On Friday, the NBA features a six-game main DFS fantasy basketball slate for DraftKings, with tip-off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Taking an early look at the opponents and potential opportunities, a few standout matchups are evident. These three key NBA DFS stacks make sense to build around as the core of your fantasy basketball roster for Friday night.
A key place to start your planning for every fantasy basketball slate at this point in the season is the daily injury report. For Friday’s main slate, the Rockets are the only team playing on the second night of a back-to-back, so keep a close eye out for their injury report. From the teams that have already submitted their reports, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is the biggest name in question, while some of the big names already ruled out are Ja Morant, Santi Aldama, Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Williams, and A.J. Mitchell. Make sure to check back for updates to the injury report before the action tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The NBA DFS main slate includes a variety of contests and pay-out structures on DraftKings, headlined by the NBA $200K Excellent 8’s [$50K to 1st].
Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The Grizzlies have an outstanding matchup against the Pelicans, who have struggled on defense all season. They’ll be without both Morant and Aldama, which opens up lots of usage in what should be a spot where they score plenty of points. The Pelicans gave up 112 points to the injury-depleted Pistons on Wednesday and have allowed an average of 122 points per game, which is the third-highest total in the NBA this season. As a result of the matchup, Memphis has the highest implied team total on the entire slate.
The Grizzlies had Morant on Wednesday in their close loss to the Hawks, and they were without Aldama for that game as well. The Grizz had 122 points in the loss and have scored an average of 115.6 over their last five games.
Core Plays: Without Morant and Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr. ($7,500) will have to carry the load, and he’ll be in a great spot against the Pelicans, who have been very beatable down low this season. He’s the only player over $6,000 expected to play for Memphis. The three other plays that make a lot of sense with boosted usage are Cam Spencer ($5,700), Jock Landale ($5,500) and Cedric Coward ($5,400), who should all be great options in the midrange. Landale had a double-double without Aldama on Wednesday and has 30+ fantasy points in four of his last five. Coward has 28+ fantasy points in five of his last six and should pick up more of the scoring load without Morant.
Value Options: If you need bargain plays from the Grizz, the versatile Vince Williams Jr. ($4,400) could fill in for Morant as well. GG Jackson ($4,000) had 17 fantasy points on Wednesday as well, while Jaylen Wells ($4,900) stepped up with 26 fantasy points in 26 minutes.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers
The Thunder have the third-highest implied team total of the night as they host the Pacers in what should be another high-scoring game. The Thunder are dealing with a few injuries, which gives the peripheral options potentially more usage and good value as well.
The Pacers have given up the fourth-most points per game in the last 15 games, while letting opponents shoot 49.6% from the field, which is tied for the highest shooting percentage allowed over that span. The Thunder have scored the most points per game this season, and the third-most per game over the last 15 contests.
OKC will be without Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Isaiah Hartentstein and Alex Caruso, with Jaylin Williams and Aaron Wiggins also questionable.
Core Plays: If you have the salary available, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,700) always brings a very high ceiling. He should get even more usage than normal, and has 50+ fantasy points in five ofhis last seven games, including a massive 68.75 fantasy points on Wednesday, when he had 40 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds against the Bucks. Chet Holmgren ($8,300) had 40+ fantasy points in three straight games before cooling off in that matchup with only 25.2 fantasy points. He should bounce back and take as many minutes as possible, especially if Jaylin Williams joins the many players out.
Value Options: Without Mitchell, Caruso, and possibly Wiggins, Luguentz Dort ($4,500) and Cason Wallace ($4,200) will have to pick up more work on offense, while Isaiah Joe ($4,000) and Kenrich Williams ($3,900) should get more minutes as well.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Sacramento Kings
The Kings haven’t been able to stop anyone on defense lately, just ask their coach Doug Christie, who has been vocal in calling out the team’s lack of energy and defense. The Kings won four straight home games to start their homestand this month, but then lost three straight, allowing 117 points to Portland, 130 to Miami, and 122 to Toronto. The Cavaliers have the second-highest implied total on the board this Friday, and there should be extra opportunities available with Darius Garland still sidelined.
Core Plays: Without Garland, Donovan Mitchell ($9,700) typically carries the offense with Evan Mobley ($8,700) more involved as well. The Kings have given up the most fantasy points per game in the NBA this season to opposing centers, so both Mobley and Jarrett Allen ($6,500) should be able to deliver good value. Without Garland, Jaylon Tyson ($6,600) is also having a breakout run, producing 30+ fantasy points in three straight games, dating back to his 39-point outburst against the Magic last Friday, when he earned 52.75 fantasy points.
Value Options: If you need some cheap plays from Cleveland, Dean Wade ($3,600) is back and producing after putting up 24.75 fantasy points in 27 minutes against the Hornets on Wednesday. De’Andre Hunter ($5,100) had scored at least 15 points and had at least 29 fantasy points in three straight games before cooling off Wednesday, but he has a good chance to bounce back against the Kings. With Sam Merrill (hand) out again and Lonzo Ball playing limited minutes, Craig Porter Jr. ($4,900) could also get more minutes, and rookie Tyrese Proctor ($3,100) is getting more run off the bench and can be a punt play if you need a play just over the minimum salary to round out your lineup.
