With the trade deadline later this week and the All-Star Break just around the corner, the NBA has plenty going on at this time of year, including Tuesday’s DFS fantasy basketball slate. DraftKings includes the first six games of the night, leaving the late Suns-Bucks matchup off the main slate, while FanDuel includes all seven games on the schedule in their main contests. Of the teams taking the floor, the Nets and Mavericks are each finishing off a back-to-back, while the Heat are the only team in action Tuesday that also has a game on Wednesday.
With most teams about 50 games into their 82-game schedule, injuries are starting to pile up. Several key players are dealing with injuries that could dramatically impact Tuesday’s slate. As we approach tip-off, be sure to refresh the NBA Models for the latest adjustments as a result of breaking news.
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 Thunder are in a tight battle at the top of the Western Conference standings, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as an MVP candidate by carrying them there. In Tuesday’s game against the Jazz, he has the highest ceiling and median projection on the slate on FanDuel and the highest ceiling projection on DraftKings. Along with his elite upside, he brings strong value with the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all players on both sites.
SGA has stepped up with an even bigger workload the last few games while Jalen Williams (ankle) has been out. Williams is questionable for this matchup and one of the key injury situations to watch. In each of the three games without Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to fill up the stat sheet. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in four straight games and six of his last eight. During those eight games, he averaged 31.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 6 rebounds while producing 1.69 DraftKings points and 1.70 FanDuel points per minute with a hefty 34.5% usage rate in 34.6 minutes per contest.
On the DraftKings slate, the Thunder have the second-highest implied team total. In each of their two earlier matchups vs. the Jazz, they scored exactly 134 points, with SGA pouring in 30 and 31 points in those two games with his typical strong supporting stats.
Value
One of the most important absences we know of coming into the day is that Fred VanVleet (adductor) will miss the Rockets’ matchup with the Pacers and could be out a while, depending on the severity of the strain. With FVV out, Amen Thompson gets a great matchup to step into the spotlight as a great value. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel by a wide margin.
Thompson was the No. 4 overall pick in last year’s draft but has had an up-and-down rookie season. Lately, though, he has been trending in the right direction, with double-digit points in six of his last 12 games. He has also been turning in good assist numbers, allowing him to exceed salary-based expectations on DraftKings in nine of those 12 games. During that run, he produced an impressive 1.31 DraftKings points and 1.36 FanDuel points per minute.
Over his last 12 games, he has posted a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double against the Celtics and scored a season-high 19 points against the Raptors. With FVV out, Thompson will likely step into a larger role, and in this up-tempo matchup against the Pacers, he should be able to thrive and return elite value.
Thompson is a great play on both FanDuel and DraftKings, but he especially stands out on DraftKings, where he has just a $4,100 salary and an outstanding 96% Bargain Rating. He’s almost a must-play due to his potential ceiling and his salary of barely over $4,000.
Fast Break
Luka Doncic always brings a sky-high ceiling and was able to play through a questionable tag on Monday in Philadelphia. He gave up some usage to Kyrie Irving, who returned from his thumb injury and didn’t quite live up to his high price tag as a result. If one of the two superstar guards is out, the other is a strong play, but if both play on Tuesday in Brooklyn, they’re both a little over-priced.
Jalen Brunson continues to be outstanding for the red-hot Knicks, who look to keep rolling as they host the injury-depleted Grizzlies. The risk of a blowout is real, but as long as Brunson gets his typical minutes and workload he should continue to be a strong play. In his last 16 games, Brunson has produced 1.32 DraftKings points and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute and averaged 36.4 minutes per game.
Veteran Mike Conley has a top four Projected Plus/Minus at point guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight of his last 10 games on FanDuel, averaging 0.98 DraftKings points and 0.96 FanDuel points per minute in 28.1 minutes per game over that span. He’s a good midrange target vs. the Bulls.
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
Along with Jalen Brunson (discussed above), Donte DiVincenzo has gotten hot lately to propel the Knicks up the Eastern Conference standings. DiVincenzo has the highest median and ceiling projection of all shooting guards on DraftKings and the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus behind only Thompson. On FanDuel, he has the second-highest median projection and highest ceiling projection of all shooting guards, along with the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position. On both sites, he can slide to small forward, where he also has excellent rankings.
DiVincenzo has dropped 20+ points in four straight games, highlighted by a 33-point game against the Jazz. He posted a 26.0% usage rate in those four games, in stark contrast to his season usage rate of just 20.6%. The extra work helped him to produce 1.15 DraftKings points and 1.12 FanDuel points per minute while playing 39.8 minutes per game.
As long as the game vs. the Grizzlies stays competitive, DiVincenzo is lined up for another big game Tuesday. He has 26.6% projected usage in 39.0 projected minutes.
