Tuesday features a four-game NBA slate starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
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.
Stud
Damian Lillard revenge game? I’m not sure if Lillard vs. the Blazers actually qualifies – they seemed to part amicably – but Lillard doesn’t need any extra motivation to stand out as an excellent option on Tuesday. He’s simply a good player who has been playing some of his best basketball of the season recently.
Lillard has posted an average Plus/Minus of +6.02 over his past 10 games, and he’s been even better of late. He’s scored at least 49.75 DraftKings points in five of his past six outings, including at least 63.5 in two of his past three.
The Blazers also stand out as a solid matchup. They’re merely 26th in the league in defensive efficiency, and the Bucks’ 117.75 implied team total is the second-highest mark on the slate. Lillard is simply too cheap at $8,700, resulting in a 93% Bargain Rating.
Value
The top matchup of the day belongs to the Warriors. They’re taking on the Jazz, who rank 29th in defensive efficiency and have played at an above-average pace. Overall, they’ve allowed the third-most points per game to their opponents, and the Warriors lead the slate with a 121.0 implied team total. That makes them a team to get exposure to.
Brandin Podziemski stands out as an interesting value option. He was a surprise success in his first season, making the All-Rookie First-Team, but he’s regressed a bit as a sophomore. His minutes are down, and he’s providing less fantasy production in basically every category across the board.
However, Podziemski has looked good since returning from an injury recently. He’s played in the team’s past two games, and he’s averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute in those contests. He’s only projected for 21 minutes on Tuesday, but that should still be enough for him to potentially return value. Podziemski is coming off 33.25 DraftKings points in just 24.3 minutes on Saturday, so he has a solid ceiling at a minimum.
Fast Break
Steph Curry is the primary target in the Warriors’ backcourt, and he’s definitely in play in this matchup. He hasn’t been nearly as productive as Lillard of late, but he’s been the superior producer over the course of the full year: his average of 1.35 DraftKings points per minute is the top mark among Tuesday’s point guards. His +3.88 Opponent Plus/Minus is also elite, so this is a solid buy-low spot.
Tyrese Maxey is the most expensive player at point guard on Tuesday, and it’s warranted for the banged-up 76ers. They’re currently without Joel Embiid, Paul George, Jared McCain, and a few others, leaving Maxey as their clear top option. He’s responded with at least 51.5 DraftKings points in five of his past six games, including four straight. Lillard and Curry ultimately stand out as better values in our projections, but Maxey leads the way from a ceiling standpoint.
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
The pay-up options aren’t nearly as robust at shooting guard as they are at point guard. Only three players are priced above $6,200 on DraftKings, and none of them stands out as a particularly strong value.
Instead, Kelly Oubre looks like the best option if you’re looking to spend a bit at the position. With Embiid, George, and McCain off the floor this season, Oubre has seen a usage bump of +3.55%. He’s averaged 0.90 DraftKings points per minute in that split, and he’s projected for 36 minutes on Tuesday’s slate. Oubre has scored at least 46.0 DraftKings points in back-to-back contests, so he provides a nice combination of floor and ceiling at his midrange salary.
Value
Moses Moody is another potential value target for the Warriors. He’s posted some big games recently, scoring 35.75 and 32.5 DraftKings points in two of his past four outings, though his playing time did regress a bit in his last contest. Still, he’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute for the year and 0.88 over the past month, so he doesn’t need a ton of minutes to potentially return value.
Fast Break
Gary Trent Jr. has been ineffective for the Bucks for most of the year, but his production is trending in the right direction. He’s increased his per-minute output to 0.78 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s gone for at least 25.5 DraftKings points in two of his past three games. He’s currently projected for 28 minutes at just $4,100, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.59 (per the Trends tool).
Eric Gordon is also going to have to do some heavy lifting for the 76ers on Tuesday. He’s projected for 30 minutes at just $4,000, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his past eight games. His per-minute production and ceiling have left a lot to be desired – he’s failed to crack 26.0 DraftKings points in that recent stretch – but he’s a solid bet to return value.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
It’s impossible to ignore what Amen Thompson is doing for the Rockets at the moment. He has always been an outstanding per-minute producer, but he hasn’t seen a full workload for most of the year. He’s been unleashed in recent games, and he’s responded with some monster outings. Thompson has scored at least 46.0 DraftKings points in four of his past five games, and he’s routinely playing 40+ minutes a night. If he’s going to continue to see that much court time, he’s still underpriced at $8,000.
Value
Justin Edwards is another potential value option for the 76ers. He looks similar to Gordon on paper, checking in with 28 projected minutes and an average of 0.68 DraftKings points per minute for the year.
