Tuesday features a four-game main slate starting at 7 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 Leverage 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
LaMelo Ball has not been the best source of value recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in just one of his past four games, but it hasn’t been entirely his fault. His production is definitely down – he’s averaged 1.46 DraftKings points per minute for the year but just 1.30 over the past month – but he’s been limited to less than 31 minutes in three straight games.
Ball could pick up a few additional minutes if Tuesday’s game vs. the Hawks is more competitive. It’s also an elite matchup, with Atlanta playing at the second-fastest pace this season. This game leads the slate with a 236.5-point total, while the Hawks are listed as just 6.5-point road favorites. Ultimately, Ball still provides the top ceiling at the position, and he’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations at the highest frequency at point guard.
Value
The Hawks have ruled out a host of players for Tuesday, which should solidify Terance Mann’s spot in the rotation. He’s currently projected for 26 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.80 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Mann has averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.07 in six games with a comparable salary and minute projection since being acquired by the Hawks (per the Trends tool), so he’s a viable value option vs. the Hornets. No point guard has a better projected Plus/Minus in our NBA Models.
Fast Break
Damian Lillard stands out as an interesting tournament option vs. the Warriors. Golden State is on the second leg of a back-to-back, and it’s possible they’re without a few key contributors. Steve Kerr told reporters that Steph Curry was “exhausted” after Monday’s loss to the Lakers, so he seems like a logical rest candidate. Lillard is projected for roughly 20% ownership vs. the Warriors, but he’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations at closer to a 30% clip. His price tag has also come down to $8,500 after getting as high as $9,500 in February.
Kevin Porter Jr. has some appeal as a punt play for Milwaukee. He’s always been an elite per-minute producer, and he’s averaged 1.25 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s locked into roughly 16-20 minutes most nights, and he has an elite ceiling for his price tag. Porter went off for 36.75 DraftKings points two games ago, and he had 49.75 vs. the Mavericks earlier this month.
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
Derrick White is as expensive as he’s been all season, but it’s hard not to love his prospects vs. the Nets. For starters, the Celtics have the potential to be shorthanded. They’ve already ruled out Jaylen Brown, while Jayson Tatum is currently listed as questionable. White has seen a team-high +5.9% boost to his usage rate with Brown off the floor this season, and his usage rate balloons by +11.49% with Brown and Tatum sidelined. He’s increased his production to 1.08 DraftKings points per minute with just Brown off the floor, and he’s at 1.19 with both out of the equation.
White has also played extremely well of late, logging at least 47.75 DraftKings points in two of his past three games. There’s no reason he can’t do it again vs. the Nets. Brooklyn ranks 24th in the league in defensive efficiency, giving White an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.79.
Value
Sticking with Boston, Payton Pritchard is another player who should see a boost in value. He’s been phenomenal as the team’s sixth man this season, and he should pick up a few additional minutes with Brown out of the lineup. He’s currently projected for 29 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 1.00 DraftKings points per minute with Brown off the floor. In 11 full games without Brown this season, Pritchard has averaged just under 30 DraftKings points.
The matchup is arguably even better for Pritchard than it is for White. He leads all shooting guards with a +6.39 Opponent Plus/Minus, so there’s plenty to like with him on Tuesday.
Fast Break
Dyson Daniels rivals White for the top spot at shooting guard. He’s a much better value at a minimum: his $6,900 salary comes with a 93% Bargain Rating. Daniels has averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s capable of stuffing the stat sheet in every category across the board. He’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations more than 37% of the time, and no other shooting guard is above 25.45%.
Gary Trent Jr. doesn’t have the same upside as Porter, but he’s another potential value option for Milwaukee. He’s dirt cheap at $3,700, and he’s projected for 25 minutes vs. the Warriors. Trent has at least 19.0 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, making him a low-risk, low-reward type of investment.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Clippers will take on the Cavaliers in the most intriguing matchup on Tuesday. Los Angeles is a clear tier or two below the Cavs overall, but they’re at home and riding a three-game win streak. The Cavs could also be without Evan Mobley – he’s officially listed as questionable – so this has the potential to be a really good game.
The Clippers have been extremely careful with Kawhi Leonard this season, but they’ve been ramping him up aggressively of late. He played at least 35.9 minutes in six straight games prior to Sunday’s blowout win over the Hornets. Leonard has unsurprisingly been productive with his increased playing time, scoring at least 44.5 DraftKings points in three straight games.
