After a couple days of NBA Cup action with limited slates and just four matchup last night, much of the league returns on Friday with seven games across the evening. The main slate for DraftKings’ NBA DFS offerings includes six of those contests with the first starting at 7 p.m. EST. Here, we’re looking for must-start options who can make a major impact in your lineups, whether at a star’s salary or a value rate to serve as a difference maker here.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [$100K to 1st]
C Jalen Duren, Pistons vs. Hawks ($7,800)
Center options are somewhat decimated tonight with four of the 12 highest-salaried players at the position all out due to various injuries and ailments. With options more limited than usual, roster percentage may tick up a little bit for the remaining guys, which makes choosing the right one even more crucial. Jalen Duren looks like one of the top options at $7,800 — third among healthy options in salary and second in FPPG with 39.0. The Pistons play at home tonight against the Hawks, which largely bodes well for Duren’s outlook. He averages 42.9 FPPG on his home court, and in two games against Atlanta so far this season, he posted quality outings in each. In the first, Duren tallied 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three combined stocks while shooting 66.7% from the field. In the second, he racked up a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double on 75.0% shooting overall. Both of those games came with Onyeka Okongwu as Duren’s primary matchup while Kristaps Porzingis played neither and is out once more tonight.
As a double-double machine with a steady floor and a ceiling in the 50-FPTS range, there’s plenty to like about Duren here. Expect 20+ points, 10+ boards and a little extra in the peripheral categories.
SG Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers @ Wizards, $9,800
The Cavaliers head to the nation’s capital tonight for a meeting with the Wizards. While there’s certainly some blowout potential here as a rebuilding Washington squad takes the floor with no Alex Sarr or Bilal Coulibaly, that also means Cleveland doesn’t have to face their opponent’s two best defenders. That bodes quite well for all scorers but especially Donovan Mitchell, who averages 48.5 FPPG and is my pick as the top stud to build a lineup around tonight. His 30.5 PPG is a career-best mark and he’s doing it efficiently on a 50.2%/38.5%/83.6% shooting split at that, also dishing out 5.5 assists a night with a surprising 4.8 rebounds, too. Last time he played against the Wizards, Mitchell posted 48.8 DKFP with 24 points, five boards, five assists and five stocks despite playing just 26 minutes. He could easily hit 30+ points against a depleted defensive unit that ranks in the bottom-six clubs in opponent FG% and 3P% allowed.
Could he get pulled early in a blowout? Sure, but the upside remains tantalizing and I’m willing to take the risk with Mitchell in this spot.
PF Matas Buzelis, Bulls @ Hornets, $6,200
He’s no star just yet, but Matas Buzelis is quietly posting a quality sophomore campaign in Chicago. He averages 14.0 PPG along with 5.7 boards and 2.3 combined stocks while playing 29 minutes a night, so there’s a very steady role for the G-League Ignite product. With 28 FPPG, there’s some solid fantasy production from the forward, but he’s hit a hit stretch as of late. Over his last five outings, Buzelis posted 34.4 FPPG with a floor of 25.8 DKFP and three outings of 32.5 or more, including a 45.5-point outing against the Magic. Will he repeat that tonight? There’s a chance he could against a weak Hornets team that’s 23rd in opponent PPG allowed without true standout talent in the frontcourt. Granted, the rebounding battle could be difficult as Charlotte actually ranks second-best in REB%, but Buzelis’ opponents are also 26th in opponent points in the paint.
With a pretty solid matchup and plenty of opportunity, I quite like Buzelis as a mid-priced option at power forward tonight. He should pay off.
