Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) brings the ball up court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Opponent - SAC
Proj Pts FD - 34.61 DK - 38.92
Opponent - SAC
Proj Pts FD - 29.55 DK - 32.37
The game between the Jazz and the Kings has, by far, the biggest total on this three-game slate at 242.5 and we are going to want as much exposure as possible to this one. It’s a little easier on DraftKings than it is on FanDuel with guys like Clarkson and Conley coming cheaper there. The Jazz are without Colin Sexton in this one, making them a bit thinner in the backcourt and both the starters should see minutes in the low-to-mid 30s as long as the game stays close.
Clarkson has scored 20+ points in seven consecutive games and is getting up about 17 shots per game over the last month. He has to score in order to hit value though the assists will come from time to time. Meanwhile, Conley’s usage can come and go depending on the game, though the assists haven't been there consistently. This should be a faster game though with the Kings running the 4th fastest pace with the 24th-ranked defensive efficiency.
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 44.51 DK - 47.61
Again, this is the game to target, and trying to fit pieces from the Kings and Jazz on the shorter Tuesday slate is going to be the way to go. Fox is a bit cheaper on FanDuel and we could be playing mix and match depending on the different sites and the different pricing. Fox isn’t the most consistent guy in the world on a game-to-game basis, something of a byproduct of the way the Kings run their offense. But it’s also what has kept his price in the $8K range. He still has double-double potential and the Jazz have the 26th-ranked defensive efficiency on the season.
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 41.49 DK - 45.39
We have an interesting case with Jrue Holiday here in knowing exactly how to play this situation. On the one hand, he’s coming at value prices on both sites considering Khris Middleton is still out of the mix. But on the other hand, dude hasn’t played since Christmas so there’s at least some concern that the minutes aren’t going to be totally there his first time out. I’m willing to take the risk on some level because this is such a short slate of games and it isn’t like we have a plethora of options. But understand that there’s at least some risk the Bucks bring him along slowly, especially if the game against the Wizards gets out of hand.
Opponent - OKC
Proj Pts FD - 45.54 DK - 49.12
While we are targeting the Kings-Jazz game on this slate, the Celtics also find themselves in a good spot against the Thunder. Oklahoma City is playing the second-fastest pace in the NBA this season and the Celtics come in with a 121 implied total. Brown has been balling out of late, scoring 29 or more points in five straight games and that’s even with an 0-8 from three performance two games ago against the Clippers. The usage is some of the best he’s ever seen even sharing the court with Tatum. The price is getting up there, but on a shorter slate we should consider him a play.
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 28.17 DK - 30.83
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 26.46 DK - 28.75
Kevin Huerter is currently questionable for this game so we will need to keep an eye on the injury status there. With every game starting at 8PM EST we will have all of the info going into lock. He and Barnes make for solid mid-range plays on this slate considering the implied pace and total for this game. And both play minutes in the mid-30s when things are rolling right for the Kings. On a bigger slate I don’t think we’d be going there with either guy, but seeing as how options are limited here, grabbing decent minutes in the $5K range on both sites definitely works.
Opponent - SAC
Proj Pts FD - 41.6 DK - 45.46
Markkanen has double-doubled in three of his last four games and averaged 27 points and 8.5 rebounds over the month of December. Sure, the price is getting up there once again, but it’s warranted based on his play. He has 20+ shot usage upside, hitting that mark in two of his previous three games and this dude is shooting almost 50% from three over the last month. Like we said with the guards above, this is the game to target for DFS upside.
Opponent - OKC
Proj Pts FD - 29.63 DK - 31.52
Even with Robert Williams back in the mix, Al Horford is still seeing steady minutes in the 30s for the Celtics. Part of that is because they haven’t moved Time Lord back into the starting lineup and might not for the foreseeable future or without an injury to a starter. Though Horford is playing good minutes, he’s coming on the cheaper side for a reason with the fantasy output less than stellar over the better part of a month.
The usage just isn’t going to be there for him in this offense and the rebounding duties do get spread out on this squad. That being said, we have to round out DFS lineups in some shape or form and as is the case with Huerter and Barnes, getting guys in the lower-middle pricing tier is a necessity here.
If Daniel Gafford (FD 5200 DK 4300) sticks in the starting lineup then he would be a very solid cheap option on this slate. The Wiz have been running him minutes in the upper-20s and that’s easily enough at these price points. I’m a little worried about foul trouble for the big man against Giannis and company, but that’s the risk on a slate like this.
Kelly Olynyk (FD 6000 DK 5200) is coming too cheap on DraftKings and is likely a more popular option over there.
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