The NBA continues Rivals Week with five more matchups on Tuesday. While the focus is on the two matchups of in-city rivals, fantasy options come from those four teams as well as the other six in action. None of the 10 teams playing Tuesday are on the second night of a back-to-back, although the Thunder and Trail Blazers do play again on Wednesday to finish their set of two games on consecutive nights.
Several key injuries will help shape the slate, as usual at this time of year. With key stars dealing with injury issues that could impact this slate, keep a close eye out for availability updates. Be sure to refresh the NBA Models throughout the day 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
While leading the Thunder to the second-best record in the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as an MVP candidate and a great fantasy option on a nightly basis. He has the highest ceiling, median and floor projection on the entire slate, and he has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of any player on the slate on FanDuel. He has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all players on DraftKings.
SGA has produced an impressive 1.56 DraftKings points and 1.57 FanDuel points per minute on the season. He has at least 30 points and at least five assists in each of his last two games, which were wins over the Jazz and Timberwolves. He has shared a little more of the load lately (more on his teammates stepping up below), but he still brings unmatched upside to this slate.
The Thunder have the highest implied team total on the slate, and they should put up big points against Portland. There is the risk of a blowout and fewer minutes, but SGA had 28 and 31 points against the Blazers in two blowout wins earlier this season and should get his chance to produce even if the game gets lopsided.
In this matchup, he matches 12 Pro Trends on FanDuel, the second-most of any player on the slate. On DraftKings, he matches 11 Pro Trends, which is also tied for second of all players in action.
Value
The biggest absence that we know of coming into the day on Tuesday is LeBron James (ankle). With LeBron off the floor, there will be more work for the rest of the Lakers, including D’Angelo Russell, who has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate on DraftKings, where he also brings an 83% Bargain Rating at his $6,500 salary.
The Lakers have a tough matchup against the Clippers, and without LeBron, they’ll have plenty of usage available. Without James on the floor, Russell’s usage jumps to 26.7% and his assist rate increases to 38.9%. With LeBron on the floor, those numbers are 21.0% and 23.6%, respectively. Russell averaged 0.97 DraftKings points and 0.97 FanDuel points per minute with LeBron but produced 1.27 DraftKings points and 1.24 FanDuel points per minute in his time without James on the floor.
That huge boost in production makes Russell a solid value play on this slate and a good pivot if you pass on SGA and the other elite point guards to pay up at other positions.
Fast Break
Jalen Brunson has the second-highest salary of all point guards and the second-highest median and ceiling projections. He has been on a tear since Christmas, producing 1.33 DraftKings points and 1.26 FanDuel points per minute. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight of his 12 games in DraftKings contests since then and in 11 of his past 13 on FanDuel. He’s carrying a massive workload for the Knicks and should remain very busy on Tuesday in Brooklyn
The biggest pace differential on the night belongs to the Nuggets in their visit to the upstart, up-tempo Pacers. Jamal Murray has shown a very high ceiling in pace-up matchups like this and had a big night with 35 points last Friday in the thriller in Boston.
If you opt to go cheap at point guard, Isaiah Joe has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of the options under $5,000 on FanDuel. Since he’s not point guard eligible on DraftKings, Kris Dunn and Reggie Jackson stand out as the top bargain plays in terms of Projected Plus/Minus.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The Clippers have the second-biggest pace differential on the slate as they face the LeBron-less Lakers on Tuesday night, and Paul George projects as a great play at shooting guard. He has the highest median projection at the position and the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus on FanDuel, where he has an 86% Bargain Rating. On DraftKings, he has the highest median, ceiling and floor projection of all shooting guards.
George had a rough shooting day against Brooklyn on Sunday, but before that had scored 21 points or more in 14 of his previous 15 games. Dating back to the start of that run in mid-December, he has averaged 1.23 DraftKings points and 1.16 FanDuel points per minute with a 28.6% usage rate and an average of 34.3 minutes per game.
Our models show PG as a great bounce-back play against the Lakers in what should be a great rivalry matchup to close out the night.
Value
Collin Sexton is still dramatically underpriced on DraftKings, where he has a 97% Bargain Rating and ranks in the top five of Projected Plus/Minus at both guard spots. On FanDuel, he’s less of a bargain but still a very strong play since he has been on such a nice run lately for Utah.
