After a long four-month absence, the NBA is back. Opening night tips off with a star-studded two-game slate, where all four squads are looking to get off to a hot start.
DraftKings is offering a DFS contest for the chance to win $200,000. I’ve done the homework so you don’t have to, and I identified a pair of value plays to give your lineup an edge.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $750K Opening Tip Off [$200K to 1st]
DraftKings Value Picks
Donte DiVincenzo ($5,100)
It’s inconceivable that Donte DiVincenzo is on his third team in as many seasons. The veteran two-guard averaged 19 points after the All-Star break, much of that time slotted as the number two in command alongside college teammate Jalen Brunson. Most role players can’t scale their efficiency, but not DiVincenzo—who proved he was a three-point marksman with an uptick in volume.
His movement is paramount to his success, and he is ready to rise up as soon as the ball hits his fingertips. Minnesota desperately needs his outside shooting, so I expect him to get plenty of burn regardless of whether he starts most of his contests on the bench. Chris Finch isn’t into playing his guys 40+ minutes like Tom Thibodeau, but with Mike Conley as a table setter, opportunity won’t be an issue.
Los Angeles struggles to guard the perimeter, with Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell often the point-of-attack defenders. With newfound confidence, DiVincenzo should be comfortable hunting his shot as he becomes third on the offensive pecking order behind Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.
Payton Pritchard ($4,700)
After a two-ring off-season (a title and a marriage), Payton Pritchard is ready to take another step forward as the premier bench scorer on the reigning champions. He’s more than just a half-court heave specialist—he’s a crafty driver who can get small off-screens and wiggle his way to the paint. He’s also a flamethrower who hovers around 40% from a distance.
In college at Oregon, Pritchard was a premier distributor, and in throwaway games in recent years, he has been able to highlight that’s still a part of his arsenal. With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined for the foreseeable future, there are shots to be shared, and it’s not as simple as trickling down to fellow bigs Al Horford and Xavier Tillman. Pritchard should be leaned upon more throughout this campaign as a microwave sniper who can carry the burden on certain nights.
Joe Mazzulla likely limits his top guys after a long summer, which means Pritchard could get extended play out of the jump. New York sports a feisty defense, but Pritchard is shifty enough to get into his offense against almost anyone.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
