NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Wednesday (3/6)

The NBA scheduling has been frustrating at times this season, but it’s brilliant this week. Most days have between 5-10 games, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for from a DFS standpoint. What we’re not looking for is lengthy injury reports, and that looks like the norm from here on out. With that in mind, let’s look at the schedule and odds and then dive into those injuries!

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

• ORL at WAS (ORL -7) O/U: 226
• CLE at ATL (CLE -1.5) O/U: 221.5
• LAC at HOU (LAC -6) O/U: 224
• MEM at PHI (PHI -5) O/U: 212.5
• CHI at UTA (UTA -1) O/U: 228.5
• MIL at GSW (GSW -2.5) O/U: 229
• OKC at POR (OKC -11.5) O/U: 224
• SAC at LAL (LAL -2.5) O/U: 238.5

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

Injury Report

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (Achilles) Questionable
• Joel Embiid (knee) OUT
• Donovan Mitchell (knee) OUT
• Tyrese Maxey (head) Questionable
• Lauri Markkanen (quad) Questionable
• Jaren Jackson Jr.(quad) Questionable
• Jerami Grant (tanking) Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) OUT
• Scoot Henderson (adductor) OUT
• Deandre Ayton (hand) Questionable
• Keyonte George (illness) Questionable
• Khris Middleton (ankle) OUT
• Onyeka Okongwu (toe) OUT
• Marvin Bagley (back) OUT
• Max Strus (knee) Questionable
• Russell Westbrook (hand) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) OUT
• Walker Kessler (foot) Questionable

Core Plays

Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
People have been complaining about AD’s inability to stay on the floor throughout his career, but he’s been out there almost every night this year. The Brow has been crushing with his reliability, averaging 56 DraftKings points per game across his last 42 fixtures. He’s also established a 45-point floor in that span and should slice through Sacramento. The Kings rank 21st in total defense, with Davis dropping 65 DK points against them earlier in the year.

Darius Garland (PG – CLE): $7,600 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
Garland was slow to get going in his return from an injury, but he’s starting to turn things around. What’s made him so valuable is that Donovan Mitchell is sidelined, leaving Garland to run the show for the Cavs. That’s led to DG scoring at least 37 DraftKings points in three straight outings. That should continue since he’s the primary playmaker, especially against a 29th-ranked Atlanta defense.

Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe that Tyus has been around $6K for this long. He’s taken over this offense, averaging 34 DraftKings points per game over the last month. He’s one of the league leaders in assists during that span and had one of his best games of the year in this outstanding matchup with Orlando. Jones scored 45 DraftKings points in that masterclass and should provide plenty of value with how weak this Washington roster is.

Cash Game Considerations

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,700 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel
SGA will likely finish second in MVP voting, averaging 55 DraftKings points per game. He’s done that while scoring at least 40 fantasy points in all but a few outings, making him an easy option against this putrid Portland defense. The Trail Blazers rank 21st in defensive efficiency ratings, with SGA posting a 50-point average against them. He has that 50-point average in those three matchups despite playing fewer than 27 minutes a night. If we get a competitive game and 35 minutes from Gilgeous, he might be the top-scoring player on this slate.

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $10,600 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Domas has a double-double in 43 straight games and now leads the league in triple-doubles. The big man has done most of that damage over the last few months, averaging 57 DK points per game since the end of December. That fantastic form should continue against a lackluster Lakers defense, with Sabonis scoring 54 DK points per game in their two matchups.

Paolo Banchero (SF/PF – ORL): $8,600 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel
Banchero is showing us why he was the top pick in last year’s draft, taking over this Orlando offense. Paolo leads the team with 42 DraftKings points per game and has scored at least 47 fantasy points in four of his last six outings. Another one of those ceiling games should be in play against Washington, surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing forwards. They’re also last in points allowed and defensive efficiency, with Banchero scoring 42 and 57 DK points in their last two matchups.

GPP Targets

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – WAS): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Poole has been pitiful all season, but something has changed since his demotion to the bench. That’s skyrocketed his usage, with Poole posting a 32 percent usage rate in this newfound role. That’s led to JP averaging 38 DraftKings points per game across his last five fixtures. That’s the guy we expected to see all year, and it makes him enticing since Poole is still too cheap from his early-season slumber.

Duop Reath (PF/C – POR): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
It’s sad what’s happened to this Portland rotation because they’ll likely be missing four of their five starters. That should force Reath into the starting lineup, scoring 36 DK points across 39 minutes in his most recent outing. Anybody who might play 40 minutes needs to be more expensive, especially since Reath has played at a $7K level when given an opportunity to start. Not to mention, OKC owns a 21st OPRK against opposing big men.

Alex Caruso (PG/SG – CHI): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
This defensive stud doesn’t have much upside but has one of the highest floors for a $5K player. Caruso has scored at least 24 DraftKings points in 16 of his last 19 outings, posting a 26-point average in that span. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, and we adore the matchup with Utah. The Jazz are allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

Value Plays

John Collins (PF/C – UTA): $7,100 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
It’s going to be tough to fade Collins here. Utah is expected to be without Markkanen, Kessler, and Hendricks, which means JC is the only frontcourt player left in this rotation. In this role, he could be locked into 40 minutes and double-digit rebounds, scoring 50 DK points across 35 minutes on Monday. Those 35 minutes might be his floor here, and he’s got a 40-point base with that type of opportunity.

Jabari Walker (PF/C – POR): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
Walker can be frustrating to trust at times, but Portland has to play him massive minutes with how shorthanded this team is right now. We saw Walker score at least 39 DK points in two of his last three outings while posting a 34-point average when he plays at least 30 minutes. This kid should be locked into 30-40 minutes with so many Blazers missing, making him one of the best values in this $5K price range.

Jake LaRavia (SF/PF – MEM): $4,500 DraftKings, $4,300 FanDuel
Here we are with another shorthanded team. Memphis is missing nearly every player from their rotation at the beginning of the year, and they have value spread throughout their lineup because of it. LaRavia has looked like one of the best finds, scoring at least 26 DK points in three of those five games. Those were also the three times he played over 20 minutes, and as long as the minutes are there, LaRavia should be at least $1,000 more on each site.

Advantageous Pricing

• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
• Jaren Jackson Jr.(PF/C – MEM): $7,800 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
• Amen Thompson (PG/SG – HOU): $5,000 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $5,400 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Chris Paul (PG – GSW): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
• De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $8,600 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
• Josh Giddey (PG/SG – OKC): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel

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