NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Monday (1/1)

Welcome to 2024! That doesn’t even sound like a real year, but here we are! It’s been fun watching the opening months of the NBA season, and we’re starting to get into the dog days. That’s why the injury reports are lengthier than ever before, and they’re only going to expand the deeper we get into the year. With that said, let’s look at the schedule and then that lengthy injury report.

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

• MIN at NYK (NYK -1) O/U: 222
• CLE at TOR (TOR -2.5) O/U: 223
• DET at HOU (HOU -7) O/U: 227
• IND at MIL (MIL -6.5) O/U: 258
• CHA at DEN (DEN -14.5) O/U: 227
• POR at PHX (PHX -8.5) O/U: NA
• DAL at UTA (DAL -3.5) O/U: 244
• MIA at LAC (LAC -6) O/U: 228.5

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Kyrie Irving (foot) Questionable
• Anfernee Simons (illness) Questionable
• Darius Garland (face) OUT
• Evan Mobley (knee) OUT
• Jabari Smith Jr.(ankle) OUT
• Deandre Ayton (knee) Questionable
• Shaedon Sharpe (thigh) Questionable
• Gordon Hayward (calf) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) Doubtful
• Aaron Gordon (dog) Questionable
• Bruce Brown (knee) Questionable
• Dillon Brooks (hip) Questionable
• Isaiah Stewart (toe) OUT

Core Plays

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF – MIL): $11,000 DraftKings, $12,400 FanDuel
We’ve used Giannis in all of his matchups with Indy this year because it’s an incredible matchup. Not only do the Pacers play at the fastest pace in the NBA, but they also surrender the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing forwards. That’s on full display with Giannis averaging 51.7 points and 12 rebounds in their three matchups this year.

Alperen Sengun (C – HOU): $8,800 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel
Sengun has been scorching opposing centers all season, averaging nearly 40 DraftKings points per game. He’s also got at least 35 DK points in nine straight outings, showcasing a 64-point upside twice over the last week! One of those ceiling games is in play against Detroit, posting a 27th OPRK against opposing centers while ranked 26th in total defense.

Jalen Duren (C – DET): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
Duren has missed time this season due to some foot and ankle issues, but this kid is a monster when he’s on the floor. The Pistons big man has scored at least 33 DraftKings points in five consecutive fixtures, averaging 40 fantasy points per game in that span. We saw him post similar averages earlier in the year before an injury, and we don’t mind that Houston has a 22nd OPRK against opposing centers.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,300 DraftKings, $12,100 FanDuel
We’ve mentioned this numerous times, but Jokic will be in this section daily. He’s scored at least 40 DraftKings points in all but a handful of games over the last three years, averaging over 60 DK points in all of those. That’s what we’ve seen again this season, and he should destroy a 29th-ranked Hornets defense. That’s what we’ve seen the last two years, with Joker averaging nearly 75 DK points per game against this subpar Charlotte defense.

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,900 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel
Luka has been the best player in DFS with Kyrie Irving sidelined. The Slovenian has scored at least 59 DraftKings points in 14 straight outings, generating a 69-point average in that span. He’s locked into 35-40 minutes, 25-30 shots, and a 40 percent usage rate whenever Irving is injured, and he’s flirting with 30-point triple-doubles on a nightly basis in this expanded role. Utah is an unbelievable matchup, too, sitting 24th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Kevin Durant (SF/PF – PHX): $10,100 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
Not many people have been as reliable as Durant this season. The Slim Reaper has scored at least 36 DraftKings points in every game he’s played. That’s an absurd floor from a $10K player, and we saw KD post a 75-point upside just a few nights ago. The matchup with Portland’s pitiful defense is the icing on the cake, surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing forwards. That’s on full display with Durant dropping 51 and 54 fantasy points in their two matchups this year!

GPP Targets

Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG – UTA): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
It’s strange to see Clarkson barely cracking $6K. This streaky shooter has been Utah’s best guard this season, averaging 30 DraftKings points per game. He has struggled the last two games, but we saw him drop 43 and 45 DK points in the two games prior. This guy has a massive upside from such an affordable player, and he could thrive since Dallas owns a 25th OPRK against opposing guards. We saw JC score at least 31 DK points in all three of their matchups last season!

Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $5,700 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Bro-Lo has been terrible the last few weeks, but this guy was $7K on both sites at the beginning of last month. That’s why he’s a good GPP option, averaging nearly 35 DK points per game before this mini-slump. We’ve also seen the big man score at least 30 DK points 15 times this year while displaying a ridiculous 60-point ceiling. The matchup is how to get back on track because Indy has been the most fantasy-friendly opponent all season.

Immanuel Quickley (PG/SG – TOR): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
We’re not positive what Quickley’s role will look like in Toronto, but that’s why he’s in the GPP section. We’re assuming he’ll be the new starting point guard for the Raptors, and we’ve seen IQ play at a $7K level with that sort of opportunity in the past. It’s impossible to know what to expect, but we don’t want to overlook Quickley in GPPs at just $5K if he stumbles into a 35-minute role as the primary ball-handler for the Raps.

Value Plays

Khris Middleton (SF/PF – MIL): $7,100 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
Middleton has been a regular in my article for weeks, and it’s clear these sites are too slow to adjust to his newfound role. This All-Star was limited through the opening month, but he’s regularly playing 30-35 minutes a night now. That role made him an $8K player in the past, with Mid scoring at least 38 fantasy points in seven of his last 10 outings. We expect that to continue, and we don’t want to fade him against this putrid Pacers defense.

Nick Richards (C – CHA): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Mark Williams is doubtful again, and it should allow Richards to start at center. They’re also missing LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward, guaranteeing Richards 30 minutes of action. He’s done damage with that workload, scoring at least 32 DraftKings points in three of his last four games. The Hornets will also need him to play big minutes against Denver because he’s the only true center that can match up with Jokic.

Dereck Lively (C – DAL): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
Lively has been a pleasant surprise for Dallas, starting at center in his rookie season. The inexperience has led to some volatility, but the 19-year-old has scored at least 28 DraftKings points in 12 games this year. He’s also seeing his workload increase the more he’s getting used to this offense, and it’s just a matter of time before he’s locked into a 30-minute role and playing at a $7K level.

Advantageous Pricing

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF – MIL): $11,000 DraftKings, $12,400 FanDuel
• Jalen Duren (C – DET): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $5,700 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• Immanuel Quickley (PG/SG – TOR): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Caris LeVert (SG – CLE): $5,800 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• TJ McConnell (PG/SG – IND): $3,800 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel

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