For Friday’s slate, there are 10 games.
No teams are playing the second leg of a back-to-back. LAL, NO, SAC, SA and TOR play on Saturday.
As for injuries, Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Nic Claxton, Andre Drummond, Miles McBride, Rui Hachimura, Steven Adams, Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic are questionable. Simone Fontecchio and Tim Hardaway Jr. are doubtful. Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal, Chet Holmgren, Immanuel Quickley, Jaxson Hayes, Jose Alvarado, Alex Caruso and De’Anthony Melton are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are two double-digit favorites: CLE -10.5 over CHI and NY -10 over BKN. There are two games within 2 points: ORL -1 over PHI and DET -1 over TOR. There are two games with a total of at least 230: CLE/CHI (237) and WAS/ATL (238). There are three games with a total below 220: PHI/ORL (213.5), BKN/NY (215) and LAC/HOU (214.5). There are three home dogs: TOR, SA and NO. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards ($9,900) – Young returns to action after a one-game absence. While Quin Snyder has utilized Young off-the-ball more to open up things for teammates, the usage rate is still 29.5% on the season. He’s also gone over 50 FPTS six times, with three over 60 and a high of 71.5. This game has the highest total on the slate at 238, as the teams are 26th and 27th in defensive efficiency while Atlanta is tops in pace and Washington is 10th. It should be an up-and-down affair with plenty of chances for fantasy goodies.
Other Options – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,700), Cade Cunningham ($9,300), Donovan Mitchell ($8,200), Tyler Herro ($7,800), Jordan Poole ($7,400), Darius Garland ($7,100), Austin Reaves ($6,900), Dyson Daniels ($6,500), Brandon Boston Jr. ($6,400), Bennedict Mathurin ($6,200)
Value
Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets ($4,400) – Dunn entered the starting lineup last game and produced 11 points, four rebounds, eight assists and two steals in 31 minutes. In the prior game, he played 28 minutes off the bench and contributed nine points, four rebounds and eight assists. That was good for 32 and 27 FPTS respectively. He will likely get the start again and play over 30 minutes. Dunn is averaging 0.86 FPTS per minute.
Other Options – Carlton Carrington ($5,700), Ochai Agbaji ($5,600), Zaccharie Risacher ($5,400), Christian Braun ($5,300), Malik Beasley ($5,200), Lu Dort ($4,800), Stephon Castle ($4,700), Ziaire Williams ($4,100), Dalton Knecht ($3,900), Anthony Black ($3,800)
Forward
Stud
Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers ($8,800) – With Paolo Banchero on the court, Wagner did not have a usage rate over 30% once. Since Banchero has been out, the usage rate for Wagner has been over 30% in seven of eight games. Over the last two games, it’s been 35.2% and 38%! Wagner has gone for over 40 FPTS in each of the last five games with a high of 55.5 FPTS.
Other Options – LeBron James ($10,200), Jalen Johnson ($8,900), Josh Hart ($6,900), Zach LaVine ($6,800), Michael Porter Jr. ($6,500), Bennedict Mathurin ($6,200), Tobias Harris ($6,200)
Value
Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans ($5,300) – The Nuggets were comfortable letting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leave because they had confidence in Braun stepping up in his third year, and he has rewarded their faith with solid production. Braun is averaging 35.3 minutes per game with 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks. He’s also been remarkably consistent, having scored over 20 FPTS in every game this season with three over 30 and a high of 41 FPTS.
Other Options – OG Anunoby ($5,900), Ochai Agbaji ($5,600), Zaccharie Risacher ($5,400), Kyshawn George ($5,100), Tari Eason ($5,000), Lu Dort ($4,800), Peyton Watson ($4,600), Dalton Knecht ($3,900), Larry Nance Jr. ($3,600)
Center
Stud
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers ($8,200) – There are many good options at the top of the center pool on this slate, but there are some injury and price concerns. For example, Wembanyama has a 70-FPTS ceiling, but I think the Lakers can limit him somewhat. As a result, I like Sengun at the price because I think he can match or exceed the top options. Sengun can stuff the stat sheet and has scored at least 45 FPTS in each of the last three games with a high of 59.75. He has played 30, 30 and 31 minutes as well.
Other Options – Nikola Jokic ($12,000) if he plays, Victor Wembanyama ($11,100), Anthony Davis ($10,500) if he plays, Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,100) if he plays, Jalen Williams ($8,300)
Value
Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets ($5,000) – Missi was in the rotation from the get-go but didn’t start. He was getting around 20 minutes per game, splitting time with Daniel Theis. Seven games ago, Missi became the starter and has averaged 24.7 minutes. In the last two games, Missi has played 30 and 27 minutes. Theis was a DNP last game. Missi has put up 26.5 and 39.25 FPTS in the last two contests.
Other Options – Jalen Duren ($5,900), Goga Bitadze ($5,300), Clint Capela ($5,100), Onyeka Okongwu ($4,900), Larry Nance Jr. ($3,600)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