Value
With Zach LaVine (foot) done for the season, Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu will continue to get plenty of run in the Bulls’ backcourt. Dosunmu has a little more scoring potential, while Caruso typically contributes better non-scoring numbers. Both are good value options against Minnesota on Tuesday. On FanDuel, Caruso has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of shooting guards under $7,500. On DraftKings, both Bulls guards rank in the top seven in Projected Plus/Minus of shooting guards priced under $6,000 with Dosunmu bringing a 91% Bargain Rating.
Dosunmu has exceeded salary-based expectations in five straight on DraftKings and eight of his last 10 games, scoring double-digit points in each of those 10 games and producing 0.91 DraftKings points and 0.91 FanDuel points per minute in 31.6 minutes per game.
Caruso has exceeded salary-based expectations on FanDuel in seven of those same 10 games, producing 0.91 DraftKings points and 0.96 FanDuel points per minute in 32.0 minutes per game.
Caruso’s style makes him a slightly better producer on FanDuel, while Dosunmu’s scoring ability makes him a slightly better play on DraftKings, where he has a better Bargain Rating. Both are viable value plays at their price on both sites.
Fast Break
On FanDuel, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are strong plays to consider at this position vs. the Bucks. Beal is coming off a massive performance in his return to Washington, D.C., while Booker has the highest median projection of all shooting guards on the seven-game slate.
The Nets have given more consistent work to Cam Thomas over the past few weeks, and the 22-year-old continues to establish himself as a high-upside play on a nightly basis. He has exceeded salary-based expectations on FanDuel in six straight games and had 25+ points in five straight before scoring 19 in Monday’s loss to the Warriors. In those six games, he produced 1.16 FanDuel points per minute in 34.5 minutes per game with an Average Plus/Minus of +11.4 FanDuel points.
Without VanVleet, Jalen Green will likely take on even more work for the Rockets. With FVV off the floor this season, Green has a team-high 33.8% usage rate and has produced 1.13 DraftKings points and 1.07 FanDuel points per minute. Dillon Brooks is also worth a look as a value play on the wing with VanVleet out.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with Sleeper Fantasy promo code LABS1 for a $500 deposit match.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
After missing eight straight games early in January, Franz Wagner has ramped back up to full strength for the Magic, and he comes into Tuesday’s matchup with Miami fresh off a season-high 38 points on Sunday against the Pistons. Wagner brings a high ceiling projection for his upper-mid-tier salary while matching 10 Pro Trends on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Wagner has exceeded salary-based expectations in four straight games with 19+ points in each of those contests, averaging 1.21 DraftKings points and 1.19 FanDuel points per minute. In those four games, he posted a 27.8% usage rate in 33.5 minutes per game, numbers which are second-highest on the team behind only Paolo Banchero.
Wagner and Banchero are making the Magic fun to watch and are both emerging as good fantasy options to consider on a nightly basis.
Value
The Pacers’ new look with Pascal Siakam in the mix has included plenty of playing time and production from Aaron Nesmith. Nesmith was pushed out of the lineup by Spicy P and has thrived alongside him with at least 13 points in seven of his last eight games, along with strong non-scoring numbers as well.
On Tuesday against the Rockets, Nesmith has the sixth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of small forwards on DraftKings, where he has an 85% Bargain Rating. He also ranks in the top 10 in Projected Plus/Minus at both forward spots on FanDuel, where he brings extra power forward eligibility.
Nesmith has exceeded salary-based expectations in six of his last eight games on both DraftKings and FanDuel by producing 1.02 DraftKings points and 0.99 FanDuel points per minute. He leads the team with 34.0 minutes per game over that span and should continue to be a key contributor for Indiana going forward.
Fast Break
DeMar DeRozan will continue to be the focal point of the Bulls offense with LaVine not returning this season. He has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on FanDuel and ranks in the top five in median and ceiling projections at small forward on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He typically plays heavy minutes with plenty of usage, supplying him with enough opportunities to ensure that high floor and high ceiling.
Cam Whitmore has scored at least 12 points in seven straight games and should be another one of the Rockets to get extra usage in VanVleet’s absence. In those seven games, he has averaged an impressive 1.46 DraftKings points and 1.38 Fanduel points per minute.
Even in a low-volume role, Jaden McDaniels has been a good bargain fantasy option. He has started 39 of his 40 games this season and scored at least nine points in 10 of his last 12 games, averaging 31.5 minutes with a 15.8% usage rate. In those 12 games, he has averaged only 0.67 DraftKings points and 0.66 FanDuel points per minute, but even those lower rates are worth a look as a punt play since he’s regularly playing 30+ minutes per game. He has the eighth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of small forwards on DraftKings, where his salary is under $4,000.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Jazz will need a big game from Lauri Markkanen if they want to keep up with SGA and the Thunder on Tuesday night. Markkanen has the highest ceiling, median, and floor projection of all power forwards on DraftKings and the third-highest in each of those categories on FanDuel.
