NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (1/6)

This has been one of the craziest weeks of basketball I’ve ever seen. The massive stat lines are one thing, but it feels like we have numerous buzzer-beaters every night too. I’ve never seen so much talent in the NBA, and it’s awesome that I get to write about these special players every day! We have another large Friday card here, so let’s go ahead and get into it!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Schedule and Odds

• POR at IND (IND -1.5) O/U: 231.5
• CHI at PHI (PHI -4.5) O/U: 227.5
  
• BKN at NOP (BKN -4) O/U: 230
• NYK at TOR (TOR -3.5) O/U: 220.5
• CHA at MIL (MIL -11) O/U: 234.5
• DET at SAS (SAS -1.5) O/U: 233.5
• WAS at OKC (OKC -1) O/U: 231
• CLE at DEN (DEN -7) O/U: 228
• LAC at MIN (MIN -4.5) O/U: NA
• MIA at PHX (MIA -1.5) O/U: 216.5
• ATL at LAL (ATL -1) O/U: NA

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• Joel Embiid (foot) OUT
• Brandon Ingram (toe) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
• Larry Nance (neck) Questionable
• RJ Barrett (finger) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (hamstring) OUT
• Kelly Oubre Jr.(hand) OUT
• Khris Middleton (knee) OUT
• Jrue Holiday (illness) Questionable
• Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
• Devin Vassell (knee) OUT
• Bradley Beal (hamstring) OUT
• Darius Garland (thumb) Questionable
• Paul George (hamstring) Questionable
• Kawhi Leonard (B2B) Questionable
• Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
• Naz Reid (back) OUT
• Devin Booker (groin) OUT
• Clint Capela (calf) Questionable
• Anthony Davis (foot) OUT
• LeBron James (illness) Questionable
• Donovan Mitchell (rest) OUT

Core Plays

LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $10,700 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
The Lakers gave LeBron a rest day on Wednesday, and he’s earned it. The 38-year-old is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now, scoring at least 51 DraftKings points in nine of his last 11 games. He’s also got 68 and 76 DK points in his last two outings, taking over this offense in the absence of Anthony Davis. In his last two matchups with the Hawks, King James is averaging 72 DraftKings points per game!

Damian Lillard (PG – POR): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel
Dame has quietly been one of the most consistent players in the NBA this season, scoring at least 30 DraftKings points in all but one outing. His usage is what makes him so valuable, guaranteed for 35 minutes, 20 shots, and a 30 percent usage rate on a nightly basis. His biggest asset here is this incredible matchup with Indiana, with the Pacers ranked 21st in points allowed and 23rd in defensive efficiency.

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,500 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
We had McCollum in here on Wednesday, and we’re going back to the well for all the same reasons. With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram both sidelined, CJ has to do everything for this Pelicans offense. In the last seven games without those two, McCollum is averaging nearly 50 fantasy points per game! Much like Lillard, he should have some crazy usage, likely flirting with 35-40 percent usage rate in this tasty spot.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,800 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
We’ve said this before, but Jokic is going to be in the cash game section every day he plays. The big man has scored at least 39 DraftKings points in all but seven games since 2020. That’s three years of dominance and it’s backed by a 61-point average in that span. It doesn’t really matter who he plays either, with The Joker scoring at least 58 fantasy points in each of his last three matchups with the Cavaliers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
Giannis is making a push for MVP, playing some of the best basketball of his career over the last week. The Greek Freak has scored at least 72 DK points in four straight fixtures, averaging 43.3 points, 18.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in that span. He needs to do that with Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton both nicked up, and he shouldn’t have any issues against a 27th-ranked Charlotte defense. In their last seven matchups, Giannis is averaging nearly 70 DK points per game!

Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C – WAS): $9,600 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel
Bradley Beal can’t stay healthy right now, and it’s guiding KP to a career year. The big man is averaging a career-best 43 DK points per game, scoring at least 35 fantasy points in 14 of his last 16 games. He’s also got a 48-point average in that span, seeing a massive boost in shot attempts and usage in the absence of Beal. Playing Oklahoma City is outstanding, too, with the Thunder ranked 25th in points allowed.

GPP Targets

Killian Hayes (PG – DET): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Hayes got some bad publicity last week when he was suspended for three games, but this youngster has been balling out recently. The Pistons point guard has taken over since Cade Cunningham went down, averaging 29 DK points per game across his last 26 outings. That includes a few benchings and that ejection, with Killian collecting at least 33 DK points in 13 of those. That should be easy to reach against San Antonio, who sit dead last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Tobias Harris (SF/PF – PHI): $4,300 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
Toby has taken a backseat at times this season with James Harden and Joel Embiid dominating the touches, but this is a great spot for him with Embiid missing this game. That means there’s about 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 20 shots left on the table, and Harris will be happy to take some of that on. We’re already talking about a guy who’s averaging 32 DK points per game in a dimished role, and we truly believe that’s his floor with Embiid sitting.

Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
It’s been rough for JV with this deep rotation, but it’s been thinned out over the last week. Ingram, Zion, and Larry Nance are all sidelined right now, leaving Valanciunas with a monster role. He’s played at least 25 minutes in 21 games this season, averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game. That’s why JV has been an $8K player in the past, and New Orleans needs him to carry the offense with so many key players missing.

Value Plays

Jusuf Nurkic (C – POR): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Big Nurk played just 14 minutes in a game where he was sick earlier in the week, and it’s made his price tag way too low. The big man had at least 25 DraftKings points in 19 straight games before that, posting a 36-point average in that span. He was doing that damage in fewer than 30 minutes a night and should go nuts against the Pacers. Indiana allows the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season, with Jusuf totaling 37 DK points in their one matchup earlier in the year.

Tre Jones (PG/SG – SAS): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
This guy does not get enough credit. Jones has taken over the starting point guard job in San Antonio and provides value every night. He’s scored at least 26 DraftKings points in 17 of his last 20 games, generating a 31-point average in that span. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, and he should reach that again versus a Detroit defense that sits 29th in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Jalen Duren (PF/C – DET): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Duren looks like one of the best rookies in the NBA. Detroit has moved him into their starting lineup with Marvin Bagley going down, leading to JD averaging 28 DK points per game since taking over as a starter. He’s doing that damage with elite rebounding, and we have to assume this 19-year-old is only scratching the surface of what he could become. Facing the worst defense in the NBA is the icing on the cake, with the Spurs surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

Advantageous Pricing

• Jalen Duren (PF/C – DET): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
• Jalen Smith (PF/C – IND): $3,600 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Ayo Dosunmu (PG/SG – CHI): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• Ben Simmons (PG/SF – BKN): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
• Fred VanVleet (PG – TOR): $7,400 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
• Gary Trent (SG/SF – TOR): $5,800 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
• Jalen Williams (PG/SG – OKC): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
• Jarrett Allen (C – CLE): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
• Landry Shamet (PG/SG – PHX): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• De’Andre Hunter (SF/PF – ATL): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel

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