Happy Friday! The NBA has an 11-game slate lined up this evening, so naturally we are putting together a DFS lineup on DraftKings to start the weekend with daily fantasy cash. Today we will reveal our team for the Friday night slate, and discuss why each player made the cut.
With DraftKings, lineup construction is simple: draft eight players with assigned salaries — one for each position as well as one guard flex, one forward flex, and one utility — and keep the team under the $50,000 salary cap.
DFS provides us with some money-making opportunities without having to worry about moneylines, point spreads, or over/unders. All we care about is the players we draft to our squad putting up numbers!
Let's get right into our Friday night DraftKings NBA lineup and briefly discuss each of our picks.
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Today's Best NBA DFS Lineup: DraftKings strategy, sleepers for Monday
PG: Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers at Rockets ($9,200)
Haliburton has quietly been one of the best fantasy stars this season, but he continues to fly under the radar because he plays for Indiana. He contributes across the board but really fills it up with points, assists, steals, rebounds, and three-pointers. He also shoots the ball very well, and rarely has bad turnover games unlike most players with his usage rate. Haliburton has averaged 46.9 fantasy points this season, and four of his past five games have been between 48 and 52 points. He's as safe a pick at $9,200 as you can get, especially against a Rockets team that's woe-fully inadequate on D. Houston has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to point guards this season. Fire up the Hali.
(Getty Images)
SG: Jaden Ivey, Pistons at Lakers ($6,400)
Ivey has been fantastic this season, and he kicked it up a notch when fellow backcourt stud Cade Cunningham was ruled out for the week with shin soreness. Ivey has averaged 21.6 points over Detroit's past three games, while adding respectable rebound and assist numbers. Two of the first-round pick's past six fantasy performances have reached 45 fantasy points, and four of the past six have hit at least 35. The Lakers have one of the worst defensive ratings in the NBA, and should continue to struggle with LeBron James hurt. Hit 'em with the poison Ivey!
(NBA Entertainment)
SF: Trey Murphy III, Pelicans vs. Celtics ($4,700)
Murphy has been sizzling lately, blossoming as the long-range assassin the Pelicans thought he would be in his rookie season last year. His confidence level couldn't be higher, and he looks poised to completely replace defensive swingman Herbert Jones. With Zion Williamson on the shelf, expect Murphy's shooting volume to remain high, especially if the 12-3 Celtics race out to a big lead. Boston has been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA over the past couple weeks, but it still struggles to defend the three-point shot at times. And the Celtics often struggle to rebound with Robert Williams III sidelined, so a 10-rebound effort like Murphy posted Wednesday against Chicago is not out of the question (he had 44.5 fantasy points in that game). This is a great bargain buy.
(NBA Entertainment)
PF: Bojan Bogdanovic, Pistons at Lakers ($5,800)
Bogdanovic has been a revelation this season. Thought to be acquired for veteran leadership or some bench shooting, he has instead been one of the top scoring options for an exciting young squad. His floor has pretty much become three three-pointers and 17 points, but his ceiling is what you buy into at this price. With Cade Cunningham still out with the shin issue, Bogie should continue to hoist plenty from deep, add some boards and dimes as well. Three of his past four games have produced fantasy totals between 34.75 and 41. You don't mess with the Bojan!
Getty Images
C: Kelly Olynyk, Jazz vs. Suns ($5,200)
One of the best surprises of the young NBA season has been the 10-6 Jazz, who were initially dismissed as a team tanking for top prospect Victor Wembanyama. Well, these guys are competing, and Olynyk has been one of the biggest factors to their early success. KO is averaging nearly 27 fantasy points per game, but he exploded for 46.75 in Utah's loss to the Knicks on Tuesday. With three days rest, we like his chances of posting another solid fantasy line against the Suns this evening. Phoenix allows the eighth-most fantasy points to centers this season.
(NBA Getty Images)
G: Jalen Brunson, Knicks at Warriors ($7,100)
Brunson's big contract from the Knicks over the offseason sparked plenty of doubters, but he has been awesome so far as the main catalyst of New York's offense. He has averaged 37.5 fantasy points, shooting the ball well and remaining a solid contributor of assists and boards. Brunson also takes good care of the ball, and often comes up with two or three steals in a game. The best part of his game: he uses his strength and body control to get to his spot and get off high-percentage shots. He should have a good night with Steph Curry and Jordan Poole guarding him.
NBA Entertainment
F: Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies vs. Thunder ($5,600)
JJJ is back! His activation for the Grizzlies' game against the Pelicans on Tuesday surprised many in the fantasy world, as he was initially thought to return from injury in December or January. Jackson will clearly be eased back into a full workload, but he already flashed the fantasy-friendly game we have come to expect from him. In just 25 minutes, the big man racked up five blocks to go with seven points and six rebounds. He shot poorly from deep, but we'll chalk that up to rust. I'm buying into JJJ at $5,600, especially against an OKC squad that's missing top big man Chet Holmgren.
NBA Entertainment
Util:Marcus Smart (G), Celtics at Pelicans ($6,000)
With exactly $6,000 left to spend, we're going with a guy who makes a fantastic utility man, Mr. Marcus Smart. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has multiple-stock upside, but it's his four double-digit assists games over the past six games that have our attention. He also rebounds the ball well for a guard, and has poured in scoring in the teens to lowers 20s since Boston lost Malcolm Brogdon to a hamstring injury. Monitor Smart's status this evening, as he's also questionable with an ankle injury, but he's a smart play (pun intended) if he suits up. If he's sidelined, consider Kevin Love or Jordan Poole in his place.
