Dare I say tonight’s six-game NBA featured slate is pretty straight-forward? There’s only a couple big names listed as questionable to keep an eye on and, somehow, there isn’t a single team on the second night of a back-to-back set.
I’m sure I just jinxed it, but until that shoe drops, here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll need to know to build a couple lineups on Friday on DraftKings.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [$100K to 1st]
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Key Injury News
PROBABLE: Al Horford
QUESTIONABLE: Zion Williamson, Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick
OUT: LaMelo Ball, Paul George, Mark Williams, Zach LaVine
Click here for the slate’s full injury report
Matchup Analysis
Best Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Los Angeles Clippers at CHA (102.7)
- Toronto Raptors vs. CHI (108.3)
- Boston Celtics vs. NOP (109.6)
Worst Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- San Antonio Spurs vs. MIL (120.6)
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. DEN (119.2)
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. BOS (118.5)
Fastest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. BOS (101.7)
- Chicago Bulls at TOR (101.6)
- San Antonio Spurs vs. MIL (100.9)
Slowest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. DEN (96.4)
- Boston Celtics at NOP (96.5)
- Los Angeles Clippers at CHA (98.7)
Highest Game Total
- Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs (235)
- Denver Nuggets at Philadelphia 76ers (234)
- Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (232.5)
Top DFS Pick
PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs, $11,500
It’s a Giannis night. While the former MVP doesn’t often have a price tag that allows for easy lineup construction, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and pay the big bucks for his services. That’s especially true in a matchup as a good as this one. Despite employing the likely Defensive Player of the Year in Victor Wembanyama ($11,000), the Spurs haven’t been able to stop anyone this month. To wit, San Antonio is surrendering a staggering 121.8 opponent points per contest in January, with only the lowly Wizards allowing more. That’s the result of combining the NBA’s second-worst defensive rating (119.6) and sixth-fastest pace (100.7) since January 1. Antetokounmpo has registered 60-plus FPTS in three of his last five starts. For the season as a whole, he’s averaging an eye-popping 1.67 FPTS per minute. His upside in fantasy is nearly unmatched.
Top Value Pick
SF Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors, $4,200
Williams has still yet to show the potential that once made him the fourth-overall pick in the NBA Draft, but the forward has strung together a couple of nice performances this week. In Chicago’s past two games, Williams is averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 30.6 FPTS. That alone would make the forward an intriguing value candidate on this small slate, but there’s also the matter of matchup. Suddenly, the Raptors aren’t a defensive doormat, as the squad is allowing a league-low 103.0 opponent points per 100 possessions over its recent 7-1 stretch. However, it’s specifically the presence of Scottie Barnes ($9,400) that makes this an interesting spot for Williams. Billy Donovan even mentioned Williams might start on Friday due to his ability to physically contend with Toronto’s young star. Either way, expect Williams to log heavy minutes north of the border.
