The NBA went full Oprah on us for Friday, as every team is playing. Then the feat will be replicated on Sunday after no teams play on Saturday. This will be my last regular season hoops piece for this season. I hope that I was able to assist in your DFS journey this season and that there were some binks. If not, tonight’s the night!!!! While there are 15 games tonight, only 11 are on the main slate. The NOP/GSW, HOU/POR, PHO/SAC and UTA/LAC games are at night. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyrie Irving are out. Luka Doncic ($12,900), Joel Embiid ($11,000), Karl-Anthony Towns ($7,700), LeBron James ($10,400), Dejounte Murray ($9,400) and Jordan Poole ($7,700) are questionable. In addition, the Celtics decided to designate their entire starting lineup as questionable. It’s the second leg of a back-to-back for them and they have locked up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. Even if they are cleared to play, it’s highly unlikely any of them play 30 minutes. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
As for back-to-backs, BOS, CHI, GSW, HOU, NOP, NYK, POR, SAC and UTA all played last night. No teams play tomorrow.
DraftKings Sportsbook has no game with a total of at least 240. There is no game with a total below 210. There are seven double-digit favorites – NYK -11 over BKN, OKC -15.5 over MIL, DEN -12 over SAS, LAL -15.5 over MEM, MIA -14.5 over TOR, MIN -14 over ATL and DAL -13 over DET. There is one game within two points – WAS -2 over CHI. There are two home dogs – SAS and MEM. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
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Guard
Stud
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers ($9,000) – It’s been a rough month and a half for Mitchell. He’s played in only eight of the last 22 games and he put up less than 40 DKFP in seven of those contests with four under 30. On Wednesday, though, he looked like healthy, vintage Mitchell, putting up 55 DKFP in 34 minutes. The Cavs have the motivation to play out the rest of the regular season because they are one game behind the third-seeded Knicks while the Magic and Pacers are only one game behind. There are a ton of lopsided spreads tonight, but DK Sportsbook has the Cavs only favored by 2.5 points. In addition, Indiana has been playing at the fifth-fastest pace over the last 10 games while being 24th in defensive rating. They have also boosted the FPPM to shooting guards by 7.72 percent.
Other Options – Luka Doncic ($12,900) if he plays, Jordan Poole ($7,700) if he plays, Josh Giddey ($7,600), Tyler Herro ($7,100), Scotty Pippen ($6,300)
Value
Dante Exum, Dallas Mavericks vs. Detroit Pistons ($4,200) – Kyrie Irving is out, so Exum will likely get the start. In addition, Luka is questionable, so Exum could soak up more usage. Exum has started 16 games this season. In those contests, he’s put up at least 20 DKFP in 13 with five over 30 and two over 40. Over the last 10 games, Detroit has been 23rd in defensive rating.
Other Options – Jordan Goodwin ($5,900), Mike Conley ($5,600), Payton Pritchard ($5,400), Patrick Beverley ($5,000), Marcus Sasser ($4,900) if Cunningham is out, Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,700) if Luka is out and he starts, Zavier Simpson ($4,500), Jared Butler ($4,000) if Poole is out, Sidy Cissoko ($3,400)
Forward
Stud
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers at Memphis Grizzlies ($10,300) – The Lakers are locked into the play-in tournament, but they will still be motivated to play out the regular season because they can still move up from the 10th seed to the 8th. Davis stuffs the stat sheet and is a force at both ends of the court. On the season, he’s averaging a robust 1.46 DKFP per minute. The matchup is a pristine one as the Grizzlies have boosted the FPPM to centers by 12.72 percent, the third-most generous over the last 10 games.
Other Options – LeBron James ($10,400) if he plays, DeMar DeRozan ($8,100), Evan Mobley ($7,800), Deni Avdija ($7,600), Josh Hart ($6,900), Rui Hachimura ($6,400)
Value
Patrick Baldwin, Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls ($3,900) – Baldwin is a 6-foot-9 forward who can make it rain from downtown. He was selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Warriors but was shipped off to Washington as part of the Jordan Poole package. He didn’t get much run during the regular season, but this is the silly season and he’s received 34 and 39 minutes over the last two games. The usage rate hasn’t been great (10.1 and 12 percent), but he’s put up 33.5 and 42.25 DKFP, as he’s been grabbing rebounds and surprisingly contributing in the defensive categories. Kyle Kuzma is out so he could start again. In addition, both Poole and Avdija are questionable, so he could soak up more opportunities.
Other Options – Chimezie Metu ($5,400), Jake LaRavia ($5,300), Javonte Green ($4,700), Anthony Gill ($4,200), Sidy Cissoko ($3,400)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs ($12,300) – Both the Timberwolves and Thunder are one game back of the Nuggets, so Denver is highly motivated to win out. Jokic is a threat to triple-double on any given night, blah, blah, blah. He’s awesome. Over the last five games, he’s gone for at least 60 DKFP in all with three over 70. One of those games was against the Spurs, and he finished with 77 DKFP in that one.
Other Options – Victor Wembanyama ($11,500), Bam Adebayo ($8,500), Nikola Vucevic ($7,900), Rudy Gobert ($7,500), Daniel Gafford ($6,000)
Value
Trey Jemison, Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers ($5,200) – Jemison isn’t the best player, averaging only 0.8 DKFP per minute. In addition, the matchup isn’t a good one against Anthony Davis. That said, the Grizzlies will only suit up eight players and Jemison is going to play as much as he can. Minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe! And Jemison is going to get plenty of those. Over the last four games, he’s played 32, 34, 30 and 36 minutes, producing 29.25, 31.75, 15.25 and 42.25 DKFP.
Other Options – Isaiah Hartenstein ($5,400), Tristan Vukcevic ($4,500), Noah Clowney ($4,200), Peyton Watson ($3,800)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $100K Fadeaway [$20K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
