FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Monday 3/27/23

Since it's much simpler to predict than baseball or football, daily fantasy basketball would get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right?

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

We'll also come at you with this primer daily, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

The Slate and Key Injuries

It's that time of year when technical fouls pile up, and Luka Doncic is on the 2022-23 naughty list. He'll be suspended for Monday's game in Indiana.

Per the official injury report, it appears the Mavericks' test without him could be stiff. Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) and Myles Turner (back) are both being given shots to play with questionable listings. Buddy Hield (illness) and Chris Duarte (ankle) are out.

Joel Embiid (calf) and James Harden (Achilles) are questionable again for a huge game in Denver. Beyond the Sixers' seeding battle, the MVP race is likely decided against the Nuggets tonight. Michael Porter Jr. (heel) is also in doubt.

In the midst of full-on tanking, Portland isn't likely to suit up Damian Lillard (calf), Jerami Grant (quad), Anfernee Simons (foot), or Jusuf Nurkic (knee) on a back-to-back tonight against New Orleans. Trendon Watford (ankle) left last night's game and didn't return.

De'Aaron Fox (hamstring) is at risk for a second straight missed contest tonight for Sacramento as they host Minnesota.

The Suns are positioned to get Deandre Ayton back from his hip injury tonight in Utah. The Jazz, still without Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton, have Lauri Markkanen (hand) listed as questionable for a third straight game.

New York is a huge favorite over Houston, so Jalen Brunson (hand) is likely in serious doubt for the Knicks. Jae'Sean Tate (knee) didn't play yesterday's game for the Rockets.

Finally, the Pistons are tanking with such fervor that it's good to reset their roster to start the week. Of course, Cade Cunningham was lost for the season long ago, and Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Hamidou Diallo, and Alec Burks are out with long-term injuries now. Rodney McGruder (foot) and Cory Joseph (illness) are questionable to play tonight.

However, the biggest early afternoon news came from the other side. Jrue Holiday (personal) will sit for the Bucks, which could keep things a bit closer than expected in Detroit.

**Editor's Note: Giannis Antetokounmpo was also ruled out for Milwaukee due to a knee injury after this article was published. Luka Doncic also had his final protest granted, so he is eligible to play tonight in Indiana. As always, check numberFire's projections for the updated optimal way to play the main slate.

Guards

There are so many injuries at the top of guard that Kyrie Irving ($9,400) is an obvious choice.

He's held a team-best 30.2% usage rate since the trade deadline with Luka off the floor, and the Pacers have allowed the 12th-most FanDuel points to point guards over their last seven games. He's the high-floor cash-game stud without much question.

In tournaments, spending down could be more fruitful. C.J. McCollum ($8,300) has dipped amidst Brandon Ingram's hot stretch, but the revenge narrative in Portland could drive a few extra shots his way in a must-win for the Pels. Russell Westbrook ($8,200) also lurks with a triple-double ceiling for as long as Paul George remains sidelined.

Jaden Ivey ($6,100) has eclipsed 28 FanDuel points in two straights and usually sees run in blowouts, which is helpful given a 17.5-point spread against the Bucks. Jevon Carter ($4,800) could draw the start on the other side for Jrue and is one of the top value plugs of the day, per our model.

De'Anthony Melton ($6,500), Immanuel Quickley ($6,000), and Davion Mitchell ($5,000) are three other names to keep in your holster should injury news break their way, but Chris Paul ($7,800), Kris Dunn ($5,700), and Patrick Beverley ($4,600) are projecting well now if all the key starters end up playing.

Wings

While the two leading MVP candidates battle in Denver, Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,600) will get to make his case from afar.

With Jrue out, the game is more likely to stay close in Detroit as Giannis profiles to bludgeon the Pistons. They allow the 10th-most FanDuel points to combo forwards, and he's the best such player in the league. He's averaged a whopping 61.1 FanDuel points per 36 with Holiday off the floor this season, too.

Lauri Markkanen ($9,000) is likely closer to doubtful with Utah fading in the standings, but if he's available at this mark with his starting backcourt out, take it. He's posted 45.5 FanDuel points per 36 minutes with them off the floor.

The Kings' special season rolls on with or without De'Aaron Fox; Kevin Huerter ($6,800) tallied at least 27 points in both games this weekend. He's a supreme value if Fox sits, but Fox news likely wouldn't come before lock.

Matisse Thybulle ($4,600) and Nassir Little ($4,300) are the two Portland wings who earned 30-plus minutes last night. That's a great on-court role for a small salary. Little even poured in 28 real-life points but is at -- laughably -- the higher risk of getting benched as a veteran contributing. Ask Cam Reddish.

Brandon Ingram ($9,000), Kenyon Martin Jr. ($5,700), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,200), and Bennedict Mathurin ($4,800) are four others projecting well here today.

Bigs

It's certainly plausible the aforementioned MVP showdown impacts daily fantasy tonight.

Nikola Jokic ($12,000) and Joel Embiid ($11,900) have done just that several evenings this year, but I wouldn't expect either to be wildly popular despite the narratives. After all, these are bottom-10 matchups for centers on both sides, and the 228.0-point game total isn't that explosive. Embiid (85.1 FanDuel points) got the better of Jokic (46.1) in Philly, but both are likely supremely motivated tonight.

In a contrarian pivot, Rudy Gobert ($7,400) sits in the best combination of matchup and environment within a loaded center tier. Gobert, with Karl-Anthony Towns at least a candidate to rest on the back-to-back, and the 239.0-point total in Sactown is the best of the day.

Christian Wood ($7,400), not Kyrie Irving, leads the Mavs in FanDuel points per 36 minutes this year with Luka off the floor (48.0). He and Maxi Kleber ($4,200) should work in tandem tonight against a Pacers squad allowing the third-most FanDuel points to centers.

Because of the injury to Watford, sluggish producer Drew Eubanks ($5,200) probably works again on this slate. He tallied seven stocks (steals plus blocks) to detonate last night's slate, and his minutes obstacle would be alleviated if Watford sits.

Jabari Smith ($6,300), Aaron Gordon ($6,300), and Trey Lyles ($4,600) are three others projecting well to help round out the forward spots.