Thursday features a small two-game 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 metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 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. Use our FanDuel promo to get three months of free NBA League Pass.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Is the Beard back? James Harden looked incredible on opening night, pouring in 35 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the field and 5-for-9 from behind the arc. He paired that with a perfect night from the charity stripe, eight rebounds, and seven assists as the 76ers, resulting in 56.5 DraftKings points.
Most of the projected ownership is going to the bigs on this two-game slate, but don’t forget to get exposure to Harden. The 76ers are a two-man wrecking crew. Harden led the league last season in isolation possessions, while Joel Embiid led in post-up possessions. This matchup may lead to another big Harden game, as the Bucks allowed the third-fewest points in the paint last season. That makes Harden a great contrarian option.
Value
Sticking with the 76ers backcourt, Tyrese Maxey is the highest-rated point guard in our Tournament Model for both DraftKings and FanDuel. After starting slow last game, Maxey came on strong, finishing with 21 points while shooting 50% from the field. He did most of his damage when Harden went to the bench in the second half.
Maxey played the most minutes on the 76ers in their first game, and his salary barely moved. On DraftKings, Maxey remains a great value play as he has a 98% Bargain Rating with the highest projected Plus/Minus at the point guard position. If you decide to forgo Harden, make sure to get Maxey exposure. They can be played together due to how cheap Maxey is, and this slate only has four teams to choose from.
Fast Break
Jrue Holiday is another excellent option at point guard with Khris Middleton out of the lineup. Using our On/Off Tool, Holiday had a team-high +4.8% usage bump and averaged 1.23 DraftKings points per minute in 953 minutes when Middleton was off the floor last season.
Russell Westbrook had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the Lakers’ season opener, and his salary came down on DraftKings and barely moved on FanDuel. He will be another low-owned point guard option if you can stomach an airball or two while watching him. If not, look to backup point guard Kendrick Nunn, who remains cheap and may need to play more simply because he can make perimeter jump shots.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Paul George didn’t play much during the preseason, but George was extremely active when he did. He had nine steals in his last two preseason games while only playing 40 total minutes. Having Kawhi Leonard back after missing all of last season will change the outlook on George, as they both had similar stats when they were on the floor together during the 2020-21 season.
George is reasonably priced on DraftKings and FanDuel but still has a ceiling worth getting exposure to in tournaments. If Leonard is limited for any reason, that will make George an even stronger option, so keep an eye out for that news. The Lakers led the league in pace in the preseason and had the fastest pace in their first game, making this a fantastic matchup for the Clippers. The Warriors had 99 field goal attempts in game one, so there are enough shots to go around here.
Value
Value is tough to come by on this two-game slate at the shooting guard position. We’ll look back to the 76ers backcourt with De’Anthony Melton, who is popping in our model. Melton was a non-factor in their first game, scoring only five points with an 8.8% usage rate. However, he played a little over 20 minutes, which is a good sign moving forward.
Melton is projected for 22 minutes in our NBA Models and is at a reasonable $3,800 salary on both sites. With Harden and Maxey having staggered minutes, Melton doesn’t fully get to run the 76ers second unit, but he is the second go-to guard to create opportunities. He carries some risk, but the salary relief is nice.
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In his first season with the Bucks, Grayson Allen started 61 of the 66 games he played in and will be the starting shooting guard once again this season. He will also benefit from the absence of Middleton, just not as much as Holiday. Prioritize Allen on FanDuel, where he has a 93% Bargain Rating.
Norman Powell is another Clippers guard who may take a step back with Leonard back in the rotation, but he looked good in the preseason. Powell had 34 points on 11-for-14 from the field in only 25 minutes against the Nuggets in their last preseason game. That ceiling potential gives him a spot in this article alone.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Father Time looked undefeated in the first quarter for LeBron James, but he came back to battle over the final three. He finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, leading the Lakers in all three categories. This may be another season where James has to go into hero mode with this dysfunctional Lakers team. Last season, he averaged over 30 points per game for the first time since 2005-06.
Tonight may be a “home” game for the Lakers, but they are still six-point underdogs against the Clippers with a slate-low 109 implied point total. James had a 34.6% usage rate in their first game while playing 35 minutes. He is projected around the same in this spot and makes for a great option.
