This time of year is fantastic for sports fans. What more could we ask for? It’s football Sunday, college football is in full swing, we have the World Series, and the NBA is rolling! However, today we’re here for some NBA DFS action. So let’s go ahead and dive right in.
The association offers a seven-game slate Sunday with a 6:00 p.m. EST tip-off. As always, there will be a ton of information to dissect, but after getting through today’s article, you should have an excellent informational foundation to help build your lineups. The primer is a first-look article, though, and lineups in the NBA change by the minute. Therefore, paying attention to all pertinent information released will be critical to ending in the green on any given slate and, in turn, having long-term success.
So, with that said, let’s go ahead and dive into Sunday’s edition of the NBA DFS Primer for DraftKings and FanDuel.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet 
Schedule and Odds
- WAS (+8.5) @ BOS (-8.5) O/U: 224.5
- NY (+4.5) @ CLE (-4.5) O/U: 222.5
- GSW (-8.5) @ DET (+8.5) O/U: 230
- MIN (-6) @ SAS (+6) O/U: 235.5
- ORL (+10) @ DAL (-10) O/U: 216.5
- HOU (+12) @ PHX (-12) O/U: 228.5
- DEN (-3.5) @ LAL (+3.5) O/U: 222.5
Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros
This time of year is fantastic for sports fans. What more could we ask for? It’s football Sunday, college football is in full swing, we have the World Series, and the NBA is rolling! However, today we’re here for some NBA DFS action. So let’s go ahead and dive right in.
The association offers a seven-game slate Sunday with a 6:00 p.m. EST tip-off. As always, there will be a ton of information to dissect, but after getting through today’s article, you should have an excellent informational foundation to help build your lineups. The primer is a first-look article, though, and lineups in the NBA change by the minute. Therefore, paying attention to all pertinent information released will be critical to ending in the green on any given slate and, in turn, having long-term success.
So, with that said, let’s go ahead and dive into Sunday’s edition of the NBA DFS Primer for DraftKings and FanDuel.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Schedule and Odds
- WAS (+8.5) @ BOS (-8.5) O/U: 224.5
- NY (+4.5) @ CLE (-4.5) O/U: 222.5
- GSW (-8.5) @ DET (+8.5) O/U: 230
- MIN (-6) @ SAS (+6) O/U: 235.5
- ORL (+10) @ DAL (-10) O/U: 216.5
- HOU (+12) @ PHX (-12) O/U: 228.5
- DEN (-3.5) @ LAL (+3.5) O/U: 222.5
Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros
Injury Report
Core Plays
Nikola Jokic (C-DEN): $11,000 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
I’ll be looking to the reigning two-time MVP to anchor my main lineups tonight. Jokic is a nice pivot off another popular pay-up option, Luka Doncic ($12,200 DK/$12,00 FD), and he’s significantly cheaper on both DK and FD. The Nuggets take on the Lakers, who the Joker just torched for 31 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. Anthony Davis ($9,100 DK/$10,700 FD) heads into tonight’s game carrying a questionable tag with lower back tightness, and if he can’t go, Damian Jones ($4,400 DK/$4,00 FD) will be tasked with trying to slow Jokic down, and I don’t see that happening. Regardless of who plays the five for the Lakers tonight, it won’t be enough to stop Nikola Jokic from another dominant performance.
Cade Cunningham (PG/SG-DET): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
Cade has been exceptional for the Pistons to open the season, and he’s started to heat up. In the last two games, he’s averaged 30.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and seven assists. The Warriors like to get out and run at the second-fastest pace in the NBA, and Cunningham will have no problem keeping up in transition. Cade is averaging 18.2 drives per game, and the Warriors rank in the bottom ten of the league in points allowed in the paint. That recipe could lead to easy buckets and free throws for the second-year guard. While Cade is more appealing on FanDuel, I’ll still be rostering him on DraftKings. He’s producing over a fantasy point per minute on FD with a cheaper salary. In addition, he’ll be going up against a Warriors team with an OPRK of 25th against guards. While I expect regression is coming for Cade at some point soon, I don’t think it’s going to be tonight.
Paolo Banchero (PF/SF-ORL): $8,000 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
Banchero has been filling up the box score on a nightly basis since coming into the league. His broad skill set is perfect for fantasy hoops, and he’s been one of my favorite players to target. The No.1 overall pick has yet to score less than 20 points and is seemingly matchup-proof. He has a top-30 percent usage rate at 29.7% and will continue to take on the playmaking responsibilities for this short-handed Magic roster. While Banchero will have a tougher defensive matchup with the Mavericks tonight, I’m still rostering a large percentage of him.
