Tuesday features a four-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and metrics.
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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
Luka Doncic is off to a phenomenal start this season. He’s scored at least 32 points in each of his first two games, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in each. He racked up 65.75 DraftKings points in his last contest, despite playing less than 30 minutes in a blowout win. Overall, he’s increased his production to 1.83 DraftKings points per minute after averaging 1.62 last season.
Doncic could be asked to take on an even larger scoring role on Tuesday. Tim Hardaway Jr. is doubtful, and Doncic increased his usage rate by +1.2% with Hardaway off the floor last year. The team has also lost Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brunson from last year’s squad, so Doncic is basically the last man standing.
Value
The Thunder are starting early this season. We knew the team would start shutting down players with injuries, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey will both be sidelined Thursday vs. the Clippers. Maybe both players are actually hurt, but it’s hard to take them seriously after playing SGA just 91 total games over the past two years.
Regardless, Tre Mann will get the opportunity to run the show on Tuesday. He increased his usage rate by +5.7% and his assist rate by +4.7% with SGA and Giddey off the court last year, resulting in an average of 0.91 DraftKings points per minute. He’s currently projected for just under 34.5 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 30.63 DraftKings points in 16 games with at least 30 minutes of playing time (per the Trends tool). That makes him an excellent value at his current salary across the industry.
Fast Break
Reggie Jackson stands out as an elite value on FanDuel, where his $4,500 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 97%. The Clippers are going to be without Paul George and Marcus Morris on Tuesday, while Kawhi Leonard will continue to have his minutes heavily limited. That leaves Jackson as one of the team’s top scoring threats vs. the Thunder.
Cade Cunningham has been a primary target at the position for DFS players to start the year, and he’s scored at least 36.0 DraftKings points in all three games. He could be a bit under-owned on this slate with all the other strong options at point guard.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Devin Booker has been rolling to start the year. He’s scored at least 42.2 FanDuel points in all three contests, and he’s averaged 32 points per game. He’s also playing all the minutes he can handle, racking up at least 40.6 in two of three outings. Booker is currently projected for 35.88 minutes in our NBA Models, and that could be considered a conservative estimate in a big early-season matchup vs. the Warriors. This game figures to be one of the best of the day from a fantasy perspective, featuring a slate-high 226.0-point total and just a two-point spread. Given the way the Suns’ season ended last year, don’t be surprised if this is a spot where they try to make a statement.
Norman Powell has had a very forgettable start to his season, averaging just 0.52 FanDuel points per minute. He’s shot just 25.9% from the field and 14.3% from 3-point range, both of which are obviously well below his career norms. Overall, Powell has averaged just 7.0 points per game after averaging 19.0 in 45 games between the Blazers and Clippers last year.
Tuesday’s matchup vs. the Thunder seems like the perfect spot for him to get back on track. The Thunder have played at the third-fastest pace to start the year, and they’re also subpar in defensive efficiency. Powell is currently projected for just under 33 minutes in this matchup, and he averaged 0.87 FanDuel points per minute last season. If he can return to his usual levels of efficiency, he’s going to obliterate his $3,900 salary on FanDuel.
Fast Break
Spencer Dinwiddie is another member of the Mavericks who could provide a bit more value than usual with Hardaway out of the lineup. He averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute with THJ off the floor, and he should see around 30 minutes if today’s game stays competitive.
The Pelicans’ injury report is going to be very important to monitor heading into lineup lock. They’ve already ruled out Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson is questionable. C.J. McCollum increased his usage rate by +3.0% with Ingram off the floor last year, and he’d be asked to shoulder a massive workload if Williamson is also sidelined.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
There aren’t a ton of studs to choose from at small forward on Tuesday, but Saddiq Bey stands out on DraftKings. He’s priced at just $6,100, and that’s simply too cheap for what he’s provided so far this season. It results in a Bargain Rating of 88%, and Bey has racked up at least 39.75 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. He didn’t even shoot the ball well in his last contest – he was just 5-16 from the field and 2-8 from 3-point range – but he’s still increased his production to 1.03 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Value
Trey Murphy III is the top candidate to replace Ingram in the Pelicans’ starting lineup, and that’s a very appealing proposition for fantasy purposes. Murphy has been red-hot from 3-point range to start the year, drilling 60% of his 3-point attempts. He’s also increased his volume to five 3-point attempts per game, so he’s developing a reputation as one of the best knock-down shooters in the league. Murphy’s 3-point prowess has helped him average 0.98 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s coming off 39.7 minutes in his last outing. He’s projected for around 34 minutes in our NBA Models, making him another strong value on a slate with plenty of options.