However, he also has a bit of hidden upside. It hasn’t materialized often, but Edwards has shown that he can pop off for a ceiling game from time to time. He has games of 31.0 and 41.0 DraftKings points over his past seven outings, though he also has three games with a negative Plus/Minus. Ultimately, he’s a bit more boom-or-bust than someone like Gordon, which is ideal for tournaments.
Fast Break
De’Andre Hunter had a strong start to the year for the Hawks, but he’s struggled to recapture that form recently. That said, he’s coming off 39.5 DraftKings points in his last outing, so perhaps he’s about to turn things around. The Hawks being shorthanded again would definitely help his cause. They were without Jalen Johnson, Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Dyson Daniels on Monday, so their injury report will be important to monitor on the second leg of a back-to-back. He’s currently projected for just 17.3% ownership on DraftKings, but his optimal lineup rate in Sim Labs is checking in at greater than 21%.
Andrew Wiggins is another player that could be slightly undervalued on Tuesday. He benefits from the same elite matchup as the rest of his teammates, but he’s not expected to garner much attention. Wiggins has posted a Plus/Minus in four of his past six games, and he should continue to benefit from the absences of Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo stands out as the clear top target on this slate from a ceiling perspective. Very few players in basketball can match Giannis in that department, and he has minimal competition on Tuesday’s slate. His ceiling projection is nearly 10 points higher than every other player’s in our NBA Models.
Antetokounmpo is also priced at a slight discount at $11,700. He’s spent most of the year at $12,000 or higher, and he’s coming off 72.5 DraftKings points on Monday. He posted a 37.3% usage rate with 31 points and 11 boards in his first matchup vs. the Blazers this season, and they have very little chance of slowing him down in the rematch.
Value
With Embiid and Andre Drummond still out for the 76ers, Guerschon Yabusele should continue to serve as the team’s starting center. His price tag has climbed in recent games, checking in at $6,000 for Tuesday’s matchup vs. the Lakers, but he still has some appeal at that figure. He’s currently projected for 33 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.88 DraftKings points per minute for the year.
The Lakers are also a decent matchup. They rank 22nd in the league in defensive efficiency, and they’re merely 23rd in team rebound rate. Those are the two areas where Yabusele does most of his damage, so it’s a solid spot.
Fast Break
If you’re looking to go cheaper, Taurean Prince stands out as a really nice value at $4,200. He’s picked up a few additional minutes recently with Bobby Portis out of the lineup, and he’s responded with 27.5 and 31.5 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. His salary has come up slightly for Tuesday’s matchup vs. the Blazers, but he’s still too cheap for his projected role in a juicy matchup.
Gui Santos isn’t someone typically worth considering, but the matchup and absences of Green and Kuminga make him a potential target on Tuesday. He’s discord 34.75 and 26.75 DraftKings points in two of his past three games, though he did come back to reality in his last outing. That should result in reduced ownership, and he’s proven he has the ceiling to pay off his current salary.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Anthony Davis is the only player on this slate who can possibly rival Giannis from a ceiling standpoint. We saw Davis’ upside on Monday when he torched the Hornets for 42 points and 23 rebounds. He ultimately finished with 77.25 DraftKings points, and it was his third game with at least 65.25 DraftKings points in his past four outings.
Ultimately, Davis is available at a moderate discount compared to Giannis, but his per-minute production has been comparable over the past month. He’s averaged 1.62 DraftKings points per minute over that time frame, making him arguably the better pure value. His 12 Pro Trends lead the center position, while his $10,500 salary comes with a 91% Bargain Rating.
Value
Onyeka Okongwu has spent most of the year playing behind Clint Capela in Atlanta, but those two players have flip-flopped recently. Okongwu has moved into the starting lineup and seen the bulk of the center minutes in their recent games, and he’s responded with some excellent fantasy production. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +12.04 over his past 10 games, though he is coming off a clunker in his last outing.
Still, Okongwu stands out as the top value at the position and one of the top values on the entire slate. He’s increased his production to a stout 1.30 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 28 minutes Tuesday vs. the Rockets. His price tag has increased over the past two weeks, but it’s yet to accurately reflect his uptick in production.
Fast Break
If you’re looking for a pure punt play, you could do worse than Steven Adams. He’s not playing a ton of minutes at the moment, but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring at least 20.25 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. That’s not a ton, but you’ll take it at just $3,300.
Brook Lopez’s playing time has been very secure without Portis of late. He’s logged at least 34.2 minutes in five straight games, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past seven. His upside hasn’t been great over that stretch, but he’s been a pretty consistent source of value.