Sexton has exceeded salary-based expectations in six straight games and 11 of his last 14 on both DraftKings and FanDuel. The 25-year-old has poured in over 25 points in each of his last four games and has averaged 1.38 DraftKings points and 1.34 FanDuel points per minute over his 11 games this month.
The Jazz and Pelicans have the second-highest over/under on the slate this Tuesday, so there should be some under-the-radar value to be had in this contest. Sexton is a strong place to start your midrange shopping, especially on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Austin Reaves is the other obvious play in the backcourt for the Lakers with LeBron out. Reaves has produced 0.90 DraftKings points and 0.88 FanDuel points per minute without LeBron, and he does get a good usage bump, although his production and usage rank well below Williams in this scenario so far this season. Still, Reaves has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards on both DraftKings and FanDuel, and he brings a very high ceiling if he carries the load sans LeBron.
Mikal Bridges has been carrying the load for the Nets lately and has scored over 20 points in five of his last six games. He has the second-highest ceiling projection at the position on DraftKings and the sixth-highest on FanDuel. Over those six games, Bridges has produced 1.11 DraftKings points and 1.06 FanDuel points per minute in 38.7 minutes per game.
In the Nuggets’ matchup with the Pacers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is an interesting value play since he has exceeded salary-based expectations in five of his last six games on FanDuel. He had 11 points, two rebounds and two steals against the Pacers in their meeting earlier this month while playing 37 minutes. If he gets a similar workload in a scoring-friendly environment on Tuesday, he should bring both a high floor and a high ceiling.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still the go-to option in Oklahoma City, Jalen Williams has been stepping up with big numbers lately and seems ready to take the next step as a star contributor. Williams has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward and power forward on DraftKings and the fourth-highest ceiling projection at small forward. On FanDuel, he has the second-highest ceiling projection at small forward and can slide to shooting guard, where he has the highest ceiling projection on the board. He has a great ceiling on both sites but is a better value on DraftKings, where he has a 95% Bargain Rating.
Williams has exceeded salary-based expectations in seven of his last eight games and produced 1.30 DraftKings points and 1.29 FanDuel points per minute over that stretch. He has posted two double-doubles during that span and had a strong game in a rout of the Trail Blazers, in a matchup he’ll look to smash again this Tuesday.
Value
While he has been listed as questionable almost every game this season, LeBron has only missed four games. In those four games, Rui Hachimura has stepped into a bigger role and ranks just behind Russell in terms of the boost to his average fantasy production in those four games. Hachimura has averaged 0.97 DraftKings points and 0.95 FanDuel points per minute and played 27.25 minutes in those four games, well above his season averages.
On Tuesday, Hachimura has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards on DraftKings and the third-highest at power forward. His projected Plus/Minus is the most for any player with a salary under $5,500, and his salary is all the way under $4,000. On FanDuel, he’s not quite as cheap at $4,500, but he still ranks in the top eight in Projected Plus/Minus at both small forward and power forward and stands out as a great affordable forward option.
Fast Break
Kawhi Leonard has the highest ceiling projection at small forward on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He was having a rough day on Sunday against the Nets before a big finish to lead the Clippers to a comeback victory. Kawhi has over 20 points in four of his last five games and leads the Clippers’ star-studded roster with an average of 1.26 DraftKings points and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute in his 10 games this month. He has a 78% Bargain Rating on FanDuel this Tuesday.
While he doesn’t get the usage of SGA or Williams, Luguentz Dort has found his role in OKC as well. He has scored double-digit points in eight of his last nine games and has played at least 29 minutes in each of his last four games. He doesn’t bring an extremely high ceiling since he doesn’t shoot a ton, but he can stuff the stat sheet and bring reliable production from his mid-range salary.
Even though they’ve been getting key contributors healthy, Simone Fontecchio continues to start regularly for the Jazz. the Italian international has averaged 27.8 minutes per game while starting 12 straight contests and has chipped in at least eight points in three straight games. He has hit multiple three-pointers in each of those games and usually contributes some solid non-scoring stats as well. Fontecchio remains extremely cheap (under $4,000 on DraftKings) but brings reliable value production while letting you spend up in other spots.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
After going 8-1 to start 2024, the Jazz dropped two straight close games Thursday and Saturday. They’ll be back home on Tuesday night against the Pelicans and look to bounce back behind Lauri Markkanen, who is a great fantasy option to build around. Markkanen has a top-four Projected Plus/Minus at small forward and power forward on DraftKings and at power forward on FanDuel. He also has a top-five ceiling projection at both positions on both sites.
