The Rockets’ Kevin Durant has averaged 28.6 points over his past eight games.
It’s Friday and the NBA has seven games on the schedule, including a nationally televised doubleheader on ESPN. At 7 p.m. ET, the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics clash at TD Garden, while the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs meet at Frost Bank Center at 9:30 p.m. ET in the second end of the TV double dip.
Here are our top NBA DFS picks and advice for tonight’s slate.
NBA DFS core plays
Alperen Sengun (C – HOU)
- DraftKings: $9,400
- FanDuel: $9,800
Alperen Sengun is a strong play in this game against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers. The Houston center is averaging 44.2 fantasy points per game, and he is facing a team with an opponent rank of 28.
The Trail Blazers have really struggled overall, allowing 118.3 points per game, while teams are hitting 47.6% from the field (22nd) and 36.4% from behind the 3-point line (21st). Look for Sengun to do well in the middle, with very little resistance from the Portland bigs.
Kevin Durant (SF – HOU)
- DraftKings: $9,200
- FanDuel: $9,400
Right below Alperen Sengun on the DFS salary list is Kevin Durant. If you don’t want to spend as much on Sengun, or you want to pair both Rockets together, Durant is a pretty decent play at this price point.
Durant has averaged 28.6 points per game while hitting two or more 3-pointers in eight consecutive outings. He is 6-for-11 in two games in March from behind the arc, while also averaging 6.5 rebounds per game and two assists per game, with at least one block in three straight contests. He also had four steals in an overtime loss to Golden State on Thursday night, so he comes in hot.
LaMelo Ball (PG – CHA)
- DraftKings: $8,700
- FanDuel: $8,400
LaMelo Ball and the Hornets are red-hot lately. Charlotte has won six in a row by 15+ points, becoming just the seventh NBA team to accomplish the feat. Ball has been a big part of the resurgence in Buzz City this season.
Ball has scored 15+ points in seven consecutive games, and he has at least six assists in eight of the past nine games, while posting two or more 3-pointers in seven in a row. He has at least one made triple in 19 in a row, dating back to Jan. 22.
NBA DFS cash game targets
Devin Booker (PG, SG – PHX)
- DraftKings: $8,300
- FanDuel: $8,000
Devin Booker is averaging 39.2 fantasy points per game this season. He faces a New Orleans Pelicans defense with an opponent rank of 27. It’s a perfect storm for Booker and the Suns to pile up the points in the Valley of the Sun.
Booker went for 27 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, two 3-pointers and a block on Thursday night against the Chicago Bulls. In a back-to-back in New Orleans in December, Booker averaged 25 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists and two 3-pointers per game.
Amen Thompson (PG – HOU)
- DraftKings: $8,200
- FanDuel: $8,600
If you don’t trust Devin Booker or you want to slot him in as a shooting guard, you can squeeze in Amen Thompson. He is averaging a respectable 38.5 fantasy points per game and faces a giving Trail Blazers defense with an opponent rank of 20.
Thompson comes in with three consecutive double-doubles, averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals in the 3-game span. The last time he faced Portland in January in a back-to-back situation, Thompson scored exactly 24 points in each of the two games, while averaging 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals.
Grayson Allen (PG – PHX)
- DraftKings: $7,300
- FanDuel: $6,900
If you’re up against it, as far as fantasy salary is concerned, Grayson Allen is a strong play over Amen Thompson to save a little bread. Allen has averaged just 31.8 fantasy points per game, which is a significant drop from the red-hot Thompson, but he faces a Pelicans team with an opponent rank of 27, so the drop-off might not be as steep.
Allen has been hot lately, averaging 22.3 points, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals across the past three outings, and he has knocked down five 3-pointers per game in the span. He has made 43 3-pointers across the previous 11 outings.
NBA DFS GPP targets
Collin Gillespie (PG – PHX)
- DraftKings: $6,700
- FanDuel: $6,600
Collin Gillespie isn’t nearly as valuable when Grayson Allen is fully healthy, so keep that in mind. Still, he has averaged 29.5 fantasy points per game this season. The Pelicans have an opponent rank of 24.
While Allen played 33 minutes for the Suns last time out, Gillespie was still good for 25 points, but he didn’t take full advantage of the run. He was just 1-of-6 from the field, ending up with five points, five assists and two boards.
The last time Gillespie faced the Pelicans in that December back-to-back scenario, he averaged 16.5 points, eight assists, five rebounds, 1.5 steals and 4.5 3-pointers. Allen didn’t play then, though, so temper expectations for Gillespie.
OG Anunoby (PF – NYK)
- DraftKings: $6,600
- FanDuel: $6,300
OG Anunoby is a strong play at a mid-tier price for a very favorable matchup against the Denver Nuggets in the rarefied air at Ball Arena. He will have to contend with Nikola Jokić in the middle, but Anunoby should be able to negotiate that with aplomb.
After a rough patch at the end of February, Anunoby has been able to get back on track in March, averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, one block and 2.7 3-pointers across three outings. Look for the good times to keep rolling.
Miles Bridges (PF – CHA)
- DraftKings: $6,400
- FanDuel: $6,500
If you’re not quite feeling OG Anunoby against Nikola Jokić in the Mile High City, rolling with Miles Bridges and the red-hot Hornets might be the way to go. He has been ice-cold in March, however, which is why his salary is way down. Bridges disappointed in two games against the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics, but the loss for those DFS managers is your gain.
Bridges is averaging just 10 points in two games in March, going 6-for-23 (26.1%) from the field and 3-for-12 (25%) from behind the 3-point arc. The Heat are very giving defensively, and Bridges went for 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in an NBA Cup game on November 7th in South Florida.
NBA DFS value plays
Vit Krejčí (SG – POR)
- DraftKings: $4,000
- FanDuel: $3,900
Vit Krejčí doesn’t have the best matchup against Houston, but he should see a healthy amount of points. He and Scoot Henderson saw extensive playing time with Shaedon Sharpe on the shelf. Acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline, Krejčí is paying dividends.
Grant Williams (PF – CHA)
- DraftKings: $4,100
- FanDuel: $4,000
Grant Williams is facing a Miami defense with an opponent rank of 26. He is averaging just 17.1 fantasy points per game, but he has nine or more points in three of the past four games. Williams has four or more rebounds in six of his past seven games.
Ryan Dunn (PF – PHX)
- DraftKings: $4,200
- FanDuel: $3,900
Ryan Dunn faces a Pelicans defense with an opponent rank of 25. Occasionally, he’ll exceed DFS expectations, going for 10 points in each of his games on Feb. 24 and Feb. 26.
Dunn pulled down 11 rebounds last time out on Thursday, while adding two steals, a block and an assist in 24 minutes. Don’t expect a watershed of fantasy points, but he should exceed salary expectations.