Ultimately, Leonard’s price tag has yet to reflect his uptick in minutes. If he plays another 36+ minutes vs. the Cavaliers, he has the potential to provide excellent value at $8,200.
Value
Zaccharie Risascher was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he was expected to be a bit of a project. Early season injuries forced Risascher into a bigger role than anticipated, but he has settled into a bench role down the stretch. He’s fared well in that role, averaging 0.87 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Risascher is expected to see around 26 minutes on Tuesday, and that should be enough for him to return value. Only Mann has a higher projected Plus/Minus among SF-eligible players.
Fast Break
If Tatum is active, he’s certainly worth considering for the Celtics. He’s averaged more than 51 DraftKings points per game with Brown out of the lineup this season, and he’s averaged 1.45 DraftKings points per minute with Brown off the floor in general. He’s more expensive than usual at $10,800, but his ceiling in this matchup would be immense.
Vit Krejci rounds out the value wings in Atlanta. He looks very similar to Risascher on paper. He’s currently projected for 25 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s a bit more volatile, but Krejci is a bit cheaper and is projected for slightly less ownership, so he could be the preferred target in tournaments.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains one of the most dominant forces in all of fantasy basketball. He was playing reduced minutes after returning to the lineup from an injury, but that appears to be a thing of the past. Giannis is coming off just under 36 minutes in his last outing, and he’s projected for another 35 minutes vs. the Warriors.
When Giannis receives a full workload, very few players in fantasy can match his upside. He’s averaged 1.72 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s up to 1.76 over the past month. His ceiling projection is more than eight points higher than every other player on Tuesday’s slate.
Giannis is also still priced at a slight discount. It’s hard to say that about someone who costs $11,500, but that has historically been too cheap for him. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.09 when projected for at least 33 minutes at less than $12,000.
Value
DaQuan Jeffries is currently projected for 33 minutes for the Hornets at just $4,000, and it’s tough to beat that combo from a value standpoint. Jeffries isn’t the greatest per-minute producer, but players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.01. Jeffries has posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and there’s no reason to expect much different vs. the Hawks.
Fast Break
Georges Niang has played at least 25.7 minutes in three of his past four games, and he’s responded with at least 21.0 DraftKings points in each. That’s not a huge shocker. He’s averaged 0.84 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s typically productive when he gets the opportunity to play. With Clint Capela among those sidelined for Atlanta, Niang’s minutes should be safe vs. the Hornets.
Like the Warriors as a team, Draymond Green has had a renaissance of late. He’s increased his production to 1.20 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +6.61 over his past 10 games. There’s some risk with Draymond on the second leg of a back-to-back, but there’s also some upside at $6,200.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
With Capela sidelined, the coast is clear for Onyeka Okongwu to handle most of the center minutes for Atlanta. That’s an exciting proposition for DFS players. Okongwu has thrived recently, averaging 1.20 DraftKings points per minute over the past month and posting an average Plus/Minus of +6.93 over his past 10 games. That includes a massive 54.75 DraftKings points in his last outing.
Okongwu is currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +6.43 with a comparable minute projection. That includes a mark of +6.93 this season, averaging just under 40 DraftKings points per game. He’s up to $7,500 on DraftKings, but that still seems a bit too cheap for him.
Value
Moussa Diabate stands out as the top value of the day by a wide margin. The Hornets are going to be without Miles Bridges on Tuesday, which opens the door for Diabate to play a few additional minutes at power forward. He has typically operated as the backup to Mark Williams at center, but he could play alongside him a bit vs. the Hawks.
Diabate is currently projected for 26 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute for the year. That’s a tough combination to pass up at just $3,200.
Fast Break
Al Horford isn’t the same player that he was in his prime, but he’s still capable of getting the job done when called upon. That could be the case with the Celtics shorthanded on Tuesday. He’s projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Horford has logged at least 31.3 minutes in five straight games, and he’s scored at least 29.75 DraftKings points in each contest.
Brook Lopez should command minimal ownership on this slate, but he’s popped off for some big games recently. He’s had 35.75 and 47.0 DraftKings points in two of his past three outings, so he’s still capable of hitting his ceiling from time to time. He should be locked into 30+ minutes with Bobby Portis still sidelined, increasing his chances for a ceiling game.
