Josh Giddey has been on fire lately, recording back-to-back triple-doubles in the Bulls’ past two games.
The NBA heads into the third weekend of the new season, and the NBA Cup, the league’s in-season tournament, rolls on. We have a total of 11 games on today’s NBA DFS slate.
We also get an Amazon Prime Video doubleheader, as the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs meet at 7:30 p.m. ET on the streaming service, while the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets tip-off is at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Here are our top NBA DFS picks and advice for tonight’s slate.
NBA DFS core plays
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF – MIL)
DraftKings: $11,600
FanDuel: $12,000
Giannis Antetokounmpo has rolled up 61.4 fantasy points per game, and he’ll be facing the Bulls, who have an opponent rank of 25th. He is a little cheaper than Victor Wembanyama, for instance, and he has a better fantasy points per game mark and a better matchup.
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 31 points in five of his seven games. Every night when you squeeze him into your DFS lineup, you get what you pay for. He is averaging 32.3 points, 12.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, while hitting 67.7% from the field.
DraftKings: $9,300
FanDuel: $9,400
The 23-year-old Australian guard has been on fire since flipping the calendar from October to November. He has back-to-back triple-doubles to start the month, averaging 26 points, 13 rebounds and 12.0 assists per game while adding 1.5 3-pointers and 1.5 steals per game, too.
Josh Giddey is still a bit underpriced for how well he contributes all across the board. He is throwing up 52.9 fantasy points per game, and he faces a pretty favorable matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, a team with an opponent rank of 17th.
DraftKings: $8,900
FanDuel: $8,800
Evan Mobley is a fantastic option if you want to save a bit of salary, but still get some top-tier production. He has managed 43.7 fantasy points per game this season, and he is facing a Washington team with an opponent rank of 30th, so there is a rather high ceiling for his production.
Mobley filled up the stat sheet with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, while going for five boards, three assists, two blocks and a steal while hitting three triples against the 76ers last time out on Wednesday. Be careful, as Mobley has turned it over at least three times in each of his past four games and in six of his eight outings. Turnovers are minus points and a bit of a drawback.
NBA DFS cash game targets
Darius Garland (PG – CLE)
DraftKings: $7,800
FanDuel: $6,500
Darius Garland made his season debut on Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers, going for eight points, four assists and two rebounds across 26 minutes, while hitting a pair of 3-pointers. He was just 3-of-11 from the field. Rust was certainly expected after the long layoff.
Don’t expect the All-Star to stay this moderately priced for very long. Garland’s struggles against the Sixers killed DFS managers on Wednesday, but it’s the gain of those players on Friday. The Washington Wizards have an opponent rank of 29th, so the matchup is set up for success.
DraftKings: $7,000
FanDuel: $6,600
Isaiah Hartenstein is a strong play in the middle, and he is a great value at this price. He posted a double-double last time out in Portland, going for 10 points, 11 rebounds and three assists with two steals, and he was 3-of-4 from the field in 31 minutes.
Hartenstein has managed two double-doubles in three games in November, and he is averaging a double-double with 11.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He is pretty good at keeping the turnovers down, too, and he is hitting an impressive 64.1% from the field.
DraftKings: $7,500
FanDuel: $7,400
Brandon Ingram, who is a solid small forward option, is also available for usage as a power forward on FanDuel. He is facing an Atlanta defense with an opponent rank of 30th, and he is averaging 36.8 fantasy points per game. Playing against the Hawks in the past couple of seasons has been a successful stacking strategy, and that’s the case again this season.
Ingram is coming off a rough game, going for 13 points in just 31 minutes. The loss of DFS players who used him on Tuesday night against Milwaukee is your gain, as his DFS salary has dipped to a ridiculously low level. Take advantage.
NBA DFS GPP targets
Brandon Podziemski (PG, SG – GSW)
DraftKings: $6,200
FanDuel: $5,600
Brandin Podziemski is likely to see a bump in playing time and responsibilities with Stephen Curry (illness) out for this NBA Cup game. In three games in November, he is averaging 14.3 points, 5.3 assists and five rebounds per game, and he is hitting 51.6% of his field-goal attempts in the span.
Podziemski has hit at least one 3-pointer in each of his nine games, hitting 41.4% (16-of-43) from behind the arc. The last time he faced Denver, he went for 11 points and three rebounds with a pair of triples.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (PG, SF – ATL)
DraftKings: $6,100
FanDuel: $5,800
Nickeil Alexander-Walker continues to see a meaningful role in the Atlanta offense with Trae Young (knee) sidelined. He has been a top option in the Atlanta offense, and he has been one of the more consistent contributors.
Alexander-Walker went for 20 points last time out against Orlando, hitting 6-of-11 from the field, and 3-of-5 from behind the arc, while posting two assists, a rebound and a block. Unfortunately, he also had seven turnovers. He has 12 miscues in the past two games, so be careful.
DraftKings: $5,500
FanDuel: $5,300
Wendell Carter Jr. is a strong play in the middle with a nice price, especially working against a Boston Celtics team with an opponent rank of 27th. He is averaging a respectable 26.6 fantasy points per game so far.
The 26-year-old is averaging 15 points, 8.3 rebounds and two threes per game across the past three outings, and he had a double-double in Washington on Saturday. In addition, Carter has hit 50% or better from the field in each of his past four games.
NBA DFS value plays
Alex Caruso (SG, SF – OKC)
DraftKings: $4,700
FanDuel: $4,000
Alex Caruso is worth a roll of the dice, especially if Luguentz Dort (shoulder) is unable to play. Officially, Dort carries a questionable tag into the game. Aaron Wiggins (adductor) is also out, potentially opening the door for a much larger role for Caruso.
Caruso rested on Wednesday, but he is back and raring to go. The Kings have an opponent rank of 30th, so Caruso could exceed DFS salary expectations, while also helping you save room to spend more heavily up top.
DraftKings: $4,200
FanDuel: $4,000
The 22-year-old rookie, who played for the defending champion University of Florida, exploded for 30 points in 35 minutes at Sacramento last time out on Wednesday, subbing in for Stephen Curry (illness). He also added seven rebounds, three assists and a steal, while hitting a Curry-like five 3-pointers.
Richard had managed just 34 total points and 10 total rebounds in his first six games in October before the breakout game. If he can replicate Wednesday’s numbers, or at least come close, he’ll more than exceed his DFS salary expectations.
DraftKings: $4,700
FanDuel: $4,000
Sam Merrill returned to the lineup on Wednesday after a three-game absence, posting 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including four 3-pointers.
With De’Andre Hunter (illness) and Max Strus (knee) sidelined, and Dean Wade (eye) leaving the last game after less than a minute due to an eye injury, Merrill could see a solid amount of playing time at a low cost.