DraftKings’ main NBA DFS slate for Tuesday starts at 7:00 PM EST and features the first eight games of the night. Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Cade Cunningham ($11,000)
Cunningham has been excellent, scoring at least 51 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight, including a 51 DraftKings point outing vs. the Cavaliers, whom he will face again tonight. Cleveland ranks 12th in pace this season, and this matchup between two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference is expected to be competitive throughout, with the Pistons only favored by 2.5 points. Cunningham is amassing 52.7 DraftKings PPG in spreads of five points or less this season (23 games) – via the Trends Tool – and he is scoring 1.5 DraftKings PPM with a 31% usage rate.
Value
Davion Mitchell ($4,400)
Mitchell is going against a Nets’ defense that ranks 27th in rating this season, and he will see an expanded role with Norman Powell (groin) sidelined. Mitchell has played 11 games without Powell this season, and Mitchell is averaging 23.3 DraftKings PPG on those occasions. Mitchell’s elite defense always gives him better upside than his salary suggests, and he likely will come with low ownership.
Fast Break
Tyrese Maxey ($10,100) – Maxey’s matchup vs. the Spurs’ No. 3-rated defense isn’t ideal, but the guard is still a viable target with both Joel Embiid (oblique) and Paul George (suspension) out. With these two off the court this season, Maxey is leading the 76ers with 1.4 DraftKings PPM and a 32.9% usage rate.
Jared McCain ($3,800) – The Thunder will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal) and Jalen Williams (hamstring), and they are facing a Bulls team that ranks fifth in pace and 25th in defensive rating this season. McCain has scored at least 28 DraftKings points in two of the last four Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams have missed collectively, and McCain is rated as the top value on the slate in our projections in this ideal situation for the Duke product.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Desmond Bane ($7,600)
Hosting the Wizards, who rank 28th in defensive rating this season, the Magic present the third-highest implied team total on the slate (122 points). Franz Wagner (ankle) also remains out, making this a terrific situation for Bane. The shooting guard has gone off for at least 49 DraftKings points in four of his last seven sans Wagner, and with the wing off the court this season, Bane is producing 1.2 DraftKings PPM with a 24.9% usage rate.
Value
Cason Wallace ($5,600)
Wallace is an awesome target with the Thunder without Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams and facing the Bulls. In the last four games Wallace has played sans Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, Wallace has been a stud, amassing 40.9 DraftKings PPG. With those two players off the floor this season, Wallace scores 0.9 DraftKings PPM with a 19.2% usage rate, which is a 4.6 percentage point lift from his average, via the On/Off Tool. Wallace should be one of Oklahoma City’s main players tonight, and over 40 DraftKings points is within reach.
Fast Break
Isaiah Joe ($4,600) – Joe has also thrived when both Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams have been out, and rostering Joe and Wallace together is a viable move tonight. In the last two games Joe has played without Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, Joe has provided 40.5 and 36 DraftKings points.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Brandon Miller ($7,500)
As the Hornets continue to play well, Miller continues to put up strong numbers. In his last two, Miller has scored 50.75 and 40 DraftKings points. In the new year, the wing is generating 1.2 DraftKings PPM with a 30% usage rate. Charlotte carries the second-highest implied team total on the slate facing the depleted Mavericks (122.5 points), and Miller is the top small forward in our projections. When playing behind an implied team total of at least 120 points this season, Miller is averaging 40.9 DraftKings PPG (five games).
Value
Pelle Larsson ($5,400)
Just like Mitchell, Larsson benefits with Powell sidelined. The veteran leads the Heat in usage this season, and with Powell inactive, Larsson is scoring 28 DraftKings points in 28 minutes per game with an 18% usage rate. The 25-year-old just posted 30 DraftKings points with Powell inactive for Sunday’s win over the Rockets, and Larsson brings better upside tonight, given this is a much easier matchup. Brooklyn ranks 27th in defensive rating this season, compared to Houston, who ranks sixth.
Fast Break
Aaron Wiggins ($4,500) – The last time both Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams were inactive, Wiggins started and posted 37.5 DraftKings points across 34 minutes vs. the Pistons and their No. 2-rated defense. If Wiggins gets another start tonight, he could have an even better outing vs. the fast-paced and defensively inept Bulls.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Paolo Banchero ($9,400)
Banchero brings big upside with Wagner out and the Wizards in town. With Wagner sidelined, Banchero has topped 50 DraftKings points in three of his past six, and with Wagner off the floor this season, Banchero is leading the Magic with a 28.8% usage rate and 1.2 DraftKings PPM. Even with Wagner active, Banchero torched Washington for 53.25 DraftKings points earlier this season, so with Wagner missing this time around, the sky is the limit for Banchero. In our projections, he brings the highest ceiling on the slate among power forwards.
Value
Danny Wolf ($4,600)
With Egor Demin (foot) out Sunday vs. the Cavaliers, Wolf erupted for 46.75 DraftKings points in 26.5 minutes off the bench. The rookie garnered a 31.1% usage rate and shot 7-of-13 from the field. Demin will remain out tonight, and Wolf is facing the Heat, who lead the league in pace this season. We can’t expect another outing near 50 DraftKings points, but Wolf is still very capable of outproducing his low $4,600 salary. With Demin off the floor this season, Wolf is supplying 0.9 DraftKings PPM.
Fast Break
Matas Buzelis ($6,700) – Regardless that he is facing the Thunder’s league-best defense, Buzelis is a great option tonight. Anfernee Simons (wrist) and Jaden Ivey (knee) have missed the last three, and with them sidelined, Buzelis has scored at least 37 DraftKings points in every game while leading Chicago with a 27% usage rate.
Kenrich Williams ($3,700) – Williams is rated as the top power forward value on the slate in our projections and is a compelling punt play with the Thunder shorthanded. In three of the last six games without Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Williams has scored at least 18 DraftKings points.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama ($10,700)
Wembanyama should feast against the Embiid-less 76ers. With the former MVP out, Andre Drummond will likely start at center, and with him on the floor this season, Philadelphia owns an ugly 115.2 defensive rating. Wembanyama is coming off a 50.8 DraftKings point outing vs. the Knicks, and he has scored at least 50 DraftKings points in four of his last six, including two outbursts over 60 DraftKings points. Wembanyama is scoring 1.8 DraftKings PPM with a 32.7% usage rate this season, and the Spurs’ 121.5-point implied team total is the fourth-highest on the slate. When playing behind an implied team total of at least 120 points this season, Wembanyama is scoring 55.1 DraftKings PPG (19 games).
Value
Nick Richards ($4,300)
With Jalen Smith (calf) out and Nikola Vucevic now with the Celtics, Richards has seen an expanded role off the bench for the Bulls, scoring 29.5 and 25.25 DraftKings points in his last two. The center has seen at least 26 minutes in both of these games, and he should receive a similar workload tonight with Smith still sidelined. The Thunder lead the league in defensive rating, but Richards is way underpriced for his expected workload and is viable for all formats. This season, Richards is producing 0.9 DraftKings PPM.
Fast Break
Andre Drummond ($5,000) – Matching up with Wembanyama comes with foul risk, so Drummond is best reserved for GPPs, but if he can avoid that, he will likely see big minutes and easily beat this salary, assuming he starts again. In the spot start for Embiid on Sunday, Drummond posted a double-double of 40.5 DraftKings points in 32 minutes.
Pictured: Cade Cunningham
Photo Credit: Imagn