In his last eight games, Markkanen has exceeded salary-based expectations six times on both DraftKings and FanDuel while producing 1.45 DraftKings points and 1.38 FanDuel points per minute. He has a 25.0% usage rate over that span and at least nine rebounds in each of those contests, making a double-double a strong possibility vs. the Pels.
Value
Both Hachimura and Fotecchio (discussed above) are strong value plays at power forward. Aaron Gordon is another strong play to consider if you have a mid-tier salary available. Gordon had a double-double on Sunday against the Wizards and has double-digit rebounds in three of his last four games with double-digit points in five of his last six.
He also had 20 points and 10 boards against the Pacers earlier this month, showing this is a matchup in which he can excel.
Gordon’s salary is under $6,000 on DraftKings for the first time since early January, and he has an 87% Bargain Rating on that site, where he is an especially strong play.
Fast Break
Zion Williamson has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate on FanDuel and the second-highest at power forward on DraftKings. He is in what should be a great matchup against the Jazz, who have struggled to defend against power forwards all season. Zion’s production has been up and down lately, but he did have a pair of 30-point performances against Denver and Dallas within the last week. He had 21 points, 10 boards and eight assists when these teams met in late December.
The Knicks have been giving more minutes to Josh Hart since they traded away R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Hart has averaged 27 minutes per game so far in January, producing 0.77 DraftKings points and 0.72 FanDuel points per minute. While those per-minute numbers aren’t jaw-dropping, he has enough volume to be a good value play. He also has been gathering some momentum in his last two games with 10 points and 14 rebounds last Wednesday followed by 10 points and nine rebounds on Saturday.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
With the Nuggets in such a great pace-up spot, Nikola Jokic has the highest ceiling projection on the entire slate on DraftKings and the second-highest on FanDuel. Even though he’s expensive, he has a 92% Bargain Rating on DraftKings and a very good Projected Plus/Minus on both sites.
The Joker has had another outstanding road trip for the Nuggets, producing above even his lofty salary-based expectations in four straight games. He had 25 points and 19 boards against Joel Embiid in Philadelphia, followed by 34 points and 12 rebounds while helping hand the Celtics their first home loss of the season. In his most recent game, he had 42 points, 12 boards and eight rebounds in 36 minutes against Washington on Sunday. In his last five games, the Joker has averaged an impressive 1.80 DraftKings points and 1.71 FanDuel points per minute.
When the Nuggets hosted Indiana just over a week ago, Jokic had 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in 33 minutes. If this game stays close throughout and he nears his 35.0 projected minutes, he should be a great piece to build around again on Tuesday.
Value
If you’re low on salary when you’re shopping for a center, Mason Plumlee and Daniel Theis are solid plays to consider while filling in for the injured Ivica Zubac (calf). Plumlee started the last two games for the Clippers and is actually a little cheaper than Theis on DraftKings, where he has a 94% Bargain Rating.
Plumlee has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of the centers with salaries under $6,500 on Tuesday’s slate on DraftKings and at just $4,200, he frees up plenty of salary to spend on other stars. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in each of his last three games on DraftKings.
On FanDuel, Plumlee has been priced up, leaving Theis as a bit more of a bargain. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in three of his last six games.
Fast Break
Without LeBron, Anthony Davis is an outstanding play since he’ll have to be the focus of the Lakers’ offense. Davis has the third-highest ceiling projection on the board on both DraftKings and FanDuel, behind only SGA and Jokic. Without Davis on the floor this season, Davis has produced 1.52 DraftKings points and 1.53 FanDuel points while posting a team-high 29.8% usage rate.
Chet Holmgren has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers on both DraftKings and FanDuel. His numbers haven’t been quite as good lately but his salary has dropped to the point where he’s a good option given his upside against the Trail Blazers.
Another strong mid-range play to consider is Nic Claxton, who has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at center on both DraftKings on FanDuel. Claxton has produced 1.14 DraftKings points and 1.12 FanDuel points per minute while playing 32.3 minutes per game so far this month. He would be in a huge mismatch if Isaiah Hartenstein (ankle, questionable) is unable to play for New York.
