NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (11/24)

We had a rare day off yesterday, but it was nice after that chaotic card on Wednesday. It’s hard to put into words how many crazy things I saw on Wednesday night, but seeing an NBA coach grab a microphone and tell his home fans not to boo was just a sprinkle of the craziness that we saw ensue. We’re definitely looking to see some more drama on this card because we’re back to NBA In-Season Tournament games. These groups are winding to an end, and many of them could be decided tonight! With that in mind, let’s look at this Friday slate to end the week!

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

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• BOS at ORL (BOS -5.5) O/U:
• PHX at MEM (PHX -5.5) O/U:
• MIA at NYK (NYK -3) O/U:
• CHI at TOR (TOR -4.5) O/U:
• DEN at HOU (DEN -2) O/U:
• DET at IND (IND -9.5) O/U:
• WAS at MIL (MIL -14) O/U:
• SAC at MIN (MIN -3.5) O/U:
• SAS at GSW (GSW -10) O/U:
• NOP at LAC (LAC -7) O/U:

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

Injury Report

• Markelle Fultz (knee) OUT
• Wendell Carter Jr.(hand) OUT
• Bradley Beal (back) OUT
• Ja Morant (suspension) OUT
• Marcus Smart (ankle) OUT
• Tyler Herro (ankle) OUT
• Jamal Murray (hamstring) Questionable
• Draymond Green (suspension) OUT
• CJ McCollum (ribs) Questionable
• Bam Adebayo (hip) Questionable
• Zach LaVine (foot) Questionable
• Jalen Duren (ankle) Questionable
• Norman Powell (groin) Questionable
• Bojan Bogdanovic (calf) Questionable
• Keegan Murray (back) Questionable
• Jaden McDaniels (ankle) OUT

Core Plays

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $11,000 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
Haliburton is stepping into superstar status with his recent play. The Pacers point guard has scored at least 56 DraftKings points in five of his last six games. He’s also got at least 75 DK points twice over his last four fixtures and is thriving in this high-paced play the Pacers are running. We love that matchup, too, because Detroit is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Damian Lillard (PG – MIL): $9,400 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel
Dame isn’t quite as good as he was in Portland, but he’s starting to find it. The superstar point guard has scored at least 40 DK points in eight of his last nine outings. He’s also just shy of a 50-point average in that span, averaging nearly 20 shots and 35 minutes a game. If he continues to see that role here, Dame should destroy Washington. The Wizards rank 28th in defensive efficiency and 29th in points allowed.

Pascal Siakam (PF – TOR): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
Sia got off to a slow start, but he’s feeling it right now. Siakam has scored at least 53 DraftKings points thrice over the last two weeks, posting a 44-point average across his last eight outings. That form made him a $9K player last season, and we don’t want to avoid him against Chicago. The Bulls rank 27th in defensive efficiency while surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,900 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
The Joker is playing a different game than everyone else. The big man is on his way to his third MVP, leading the league with over 61 DraftKings points per game. He’s been even better since Jamal Murray went down, scoring at least 67 fantasy points in eight of his last 10 outings. One of those was against the Rockets, with Jokic collecting 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists en route to 85 DraftKings points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,100 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
The Giannis-Dame duo hasn’t worked perfectly yet, but these superstars will figure it out. Antetokounmpo is starting to do just that, scoring at least 73 DraftKings points in two of his last three games. One was against Washington, and he’s also got a 53-point average. One of those 70-point gems feels way more likely against Washington’s woeful defense, with Giannis scoring at least 63 DK points in eight of his last nine matchups with the Wizards.

Stephen Curry (PG – GSW): $9,700 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel
Chef Curry and the rest of the Warriors have been struggling recently, but this is an excellent spot for them to get right. They’re facing the Spurs, who rank last in total defense and are amid a nightmarish 10-game losing streak. They’re also surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing point guards, and it’s a spot for Curry to drop one of his masterpieces. In their last matchup, Curry had 46 fantasy points despite Golden State blowing them out.

GPP Targets

Myles Turner (C – IND): $7,200 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
This Indiana playstyle is massive for all of these Pacers. It’s boosting all of their fantasy values, and Turner is one of the beneficiaries. The big man averages 35 DK points per game across his last eight outings despite playing fewer than 30 minutes a game in that stretch. We expect him to get close to 30-35 minutes once he stays out of foul trouble, and we don’t want to fade him against Detroit. The Pistons are posting a 26th OPRK against opposing centers, with Turner averaging over 34 DK points per game against them last year.

Klay Thompson (SG/SF – GSW): $6,000 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
Thompson has been terrible through the opening month, but this sharpshooter always starts slowly. The good news is that he’s reached season-highs in back-to-back games, scoring at least 30 fantasy points in both. We expect this guy to average 30 DK points per game from here on out, making him a good value at this diminished price. We didn’t mention the sensational matchup with San Antonio, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

Khris Middleton (SF – MIL): $5,700 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Middleton was held to fewer than 22 minutes in every game until Wednesday. The All-Star got up to 28 minutes in that defeat, and it looks like he’s finally ready to get closer to 30 minutes. We said we want to use this guy when he gets to 30 minutes because he can be an $8K player in that role. It’s even more likely against one of the worst defenses in the NBA because Mid had 34 DK points across 23 minutes against them on Monday. All you need is 30 fantasy points for Middleton to be a good value, and that looks like his floor if he gets close to 30 minutes against this defense.

Value Plays

Cade Cunningham (PG – DET): $7,800 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
The Pacers are a cheat code for DFS right now. They’re surrendering the most points in the NBA, allowing nearly 150 points this week! That’s no surprise since they’re playing at the fastest pace, and we want to use the opposing team’s best player against them. That’s Cade, who’s averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game. If this game stays marginally close and Cunningham plays 30-35 minutes, he should fall into 40 fantasy points with the projected pace as the primary playmaker for the Pistons.

Kyle Anderson (SF – MIN): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
With Jaden McDaniels injured, Anderson will start at small forward and play 30 minutes a night. That’s all this stat-stuffer needs to be a great fantasy option, averaging 37 DK points per game in the 38 games he played at least 29 minutes last year. Getting 35-40 fantasy points from a $5K player is absurd, and we can’t overlook that Sacramento owns a 22nd OPRK against opposing forwards. In their last two matchups, KA had 42 and 47 fantasy points!

Reggie Jackson (PG – DEN): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
Murray is inching closer to a return, but Jackson should get another start at point guard. He’s been effective in this expanded role, averaging 27 DK points per game across 30 minutes a night over his last seven fixtures. He’s also got 34 and 38 fantasy points in his two most recent outings and has been a $7K player as a starting point guard in the past.

Advantageous Pricing

• Stephen Curry (PG – GSW): $9,700 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
• Haywood Highsmith (SF – MIA): $4,000 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
• Kevin Huerter (SG – SAC): $6,200 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Malik Monk (PG/SG – SAC): $6,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Zeke Nnaji (PF/C – DEN): $4,800 DraftKings, $3,900 FanDuel

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