The NBA is back and that means playing Daily Fantasy becomes a whole lot sweeter. Playing NBA DFS can be the most frustrating at times but also the most rewarding, as the ever-changing nature of lineup changes and injury status allows sharps like you to stay ahead of the field and profitable across the season. I will be here on Thursdays and Sundays to bring my favorite plays from my morning diagnosis of the slate. I just want to emphasize how quickly an NBA slate can change, even with a lineup announcement as new starters means new projections and new value. If you’re going to be a serious NBA DFS player, utilize late swap often, and you will see the profit role in across the entire season.
After a big slate yesterday, we have a meager four-game slate this evening but with a lot of star power across the board. Let’s get to some of the best DraftKings and FanDuel plays for today’s games.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG- OKC)
- DraftKings: $9,900
- FanDuel: $11,300
I will lead that SGA is a much more better priced option on DraftKings than FanDuel but I still love his ceiling and am happy to anchor him across my lineups here tonight. Not only is this Thunder team running back their core players but this youthful roster only has another year under its belt and should take another step forward. That’s why I’m in on SGA here, who I still expect to take a step forward this season, starting tonight.
Denver was solid at limiting opposing point guards last year, which should limit SGA’s ownership and make him a solid leverage play who still has a high floor and an even higher ceiling. The Kentucky product was priced over $10k on DraftKings for a majority of the season and it made sense as he consistently averaged over 50 fantasy points a game. He’s a great value and decent leverage on DraftKings and I expect he should be a solid leverage spot on FanDuel, as I expect those who pay up at point guard will go to Luka Doncic, or everyone will spend down at other options.
- DraftKings: $9,300
- FanDuel: $10,100
After scoring 37 points with 10 assists in a route of the Knicks, scoring over 60 fantasy points, I expect Tatum to be one of the higher owned players on the slate tonight with the best matchup against Washington. While Tatum was hyper efficient in Tuesday’s season opener, going 8-11 from beyond the arc and shooting 78 percent from the field, he managed all of his production in just 30 minutes of play. If he plays the same minutes tonight, it’s because he has once again had a fantastic outing. The Wizards ranked as one of the fastest paced teams throughout the year last season and ranked near or at the bottom in all defensive metrics, allowing the most fantasy points to opposing forwards. He may be the most chalky play on the slate here but could burn anyone who dares to fade him in their lineups tonight.
- DraftKings: $9,500
- FanDuel: $9,800
Sabonis averaged over 52 DK fantasy points a game and just shy 50 FD fantasy points a game a year ago and was consistently priced over $10k, reaching $11k at one point. His current price might be one of the lowest of the entire year and I’m buying in before he loses any value. My guess as to why his pricing is a bit lower is from facing the Minnesota Timberwolves. A year ago, Minnesota ranked second best at limiting opposing centers an Rudy Gobert is a scary defender. But it seems like the Timberwolves are going through some growing pains with their new look roster and Anthony Davis exploded in the season opener with 36 points and 16 rebounds. Sabonis’ qualifying in the power forward or center slot on DraftKings will increase his ownership a bit with his lineup versatility but I still expect him to go under owned, especially on FanDuel, as I expect most DFS players instinct will be to pay up for Nikola Jokic in the center spot.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
- DraftKings: $11,000
- FanDuel: $11,700
For the last three or so years, if you need 50-plus points, Nikola Jokic is your man. As the best player in the league – or at worst second best – Jokic averaged over 55 fantasy points a game on both sites last season. Chet Holmgren is an improving player but OKC still allowed opposing centers to score at the 13th highest rate in the league a year ago. Playing at home with a one possession spread, I imagine this game to come down to the wire, and for Jokic’s usage to see an uptick until the end. I don’t have to go into too much here, we all know who Jokic is. His ceiling is higher than anyone on the slate and he may have the most secure floor of any NBA player now and for the rest of the season.
