With the NBA Trade Deadline and the All-Star break looming, the Association has five games on tap for Tuesday night. The Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, Sixers, and Jazz are each finishing back-to-back sets with their games on Tuesday while the Bulls are the only team playing today that is on Wednesday’s 10-game schedule.
The expected return of Tyrese Haliburton and the uncertain status of LeBron James and Anthony Davis are just a few of the injury issues to keep track of throughout the day that will end up shaping Tuesday’s slate. Make sure to keep a close eye out for availability updates that should impact your roster. As news breaks, be sure to refresh the NBA Models for the latest adjustments.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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
The Knicks have surged in the Eastern Conference due to a huge month from Jalen Brunson. Brunson has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all point guards on Tuesday’s slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel, but he isn’t the most expensive point guard on either site. He represents good value with the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on FanDuel and the third highest on DraftKings.
Brunson has scored 30 or more in seven of his last eight games, and he’ll have to continue to carry a large workload while Julius Randle (shoulder) is sidelined. Without Randle on the floor, Brunson’s usage has increased to 30.8%, and he has produced 1.21 DraftKings points and 1.19 FanDuel points per minute in that scenario. The Brunson burner has been running even hotter than that over his last eight games, putting out 1.37 DraftKings points and 1.32 FanDuel points per minute.
He is in a great matchup against the Jazz on Tuesday at home and matches more Pro Trends than any point guard on both FanDuel and DraftKings. The Knicks have the second-highest pace differential on the slate and will look to hand the Jazz their second loss in as many nights in New York.
Value
The Lakers are the biggest unknown on the slate with both Davis and James “uncertain” for the second game of their back to back. It’s a good matchup for them against the Hawks in a game that has the highest over/under on the slate. Whether James and Davis play or not, D’Angelo Russell is a solid option who will get even more work if either or both superstars are sidelined.
While the Lakers have been struggling overall, Russell’s numbers have been solid. On both DraftKings and FanDuel, he has exceeded salary-based expectations in nine of his last 10 contests. Over that span, he has an Average Plus/Minus of 10.8 DraftKings points and 10.8 FanDuel points and has produced 1.14 DraftKings points and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute while playing 37.6 minutes per game.
Russell has scored 20 points in each of the Lakers’ last seven games, and he sees an increase of 7.8 percentage points to a 30.9% usage rate with both James and Davis off the floor. He will be one of the top candidates for more work on Tuesday, but his recent results are strong enough to make him worth considering regardless of his teammates’ status.
Fast Break
Stephen Curry has scored 25+ points in four straight games after dropping 46 on Saturday night in a loss to the Lakers. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in nine of his last 11 games on FanDuel, where he has an 80% Bargain Rating on Tuesday.
Even though Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return to action on Tuesday, he is a high-risk fantasy play since his workload is very uncertain. Coach Rick Carlisle said Haliburton will be brought along slowly, so paying up for him doesn’t make much sense with so many other strong plays. Once he’s all the way back, he’ll return as a top option, but I’d rather see it before investing in his hefty salary.
With Immanuel Quickley (quad) doubtful and R.J. Barrett (knee) out, Dennis Schroder should be busy when the Raptors visit the Bulls. In each of the two games Quickley has missed, Schroder has played 28+ minutes and exceeded salary-based expectations, averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.0 steals per contest.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The Celtics rallied past the Pelicans on Monday, and Jaylen Brown helped the team get back on track after getting crushed by the Clippers last Saturday. Brown had 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in 37 minutes and helped cover for the absence of Kristaps Porzingis (ankle), who missed his second straight game.
Aside from an ugly eight-point game against the Clippers, Brown has been on a nice roll over the last two weeks, producing 1.29 DraftKings points and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute over his last 11 games. Brown has exceeded salary-based expectations in seven of those contests and has a 28.1% usage rate in 31.7 minutes per game.
On Tuesday, Brown’s Celtics have the biggest pace differential on the slate in an up-tempo contest against the Pacers. Brown has both a high floor and a high ceiling, ranking in the top seven in ceiling, median, and floor projections at both shooting guard and small forward on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Value
The Knicks got a huge game from Donte DiVincenzo on Monday in their first game without Julius Randle, and DiVincenzo is projected for another huge game on Tuesday against the Jazz. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel and represents a great value option at either shooting guard or small forward.
