The NBA is offering up a huge slate of basketball on Friday. There are 11 games to choose from starting at 7:00 p.m. ET, so let’s break down some of the top studs and values at each position to help you build your DraftKings lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Stud
James Harden, Brooklyn Nets at Detroit Pistons ($10,800) – Harden missed the Nets’ last game with neck soreness, and he’s currently listed as questionable vs. the Pistons. That said, he’s in one of the best spots of the day if he’s able to suit up. Kyrie Irving (personal) and Kevin Durant (hamstring) remain out of the lineup, and Harden has been a force in games without both players. He’s increased his usage rate by 6.9% and his assist rate by 12.9%, resulting in an average of 58.3 DKFP per game.
Other Options – Luka Doncic ($10,900), John Wall ($8,300)
Value
Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets ($4,900) – The Heat were extremely shorthanded last night vs. the Blazers, and they could be thin once again. The team lost a number of role players at the trade deadline, and none of the new additions are expected to make their debuts. Goran Dragic (back) also remains out of the lineup, while Jimmy Butler ($9,000; illness) is questionable.
Nunn has carried a nice workload in place of Dragic recently, logging at least 33.9 minutes in back-to-back games. He finished with at least 32.75 DKFP in both of those contests, which makes him a strong option vs. the Hornets. He would be close to a lock if Butler is ruled out, but he should be able to return value regardless.
Other Options – Dennis Smith Jr. ($4,600), Saban Lee ($3,100)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors vs. Phoenix Suns ($8,000) – VanVleet’s fantasy stock gets a slight boost following the trade deadline. The team did not move Kyle Lowry ($7,900), but they did ship Norman Powell ($6,700) off to the Blazers. Powell was second on the team in usage rate, so his absence opens up a number of shot attempts for the rest of the roster.
VanVleet should be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He’s increased his usage rate by 2.7% with Powell off the court this season, resulting in an average of 1.07 DKFP per minute. He has the potential to play upwards of 40 minutes vs. the Suns — the team also traded away reserve guards Matt Thomas and Terence Davis — which gives him a nice floor and a high ceiling.
Other Options – C.J. McCollum ($7,700), Michael Carter-Williams ($6,600)
Value
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets ($5,600) – Herro is another member of the Heat who should see a boost in value today. He led the team with a 31.9% usage rate in their last game, and he finished with 49.5 DKFP. The Heat are going to be a very popular source of value on Friday’s slate, and Herro stands out as one of their top options.
Other Options – Malik Monk ($5,000), Eric Bledsoe ($4,400)
Small Forward
Stud
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks ($8,400) – Brown has provided excellent fantasy value recently. He’s scored at least 42.0 DKFP in six-straight games, and he’s scored at least 47.75 DKFP in four of them.
He’s in a nice spot today vs. the Bucks. Milwaukee has not been the same defensive juggernaut that they were last season, and they play at one of the fastest paces in the league. The total on this game currently sits at 234.0 points, which is the top mark on the slate.
Other Options – Jimmy Butler ($9,000), Brandon Ingram ($8,200)
Value
Trevor Ariza, Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets ($3,400) – Another position, another value option for the Heat. Ariza finished with just 18.75 DKFP yesterday, but he played 33.2 minutes. Ariza averaged 0.76 DKFP per minute over his previous two contests, so he has the potential for a better performance vs. the Hornets.
Other Options – Kelly Oubre ($6,300), Mikal Bridges ($5,300)
Power Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics ($10,700) – Antetokounmpo is coming off a terrible performance in his last outing, but he’ll get a chance to bounce back tonight. He scored at least 57.25 DKFP in each of his previous six games, so he has been one of the best investments in fantasy recently. There are plenty of value options on today’s slate, so pairing Antetokounmpo and Harden together is a viable strategy.
Other Options – Jayson Tatum ($8,600), Pascal Siakam ($7,700)
Value
Editor’s Note: Magic SG/SF Terrence Ross (knee) has been ruled out for tonight’s game vs. the Trail Blazers.
Khem Birch, Orlando Magic vs. Portland Trail Blazers ($4,400) – The Magic are another team that will be very shorthanded on Friday. They traded away Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Gary Clark and Al-Farouq Aminu on Thursday, and none of the players they acquired are expected to make their debut. Terrence Ross ($7,500; knee) is also doubtful with an injury, which leaves them with a ton of usage available and just eight active players.
Birch is someone who should take on a larger role. He’s averaged a decent 0.80 DKFP per minute this season, so he could take advantage of a few additional minutes.
Other Options – Jae Crowder ($,800), Jarred Vanderbilt ($3,300)
Center
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets ($9,900) – Towns has played reduced minutes since returning from a lengthy absence due to COVID-19, but his playing time is trending in the right direction. He’s played at least 35.1 minutes in six of his past seven games, and Towns has the potential to do some serious damage vs. the Rockets with that much playing time. He’s averaged 1.40 DKFP per minute this season, and the Rockets have been an excellent matchup for centers.
Other Options – Nikola Jokic ($10,600), Christian Wood ($8,400)
Value
Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns at Toronto Raptors ($6,100) – The Suns cut Ayton’s playing time for a while, but he’s back to playing his usual minutes. He’s logged at least 32 minutes in his past three games, and he’s unsurprisingly responded with at least 33.75 DKFP in all three contests. That makes him an appealing value at just $6.1K.
Other Options – Mason Plumlee ($6,300), Christian Wood ($4,500)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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