DraftKings’ main slate for Tuesday starts at 7:00 PM EST and features the first 11 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
Josh Giddey ($9,100)
For the second game in a row, the Bulls and Hawks are going head-to-head. In the first leg of this mini-series, these two top-five teams in pace set a season high for points scored in a game with 302, and in that tilt, Giddey finished with 54.2 DraftKings points and was one rebound shy of a triple-double. Tonight’s rematch between these teams carries a huge 251.5-point total, which is the highest total on the slate by seven points. While over 300 points is unlikely again, this game should be a shootout, and having exposure to this matchup is a must, with Giddey being one of the best targets. Giddey is amassing 50.5 DraftKings PPG in two matchups with Atlanta this season, and he is leading Chicago with 1.4 DraftKings PPM, thanks to career highs in usage rate (25.9%) and assist rate (38.9%). Giddey’s ceiling is the highest on the slate among guards in our projections, and he is an excellent spend for all formats.
Value
Tyler Kolek ($3,800)
Kolek should draw the start at point guard for the Knicks tonight, with Jalen Brunson (ankle), Miles McBride (ankle), and OG Anunoby (ankle) sidelined. With these three players off the floor this season, Kolek is amassing 1.0 DraftKings PPM with a 24% usage rate and a 37.5% assist rate. Kolek is facing a Timberwolves defense that ranks sixth in rating this season, but our projections slate him for 30.8 minutes of work, putting him in prime position to crush his cheap salary. Kolek has logged more than 20 minutes twice this season, and in those contests, he scored 28.2 DraftKings points vs. the Spurs and a career-high 45.5 DraftKings points vs. the Pacers.
Fast Break
Keyonte George ($8,300) – George is having a breakout season, and the guard has been on a roll with at least 41 DraftKings points in five straight games. George is scoring 1.1 DraftKings PPM with a team-high 28% usage rate this season, and his excellent run should continue vs. the Grizzlies tonight, who are playing their second game in two nights and will remain without Zach Edey (ankle). With the big man inactive this season, Memphis is giving up 120 PPG.
Tre Mann ($3,400) – LaMelo Ball played last night, and he has sat out the second leg of back-to-back sets on multiple occasions this season. Our projections are currently expecting Ball to be out tonight vs. the Wizards and if that is the case, Mann will be a strong punt play. Washington ranks dead last in defensive rating and sixth in pace this season, and in the seven games he has played without Ball this season, Mann is scoring 20 DraftKings points in 23 minutes per game with a 26.7% usage rate.
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 ($8,800)
With Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal out of town and Jalen Green (hamstring) sidelined, Booker is leading the Suns with a 31% usage rate and 1.2 DraftKings PPM this season. The guard is fresh off a 56.75 DraftKings point outing vs. the Warriors, and he is facing the Lakers tonight, whom Booker finished with 48.5 DraftKings points vs. last week. Los Angeles ranks 23rd in defensive rating this season, and Phoenix is only a 5.5-point favorite for this tilt. Booker is too cheap for his upside in this setting, and he should come with low ownership in GPPs.
Value
Cam Spencer ($6,300)
Spencer has been outstanding and one of the best players for the Grizzlies this season. The guard is scoring 36.2 DraftKings PPG in his last seven, and Spencer should draw his third straight start tonight with Ja Morant (ankle) expected to remain out. With Morant off the floor, Spencer is amassing 1.0 DraftKings PPM with a 19.6% usage rate and 30.5% assist rate this season. Spencer has seen 34 and 37 minutes with Morant inactive for the last two, and Spencer is in a terrific spot vs. the Jazz tonight, who rank second-to-last in defensive rating and are on the second leg of a back-to-back. Spencer has 40 DraftKings points upside in this situation, and he is without a doubt the best shooting guard value on the slate.
Fast Break
Brandon Ingram ($7,800) – Ingram’s salary has dipped under $8,000 for the first time in five games, and he is in a plus spot vs. the Heat, who lead the NBA in pace this season. Ingram is leading the Raptors with a 28.4% usage rate this season, and he is averaging 43.7 DraftKings PPG in his last five.
Cameron Johnson ($4,900) – Johnson’s salary has dropped under $5,000, despite scoring 33 DraftKings points vs. the Jazz last night. The veteran continues to start with Aaron Gordon (hamstring) sidelined, and with him inactive this season, Johnson is producing 26.7 DraftKings points in 34 minutes per game. Johnson is facing a Mavericks’ defense that ranks seventh in rating this season, but Dallas played last night, and Johnson should be able to surpass 5x value at this low price point.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Norman Powell ($7,200)
Tyler Herro (toe) is out again tonight, leaving Powell as the Heat’s top scorer. In the 20 games he has played without Herro this season, Powell is generating 35.2 DraftKings points in 31 minutes per game with a team-high 28.3% usage rate. Powell’s matchup isn’t perfect, going against a Raptors’ defense that ranks ninth in rating, but his salary is depressed due to Herro being unavailable, and Powell is only slated for 2% ownership on DraftKings, making him a great GPP target.
