Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!
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 -- which are powered by numberFire -- update throughout the day to reflect current news. You can also turn to numberFire for player news updates as well as a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.
On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down some of the day's top plays at each position.
Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.
Betting lines via the NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. Projections and betting odds may change after this article is published.
NBA DFS Picks
Friday's main slate on FanDuel features five games. For a full breakdown, see numberFire's matchup heat map.
Top matchups:
- Denver Nuggets @ San Antonio Spurs | -10.5, 222.5 total
- Phoenix Suns @ Charlotte Hornets | +10.0, 218.5 total
Other games:
- Los Angeles Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans | -6.5, 217.5 total
- Orlando Magic @ Toronto Raptors | +8.5, 217.0 total
- Miami Heat @ Detroit Pistons | +8.0, 215.5 total
Guards
Top Plays
Immanuel Quickley ($8,500) --Immanuel Quickley has come out of the All-Star break red-hot, averaging 43.7 FanDuel points (FPs) over his last 10 games. According to RotoGrinders Court IQ, Quickley's usage ticked up to 27% in the three games RJ Barrett missed over that span, so he's in for lots of work with Barrett sidelined tonight. Orlando is a tough matchup overall, but they've been vulnerable to PGs. Over their last 15 games, the Magic have given up the sixth-most actual points and 11th-most FanDuel points to the position, per FantasyPros.
Terry Rozier ($7,000) -- Terry Rozier has found his footing in Miami. Over his last eight games, Rozier has averaged 33.3 FPPG with a 24% usage rate. That's coincided with an extended absence from Tyler Herro and has led to Rozier consistently playing 30-plus minutes. Herro is out again tonight, so Rozier's in a nice spot against Detroit. The Pistons are 28th in defensive rating and have given up the most FPPG to PGs this season.
Vasilije Micic ($6,000) --Vasilije Micic is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season, notching 41 FPs thanks to 25 points and 8 assists against the Grizzlies. Micic has now played at least 28 minutes in seven straight games. Expect another heavy workload tonight against Phoenix. The Suns are solid defensively, but they've dipped to 20th in defensive rating since the All-Star break. Mici's assist prop is at 6.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Others to Consider
Jamal Murray ($8,600) -- Jamal Murray is coming off a rough outing against Miami, but I'm buying into him as a bounce-back candidate tonight. He'd averaged 49.8 FPPG in the five games prior and now gets a juicy matchup with San Antonio. The Spurs have been the best fantasy matchup for opposing PGs over the last 15 games, and Murray benefits from a slate-best 116.0 implied total.
Jalen Suggs ($5,400) --Deciphering the Orlando back court is a tough task, but I can get behind Jalen Suggs against the Raptors. Eligible at both guard spots, Suggs went for 31.6 FPs against Toronto back in November, and the Raptors have only gotten worse defensively. Over their last 15 games, the Raptors have given up the ninth-most FPPG to PGs, rank 25th in defensive rating, and play at the second-fastest pace. As of early Friday afternoon, numberFire projects Suggs for 26.4 FPs tonight, making him the second-best point-per-dollar value among guards (4.89 FPs per $1,000).
Wings
Top Plays
Jimmy Butler ($8,700) --Jimmy Butler is my high-salary wing of choice tonight thanks to his date with Detroit. Butler went for 46.6 and 49.2 FPs in two prior matchups with the Pistons -- an ongoing trend for opposing SFs. Detroit has given up the sixth-most FPPG to SFs on the year, and they're up to ninth in pace since the All-Star break. Butler racked up 36 and 40 combined points, rebounds, and assists in those two previous meetings. His points + rebounds + assists prop is set at 33.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Michael Porter Jr. ($6,700) -- Michael Porter Jr. has stepped up since the All-Star break, averaging 20.6 actual points and 35 FanDuel points across 11 appearances. He's third among Denver starters with a 23% usage rate over that span, so I'm all over him as a mid-range option in tonight's bout with San Antonio. The Spurs have steadily improved on D, but they're sixth in pace since the All-Star break. Porter went for 26 real-world points and 36.4 FanDuel points in their lone prior matchup.
Bruce Brown ($5,900) --Bruce Brown Jr. is coming off a pair of strong outings, netting 27.5 and 38.3 FPs the last two games. He notably played 37 and 33 minutes in those two and should continue to see a sizable workload for the hobbled Raptors. Facing Orlando isn't ideal, but I'm not sweating a 217.0 over/under with low totals across the board. numberFire projects Brown for 27.1 FPs.
Others to Consider
Kevin Durant ($9,800) -- Kevin Durant has the highest salary among non-centers, and it's easy to get excited about his matchup with Charlotte. The Hornets have jumped into the top 10 in defensive rating since the All-Star break, but they're still giving up the fifth-most FPPG to PFs on the year. KD's 43.1-FP numberFire projection is the third highest on the slate, and Phoenix has the night's second-best implied total (113.5).
Duncan Robinson ($5,200) --Duncan Robinson is the exact kind of high-upside, low-salary wing I want to target in soft matchups. The sharpshooter has gone over 30 FPs only once since the All-Star break, but he continues to hover around 30 minutes per game. Detroit is bottom 10 in opponent three-point field goal percentage, something that Robinson (2.8 3PM per game; 40% 3P%) can take advantage of.
Bigs
Top Plays
Nikola Jokic ($12,000) --Tonight's Nuggets-Spurs clash features the slate's highest over/under (222.5) and two highest-salaried players, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama ($11,200). I want one of these building-blocks in my lineups, with a slight lean to the Joker. Jokic cooked the Spurs for 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists back in November, and while they've since improved on D, San Antonio has still allowed the seventh-most FPPG to Cs over the last 15 games. numberFire projections also side with Jokic, pegging him for 59.3 FPs -- compared to 51.3 for Wemby.
Zion Williamson ($8,900) -- Zion Williamson enters tonight's matchup with the Clippers fresh off four consecutive outings of at least 45.0 FanDuel points. With LA dipping to 25th in defensive rating since the All-Star break, Zion is set up to stay hot. Notably, the Clippers have given up the 10th-most points in the paint and rank 20th in rebound rate over that 12-game span. Zion's points + rebounds prop is set 29.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Nick Richards ($5,700) --Nick Richards is the low-salary center to target in non-Jokic lineups. Richards was quiet in Charlotte's most recent outing, but he'd previously gone for 27 FPs in three straight games. He continues to see heavy minutes in the Hornets' starting five and makes for an under-rostered add despite the tough matchup.
Others to Consider
Bam Adebayo ($8,500) -- Bam Adebayo may slip through the cracks with several high-salary bigs on tap tonight, but he has a ton of upside against a soft Detroit frontcourt. The Pistons have given up the third-most FPPG to Cs on the year, and they've allowed the eighth-most points in the paint since the All-Star break.
Isaiah Stewart ($5,500) --Isaiah Stewart's dual-eligibility is easy to fit into lineups, and he's tied for the best point-per-dollar value among centers thanks to a 27.2-FP numberFire projection (4.94 FPs per $1,000). Stewart has seen 30 minutes in seven of eight games since the All-Star break, exceeding 25 FPs three times.
Take your sports betting to the next level with the FanDuel Parlay Hub! Explore a curated selection of popular parlays for trending games on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.
Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!
The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.
