How is it already the end of February?
This NBA season is flying by and we’ll mark the end of the month with an eight-game featured slate on DraftKings this evening.
Let’s break down everything you’ll need to know to set a few lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
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Key Injury News
AVAILABLE: Nic Claxton
PROBABLE: Dennis Schroder, Jalen Smith
QUESTIONABLE: Scottie Barnes, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaylen Brown, Chet Holmgren, Kristaps Porzingis, Desmond Bane, Bam Adebayo, Josh Hart, Norman Powell, John Collins, Collin Sexton, Andrew Wiggins, Deni Avdija, Mitchell Robinson, Jerami Grant, Jordan Clarkson, Aaron Gordon
DOUBTFUL: Nikola Vucevic
OUT: Lauri Markkanen, Jrue Holiday, Bennedict Mathurin, Alex Caruso
Click here for the slate’s full and updated injury report
Matchup Analysis
Best Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Cleveland Cavaliers at BOS (106.4)
- Detroit Pistons vs. DEN (109.0)
- Brooklyn Nets vs. POR (109.3)
Worst Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Phoenix Suns vs. NOP (122.9)
- New York Knicks at MEM (120.9)
- Chicago Bulls vs. TOR (119.9)
Fastest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. NYK (103.4)
- Atlanta Hawks vs. OKC (103.1)
- Chicago Bulls vs. TOR (102.2)
Slowest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Brooklyn Nets vs. POR (94.8)
- Miami Heat vs. IND (96.1)
- Boston Celtics vs. CLE (96.5)
Highest Game Total
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Atlanta Hawks (245)
- New York Knicks at Memphis Grizzlies (243.5)
- Denver Nuggets at Detroit Pistons (238.5)
Top DFS Pick
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder at Atlanta Hawks, $10,700
You have to pick and choose your spots with Gilgeous-Alexander. That’s not to suggest the man leading the league in points per game (32.4) isn’t viable each and every night, but SGA has failed to exceed 50 FPTS in six of his last nine starts. That said, he also dropped 70.0 FPTS against the Timberwolves on Sunday, so you don’t have to go back too far to see the All-Star’s massive ceiling. You couldn’t ask for a better matchup on Friday. The Hawks owns the Eastern Conference’s fastest pace across the past 10 games (103.1) and, for the season as a whole, Atlanta is surrendering the fifth-most FPTS per contest to opposing point guards. It’s also worth monitoring the status of Chet Holmgren ($7,200; calf), who was a late add to the team’s injury report. Gilgeous-Alexander possesses a 29.9% usage rate when sharing the floor with Holmgren in 2024-25. That rate jumps to 36.1% when the big man sits.
Top Value Pick
PF/C Kelly Olynyk, New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns, $5,000
Let’s go double Canadian. We’ve got a rematch of Thursday’s highest-scoring game on Friday, as the Pelicans take on the Suns in Phoenix once again. In yesterday’s contest, New Orleans decided to sit Olynyk and Bruce Brown ($4,100). Now, you’d have to assume that the team will choose to rest Zion Williamson ($8,900), who has not appeared in both legs of a back-to-back set since all the way back in October. Olynyk has started all three games he’s played since being traded to the Pelicans at the deadline. His last two starts have been of particular interest, with the veteran averaging 10.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 32.1 FPTS. Williamson’s expected absence looms large. The former first-overall pick is coming off a triple-double performance and his 35.4% usage rate is a team-high. Every available member of New Orleans’ rotation should see a bump in opportunity — and that includes Olynyk. I’d also keep an eye on Karlo Matkovic ($4,500). Olynyk’s return will likely move Matkovic back to the bench, but he registered 17 points and 10 rebounds versus the Suns less than 24 hours ago.