Markkanen has three ceiling games in his last seven contests, with at least 28 points in each of those three games, along with two double-doubles. He also had a big double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds when the Jazz faced the Thunder on Jan. 18.
He has been a little inconsistent his past few games, but his ceiling is definitely still high enough to make him a strong stud play to consider in this good matchup on Tuesday. Of the six games on DraftKings, this matchup has the second-highest over/under.
Value
For value at power forward, the Knicks bring the top two options on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa have both been productive while filling in for Julius Randle (shoulder). Hart has slightly higher Projected Plus/Minus on both sites, but Achiuwa is a little cheaper, which can help fit more big-ticket options on your roster.
Hart has double-digit rebounds in four straight games, with two double-doubles and a triple-double. He leads the team with a massive 40.3 minutes per game over those four games, producing 0.88 DraftKings points and 0.84 FanDuel points per minute.
Achiuwa has averaged 39.5 minutes per game over those four contests and has also quickly become a staple for coach Tom Thibodeau, who is known for giving his players heavy workloads. Achiuwa showed his high ceiling with 16 boards, 12 points, and four steals against the Pacers last Thursday and has produced 0.76 DraftKings points and 0.80 FanDuel points per minute over his last seven games.
Fast Break
Giannis Antetkounmpo and Kevin Durant dominate this position on FanDuel, with their matchup included on the main slate. They have the top two ceiling, median, and floor projections at power forward on that site. Giannis has the second-highest ceiling projection on the whole slate behind only SGA and projects to be a slightly better value than Durant, who also always brings a high ceiling and the potential for a monster game.
Facing the Knicks, the Grizzlies will probably offer good value options, but they have so many injuries it’s a little hard to decode exactly who they will have available. If Jaren Jackson Jr. (hip, doubtful) is sidelined again, Santi Aldama (tailbone, questionable) will have a high ceiling if he plays. Aldama had five straight games with double-digit points before the game in which he was injured. If he’s out along with Jaren Jackson, Gregory Jackson, and David Roddy will both be strong mid-range plays to consider.
If you have to go even cheaper than those Grizzlies, Simone Fontecchio of the Jazz and Jonathan Isaac of the Magic project as the best bargain values at power forward.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Two exciting young Western Conference centers dominate the projections on Tuesday. Alperen Sengun is the most expensive center on the slate and brings the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections.
Sengun has averaged 1.36 DraftKings points and 1.33 FanDuel points per minute on the season, with a 28.1% usage rate. With VanVleet off the court, his usage decreases to 27.4%, but his production rises to 1.38 DraftKings points and 1.34 FanDuel points per minute. Over the last month, he has been even better without FVV on the floor, producing 1.43 DraftKings points and 1.37 FanDuel points per minute.
In a fast-paced matchup against Indiana, Sengun seems set up perfectly for a big game. He had 30 points and 16 rebounds when he faced them the day after Christmas and will look to put up similar numbers in a smash spot Tuesday.
Value
The other young center at the top of all the projections is the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren. Holmgren’s just behind Sengun in ceiling, median, and floor projection but has a better Projected Plus/Minus since he comes significantly cheaper, especially on DraftKings, where he has an 80% Bargain Rating.
Holmgren has snapped out of a mini-slump with over 15 points in three straight games, and he should be ready to go against the Jazz, against whom he posted 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and four blocks in their most recent meeting. He isn’t a bargain but does bring good value as he continues to battle Victor Wembanyama for the lead spot in the Rookie of the Year race.
Fast Break
While both those centers are fun and exciting, they aren’t cheap. If you need to go cheaper at the position, Achiuwa and Isaiah Hartenstein of the Knicks are solid mid-range options with good projections against the injury-ravaged Grizzlies.
Nic Claxton has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight of his last 10 games on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Over the last month, he has averaged 1.12 DraftKings points and 1.17 FanDuel points per minute while playing 33.5 minutes per game. He’ll have a favorable matchup against the Mavericks, who will be without Dereck Lively (nose).
Lively’s absence could also open the door for Maxi Kleber to continue his recent resurgence for the Mavs. After being a non-factor most of the season, Kleber scored 21 and 14 points in his two most recent games. He contributed good non-scoring numbers as well, exceeding salary-based expectations by more than 10 DraftKings and 10 FanDuel points in each contest.