Fast Break
Lu Dort loves when the Thunder are shorthanded. He completely transforms his game, taking over as one of the team’s top scoring threats. He posted a 27.5% usage rate with SGA and Giddey off the floor last year, which gives him solid fantasy upside. The only issue is, he’s not a very good scorer. He posted an effective field goal percentage of just 31% in that situation last season, which limited him to just 0.82 DraftKings points per minute. Still, he should have plenty of opportunities in this spot.
Would it be crazy to use Kawhi Leonard on FanDuel? Maybe, but his $7,000 salary does come with a Bargain Rating of 97%. He should also be hyper-aggressive when on the floor with George sidelined, so it’s possible for him to return value in limited playing time. There’s also a chance that he plays a bit more than expected, although the Clippers should be able to take care of business vs. the shorthanded Thunder without him.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Power forward is another position without a ton of appealing stud options. That said, it’s hard not to notice what Christian Wood has done for the Mavericks this season. His playing time has been limited since he’s coming off the bench, but he’s still racked up at least 41.5 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. He’s been hyper-aggressive when on the floor, posting a usage rate of 35.7%, and he’s averaged an absurd 1.80 DraftKings points per minute. Wood is likely due for some regression in that department, but he could make up for it with a few extra minutes. He’s yet to crack 25.1 minutes this season, giving him some room for growth in that department.
Value
Isaiah Stewart has posted a positive Plus/Minus in all three games on DraftKings, and he’s coming off his best game of the year on Saturday. He racked up 36.25 DraftKings points over 29.6 minutes, despite shooting just 2-10 from the field. Stewart has averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute for the season, and his price has remained pretty steady at just $5,300. It results in a Bargain Rating of 88%, so he can be fired up safely once again.
Fast Break
Kristaps Porzingis stands out as the top option at the position on FanDuel. He’s priced at just $7,400, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 85%, and he’s coming off 39.7 FanDuel points in 37.9 minutes in his last outing. That kind of playing time is very encouraging for Porzingis. He averaged 1.32 FanDuel points per minute last year, so he has massive upside if he’s going to play low- to mid-30s minutes on most slates.
If Zion is unable to suit up for the Pelicans, Larry Nance Jr. would likely start in his place. He’s averaged 1.05 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he’s historically been an excellent fantasy producer when given extended run. He’s averaged 33.45 DraftKings points in 83 games with at least 30 minutes since the start of the 2015-16 season.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Jonas Valanciunas has had an up-and-down start to his season, which basically describes his career to a T. He erupted for 62.75 DraftKings points in his second game of the year, but he followed that up with just 23.25 DraftKings points in his most recent contest.
Still, Valanciunas would become very tempting if Zion is ruled out. He increased his usage rate by +2.7% with Ingram off the floor last year, and he’s averaged 1.54 DraftKings points per minute so far this season. There’s a chance he could see a few additional minutes given the team’s current injury situation, and minutes are the only thing that has been able to slow down Valanciunas in the past.
Value
Robert Covington should get a chance to play a bit more on Tuesday with the Clippers shorthanded. He logged a season-high 22.1 minutes in the second game of the year, which was when Leonard and John Wall were out of the lineup. The team will have even more minutes available on this slate, so it’s not surprising that Covington is projected for just over 24 minutes in our NBA Models. RoCo has historically been an excellent per-minute producer, and he’s averaged 0.90 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Fast Break
Deandre Ayton is one of the safest options on today’s slate. He’s not someone who typically plays more than 30-32 minutes, which is why he’s priced so fairly across the industry. However, there’s a chance he plays a bit more against the Warriors, and he averaged 1.17 DraftKings points per minute last year. He’s priced so he can pay off his salary with his usual workload, so any extra playing time would be the cherry on top.
Trying to predict how many minutes Ivica Zubac is going to play on a nightly basis is basically impossible. He played more than 35 minutes on opening night, but he’s followed that up with 24.2 minutes and 21.3 minutes in his last two games. Zubac is an awesome per-minute producer, so he’s going to smash when he hits his minutes ceiling. Could that happen tonight vs. the Thunder? Sure, but he could also play less than 20.
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