DraftKings’ main NBA DFS slate for Tuesday starts at 7:00 PM ET and features the first five 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
Jalen Brunson ($9,300)
Brunson is coming off a 45.75-DraftKings-point outing vs. the Thunder’s league-best defense, which is his eighth performance north of 40 DraftKings points in his last 10. Brunson gets an easier matchup tonight vs. the Rockets, who rank 11th in defensive rating since the All-Star break. This game is expected to be close, with the Knicks only favored by 1.5 points. This is a crucial tilt for New York, as the club is only two games back of the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Brunson is amassing 1.2 DraftKings PPM with a 30% usage rate this season, and he is a worthy spend in this matchup. In spreads of five points or less, Brunson is averaging 43 DraftKings PPG this season (27 games), via the Trends Tool.
Value
Nolan Traore ($5,000)
Traore has been a solid fantasy asset for the tanking Nets as the season winds down. The rookie just scored 30.25 DraftKings points vs. the Kings on Sunday, and he has posted at least 26 DraftKings points in five of his last six. Since the All-Star break, Traore is generating 0.8 DraftKings PPM with a 26.9% usage rate. This $5,000 salary is just too low for the guard, and he is rating as the top point guard value in our projections, regardless of facing a Hornets defense that ranks ninth in rating since the All-Star Break.
Fast Break
Ben Saraf ($4,500) — Saraf is also a viable value play from the Nets. The rookie has scored at least 24 DraftKings points in five of his last eight, and he is handling a 22% usage rate since the All-Star Break.
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
Devin Booker ($9,400)
The Suns are trying to hang onto the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference—they are three games ahead of the Clippers for that spot—and Booker has scored at least 45 DraftKings points in back-to-back starts. The guard is leading Phoenix with 1.2 DraftKings PPM and a 31% usage rate this season, and Booker is visiting a Magic team tonight that has slipped to 16th in defensive rating since the All-Star break. Booker should see big minutes with Orlando being a 2.5-point favorite, and he easily brings the highest ceiling on the slate among shooting guards.
Value
Ja’Kobe Walter ($4,300)
Immanuel Quickley (foot) is out. With the guard missing for three of the last four, Walter has started and produced 28.3 DraftKings points in 29.8 minutes per game. Walter’s salary clearly doesn’t reflect this type of role. While tonight presents a tough matchup vs. the Pistons, who rank second in defensive rating this season, Detroit is playing its second game in two nights, and Walter should still be able to surpass 5x value. In our projections, Walter is the No. 1 shooting guard value on the slate by a solid margin.
Fast Break
Coby White ($5,200) – White has been thriving as the Hornets’ sixth man, and he is a strong option vs. the Nets, who rank 26th in defensive rating this season. In his last eight, White has topped 30 DraftKings points five times, and he is handling a 31% usage rate since joining Charlotte at the trade deadline.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Kevin Durant ($8,900)
The Rockets are only a half-game back of the Timberwolves for the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, so every game is critical for Houston, and Durant should produce a strong fantasy score in this likely nail-biter vs. the Knicks. New York is only favored by 1.5 points. Durant is amassing 1.2 DraftKings PPM with a 27% usage rate this season, and he has scored at least 49 DraftKings points in three of his last four. For the last seven times Durant has competed in a spread of five points or less, he has scored at least 47 DraftKings points four times.
Value
Tristan da Silva ($5,100)
Every game is important for the Magic right now as they attempt to improve their seed before the Play-In Tournament. With Franz Wagner (ankle) and Anthony Black (shoulder) both sidelined, da Silva has been putting up solid numbers. Since the All-Star Break, da Silva is averaging 25.9 DraftKings points in 30 minutes per game. The wing is facing a Suns defense that ranks 10th in rating, but Phoenix has struggled on the road this season, and da Silva has a strong chance to exceed 5x value in this spot.
Fast Break
Tari Eason ($4,400) – Eason has earned more minutes for the Rockets lately and made the most of his playing time, scoring 28.75 and 30 DraftKings points in his last two games. Eason saw at least 22 minutes in both these tilts, and with a similar workload tonight vs. the Knicks, he is rating as a strong value in our projections. This season, Eason is producing 0.9 DraftKings PPM with an 18.9% usage rate.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Scottie Barnes ($8,900)
Barnes is facing a No. 2-rated Pistons defense, but the Raptors need to keep winning to hang onto the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, and Immanuel Quickley (foot) is out tonight, which is a big boost for Barnes. The forward has scored 58 and 59.25 DraftKings points with the guard inactive for the last two. With Quickley off the floor this season, Barnes is amassing a team-high 1.4 DraftKings PPM, thanks to his assist rate increasing 6.7 percentage points, via the On/Off Tool. Barnes has tallied four straight double-doubles with Quickley inactive, and over 50 DraftKings points is a possibility for Barnes tonight.
Value
Jabari Smith ($6,300)
With every game important for the Rockets right now, Smith has been awesome, scoring at least 35 DraftKings points in three straight, including two double-doubles. The forward is shooting 46% from the field during this stretch, and he has logged at least 33 minutes in each of these past three. The heavy volume should continue for Smith in a likely tight contest vs. the Knicks, and he is one of the top forward values on the slate at this affordable price. Smith faced New York last month and scored 33 DraftKings points in 35 minutes.
Fast Break
Khris Middleton ($3,400) – Middleton is facing his former team in the Bucks tonight, and he is a viable punt against this soft Milwaukee defense that ranks 27th in rating this season. In his last two, Middleton has scored 22.25 and 18 DraftKings points while shooting 44% from the field.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Jalen Duren ($8,800)
Assuming Duren (knee) is back after sitting out last night’s loss to the Thunder, he will bring great upside, even against a Raptors defense that ranks sixth in rating this season. Cade Cunningham (lung) remains out without a timetable, and with the guard inactive this season, Duren is leading the Pistons with 44.8 DraftKings PPG and a 25.2% usage rate (nine games). The big man just went off for 61 DraftKings points vs. the Pelicans this past Thursday, and no center brings a higher ceiling tonight than Duren in our projections.
Value
Daniel Gafford ($5,000)
Gafford (shoulder) made his return from a two-game absence last night and picked up right where he left off. The center posted 35.5 DraftKings points vs. the Timberwolves, which is the seventh time in his last eight that Gafford has topped 30 DraftKings points. Since the All-Star break, the big man is leading the Mavericks with 1.3 DraftKings PPM while shooting 71% from the field and handling a 19.4% usage rate, which is a big change from the 14.2% usage rate he saw before the break. Facing a Bucks defense that ranks 27th in rating this season, Gafford’s impressive play should continue, and he is one of the top values on the board.
Fast Break
Alperen Sengun ($9,200) – Sengun has been on fire and warrants GPP consideration, despite facing a stout Knicks defense. The center just scored 78.75 DraftKings points vs. the Pelicans on Sunday, which is the second time in his last four that Sengun has erupted for over 70 DraftKings points.
Wendell Carter Jr. ($5,500) – Carter Jr. was held to just 10 DraftKings points Sunday vs. the Raptors, but this was a direct result of the Magic getting blown out by 52 points. The center had scored at least 27 DraftKings points in four straight prior to this, and he should bounce back tonight in a two-point spread vs. the Suns.
Pictured: Jalen Duren
Photo Credit: Imagn