Value
Saddiq Bey ($6,000)
After missing last season with a torn ACL, Bey has been awesome with the Pelicans this season. The veteran is shooting 45% from the field, and in his last four, Bey is producing 32.3 DraftKings PPG, despite Zion Williamson being active for all these games. The former No. 1 pick leads New Orleans in usage this season, and after playing last night, Williamson is likely to be rested tonight. Our projections are anticipating the forward being out and with Williamson missing, Bey should see a few extra minutes and an increased usage rate. With Williamson off the court this season, Bey’s usage rises to 20.8% and he scores 1.0 DraftKings PPM. Bey is facing the Cavaliers tonight, who remain without reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley (calf) and with him out for the last four, Cleveland ranks 28th in defensive rating. This game’s second-highest on the slate (244.5 points) and Bey is one of the best ways to attack this high scoring affair.
Fast Break
Brandon Miller ($7,600) – If Ball is rested tonight, Miller will be viable for GPPs in an elite spot vs. the Wizards. With Ball off the floor this season, Miller’s usage rate increases 1.6 percentage points to 31.8%, and he scores 1.1 DraftKings PPM.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,200) – Caldwell-Pope has been a solid bench player for the Grizzlies recently, scoring 24.3 DraftKings points in 23.3 minutes per game in his last six. Morant being out again tonight guarantees Caldwell-Pope a 20-25 minute role, and he is rated as a strong value in our projections in a great spot vs. the Jazz.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Jalen Johnson ($9,700)
In the insane shootout between the Hawks and Bulls this past Sunday, Johnson erupted for 64.8 FPTS in 36 minutes. The budding star gets to face Chicago again tonight, and this game’s total is the highest on the slate by a comfortable margin (251.5 points). The Bulls rank second in pace and 24th in defensive rating this season, and Johnson has been incredible, scoring over 60 DraftKings points in six of his last 10 starts. Handling career-highs in every major rate this season, most notably a 26.9% usage rate, Johnson is leading Atlanta with 1.4 DraftKings PPM, and he has notched six triple-doubles, which is tied for the second-most in the NBA. Johnson’s ceiling ranks second only to Nikola Jokic in our projections tonight, and Johnson is a stellar target at less than $10,000.
Value
Sandro Mamukelashvili ($5,500)
With Jakob Poeltl (back) out tonight, Mamukelashvili should start at center for the Raptors, and he is facing the Heat, who lead the league in pace. Mamukelashvili has started in the last three games that Poeltl has missed, and Mamukelashvili has scored at least 32 DraftKings points in all these games. The veteran is amassing 1.0 DraftKings PPM this season, and our projections are forecasting him for 29 minutes of action tonight. Mamukelashvili has cracked the 25-minute mark five times this season, and in those contests, he is supplying 30.9 DraftKings PPM.
Fast Break
Kyle Filipowski ($6,000) – After playing last night, there is a chance Lauri Markkanen is rested tonight, and if that is the case, Filipowski will be a great option vs. the Grizzlies. Walker Kessler (shoulder) is out for the season and in the three games he and Markkanen have missed collectively this season, Filipowski is providing 33 DraftKings points in 33 minutes per game.
Mohamed Diawara ($3,000) – In addition to Brunson, Anunoby, and McBride, Gerschon Yabusele (illness) is out for the Knicks tonight. In this situation, our projections are slating Diawara for a season-high 24.5 minutes. He is scoring 0.8 DraftKings PPM, and while Diawara lacks real upside, he should be able to exceed 5x value at this bare minimum salary. In our projections, Diawara is rated as the No. 1 value on the slate.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,500)
Towns is in a tough matchup vs. the Timberwolves, who rank sixth in defensive rating this season, but he should be geared up to face his former team, and more importantly, Towns’ workload is going to be huge with the Knicks missing many key pieces. In the 54 minutes the big man has played with Brunson, Anunoby, and McBride off the floor this season, Towns is leading New York with 1.4 DraftKings PPM, thanks to his usage and assist rates increasing 3.6 and 2.4 percentage points, respectively. Towns has made two starts without Brunson this season, and Towns scored 65.25 and 45.75 DraftKings points in those games. The Kentucky product warranted a price tag near $10,000 with the Knicks depleted tonight, and Towns is an elite value at only $8,500.
Value
Kel’el Ware ($5,900)
Instead of starting a guard in place of the injured Herro, the Heat have opted for a bigger lineup with Ware starting in each of the last three Herro has missed, and Ware has been outstanding with the starting job, scoring 48.5, 51.0, and 57.25 DraftKings points, in that order. During this run, Ware is logging 30.7 minutes per game, and he is handling an 18.8% usage rate. Plus, Ware has been lights out as a shooter, shooting 71.7% from the field and 75% from beyond the arc. The big man has knocked down at least five three-pointers in back-to-back games, and if he continues to start tonight vs. the Raptors, Ware will be an obvious play at only $5,900, regardless of Toronto ranking ninth in defensive rating this season.
Fast Break
Nikola Vucevic ($6,300) – Vucevic has had a down season, but he has played well recently, scoring 43.8, 53.8, and 34.2 DraftKings points in his last three, with that final outing coming against the Hawks, who Vucevic will face again tonight in the highest total on the slate. The center has a decent chance to perform even better vs. Atlanta tonight, and Vucevic is simply underpriced at $6,300.
Moussa Diabate ($4,100) – Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) was out last night, and in his absence, Diabate posted 36 DraftKings points in 28 minutes. The Hornets have yet to release their injury report, but if Kalkbrenner is sidelined again, Diabate will be an awesome value vs. the Wizards. In the three games Kalkbrenner has missed this season, Diabate is averaging 32.5 DraftKings PPG.
Pictured: Josh Giddey
Photo Credit: Imagn
