Friday features a eight-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages 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
Tyrese Haliburton is coming off just his second game all season, where he recorded under 40 DraftKings points. He has three straight games under 50 DraftKings points. A breakthrough performance is coming, and this is the perfect matchup for it. The Pacers are nearly double-digit favorites on the road against the Wizards who have a pitiful 3-20 record. The Wizards are an awful defense that ranks last in defensive rating while allowing a league-high 127 points and 29.9 assists per game.
The Pacers and Wizards rank first and second in pace this season, which is why this total is the highest on the slate at 259 points. Leading the league’s top offense, Haliburton will have plenty of opportunity to stuff the stat sheet tonight.
Make sure to prioritize Haliburton on FanDuel, where he is priced under $11,000 with a 90% Bargain Rating and 12 Pro Trends.
Value
Dennis Schroder has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the point guard position on DraftKings and second-highest on FanDuel. Priced in the mid-range, Schroder is coming off back-to-back great games where he averaged 18.5 points and 8.5 assists per game with five total steals. In his first season with the Raptors, the journeyman point guard has started every game and is leading the team in assists with a career-high seven per game. Schroder is one of the best values on the slate.
Schroder’s matchup with the Hawks has the second-highest total on the slate at 242.5 points. This is a rematch from their Wednesday night game that ended with 263 total points. Expect another high-scoring game since the Hawks are allowing 123.3 points per game. They rank third in pace and fourth in defensive rating, which sets up well for the speedy point guard.
Fast Break
Opposite of Schroder in this matchup, Trae Young has the second-highest ceiling and Plus/Minus projection on both sites. In his last game against the Raptors, Young erupted for 35 points and 17 assists with a 36.7% usage rate. The Hawks have lost five straight games, with their record falling to 9-14 this season. In desperate need of a victory, expect Young to be aggressive again in this spot.
Priced under $10,000 on DraftKings and FanDuel, Young looks like a great play in all formats.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Wednesday night was the first time the Suns’ big three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal played in a game together. Durant and Beal played well, but it was Booker who stole the show with a team-high 34 points and 12 assists. He tied his season-high with 61 DraftKings points despite not recording a single steal or block for the second time in his last 10 games. Similar to the Celtics, getting exposure to the Suns’ stars when they are fully healthy will come at low ownership.
A matchup against the Knicks will also keep Booker’s ownership in check. However, the Knicks have been much worse defensively on the road than at home. They have a 111.6 defensive rating at home compared to 117.2 on the road. Against comparable teams in the Bucks and Celtics on the road, the Knicks gave up back-to-back games with 146 and 133 points.
Coming in at under 5% ownership across the industry, Booker is worth a shot in tournaments.
Value
Another guard priced in the mid-range who has a high Projected Plus/Minus is Spurs’ shooting guard Devin Vassell. The high-volume Vassell has attempted 15+ field goals and 7+ 3-pointers in each of his last four games. He is second on the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game while averaging a career-high field goal percentage. The Spurs have lost 18 straight games and are 7.5-point underdogs against the Lakers. However, they lost by three points in their last matchup.
Vassell recorded 13 points with five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. However, he shot an uncharacteristic 5-for-15 from the field and 1-for-7 from behind the arc. This matchup sets up well for Vassell. The Lakers are allowing 37.7 3-point attempts per game, which is the fifth-highest in the league. If his shots fall a little more, Vassell will easily pay off his salary.
Fast Break
Terry Rozier continues to dominate without LaMelo Ball, regardless of the matchup. He has six consecutive games with a positive Plus/Minus. Over that time, Rozier is averaging a double-double with 28 points, 10 assists, and 53.5 DraftKings points per game. The Pelicans are allowing a league-high 39.9 3-point attempts per game, so this is an exploitable matchup for Rozier. He is shooting 40.4% from downtown this year and has attempted 8.5 3-pointers per game in his last six games.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
LeBron James sat out the second leg of the Lakers back-to-back on Wednesday night, and is questionable to play tonight. Even though it is expected that James returns tonight, make sure to monitor his status the closer we get to lock. James needed the break after dominating the In-Season Tournament, bringing home the Championship trophy and the MVP award. In those three tournament games, James averaged 28.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game with eight steals.
With James sitting out Wednesday night, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Lakers gave Anthony Davis the night off tonight in a rematch against the Spurs. Even if Davis and James both play, this is a fantastic matchup, with the Spurs ranking 24th in defensive rating and fourth in pace. They are allowing 121.4 points per game, with opponents shooting 48.9% from the field.
