With seven games to choose from on tonight's NBA slate, let's take a look at how to utilize the DFS possibilities.
Here are some of the top plays on DraftKings. As always, good luck.
Point Guard
Jamal Murray ($7,800) -- Murray is averaging 1.14 fantasy points per game, and his usage rating has increased over the last five games -- up to 28.35% in that time. Given Nikola Jokic's ($10,000) usage is at 27.11%, Murray is very involved in the offense right now. He's exceeded his season-long 33.9 fantasy points per game average in five of his last six games, and he's scored 19 or more points in all six. In his last three home games, he's averaging 41 fantasy points, and he's had the passing game going, averaging 7.3 assists during those contests. numberFire's model pegs Murray to finish with 33.7 fantasy points on 19.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds tonight.
Lonzo Ball ($7,000) -- Ball faces his former Los Angeles Lakers team tonight, and it'll be the second meeting of the season between the two. Ball had 37.5 fantasy points in the first matchup, posting 23 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds. Ball is coming off a terrible shooting performance last time out, going 1 for 6 from the field versus the Golden State Warriors, but he had nine assists and six rebounds to even out to 29 fantasy points. Ball gets it done in an all-around fashion, and the Lakers are among the 10 worst teams in points per game (24.12), assists (8.37), and steals (1.86) given up to point guards. Ball is averaging 1.01 fantasy point per minute over his last 10 games, and he's projected to play 31.91 minutes by numberFire's model.
Shooting Guard
Coby White ($5,600) -- The Chicago Bulls' rookie has been hot over the past six games, and he's outplayed his season average in DK points (21.2) in four of those. White has scored 33 actual points in back-to-back games, and he's posted 35 or more fantasy points in four of his last six. White is averaging 46.1 fantasy points per game over his last two and 32.1 in his last five. He's played 30 or more minutes in four straight games. His usage rate is 8.72 percentage points higher than his season-long rating during his last five games, and his fantasy points per minute is 1.05 in that time. The Bulls need help, and more Coby White is one of the solutions.
Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,600) -- Bogdanovic put up 33.25 fantasy points versus the Los Angeles Clippers in his last game, giving him his sixth game in his last 10 with more DK points than his fantasy season average. The Warriors allow the second-most fantasy points per game (45.56) to shooting guards and the ninth-most to small forwards (42.30), putting Bogdanovic in a good spot. The Warriors rank bottom-five in three-pointers allowed to both positions, combining for 6.73 made triples per game. Bogdanovic hit four three-pointers in his last game and has done so in five of his last 10 overall. In his last meeting with the Warriors, he recorded 39.8 fantasy points on 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Small Forward
Danilo Gallinari ($6,100) -- In his last three road games, Gallinari has carried the load scoring-wise and totaled 31 DK points or more in all three. He's averaged 25 points per game over his last three on the road, shooting better than 50% in all three. His usage rate is up to 25.66% over his past five games while his fantasy points per minute dropped to 0.94. Tonight the Bulls may focus on the Oklahoma City Thunder's big three at the guard positions, and Gallo should find success. Chicago is atop of the league defensively versus guards, so OKC may have to look elsewhere. Gallinari is projected to post 31.3 fantasy points, according to numberFire's model, despite averaging 33.5 over his last three road games for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Harrison Barnes ($5,300) -- Barnes is another player who faces his former squad tonight as the Sacramento Kings play the Warriors. Barnes is up to 0.93 fantasy points per minute over his last five games, up from 0.78 on the season. He's averaging 32.28 fantasy points per game in that span. He's recorded 34 or more fantasy points in four of his last five games. Barnes has scored 20 or more points in three of his last five and shot better than 60% from the field in all three of those outings. He's also added four rebounds or four assists in three of his last five games.
Power Forward
Eric Paschall ($5,000) -- Paschall has registered three straight games of 20 or more fantasy points, and he's scored double-digit real-world points in all three. Paschall has been solid all season for Golden State, registering 0.85 fantasy points per minute. He may be due for a minutes increase tonight as Draymond Green ($5,900) is listed as questionable. If Green sits, expect Paschall's average of 31.5 minutes over the two games out of All-Star break to increase. He's averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and shot over 55% in both games since play resumed. numberFire projects Paschall to total 22.7 fantasy points on 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, but if Green is out, those numbers will rise.
Gordon Hayward ($7,400) -- With Kemba Walker still sidelined, Jayson Tatum ($8,800) and Hayward have become must-plays. Hayward had a near triple-double last game with 10 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds for 32 fantasy points. He's surpassed 40 fantasy points in five of his last seven games, and he went for 48.25 fantasy points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first game out of the break. He's averaged 1.10 fantasy points per minute in his last 10 and 39.38 fantasy points in that stretch, as well. The Portland Trail Blazers allow the most fantasy points per game to power forwards (53.58) and the 11th-most to small forwards (42.16). Expect the Celtics' trio of forwards to find success scoring and rebounding in Portland tonight.
Center
Steven Adams ($6,700) -- Adams is averaging 1.28 fantasy points per minute over his last five, and we've seen him more involved in the offense in that time with four straight double-doubles. He is taking on a Bulls frontcourt that needs help. They're allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to centers (56.57) and the fourth-most actual points (23.07). Adams is coming off a 21-point performance last time out, going 8 for 12 (66.7%) from the field in 27 minutes. He's averaged 20 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 49.12 fantasy points per game post-All Star break. He's a solid low-cost option at center.
Anthony Davis ($10,300) -- The last of the revenge tour for the night, the Lakers' big man hosts his former New Orleans Pelicans squad. Davis has averaged 54.54 fantasy points over the last 10 games, and besides Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,600), AD averages the most fantasy points per minute (1.60) in the last five games on tonight's slate. Davis has averaged 67.3 fantasy points per game in two meetings with New Orleans this season, and he could be in for another big one tonight. His average of 43.5 real-world points per game versus the Pelicans this season is his highest versus any opponent, and numberFire's model is backing that to continue tonight. He's projected with the second-most fantasy points tonight (53.7) as well as the second-most points (27.1), fourth-most rebounds (10.4), and third-most blocks (2.3) among all players.
Vaughn Dalzell is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Vaughn also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username vdalzell. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.