On Monday, DiVincenzo played a massive 42 minutes against the Hornets and piled up 28 points, including five three-pointers, along with six rebounds, five assists, and even a blocked shot. His potential for a similar performance on Tuesday gives him the highest median and ceiling projections at shooting guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Even before Randle’s injury gave him more work, DiVincenzo was trending in the right direction. He has scored double-digit points in six straight games and 15 of his last 16 dating back to the Knicks’ trade with the Raptors. Over those 16 games, he averaged 1.11 DraftKings points and 1.07 FanDuel points per minute. In this great matchup against Utah, he should again be a great mid-range option to target.
Fast Break
Austin Reaves only had eight points in Monday’s loss to the Rockets, but he could end up carrying a huge part of the Lakers’ offense depending on who is available against the Hawks. If he gets the opportunity to run the show, Reaves has a very high ceiling in multiple categories.
With the Raptors’ injuries, Bruce Brown should be a solid mid-range option. He had nine points and nine rebounds followed by 11 points and nine rebounds while starting the last two games for Toronto. He may not be with the Raptors long, but he should get enough work while Barrett and Quickley are out to give him a chance to showcase his potential and make himself a trade deadline target.
On the other side of that matchup, Ayo Dosunmu also has nice upside since the Bulls will remain without Zach LaVine (foot) and Patrick Williams (foot). Dosunmu has played 28+ minutes in five straight games with double-digit points in each of those five contests. During that span, he has produced 0.88 DraftKings points and 0.91 FanDuel points per minute while averaging 30.2 minutes per game, which is enough to make him an attractive option under $5,000.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
If he plays, LeBron James has the highest ceiling projection of all small forwards and should be in a great spot against the Hawks. James has posted excellent numbers with three straight double-doubles including his massive triple-double on Saturday against the Warriors.
Over his last five games, James has produced 1.49 DraftKings points and 1.37 FanDuel points per minute while playing 36.8 minutes per game. Whenever he has been active, he has carried a huge workload, so unless he ends up being ruled out, he should be a good consideration against the Hawks. The Lakers have opted to manage his minutes by having him rest entire games rather than limit his playing time in the games that he plays.
Value
Aside from his teammate DiVincenzo, Josh Hart has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel at small forward after he moved into the lineup on Monday in place of Julius Randle. Hart had eight points, 12 boards, and seven assists in 40 minutes against the Hornets and should continue to get plenty of minutes and opportunities while filling in the starting role.
Hart is typically a little more consistent than DiVincenzo since he doesn’t rely on scoring for his fantasy production. He contributes across the board in multiple categories. He has exceeded salary-based expectations on DraftKings in six of his last eight games and produced 0.83 DraftKings points and 0.81 FanDuel points per minute.
The Knicks are going to continue to count on Hart to fill in for Randle, and he has a projection of almost 36 minutes on Tuesday. With that much projected volume, he should be a very strong value play against the Jazz.
Fast Break
If LeBron is out, Jayson Tatum is an easy pivot option. In the Celtics’ fast-paced matchup with Indiana, he brings a very high ceiling. He had his third double-double in his last four games in Monday’s win and has scored 18+ points in nine straight games and 18 of his last 19 contests. He has three 30-point double-doubles in three meetings with the Pacers this season.
Scottie Barnes has returned to fantasy relevance with Quickley and Barrett out for the Raptors. He has 22+ points in three straight games and always brings the potential for a monster multi-category performance. He has the third-highest ceiling projection on both DraftKings and FanDuel at small forward behind only Tatum and LeBron.
Cheap options at small forward are rare coming into the day. Sam Hauser could be lined up for more work if Porzingis is out again, and he has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards under $5,000 on FanDuel. Quentin Grimes has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards on DraftKings but only managed seven points in 32 minutes on Monday. For now, it looks like both DiVincenzo and Hart will keep his value in check. Taurean Prince and Rui Hachimura would be good value options if the Lakers opt to rest LeBron, Davis, or both.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Like LeBron, Anthony Davis would be in a great spot if he plays through his injury. He has the highest ceiling projection at power forward on both DraftKings and FanDuel and the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on DraftKings, where he has an impressive 97% Bargain Rating.