Value
OG Anunoby has been a popular value play recently and looks great in this spot again tonight. Anunoby has scored 22+ points in three of his last four games while averaging 41.3 DraftKings points per game in those three ceiling performances. Normally known for his defense, Anunoby has displayed an upside on offense recently. He is projected for the highest Plus/Minus at the small forward position on DraftKings and FanDuel. His mid-range salary makes him easy to fit in all builds.
Playing against the Hawks defense will make Anunoby’s outlook look even better. In their last meeting, Anunoby finished with 22 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal while shooting 10-for-13 from the field. His shooting efficiency may regress, but the Hawks are allowing opponents to shoot 50.3% from the field this season. It’s an elite spot once again for Anunoby.
Fast Break
The Celtics just ruled out Al Horford, while Kristaps Porzingis is doubtful, and Jaylen Brown is questionable. That will open the door for a ceiling game from Jayson Tatum. Tatum has recorded a double-double in three of his last four games, with 25+ points in all four contests. The matchup against the Magic is very difficult, with them ranking third in the league in defensive rating, but Tatum will get so much usage and opportunity without a few Celtics starters that it won’t matter.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama has lived up to the hype. Despite the Spurs’ struggles, Wembanyama is averaging a double-double with 19.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in his rookie year. His tenacious defense has also led to 3.0 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. Wembanyama is coming off his best game of the season against the Lakers on Wednesday night where he put up 30 points, 13 rebounds, six blocks, three steals, and two assists. He is impossible to ignore in a repeat matchup.
Wembanyama has started at center in each of the Spurs’ last three games. Over that time, he is averaging a ridiculous 22 points, 17 rebounds, and five blocks per game. Wembanyama will always look great on FanDuel with his defensive stats, but his DraftKings salary of $9,100 is a steal. He is $1,200 cheaper on DraftKings than FanDuel, with a 92% Bargain Rating.
Value
Jabari Smith Jr. is another player who looks a little better on DraftKings than he does on FanDuel tonight. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in eight of his last 10 games while averaging a double-double with 13.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Smith Jr. is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists while shooting a much better 49.3% from the field and 37% from downtown this season. Playing alongside pass-first point guard, Fred VanVleet has increased his ceiling.
With so many injuries to their frontcourt, the Grizzlies have been dominated on the glass. They are tied for the fourth-lowest rebounding percentage at 48.4% and have allowed 58.5 rebounds per game. In his two games against the Grizzlies, Smith Jr. is averaging 19 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting 65% from the field. He is simply too cheap in this spot.
Fast Break
Pascal Siakam is another Raptors playing popping in our Tournament Model. He has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the slate for FanDuel and the fifth-highest on DraftKings. Priced at $8,300 on both sites, Siakam is coming off one of his best games of the season with 33 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. In a repeat matchup against the Hawks, he is another Raptors player worth getting exposure to. Siakam has triple-double upside in what should be a fast-paced game.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
It doesn’t matter how much Joel Embiid costs at this point. He is basically a necessity in all lineup builds tonight. Embiid has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in eight straight games while averaging 36.5 points, 12 rebounds, and 69.2 DraftKings points per game over that time. He has a 30-point double-double in all eight games and will get a repeat matchup against a Pistons frontcourt that he just poured in 41 points against in only 31 minutes. Embiid is the best play on the slate, and it’s not close.
Leading the league in scoring and usage rate, Embiid will get another chance to showcase his upside against a Pistons team that is still playing without Jalen Duren. They have no one to match up with the size and strength of Embiid. He has the highest projected ceiling by nearly double-digit points on both sites. Make Embiid a priority on this eight-game slate.
Value
Myles Turner has been a key factor in the Pacers’ success this season. He is averaging 17.6 points and a career-high 8.0 rebounds per game. Turner is shooting over 50% from the field for the third consecutive year. At his mid-$7,000 price tag on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Turner looks fantastic in this cupcake matchup against the Wizards frontcourt. The Wizards rank last in rebounding percentage at 44.1% and have allowed the second-most points in the paint with 59.6 per game.
Given his recent success and matchup, Turner sets up perfectly for a big game tonight. In the best game environment on the slate, Turner will get a plethora of opportunities to display his ceiling. The Wizards also allow 5.4 blocks per game this season, which is tied for the eighth-highest in the league. Turner has a chance at a double-double with upside in capturing blocks.
Fast Break
If Anthony Davis does end up playing tonight, he looks incredible in this rematch against the Spurs. In their last meeting, Davis had his third straight 37-point double-double with a 33.7% usage rate. Davis has been dominant lately and is in a great spot to continue his hot streak. Despite the addition of Wembanyama, the Spurs still rank 27th in rebounding percentage and 20th in points allowed in the paint. Make sure to check the Lakers lineup, but if Davis is in, he looks great.
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