Bill Yin provides his thoughts and insights on DFS options for Friday’s NBA slate.
There are eight NBA games on today’s slate to kick off the weekend. Let’s get after it!
Today’s notable injuries include: Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, and Zion Williamson. A few players who are questionable include: Draymond Green, Santi Aldama, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Gary Harris. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there is only one game with a double-digit favorite. The Boston Celtics are -12.5 favorites over the Indiana Pacers. Tough to see that changing if we see another Tyrese Haliburton performance like the one he had last night. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [$100K to 1st].
Guard
Stud
James Harden, Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers ($9,400):
Harden’s been enjoying a productive season on the Paul George-less Clippers, resurging to 22 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 8.1 APG with a 30.6% usage rate. This is the highest his usage rate has been since his last season with the Houston Rockets. He’ll have a tough task ahead of him tonight as he faces off against the Golden State Warriors, whose 9th ranked defense will do all it can to stop him, but his ability to contribute across the board will keep his floor plenty high in DFS. Golden State will be without superstar point guard Steph Curry and possibly also Draymond Green.
Other Options: Kyrie Irving ($8,300), Donovan Mitchell ($8,400), Ja Morant ($8,600)
Value
Trevelin Queen, New York Knicks at Orlando Magic ($4,300): Even with Jalen Suggs back in the fold, Trevelin Queen has done a nice job filling in for this depleted Magic squad. Across his last two games and starts, he’s played over 34 minutes and has averaged 12.5 PPG, 2 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 3 SPG. He’s not a world beater by any means, but he’s playing some big minutes and we can’t ignore this.
Other Options: Brandin Podziemski ($4,000), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($3,700), Stephon Castle ($4,100)
Forward
Stud
Jayson Tatum, Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics ($9,900): Tatum is coming off a massive 62.8 FPPG game on Christmas in which he was originally Questionable but ended up playing anyway. He’s been on a tear this season, averaging 67.6 FPPG over his last 10 games and looks primed to continue his MVP campaign against the Indiana Pacers tonight on the second leg of their back-to-back. The Pacers have a below-average defense but actually do a decent job against small forwards, limiting opponents to a league 9th-best 40.48 DK FPTS. Despite this, I’m still backing Tatum as the top option tonight, especially given his recent form.
Other Options: Kevin Durant ($9,300), Evan Mobley ($7,500)
Value
Georges Niang, Cleveland Cavaliers at Denver Nuggets ($4,100): We’re really reaching into the bottom of the bag, here. Isaac Okoro has been ruled out and Dean Wade is questionable. These absences thrust Niang into a larger role in Cleveland’s offense, which admittedly doesn’t lack shooting, but he played well versus Brooklyn with 23.3 FPPG and almost double-doubled. Tonight’s game between these two teams should be a tight affair (Cleveland is laying -3) and Niang’s ability to stretch the floor at the forward position will be useful for pulling Aaron Gordon out to the perimeter on defense.
Other Options: PJ Washington ($6,900), Jake LaRavia ($4,100)
Center
Stud
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs at Brooklyn Nets($11,800): The French phenom is averaging 69.8 FPTS over his last 10 games and 54.9 FPTS over the season. He’s coming off a monster Christmas game in which he dropped 83 FPTS against the Knicks with 42 points, 18 rebounds, and five stocks. He’ll face off against one of the worst defenses and teams in the NBA tonight, and will be primed for another massive game as he continues his ascension towards NBA superstardom. You could argue he’s already there.
Other Options: Nikola Jokic ($11,000), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,600)
Value
Noah Clowney, San Antonio Spurs at Brooklyn Nets($4,700): I wrote about Clowney yesterday as a good option in case Dorian Finney-Smith was sidelined. Finney-Smith indeed sat out, and Clowney delivered with six triples and 32 FPTS. His price has gone up $300 since yesterday, but why stop there? If Finney-Smith is out again, Clowney’s got a nice spot tonight too. I don’t see him getting much done in the interior against DPOY-contender (favorite?) Victor Wembanyama, but his shot is wet right now.
Other Options: Ivica Zubac ($7,600), Trayce Jackson-Davis ($4,300), Kevon Looney ($3,800), Al Horford ($5,000) if Kristaps Porzingis is out
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [$100K to 1st].
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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