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Giannis Antetokounmpo is the player to watch tonight in DFS play.

This is one of the craziest basketball weeks I’ve ever seen. Large stat lines are one thing, but it feels like there are a lot of buzzer beaters every night. I’ve never seen so much talent in the NBA. It’s great to be able to write about these special players each day! We have another big Friday card here, so let’s move on.

injury report

Lonzo ball (knee) OUT
Joel Embiid (legs) OUT
Brandon Ingram (Toe) Doubtful
Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
Larry Nance (neck) Doubtful
RJ Barrett (finger) OUT
Gordon Hayward (hamstring) OUT
Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand) OUT
Chris Middleton (knee) OUT
Jrue Holiday (disease) Doubtful
Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
Devin Bussell (knee) OUT
Bradley Beal (Hamstring) OUT
Darius Garland (thumb) Doubtful
Paul George (hamstring) Doubtful
Kawhi Leonard (B2B) Doubtful
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
Nas Reed (back) OUT
Devin Booker (groin) OUT
Clint Capela (Calf) Doubtful
Anthony Davis (legs) OUT
LeBron James (Ill) Doubtful
Donovan Mitchell (rested) OUT

core play

LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $10,700 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
The Lakers gave LeBron a rest day on Wednesday, and he earned it. Earning points. He also has 68 DK points and his 76 DK points in the last two games, taking over this offense in the absence of Anthony Davis. In his last two games with the Hawks, LeBron averaged 72 draft Kings points per game!

Damien Lillard (PG – POR): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel
Lillard has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA this season, scoring at least 30 DraftKings points in all but one game. His use makes him very valuable, guaranteed 35 minutes, 20 shots, 30% utilization every night. His greatest asset here is this incredible matchup against Indiana, where the Pacers ranked 21st in points allowed and 23rd in defensive efficiency.

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,500 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
We have McCallum here on Wednesday and we’re going back to the well for the same reason. With both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram out, CJ will have to go all out for this Pelicans offense. In his last seven games, excluding those two, McCollum has averaged nearly 50 fantasy points per game. Just like Lillard, he’s supposed to be used in crazy ways.

Cash game considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,800 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
Jokic has scored at least 39 points with DraftKings in all but seven games since 2020. This was his three-year dominance, bolstered by an average of 61 points over the period. Joker has scored at least 58 fantasy his points in his last three matches with the Cavaliers, so it doesn’t matter who he faces.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 72 DK points in four straight games, averaging 43.3 points, 18.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists over that span. He should do it with both Drew Holliday and Chris Middleton bruised, and should have no trouble against No. 27 Charlotte’s defense. Over the last seven matchups, Giannis has averaged nearly 70 DK points per game.

Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C – WAS): $9,600 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel
Porzingis is averaging a career-high 43 DK points per game and has scored at least 35 fantasy points in 14 of his last 16 games. He was also averaging 48 points over that span, with a significant increase in shot attempts and use in Bradley Beal’s absence. Oklahoma City’s play has also been outstanding, with the Thunder ranking him 25th in points allowed.

GPP target

Killian Hayes (PG – DET): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Since Cade Cunningham’s downfall, Hayes has taken over, averaging 29 DK points per game over the past 26 games. This included several benchings and ejections, with Killian scoring at least 33 DK points in his 13 of them. That should be easily reachable against San Antonio sitting last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Tobias Harris (SF/PF – PHI): $4,300 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
Harris has been sidelined this season with James Harden and Joel Embiid dominating touches, but this is a great place for him as Embiid was unable to play in this game. That means there are about 30 points, 12 rebounds and 20 shots left on the table, and Harris will be happy to take some of that. We’ve already talked about someone averaging 32 DK points per game in limited roles, but we really believe that’s his floor where Embiid sits.

Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
Valanciunas was rough on this deep spin, but thinned out last week. Ingram, Zion and Larry Nance Jr. are all currently absent, leaving Valanciunas with a monster role. He has played at least 25 minutes in 21 games this season, averaging nearly 40 fantasy his points per game. That’s why he’s been an $8,000 player in the past, and New Orleans needs him to carry the offense that many key his players lack.

value play

Yusuf Nurkic (C – POR): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Nurkic played just 14 minutes in the match when he fell ill earlier in the week, so his price tag was far too low. The big man had scored at least his 25 DraftKings points in his 19-game streak up to that point, averaging 36 points over the span. He has done that damage overnight he took less than half an hour, so he has to counter the Pacers. Indiana can give opposing centers his third-most fantasy points this season. Yusuf has amassed a total of 37 DK points in his single matchup earlier this year.

Tre Jones (PG/SG – SAS): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
Jones took over the starting point guard job at San Antonio and delivers value night after night. He has scored at least his 26 DraftKings points in 17 of his last 20 games, averaging 31 points over that span. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, and he should reach it again against Detroit’s defense, which is 29th in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Jalen Duren (PF/C – DET): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Duren looks like one of the best rookies in the NBA. Detroit sent him into the starting lineup with Marvin Bagley relegated, and since taking over as the starter, Duren has averaged 28 DK points per game. He does that damage with elite rebounding, but you have to assume that this 19-year-old of his has just scratched the surface of what he could be. The Spurs surrender the second-most fantasy points to the opposing power his forward. This should make Friday night’s matchup even more favorable for Duren.

Great pricing