Cash Game Considerations
Keldon Johnson (PF/SF-SA): $7,300 DraftKings,$7,500 FanDuel
Johnson is the number one option for the Spurs’ offense, and he continues to go overlooked. Devin Vassell (knee) is out for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves, so Johnson should again lead the way offensively. He smashed his salary against the Bulls on Friday, returning over six times the return on investment. Not to mention, he’s had 30 or more fantasy points in every game and has made the fifth-most three-pointers in the league through the first couple of weeks. At this price point, with the production you’re getting, Johnson fits nicely into cash lineups.
Bojan Bogdanovic (PF-DET): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Mostly all of Bojan’s value is squeezed out at this salary. However, I’m still willing to look his way in cash games because of the consistent floor he offers. As I mentioned earlier, I like the fast-paced game environment tonight, and Bojan should get some good looks from behind the arc. The Warriors are giving up 12.4 three-pointers a game, and Bogdanovic has made the fourth-most threes in the NBA with 24. Bojan won’t win you a GPP, but he has a safe floor for cash games.
Bol Bol (C-ORL): $5,100 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
Yes, Bol Bol is a viable fantasy asset in 2022. The 7’2″ big man has solidified a role in the Orlando Magics’ rotation. He moved into the starting lineup against Charlotte on Friday, finishing the night with over 20 fantasy points for the fourth consecutive game. In those four games, he’s averaged 1.24DKFP per minute. Bol Bol can rack up points, blocks, and rebounds in quick succession, making him an appealing option on both sites. Orlando is riddled with injuries, so Bol Bol will likely remain in the starting lineup tonight and receive increased minutes. The big man is the perfect fit for cash lineups taking the stars and scrubs approach.
GPP Targets
Bradley Beal (PG/SG-WAS): $8,400 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
Beal is coming off his best game of the season, scoring 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a block, and three steals leading to 55.4 fantasy points on FanDuel and 53.8 on DraftKings. Beal has stepped up big time in the playmaking department, averaging 5.8 assists to begin the campaign. Where the veteran’s roster percentage ends up will determine how much I have of him. At first look, though, he’s projecting to be one of my favorite plays. The Wizards will need him to fill up the box score in a tough matchup against the Celtics.
Jalen Brunson (PG/SG-NY): $7,000 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
Brunson has settled into his new team and is off to a tremendous start to the year. He’s averaging 18.6 points per contest while landing in the top 15 with 7.2 assists. Tread lightly with how much you roster Brunson, but he’s already displayed the type of upside he can offer, dropping over 55 fantasy points earlier in the week. That makes him a viable GPP candidate tonight, but he’s also at a respectable price point. Brunson is a good fit for lineups with one of the pay-up options like Jokic or Doncic.
Jakob Poeltl (C-SA): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
I target Poeltl a decent amount in GPPs because he’s consistently overlooked and undervalued. The big man has had a double-double in four consecutive games to go along with three or more assists in all but one. With Vassell (knee) out of the lineup, someone has to step up offensively other than Keldon Johnson. Poeltl did on Friday against Chicago, tying his season-high in points with 21. On the season, he’s averaging over 35 fantasy points a game. However, with the added scoring responsibility he should absorb again tonight, Poeltl could return six or seven times the return on investment.
Value Plays
Bismack Biyombo (C-PHX): $4,800 DraftKings, $4,000 FanDuel
Biyombo’s price tag is super appealing on both sites. Deandre Ayton (ankle) will be sidelined for the next couple of weeks, leaving big minutes for the backup centers. Biyombo got the starting nod on Friday and took full advantage of the opportunity, dropping a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. The big man completely blew his 3K price tag out of the water, returning over ten times his value. While he’s received a significant salary bump tonight, there’s plenty of meat left on the bone, especially on FanDuel.
Alperen Sengun (C-HOU): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
With Bruno Fernando (knee) sidelined for the next couple of weeks, Sengun will be the team’s go-to option at center. Sengun is a star on the rise who can get it done on both ends of the court. In both games, he saw over 25 minutes, Sengun posted a double-double, and with the Rockets short-handed in the frontcourt, he should once again see 25 plus. The center is averaging over 32 fantasy points a game, and I fully expect he will stay right around there again tonight, leaving plenty of value on the table.
Advantageous Pricing
- Alperen Sengun (C-HOU): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
- Bismack Biyombo (C-PHX): $4,800 DraftKings, $4,000 FanDuel
- Jalen Brunson (PG/SG-NY): $7,000 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
- Paolo Banchero (PF/SF-ORL): $8,000 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
- Donovan Mitchell (SG/PG-CLE): $8,800 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel
- Monte Morris (PG-WAS): $5,400 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
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