Monday delivers a nine-game NBA slate on DraftKings. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players and below, I dive into my three of my favorite bargain plays for this slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
C, Andre Drummond, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic, $4,300
After seeing limited work in the first two games of the season, Joel Embiid (knee) will be rested tonight and Dominic Barlow (elbow) will be out as well, leaving the 76ers very thin in the frontcourt. In the second half of Saturday’s win over the Hornets, Barlow missed the half with his injury and Embiid was only able to play five minutes, resulting in Drummond operating as the team’s main big man. The veteran logged 15.5 of the 24 minutes in the second half and he finished with 30.25 FPTS in the victory.
Drummond was a team-high +12 in the box score and starter or not, he should see around 25 minutes of action tonight with the 76ers shorthanded on big men. Drummond is amassing 1.1 FPTS per minute over the last two seasons and while this is a tough matchup against a Magic defense that ranks sixth in rating this season, this is a matchup that requires size, as Orlando likes to have a true center on the floor most of the time. He has double-double upside in this situation and he should effortlessly outproduce his $4,300 salary.
PG, Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks, $4,900
With the defending champion Thunder understaffed to begin this season, Mitchell has stepped up and been a wonderful contributor off the bench. Through Oklahoma City’s first three games, the second-year guard is averaging 33.5 FPTS in 27 minutes per game with a 26.1% usage rate, which ranks second for the Thunder, only trailing reigning MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander.
With Jalen Williams (wrist), Alex Caruso (concussion) and Isaiah Joe (knee) all remaining out tonight, Mitchell’s immense role should continue and he could see an even larger usage rate than usual if Chet Holmgren (questionable, back) joins Oklahoma City’s lengthy inactive list. Nonetheless, Mitchell is way underpriced at only $4,900, and he should cruise past five times value in this great matchup vs. the Mavericks, who are playing their second game in two nights and rank seventh in pace this season.
PG, Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks, $5,000
Starting alongside Josh Giddey in the Bulls’ backcourt, Jones has been excellent and a big reason for Chicago’s 2-0 start this season. The veteran is amassing 35.5 FPTS in 30 minutes per game while handling a 16.2% usage rate and a team-high 42.1% assist rate. For tonight, Jones is facing a Hawks team that ranks 21st in defensive rating this season and this game’s 242.5-point total on DraftKings Sportsbook is the highest on the slate.
Jones has a strong chance to score 30+ FPTS in this likely shootout and he would go from a great play to a must-play if Giddey (questionable, finger) was inactive. In the five games Jones has played without Giddey over the last two seasons, Jones is supplying 36.9 FPTS per game.