If LeBron is sidelined and Davis is active, he’ll be a must-play option to build around since he gets a boost to a 29.4% usage rate without James on the floor and produces 1.51 DraftKings points and 1.52 FanDuel points per minute in that scenario. Even if LeBron plays, Davis would be a very solid option against the Hawks, who have been an excellent big-man matchup this season.
Davis only had 23 points and seven rebounds on Monday and seemed limited by his groin injury. If he does end up being sidelined, LeBron James or Jayson Tatum (both discussed above) are strong alternative pay-up power forwards while Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, and Hachimura would be good values to consider.
Value
The Warriors have been getting great play lately from Jonathan Kuminga, who is especially affordable on DraftKings, where he has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the slate at power forward and a 94% Bargain Rating. Kuminga’s salary has jumped more on FanDuel, but he still brings great upside at a salary under $7,000.
Kuminga came off the bench for five straight games before getting back into the starting lineup on Saturday against the Lakers in the Warriors’ most recent game. Over those six games, Kuminga has averaged 25.0 points and 6.7 rebounds while producing 1.29 DraftKings points and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute.
He has exceeded salary-based expectations in each of those six games on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Against the possibly short-handed Sixers, Kuminga is in a good spot again on Tuesday.
Fast Break
The Nets ran the Jazz out of the building on Monday, resulting in a rare down game from Lauri Markkanen. He brings a high ceiling in a potential bounce-back spot against the Knicks on Tuesday, especially since New York won’t have Randle to contend with him at power forward. Before that letdown, Markkanen had been rolling and will look to get back on track on Tuesday.
Draymond Green has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of power forwards on both DraftKings and FanDuel and is a solid mid-range play against the Sixers. He doesn’t have the scoring upside of Kuminga, but he has slotted back into his “do-everything” role for the Warriors and has outproduced salary-based expectations in six of his last eight contests.
The Lakers’ bargain options will likely be the best plays if you have to go cheap at power forward unless both AD and LeBron end up playing. Other options to consider in that scenario include Kelly Olynyk and Simone Fontecchio of the Jazz or Precious Achiuwa of the Knicks.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
With Davis and Joel Embiid (knee) uncertain, Nikola Vucevic stands out as one of the best options to build around at center. He has the third-highest ceiling projection behind only those two injured stars and the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at center on DraftKings behind only Davis. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers on FanDuel.
With LaVine and Williams out, the Bulls are more reliant on Nikola Vucevic for offense. In his 11 games since returning from injury, Vucevic has a 22.4% usage rate and has produced 1.21 DraftKings points and 1.17 FanDuel points per minute.
Vooch will be in a good spot against the short-handed Raptors on Tuesday even if Jakob Poeltl (ankle, questionable) returns from a 10-game absence. Vucevic brings a very high ceiling in this matchup; he should dominate at home on Tuesday night.
Value
While the Lakers’ situation is still uncertain, Clint Capela should be in a good matchup against Los Angeles’ frontcourt whether AD plays or not. Capela has the fifth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers on FanDuel and the fourth-highest on DraftKings.
The Hawks have the highest implied team total on the slate, and Capela has produced three double-doubles in his last four games, including an impressive 19-point, 14-rebound showing on Sunday against Toronto. In those four games, he has shown a high ceiling by producing 1.28 DraftKings points and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute.
Fast Break
Joel Embiid has dominated when available but missed the last two games for the Sixers with a knee injury. His status is uncertain for Tuesday. If he’s out, Paul Reed would be a strong option to consider after posting 30 points and 13 rebounds against the Nuggets followed by 11 points and six boards against the Blazers on Monday.
If Davis ends up being sidelined, Jarred Vanderbilt presents a great value play at center. He had a down game Monday, snapping a streak of strong performances. He has 12+ points in four of his previous five games and produced 1.03 DraftKings points and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute over that span.
