OwnersBox is one of the unique DFS sites that still has traditional daily salary cap contests in addition to their Lightning Lineups contests.
In Lightning Lineups, the OwnersBox app will provide three sets of lineups for a given sport and slate, each lineup with three players. From there, users pick which lineup they think will score the most points. If you don’t like the options, you can spin for new lineups.
Spin. Pick. Win. OwnersBox innovative Lighting Lineups format is the most electric way to play daily fantasy sports.
However, they also have a traditional DFS format, which will be the focus of this article.
For OwnersBox, you use four guards, four forwards/centers, and one Superflex.
Also, our OwnersBox promo code delivers new users a $500 sign-up offer. Their 100% deposit match of up to $500 is by far the best among DFS sites.
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 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 Guard Picks
Jordan Poole ($6,600) vs. Chicago Bulls
The Wizards have the second-worst record in the NBA, but Jordan Poole has been a good fantasy contributor lately and comes at a fairly affordable salary in Friday’s matchup against the Bulls, who are playing for the second night in a row and may rest players to get ready for the Play-In Tournament. Poole has the seventh-highest Pts/Sal of all guards and has the fifth-highest ceiling projection even though he only has the 13th-highest salary of the guards with projections on Friday’s slate
Poole is questionable with an illness, but if he plays through that tag, there should be plenty of usage available. He is one of just six players on this 11-game slate that has a usage projection over 30%. Kyle Kuzma (ankle), Tyus Jones (back), Marvin Bagley (knee) and Landry Shamet (calf) are all out, which would leave Poole as much work as he can handle. Poole has played every game since Jan. 31 for the Wizards, and if he keeps that streak alive, he’ll bring a very high ceiling on Friday.
Over his last 10 games, Poole has a 27.3% usage rate and has produced 22.6 points, 8.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while playing 36.1 minutes per game. He had three double-doubles during that run, including an impressive 29 points and 12 assists last Sunday in Toronto. He has that kind of ceiling if he gets his usual minutes on Friday, so see if he can participate in shootaround and play through his illness on Friday.
Dante Exum ($3,400) vs. Detroit Pistons
Since Luka Doncic (ankle) and Kyrie Irving (hamstring) have been healthy and available for the most part, Dante Exum has faded into the background for Dallas. That will likely change on Friday, though, since Kyrie is out and Luka is questionable. It’s a great matchup against the Pistons, so if both end up sitting out to prepare for the playoffs, Exum could step into a much larger role. He has the second-highest Pts/Sal projection of all guards even with Luka in the projections and will get a further bump if Doncic is also out.
Exum was impressive early in the season while Irving was out, and he has filled in nicely when called upon. In his 16 starts, he has averaged 13.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 29.4 minutes per game. In the 16 games he played without Kyrie this season, Exum has averaged 12.2 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game. He has a minutes projection of 32.9 minutes on Friday with a 13.7% usage projection. If he carries that much work in such a good matchup, he’ll be an outstanding way to save some salary and still get a high ceiling.
Other cheap guards that stand out from a value perspective on Friday include Jared Butler of the Wizards (especially if Poole doesn’t play), Patrick Beverley of the Bucks, and Tre Jones of the Spurs.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Forward/Center Picks
Nikola Jokic ($10,600) at San Antonio Spurs
Jokic has been red-hot coming down the stretch for the Nuggets, and he is probable for this contest, as the Nuggets try to lock up the top seed in the Western Conference. Jokic has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all forward/centers.
Over his last 11 games, Jokic has averaged 30.9 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in 36.5 minutes per game with a 34.5% usage rate. It looks like the Nuggets will have their usual starters since they listed them all as probable. They start the night with a one-game lead over the Timberwolves and Thunder for the top spot in the West, so it doesn’t look like they’ll ease into the playoffs by resting Jokic or other starters Friday against the Spurs.
The Spurs have been a favorable matchup for most of the season due to their fast pace, and now they’ve been significantly depleted by injury before their last two games of the season. They already shut down Devin Vassell (foot) and Jeremy Sochan (ankle), and for this game, they’ll also be without Keldon Johnson (foot) and Cedi Osman (ankle). Victor Wembanyama is not on the injury report and should play, which will help keep the game competitive and should motivate Jokic to post a big number against the rookie.
Jokic had 42 points in 38 minutes against the Spurs earlier this month, with 16 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. He has over 30 points in all three of their meetings this season and should be a strong pay-up consideration this Friday.
Trey Jemison ($3,800) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Grizzlies have been devastated by injuries this season, but they have also been a great source of fantasy basketball value over the last few weeks as affordable options step into larger roles. On Friday against the Lakers, Jemison has the highest Pts/Sal of all forward/centers with his salary under $4,000. He has the highest Pts/Sal of any player on the slate, just outpacing his teammate Scotty Pippen Jr.
Jaren Jackson, Jr. (quad), Vince Williams, Jr. (knee), Santi Aldama (foot), Lamar Stevens (groin) and Brandon Clarke (hand) have all been ruled out for this home game against the Lakers, which will leave plenty of work for Jemison, who has made five straight starts, playing over 30 minutes in each of his last four games. In those four contests, he averaged 10.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks in 32.7 minutes per game.
His best game during that stretch came against the Pistons when he showed his upside with 17 points and 13 boards in 32 minutes. He had just four points in a tougher matchup on Wednesday against the Cavs but was still a solid value play since he had four blocks, three assists, and nine rebounds.
Jemison worked his way into the league through a strong G League season with the Birmingham Squadron, and the 24-year-old rookie has been putting up good numbers over the last few games while filling a large role for Memphis, as he is in line to do again on Friday, making him a good forward/center value.
Other values at forward/center that stand out in our projections include Noah Clowney of the Nets, P.J. Washington of the Mavs, and Jemison’s teammate Jake LaRavia.