- DraftKings: $7,500
- FanDuel: $8,100
Kyrie Irving is in a fantastic matchup and with his pricing, makes him an easy cash game selection. Across the final half of the season last year, the Spurs ranked top-five in the league in pace of play. They also allowed opposing guards to score at a top five rate in the league. A few easy reasons why I like Kyrie’s floor here tonight and love his pricing. He reached over $9k consistently last year so this feels like quite the discount for what should still be a plus matchup against the Spurs. His dual position status on both DraftKings and FanDuel allows versatility for lineup construction, so he’s likely to be higher owned but that shouldn’t be a problem across your cash game contests.
- DraftKings: $6,000
- FanDuel: $6,200
As mentioned before, tonight’s slate with only four games means the nuts matchup is going to feature high ownership. This means you can basically pick and choose your Boston Celtics you’d like to roster tonight and I’m sure you’d be right. Considering how great of a matchup this is, Holiday offers a great floor. His low price point compared to the rest of his teammates and relative lower ownership makes him an option across any contest type tonight.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
- DraftKings: $10,700
- FanDuel: $11,500
As I mentioned, Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis are solid plays for today and don’t exactly come at a cheap price. That means ownership for the Alien should come in quite low, probably around five percent based on early projections. Entering his second year, Wembanyama still has a lot of room for improvement and his ceiling has no limit. He could be the highest scorer on any given slate and to gain such leverage over the field in GPP tournaments would put you well ahead. It’s not the greatest matchup but Dallas should be a pace-up spot and while Dereck Lively II is an elite defender, Wemby can manage any matchup.
- DraftKings: $7,500
- FanDuel: $7,800
It will be common to have a lot of selections and value on the slate when it comes to rostering centers. This is no exception. For similar reasons to Wemby, Chet Holmgren is a great leverage spot tonight in the center position. He doesn’t exactly have the slate-breaking upside that the other centers have but he does offer a solid pivot option considering his price. Last year, Denver allowed the 13th highest fantasy points per game to opposing centers and in his four matchups against Denver last season, Chet averaged 41 fantasy points a game, and increase from his 36.2 he averaged throughout the season.
- DraftKings: $7,300
- FanDuel: $7,900
If you’re looking to pivot away from some of the projected higher owned guards like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray is your guy. With his price point below $8k on both sides, Murray gives not only solid value but good leverage in a spot that will force Denver to run and gun against the high powered offense in Oklahoma. If OKC focuses it’s defensive efforts in limiting Jokic then Murray will have to step up. He should see high opportunity but with the tough defense faced, he doesn’t exactly have a solid floor. There is a higher range of outcomes here than with most other players, so proceed with caution for the Denver point guard.
NBA DFS Value Plays
- DraftKings: $4,600
- FanDuel: $5,800
With a smaller slate you usually have to mine for value but there are some solid options here, starting with Jeremy Sochan. After averaging around 30 minutes a game last year, it’s surprising to see him sub $5k on DraftKings as he consistently posted 30 fantasy points per game. I’d project hum for right around the same number here against Dallas, who allowed the eighth highest fantasy points to opposing power forwards a year ago.
Carlton Carrington (PG/SG – WAS)
- DraftKings: $3,000
- FanDuel: $3,700
The clear punt play on tonight’s slate, and perhaps the highest owned player, is Carlton, or Bub, Carrington. While Bilal Coulibaly should be fully recovered from the sprained finger during the preseason, Carrington should still be well involved in the rotation here tonight against Boston. The 14th overall pick averaged 22 minutes a game in the preseason with eight points, four rebounds, and nearly two assists to go with it. This isn’t exactly the safest of plays since it’s a rookie who should be coming off the bench making his NBA debut in what is an unknown roll and usage, but the value is clear and you aren’t risking much with his floor pricing on DraftKings.
- DraftKings: $4,800
- FanDuel: $5,300
When in doubt, find the lowest owned starter you feel comfortable enough playing. My pick here is Alex Caruso. The new face in Oklahoma City should slot comfortably into the starting rotation and as one of the best defensive players and role players in the league, should see fair usage and solid return on investment. I’d project him around 25 fantasy points which isn’t exactly breaking the bank but he should have a higher floor compared to your other pure value plays. His guard and forward status also makes him a great option for DraftKings as he can fit nearly anywhere in your lineup.
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