We’ve got a jam-packed NBA slate this evening. So jam-packed that the good people at DraftKings decided to give us two separate slates. This article will focus on the three-game one that gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive in and find some studs and values for you night owls.
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Guard
Stud
Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors, $7,800 – LaVine hasn’t shot the ball especially well since being traded to the Kings, but his overall volume has been very encouraging. In his six starts with Sacramento, LaVine is averaging an eye-popping 37.2 minutes per game along with a respectable 24.7% usage rate. He’s also on the heels of his best performance in his new home, going off for 32 points, 10 assists and 58.0 FPTS against the Pelicans right before the All-Star break. Clearly, LaVine carries some DFS ceiling and I think he’s a cost-effective pivot off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,700), who is playing in a spot with high blowout potential.
Value
Terrence Shannon Jr., Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets, $3,500 – It remains to be seen how thin Minnesota will be at guard on Friday night. However, there’s a world where both Anthony Edwards ($9,300; hip) and Mike Conley ($4,700; finger) don’t play through their questionable tags and join Donte DiVincenzo (toe) in street clothes. Needless to say, that would open up some rotation minutes for some usual assets. Shannon has only appeared in 16 games in 2024-25 and he’s the less heralded of the Timberwolves’ first-round rookies, but he’s dirt cheap and he was making an impact prior to the All-Star break. Heck, Shannon has averaged 26.1 FPTS in his last two contests. Keep an eye on the 24-year-old.
Forward
Stud
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz, $7,300 – Understandably, Holmgren’s price tag remains at the lowest point it’s been all season, as the big man works his way back from a lengthy injury absence. However, after logging 30.1 minutes in his final start before the All-Star break, there’s reason to believe the conditioning might be in a good spot. In that contest against Minnesota, the former second-overall pick registered an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double with a pair of blocks, finishing the game with 38.0 FPTS. The Jazz own the league’s third-worst defensive rating (118.3). If Holmgren sees over 30 minutes again on Friday, he’s going to outperform this modest salary.
Value
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets, $4,800 – Pretty much everything I said above about Shannon also applies to Alexander-Walker, though there are some small differences. While Alexander-Walker will likely start if Conley misses his fifth straight contest on Friday, the Canadian wing is also considerably more expensive than his rookie teammate. Alexander-Walker isn’t the most consistent DFS asset, either. In his last four games — all starts made without Conley — Alexander-Walker has popped off for 41.25 FPTS, yet he’s managed to score fewer than 20 FPTS twice. It’s a risk worth taking on a small slate, but a risk nonetheless.
Center
Stud
Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors, $9,500 – You’ll probably recall that Sabonis went out and grabbed 28 rebounds in his final start before the All-Star break. A repeat performance likely isn’t on the menu for this evening, but it’s not as if we haven’t seen Sabonis dominate the Warriors in 2024-25. On January 22, the big man went out and posted a 26-point, 18-rebound double-double. Two weeks prior to that, Sabonis registered 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists at Golden State. Sabonis is averaging a healthy 1.36 FPTS per minute this season and the Warriors don’t have the size to stop him. Sabonis is my no. 1 target on this slate.
Value
Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings, $3,800 – You can almost think of this like a mini-game stack. The Warriors started super small in their last game before the break, with Jimmy Butler ($8,000) at the four and Draymond Green ($6,000) at the five. Maybe they do that again on Friday, but regardless of whether he starts or not, it feels like Steve Kerr will need Looney’s size against Sabonis. The 15 times Looney’s exceeded 20 minutes of action in 2024-25, he’s averaging 6.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Not bad for an asset priced below $4,000.