Value
Tobias Harris shot the ball well in the 76ers first game, but that was all he did. Harris finished with 18 points, two rebounds, and three steals across 34 minutes. With Embiid gobbling up every rebound and Harden demanding the ball so much, Harris needs to shoot the ball well to be fantasy relevant. Fortunately, he remains fairly priced, especially on DraftKings given his 91% Bargain Rating.
Ownership will likely flock to Harris if people are actually concerned with the Embiid matchup. He may get steamed up as a good play in cash games, but be careful. Harris had only six potential rebounds and zero potential assists in their first game. With a 19.6% usage rate in his first contest, keep Harris as a boom-or-bust tournament option.
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Welcome back, Kawhi Leonard! That said, who knows how much action Leonard will get in their first game. He is projected for 30 minutes, but he played barely over half of that in his lone two preseason games. The price tag feels like a great value, but it’s tough to click that button. Leonard is a high-risk, high-reward tournament play.
Like Allen, Lonnie Walker is a presumed starter for the Lakers moving forward, as he played 29 minutes in their first game. He finished with just under 20 DraftKings points thanks to five points, five assists, and three rebounds. He remains cheap on both DraftKings and FanDuel, so he’s another potential value option.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo has the highest ceiling on DraftKings and FanDuel for this two-game slate. We will be saying that a lot this season. In nine games without Middleton last year, Giannis saw a decrease in his scoring numbers but an increase in his rebounding and assists. Take that for what it’s worth; he is still the best play on the slate.
In his two preseason games, Giannis had over a 40% usage rate and absolutely filled up the stat sheet. In three games against the 76ers last year, Giannis averaged 34.3 points and 13.7 rebounds per game while shooting 56.2% from the field. He may be the most expensive option on the slate, but it is very much deserved. Giannis is a cash game staple and will be impossible to ignore in tournaments. Don’t get too cute on this two-game slate.
Value
Outside of Giannis, teammate Bobby Portis has the highest Plus/Minus at the power forward position on both sites. After being somewhat of a journeyman, Portis has found a home with the Bucks and has produced exceptionally well. Portis started a career-high 56 games last season while posting a career-high in points and rebounds.
Even though Embiid and Harden are great rebounders at their position, the 76ers ranked 20th in rebounding percentage last season. Portis had one double-double last year against the 76ers, so don’t be surprised if he gets another one tonight. He is a cheap way to get exposure to one of the best teams in the league.
Fast Break
Marcus Morris is another boom-or-bust Clippers option. He made six of his seven 3-point attempts during the preseason and will likely play around 30 minutes in a great matchup against the Lakers. Morris has a cheap salary across the industry and is a great contrarian option for filling a forward spot.
The P.J.Tucker experience. The result is heavy minutes filled with great defense and not many fantasy points. Tucker played 33 minutes in their first game and finished with six points and four rebounds. He is one of the best options in an aggressive stars and scrubs lineup build as he continues to be priced near the minimum on both sites.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
As previously mentioned, this is a tougher matchup for Joel Embiid, but not one where he needs to be completely faded. In their first game, Embiid had a “down” game and still finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and 53.25 DraftKings points. He led the 76ers with a 33.9% usage rate and was heavily involved from the jump.
Embiid also has an elite history against Milwaukee. In 12 games against them, Embiid is averaging 28.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while posting a double-double in nine. Embiid has the second-highest ceiling behind Giannis on the slate, and pairing them together is very intriguing.
Value
Brook Lopez ranks out as the best value center option on both DraftKings and FanDuel, but not by much. Lopez only played 13 regular season games last year but was pretty active during the Bucks’ playoff run, averaging 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game with two double-doubles against the Celtics.
Lopez will likely start tonight at center as he tries to slow down Embiid. Surprisingly, Lopez has been able to stay out of foul trouble against Embiid and hold his own on the offensive end of the court. He averaged 16.5 points with four 3-pointers in his last two games against Embiid and the 76ers. The ability to stretch the floor and draw Embiid out of the paint is a huge asset for the Bucks in this matchup.
Fast Break
Anthony Davis looked pretty good for the Lakers in their first game, finishing with 27 points, six rebounds, and four steals. He had a 31.2% usage rate and still feels too cheap on both sites, given his dual eligibility and upside. Davis is preferred on DraftKings, where he has a 98% Bargain Rating.
Ivica Zubac was the center who was very close to value in Lopez on this two-game slate. The minutes are always the main concern with Zubac, as we only have him projected for 24 tonight. However, Zubac averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute last season, so he has excellent upside if he plays a bit more than expected.
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