The Magic’s Desmond Bane has a favorable matchup against the 76ers with an opponent rank of 23.
It’s Tuesday and we have a total of three games on the NBA slate. Here are our top DFS picks and advice for tonight.
NBA DFS core plays
Jalen Johnson (PF – ATL)
- DraftKings: $9,900
- FanDuel: $10,300
Jalen Johnson heads into this one as the top option for an Atlanta stack on a three-game night. The Wizards are a good team to stack against most nights anyway, as they rank 30th in the NBA with 129.2 points per game (PPG) allowed, while teams are hitting 48% from the field and 37.2% from behind the 3-point line against them.
The Wizards have an opponent rank of 29th. Johnson is averaging 49.1 fantasy points per game. He posted 28 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds last time out against Charlotte on Sunday, and he is working on a streak of three straight double-doubles. He has also recorded seven double-doubles in the past eight outings, including a triple-double in Utah on Nov.13.
Kawhi Leonard (SF – LAC)
- DraftKings: $8,400
- FanDuel: $8,200
To be able to get a player of Kawhi Leonard‘s magnitude at this price, especially on a short slate, is a wonderful thing. But don’t expect him to remain in the bargain bin for very long.
Leonard is starting to heat up, averaging 27 points, four rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.3 steals per game, while hitting a total of 10 3-pointers in the past three outings. He is working on a streak of 24 straight free throws since Oct. 24.
James Harden (PG – LAC)
- DraftKings: $9,800
- FanDuel: $9,700
James Harden rolled up 55 points in Charlotte on Saturday, hitting 17-of-26 from the field, while knocking down a ridiculous 10 3-pointers at Spectrum Center. He was feeling it. Harden was unable to carry the momentum into Cleveland on Sunday, playing on no rest. He had just 19 points on 5-of-16 shooting, while going 0-for-8 from long distance.
Look for Harden to bounce back. He has managed 51.4 fantasy points per game this season, and he’ll be up against a Lakers team with an opponent rank of 20th. Last season against the Lakers, Harden averaged 14.8 points, 9.5 assists, four rebounds and 1.8 3-pointers made per game in four meetings.
NBA DFS cash game targets
Desmond Bane (SG – ORL)
- DraftKings: $7,700
- FanDuel: $7,300
Desmond Bane was brought over from Memphis to Orlando to give the Magic a bump in perimeter shooting, and he has been a shot in the arm for that aspect of Orlando’s offense. He is averaging 1.9 3-pointers per game in 12 games in November. He has managed three or more triples in four of the past seven games and two or more treys in six of those outings.
Bane has managed a respectable 31.5 fantasy points per game, while Philadelphia checks in 23rd in opponent rank. It’s a very favorable matchup, and nobody could blame you for using a road team stack, mixing and matching all three of the visitors.
Dyson Daniels (PG – ATL)
- DraftKings: $7,300
- FanDuel: $7,400
Dyson Daniels rolled up 22 points with nine boards, six dimes and two steals across 36 minutes against the Hornets on Sunday. It’s all about taking advantage of those primetime matchups, and we have another one set for Tuesday.
The Wizards are 30th in opponent rank, so look for Atlanta’s backcourt to flourish in this road NBA Cup game. He has posted a respectable 30.8 fantasy points per game, and he showed on Sunday that he is easily capable of exceeding those averages, scoring 45.8 fantasy points against the Hornets.
Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL)
- DraftKings: $7,200
- FanDuel: $7,100
The 24-year-old from USC has averaged 17.5 points, seven rebounds, four assists and 2.5 3-pointers made per game across the past two outings. While he scored 20 points last time out, it was a little bit of an off shooting night, as he was just 8-of-18 against the Hornets on Sunday. Look for Onyeka Okongwu to rectify that.
The center had hit 54.5% or more from the field in his previous five outings, and he is good for at least 20 points in five of his past six outings, while stepping out for at least two triples in the six-game span, totaling 22 successful 3-pointers in the span.
NBA DFS GPP targets
Kristaps Porziņģis (C – ATL)
- DraftKings: $6,800
- FanDuel: $7,000
Kristaps Porziņģis dropped 30 points on New Orleans last time we saw him, going for seven boards, four assists and three blocks. He is working on a streak of five straight games with at least two swats, and he has two or more 3-pointers in three straight games.
Wendell Carter Jr. (C – ORL)
- DraftKings: $5,600
- FanDuel: $5,400
If you want to save a little bit of salary in the middle to spend more up top, check out Wendell Carter Jr. He went for 112 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting night against the New York Knicks last time out on Saturday.
Carter was able to hit a pair of 3-pointers, too. Things likely would have been even better statistically, but he ended up fouling out. Still, it wasn’t a bad stat line, all things considered.
CJ McCollum (PG – WSH)
- DraftKings: $5,900
- FanDuel: $5,700
CJ McCollum is a tremendous player. He is very consistent in the scoring and assists department. McCollum has hit at least two 3-pointers in each of the past eight games. While Washington has been losing, it’s not his fault.
You can generally expect McCollum to finish in the teens in points with several assists and a couple of 3-pointers. However, he can sometimes turn back the clock, such as his 42-point performance on Nov. 10 in Detroit.
NBA DFS value plays
Tristan da Silva (SF, PF – ORL)
- DraftKings: $5,000
- FanDuel: $4,800
Tristan da Silva continues to see a meaningful role, with Paolo Banchero (groin) continuing to sit with a groin injury. He has struggled a bit in the past two games, going for just 6.5 points per game while misfiring on four of his five 3-point attempts.
While he has been cold lately, you have to look at potential on a short slate. If he can heat up again, da Silva will more than pay for himself against a Philadelphia defense that has an opponent rank of 17th.
Bilal Coulibaly (SF -WSH)
- DraftKings: $5,000
- FanDuel: $5,200
Bilal Coulibaly has tailed off a little bit lately, similar to Tristan da Silva, but if he rebounds to his averages, or slightly above, he’ll be a strong play at this price.
Coulibaly has managed single-digit point totals in four of his past five games, averaging just 7.2 points, and he has shot just 33.3% or worse from the field in four of the past five outings.
Zaccharie Risacher (SF – ATL)
- DraftKings: $4,700
- FanDuel: $4,200
Zaccharie Risacher has tailed off a bit recently, averaging just five points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds, while going just 1-of-14 from behind the 3-point line in the past three games. That’s poor, but he still is averaging a healthy 20.7 fantasy points per game this season.
Including the former No. 1 overall pick in your lineup can help you save money to spend high up top.
