DraftKings NBA Picks
Tuesday features a smaller slate, with their being just five games being played. However, there are some big names in action, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks taking on the Hornets and Nikola Jokic facing off with the Pelicans. Keep an eye on the injury report in the Lakers and Knicks game, as Lebron James might not take the floor.
DFS Recap from Thursday the 26th
- Luka Doncic | Projection: 59 | Result: Injured early
- Kyrie Irving | Projection: 45 | Result: 64.25 🔥
- Paul George | Projection: 42 | Result: 61 🔥
- Jaylen Brown | Projection: 40 | Result: 37.75
- Alec Burks | Projection: 16 | Result: 35.75 🔥
- Quentin Grimes | Projection: 16 | Result: 16
- Eric Gordon | Projection: 18 | Result: Injured
- Torrey Craig | Projection: 20 | Result: 18
- Zach Collins | Projection: 23.9 | Result: 23.5
Last week’s article (read it here) had some unfortunate luck; our cover boy Luka Doncic got hurt in the first quarter and didn’t return, basically torpedoing the slate. However, some of the other players we suggested did quite well. Overall, minus the unforeseen injury luck, I’d grade this article a B+
Studs DFS Player
Julius Randle | New York Knicks
FantasyData Projection: 46 | DraftKings Cost: $10100
Paul George | Los Angeles Clippers
FantasyData Projection: 42 | DraftKings Cost: $8900
On this slate, Paul George is the 17th-ranked player in fantasy points per game, at 42.8 DFS points per contest. For the season, George is averaging 6.0 rebounds per contest, which 23rd best among today’s players. Given that he is taking a struggling Chicago defense and is one of today’s top players in terms of usage, I am counting on a big game from George.
Darius Garland | Cleveland Cavaliers
FantasyData Projection: 40 | DraftKings Cost: $8400
Over his last three games, Garland is averaging 50.3 fantasy points per contest and is a sure thing to play a big role in the team’s offense. For the season, he is averaging 2.5 made threes per contest on a shooting percentage of 40.3%. Even though he is going to cost a little more than usual, his matchup is too good to pass up. The Heat have struggled to defend the three-point line this season, ranking 28th in three-pointers allowed per game and 24th in the NBA in terms of three-point shooting percentage allowed.
Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks
FantasyData Projection: 37 | DraftKings Cost: $7900
This season, Jalen Brunson has outperformed his fantasy scoring projection in 62.5% of games and currently ranks 7th in fantasy points per game, at 38.6 DFS points per contest. Compared to his season salary average, Brunson is going to cost a little more, but he’s also bumped up his usage rate to 27.4% across his last three contests. If he continues to knock down three’s a high clip (39.8%), Brunson should be in line to surpass both his fantasy average and overall scoring numbers of 22.5 points per game.
Value DFS Player
Kyle Lowry | Miami Heat
FantasyData Projection: 27.5 | DraftKings Cost: $4700
According to our projections, Lowry comes into the game as the 30th-best option. He is also one of the top 3-point shooters in today’s slate, averaging 2.1 made three-pointers per game, and is matched up against a Cavaliers defense ranked 25th in the NBA in terms of three-point shooting percentage allowed. For his price tag of $4700, Lowry is one of the better options in terms of usage, averaging 33.7 minutes per contest, which is 15th among today’s players.
Trey Murphy III | New Orleans Pelicans
FantasyData Projection: 23 | DraftKings Cost: $4700
Trey Murphy III should benefit from Zion Williamson out of the lineup, and he has a good matchup against a Nuggets defense that is just 22nd in field goal percentage allowed. Also helping his case is the fact that Pelicans enter today’s game as the 11th-ranked team in possessions per contest. Murphy III comes in at a good price, having cost an average of $5033 over his last three games. I also like that he is a decent outside shooting threat, averaging 2.2 threes per contest.
Jalen McDaniels | Charlotte Hornets
FantasyData Projection: 22 | DraftKings Cost: $4900
As the 41st-best option in projected fantasy scoring, McDaniels provides some solid value, as we have him finishing with 22 fantasy points. This is also a chance to get him at a good price. Over his previous three games, he had an average price tag of $5500. This year, he is averaging 23.3 fantasy points per contest and has surpassed our projections in 59% of his games. With Kelly Oubre Jr. out of the lineup, he should be in line to benefit from some increased opportunity. Also, this should be one of the more up-tempo games of the day, with the Hornets ranked 4th in possessions.
Caris LeVert | Cleveland Cavaliers
FantasyData Projection: 25 | DraftKings Cost: $5100
With an average of 25 fantasy points per game, LeVert is ranked 29th among today’s options. From a matchup perspective, he has a good opportunity to put up points versus the NBA’s 20th-ranked defensive unit and has a usage rate of 19.9%. I like him as a strong three-point shooting option, having hit 37.6% of his shots this year. Given his matchup and the price tag, I like LaVert as a strong value play against the Heat.
Super Value Pick
Joe Ingles | Milwaukee Bucks
FantasyData Projection: 20.5 | DraftKings Cost: $3800
Milwaukee Bucks Joe Ingles has been recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) for around ten months, he has slowly been getting back in the game and his production has been building. Before suffering a knee injury that ended his season with the Utah Jazz last year, the 35-year-old Australian was only able to play in 45 games for the team. Now with 18 games played post-injury, his minutes have been picking up.
At just $3800 DraftKings bucks, he’s worth the gamble. FantasyData’s optimizer has Ingles as one of the best-valued players on today’s slate.
