantasy points over the last two months. That’s hard to overlook when you match it with his 50-point floor, making Luka an easy sell against a Utah team that’s allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards. In three matchups this year, Doncic is averaging 64 DK points per game!

Nikola Jokic (PG – DEN ): $11,900 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
The Joker is right there with Doncic regarding reliability, providing one of the highest floors in fantasy. The two-time MVP is averaging 61 DK points per game while showcasing a 50-point floor. We could use him against anyone, but Jokic should maul Memphis. The Grizzlies are missing most of their rotation due to injuries while posting a 22nd OPRK against opposing centers.

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC ): $10,700 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Domas isn’t on the main slate, but he’s the best option in the nightcap. The Sacramento center has recorded a double-double in 51 straight games, flirting with triple-double averages in that span. He’s also averaging nearly 60 DK points per game in that sensational stretch and shouldn’t have any issues against a Sixers team missing Joel Embiid.

GPP Targets

Isaiah Hartenstein (C – NYK ): $5,600 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Hartenstein was dealing with a restriction in his return from an Achilles issue, but that appears to be a thing of the past. The Knicks center is back to a full workload, scoring at least 39 DraftKings points in four straight fixtures. That’s the stud we saw earlier in the season, with Hartenstein averaging nearly 40 DK points per game in the first month when Randle got injured. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with Detroit owning a 26th OPRK against opposing centers.

Gary Trent Jr.(SG/SF – TOR): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
This Toronto roster has been obliterated by injuries, missing Quickley, Poeltl, Barnes, and Barrett. That’s left Trent as one of the only true offensive threats left, guaranteeing him 35-40 minutes and 20 shots a night. In this expanded role, GTJ has scored at least 33 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight outings. That’s a tremendous total from a sub-$7K player, mainly since Brooklyn posts a 22nd OPRK against opposing shooting guards.

Duop Reath (PF/C – POR ): $4,900 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
It sounds like Ayton might sit in the final month of the year, and Reath is always an outstanding option when that happens. Duop has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in 11 of his last 14 starts, posting a 31-point average in this expanded role. That makes it hard to believe that Reath remains below $5K on both sites because he should be above $6K in this newfound role. Houston isn’t a horrible matchup either, surrendering the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Value Plays

Kelly Olynyk (PF/C – TOR ): $7,100 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
We already talked about how terrible this Toronto roster is right now, but it allowed Olynyk to take over as the primary playmaker. We saw this guy average over 30 DK points per game in a similar role with Utah last year, which is right on par with his average since joining this team. We also saw Oly score 43 DK points in his most recent outing, dishing out 10 assists in a Nikole Jokic-type role.

Scoot Henderson (PG – POR ): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
Scoot might be a league-winner in the final month of the season. This Trail Blazers roster has been rocked by injuries and is expected to be without Ayton, Simons, and Grant here. That should allow Scoot to be the showman, guaranteeing him 40 minutes and 20 shots. In the 15 games that Henderson has played at least 32 minutes, he’s averaging 36 DK points per game.

Daniel Gafford (C – DAL ): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Gafford has been one of the best trade acquisitions this season. The big man has taken over as the starting center in Dallas, averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game. He’s done that in limited minutes, scoring at least 31 fantasy points in six of his last seven outings. Another one of those ceiling games is in play against a team like the Jazz, ranked 29th in points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Advantageous Pricing

• Isaiah Hartenstein (C – NYK ): $5,600 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Daniel Gafford (C – DAL ): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $4,800 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
• Richaun Holmes (C – WAS ): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
• Amen Thompson (PG/ SG- HOU ): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS ): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• Royce O’Neale (SF – PHX ): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel

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