After an exciting trade deadline and a busy start to the week, the NBA has six games on the scoreboard this Friday, heading into the final weekend before the All-Star break. The first four of those games are on DraftKings’ featured DFS NBA fantasy basketball slate, which tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET when the first two games tip off in Boston and Detroit.
From the eight teams in the player pool, three options stand out as great places to start your lineup with multiple players from the same team. The NBA DFS stacks highlighted in this post are top options due to matchups and opportunities, and they can be the core of your DFS lineup this evening.
At this point of the season, it’s critical to keep a close eye on the daily injury report, where you can keep track of who is in and who is out for this slate. Many significant names are already ruled out or are questionable, which can open up value from the rest of the team’s roster while filling in. Be sure to check the latest injury news before tip-off and adjust your lineup if needed.
Set your DraftKings NBA DFS lineups here: NBA $200K Friday 8’s [$50K to 1st]
Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks
The Pacers were surprisingly aggressive at the trade deadline, acquiring Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown from the Clippers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick. Zubac has been ruled out for this game, as he was away from the Clippers due to a personal matter, and the trade is still being finalized. Mathurin and Jackson will obviously not play, either, leaving lots of work for the rest of the Pacers in a good matchup against the Bucks, who didn’t move Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and should continue to struggle while they’re shorthanded.
Over the last five games, the Bucks have allowed the fourth-most points in the NBA, giving up 121.4 per game. They allowed 137 points to the Pelicans in overtime in their last game on Wednesday.
Core Plays: The Pacers rested most of their starters on Tuesday against the Jazz, but Andrew Nembhard ($7,300), Pascal Siakam ($8,800) and Aaron Nesmith ($5,600) are all expected to return after missing that contest. Siakam has been the focus of the offense this season and has a high ceiling with over 50 fantasy points in two of his last five games. Nembhard has also been stepping up lately with over 40 fantasy points in three of his last five games, including two games with over 50 FPTS. He had a quiet game against Houston, but lit up the Hawks and Thunder over the last few weeks. Nesmith has also been getting more work lately, with at least 14 points and at least 26 fantasy points in five straight games. With Mathurin traded, all three of those starters should get more usage and opportunity.
Value Options: With Jackson traded and no Zubac, Jarace Walker ($5,700) will likely help carry the load. He had 24 points and 36 fantasy points on Tuesday, since he played while so many other options rested. He has over 30 fantasy points in five of his last seven games, and he’s starting to be a solid contributor on the wing, which helped the team move on from Mathurin.
Jay Huff ($4,800) will also have to play a bigger role in the front court — and until Zubac arrives. Huff has reached double-digit points and at least 24 fantasy points in three of his last four games. Johnny Furphy ($4,400) and Quenton Jackson ($3,800) could have earned more time with big games on Tuesday, as well, while Micah Potter ($3,800; hip) could get extra minutes behind Huff in the short term, if he can play through his questionable tag.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The Timberwolves have the highest implied team total on the board this Friday night, as they host the Pelicans as 9.5-point favorites. The Pelicans have allowed the third-most points per game this season, and even though they have been better lately, they’re still a great defense to attack.
At the deadline, the Wolves’ big move was to bring in Ayo Dosunmu ($6,100), and he is not on the injury report, which could mean he’ll be able to make his debut. He should be a great fit, although his exact role is still to be determined. Julius Randle ($8,100; thumb) is questionable due to a thumb injury that he played through on Wednesday, turning in 17 points and 27 fantasy points in 36 minutes.
Core Plays: Whoever is available or out, Anthony Edwards ($9,500) is the centerpiece of the stack. Edwards had 54.75 FPTS and 55.0 FPTS in his games on Monday and Wednesday of this week, and he carried the Wolves to a two-point win in Toronto on Wednesday with 30 points in 38 minutes. If Randle is out or limited, Naz Reid ($6,300) would be a great play with the extra work. Reid has at least 32 fantasy points in five of his last six games off the bench, including a pair of games with at least 45 fantasy points. Jaden McDaniels ($6,400) has also been a solid producer from his mid-range salary, playing at least 34 minutes in three straight games and producing 30+ fantasy points in three of his past four contests. Dosunmu is a risky play in his unknown role, but he could be a key contributor down the stretch.
Value Options: On Wednesday, Bones Hyland ($4,600) had 20 points and 40 fantasy points in 26 minutes. With Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller traded away, shaking up the second unit, Hyland could get more usage, although he’s boom-or-bust due to the role uncertainty. Julian Phillips ($3,400) also came to Minnesota in the Dosunmu deal, but the Timberwolves have run a fairly tight rotation this season, so his role is also very uncertain. Jaylen Clark ($3,100) could also get more playing time, and he has shown some decent upside when given a chance.
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
The Celtics host the Heat in a good pace-up spot to build a Boston stack. Miami has allowed the second-most points per game in the NBA over the last 15 games, giving up 119.5 per contest during that span. The Heat lead the NBA in pace over the last 10 games and for the whole season. They allowed 129 points to the Celtics in their first meeting back on December, and 119 more in the rematch a few weeks ago.
The Celtics are mostly healthy coming into this contest and Nikola Vucevic ($7,600) is not on the injury report, setting him up for his potential debut at home in a good matchup.
Core Plays: With Vucevic finding his role, Jaylen Brown ($9,700) and Payton Pritchard ($7,200) will remain the two best options to build around. Brown sat out Wednesday’s game against the Rockets, but he has over 51 fantasy points in seven of his last nine games, including each of his last two games. Pritchard moved back to the bench in his most recent game to provide some scoring in the second unit after the trade of Anfernee Simons, but he still went off for 27 points and 43.2 fantasy points, proving he can succeed in any role.
Value Options: While Neemias Queta ($5,900) and Luka Garza ($4,400) will likely lose playing time after Vucevic’s addition, Sam Hauser ($5,100) and Baylor Scheierman ($4,000) could help fill in some of Simons’ production. Sheierman had 15 points and 10 boards for 37.5 fantasy points against the Rockets and has at least 20 fantasy points in three of his last four. If he continues to get meaningful minutes, the second-year pro could be a great value at only $4K.
Ron Harper Jr. ($3,500) got the start for Brown on Wednesday and finished with a promising 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists and 28.2 fantasy points. He played 33 minutes in that contest, but since he has spent most of the year in the G League, it’s hard to know exactly how he fits into the plan moving forward.
