There are seven games for Tuesday’s main DraftKings NBA slate, which starts at 7:00 p.m. ET. There are three teams (the Pistons, Warriors, and Pelicans) playing the second leg of a back-to-back. DraftKings Sportsbook has one game with a double-digit spread: Suns (-12.5) at Cavaliers. There are two games with an O/U of at least 230: Nets at Bucks (242) and Warriors at Pelicans (235).
Let’s break down some of the top studs and values at each position to help you build your DraftKings lineups.
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Point Guard
Stud
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks, $9,600 - I kept going back and forth between Irving and Stephen Curry ($10,400). Curry is playing the second leg of a back-to-back, against the same team no less. Irving also plays the same opponent from the last game but he gets one day of rest. Both opponents play fast, but the Bucks are 9th in defensive efficiency while the Pelicans are 27th. Irving averages 1.32 DKFP per minute while Curry is at 1.48. Should I flip-flop again? I’m going to stay with Irving because he’s attempted 21 and 26 shots the last two games and garnered a usage rate of 28% and 36%. The Bucks also boost the FPPM to point guards by 2.73% above the league average. Finally, Curry has had 10 back-to-backs on the season. He’s sat three games, had a decrease in DKFP five times, and seen an increase in only two of those games.
Other Options – Stephen Curry ($10,400)
Value
Ty Jerome, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Sacramento Kings, $3,500 – Over the last four games, Jerome has played 23, 19, 24, and 31 minutes. He’s contributed 30, 14.5, 26, and 31 DKFP and attempted double-digit shots in three of those contests. The usage rate was a respectable 21%, 13%, 23%, and 18%. He’s not starting but Jerome is getting significant playing time off the bench. Now he gets a matchup against a Kings team that is 10th in pace, last in defensive efficiency, and boosts the FPPM to point guards by 18.3% above the league average. He has 10x potential. Can’t ask for more at this price.
Other Options – Saben Lee ($3,000)
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Shooting Guard
Stud
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets, $8,400 – Over the last three games, Middleton has gone for 52.5, 41.5, and 55.75 DKFP. He’s attempted at least 20 shots and dished out at least six assists in each game. He’s played the Nets twice this season and put up 43 and 55.75 DKFP. The Nets boost the FPPM to small forwards by 5.41% above league average. They also play at the 13th-fastest pace and are 21st in defensive efficiency.
Other Options –
Value
Caleb Martin, Charlotte Hornets at Detroit Pistons, $3,000 – Gordon Hayward and Cody Martin are out for this game so the depth chart at small forward is depleted. Jalen McDaniels ($4,600) will likely get the start, but Martin should get plenty of run backing him up. On the season, Martin is averaging 0.8 DKFP per minute. He’s scored at least 20 DKFP seven times this season and has a high of 41.5 DKFP. He’s minimum priced and he should get at least 20 minutes in this one and pay off the salary expectation. If the stars align, he could go for 10x or more.
Other Options – Ty Jerome ($3,500), Frank Jackson ($4,900)
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Small Forward
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat, $10,800 – I hate the matchup, as the Heat are 29th in pace and 5th in defensive efficiency. Sometimes, though, matchups schmatchups. I cannot deny the 37%, 33%, and 48% usage rate over the last three games and 22, 23, and 23 field goal attempts. Oh, he also had a triple-double in there of 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 20 assists. That all translated to 48, 80.5, and 61 DKFP. Doncic’s floor-ceiling combo is one of the best in the game. He faced the Heat earlier in the season and went for 58.75 DKFP.
Other Options – Jimmy Butler ($8,900), Khris Middleton ($8,400), Miles Bridges ($7,000)
Value
Hamidou Diallo, Detroit Pistons vs. Charlotte Hornets, $4,000 – Diallo had been languishing in the 18-20 minute per game range for a few weeks. Over the last three games, though, he’s played 22, 29, and 26 minutes, contributing 22.75, 28.5, and 26.75 DKFP. That’s not bad for $4,000. The Hornets boost the FPPM to shooting guards by 5.36% above league average.
Other Options – Kent Bazemore ($5,400), Jalen McDaniels ($4,600), Caleb Martin ($3,000)
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Power Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets, $10,700 – Uh, guys and girls. Don’t tell anyone but Giannis is really good at basketball. He averages a ridiculous 1.66 DFKP per minute, which is tops in the league. Only two other players are above 1.6. He just faced the Nets and went for 74.5 DKFP.
Other Options – Kevin Durant ($9,300), Miles Bridges ($7,000)
Value
Jalen McDaniels, Charlotte Hornets at Detroit Pistons, $4,600 – With Hayward and Martin out, McDaniels will likely get the start at small forward. Even if he doesn’t, he should get significant minutes regardless. On the season, he’s averaging 0.8 DKFP per minute. He has started 10 games this season and averaged 30.7 minutes, 11.7 points, 1.4 three-pointers, 4.5 rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 24.57 DKFP with a high of 40.5 DKFP.
Other Options – Juan Toscano-Anderson ($4,800)
Center
Stud
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks, $8,600 – Over the last eight games, Bam has scored at least 40 DKFP in seven of those contests. He’s gone over 40 DKFP in his five most recent games. Talk about consistency. His floor is so high because he contributes in every category. Once he develops a three-point shot and becomes more of an alpha on the offensive side of the ball, the sky is the limit. He faced the Mavericks in the fifth game of the season. Guess how many DKFP he scored? Yup, 43.75.
Other Option – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,700)
Value
Juan Toscano-Anderson, Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans, $4,800 – Kelly Oubre Jr. and Eric Paschall are out. That leaves plenty of minutes for Toscano-Anderson. Over the last two games, he’s played 35 and 33 minutes, contributing 36 and 28.75 DKFP. On the season, he’s averaging 0.83 DKFP per minute. Now, he’s a super low usage player, so the shot attempts and points are usually low. He makes his hay by grabbing rebounds, dishing out assists, and getting those defensive stats.
Other Option – Guillermo Hernangomez ($5,100 - only if Steven Adams is out)
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