We have a seven-game featured slate tonight in the NBA and that means there’s no shortage of intriguing players to consider for your DraftKings lineups this evening. I’m here to narrow down that list.
Let’s dive into my three must-start assets on the hardcourt for Friday’s action.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [$100K to 1st]
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PG LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets at Chicago Bulls, $10,400
The Bulls enter tonight’s contest with the Hornets surrendering the third-most FPTS per game to opposing point guards. If that isn’t enough of a reason to play LaMelo Ball on Friday, I don’t know what is. Ball currently leads the entire NBA in usage rate at a whopping 38.0%. He’s fifth in the league in touches per contest (91.8). Ball is the exact type of player that should thrive in the uptempo style Chicago likes to create, as the team sits second in the NBA in pace (104.3). Ball’s on a bit of a heater, too. In his last three starts, the former third-overall pick is averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 59.3 FPTS. It’s also worth noting the injury status of Brandon Miller ($7,700; wrist), who is questionable to suit up versus the Bulls. Ball is viable regardless of whether or not his teammate plays, but the 23-year-old owns an eye-popping 40.5% usage rate and produces 1.52 FPTS per minute this season with Miller off the floor.
PG Keyonte George, Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans, $6,000
George returned to the Jazz’s lineup on Wednesday and wasted no time getting back into the flow. Heck, he was the flow. In a team-high 30.6 minutes of action, George scored 26 points and dished out six assists, culminating in 46.0 FPTS. His 22 field goal attempts were nearly three-times more than any other member of Utah’s starting five and, needless to say, he led the Jazz with a gargantuan 35.1% usage rate. It was the fourth time in George’s past eight games that he’s exceeded 40 FPTS. Maybe that’s why I’m not afraid of what his role might look like on Friday with Collin Sexton ($7,500) back in the mix. There’s no Lauri Markkanen (back). There’s no John Collins (hip). There’s no Jordan Clarkson (foot). I’m sure George’s value can withstand a little competition for shots, especially in a matchup with a Pelicans squad that possesses the league’s fourth-worst defensive rating (117.4). You’re not usually going to find this level of upside in the $6,000 range.
C Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, $5,500
Let’s not get anything twisted. Gafford’s 50 FPTS performance on Wednesday was an aberration. By season’s end, it’ll truly be an outlier. However, you only need Gafford to be 60% that effective to bring back value on Friday. Dereck Lively II (ankle) does not currently have a timetable for return and that means Gafford is going to continue to start for the Mavericks. In the veteran’s last four cracks with the starting five, he’s averaging 35.0 FPTS. It makes sense, as Gafford is producing a very respectable 1.20 FPTS per minute logged for 2024-25 as a whole. All he needs is the opportunity. It also helps that the Thunder are so shorthanded in the interior with the recent loss of Isaiah Hartenstein (calf). Gafford should eat against Oklahoma City’s backup big men.
