Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a model of consistency, going for 30+ points in each of his past seven games.
We have a total of six games on the NBA slate this Tuesday. At 8 p.m. ET, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers meet on NBC/Peacock, while in the second end of the doubleheader, the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings tangle at 11:00 PM ET. However, we won’t be covering the late game. Here are our top NBA DFS picks and advice for tonight’s slate.
NBA DFS core plays
Pascal Siakam (PF – IND)
DraftKings: $9,800
FanDuel: $9,500
Pascal Siakam has a very favorable matchup against the Utah Jazz, who enter with an opponent rank of 23rd. He is averaging 46.3 fantasy points per game, so he is a solid value at this price point and a good player to build around.
Siakam struggled last time out, which is likely why his salary dropped a bit. He was just 5-of-16 from the field in Denver, and his 31.3% field-goal rate was easily his worst mark of the season. Siakam finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, going 0-for-2 from behind the arc, his first game without a 3-pointer. Look for a nice bounce back.
DraftKings: $8,900
FanDuel: $8,400
Like Pascal Siakam (above), Jalen Brunson has a favorable matchup, with the Memphis Grizzlies checking in with an opponent rank of 24th, and he has posted 43.1 fantasy points per game. His scoring is a bit down in November, but he did record his only double-double of the season with 23 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves last Wednesday.
Another reason Brunson’s salary has been decreasing lately is likely because he has four turnovers in each of his past two games, while averaging just 19.3 points per game in the past three games, nearly eight points below his seasonal average. Still, at this price, a player of Brunson’s magnitude is a steal.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC)
DraftKings: $10,800
FanDuel: $11,300
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a beast, rolling up 53.3 fantasy points per game so far this season, which is actually slightly fewer than fellow point guard Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers. However, Maxey has a very difficult matchup against the Boston Celtics, with an opponent rank of fifth, while Gilgeous-Alexander meets the Golden State Warriors, with an opponent rank of 12th.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been a model of consistency, going for 30+ points in each of his past seven games, including five times in November. He is good for 32 points, 6.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game in five outings in November, while averaging 2.6 3-pointers and one steal per game.
NBA DFS cash game targets
Scottie Barnes (PF – TOR)
DraftKings: $8,400
FanDuel: $8,600
Scottie Barnes is another power forward with a strong matchup on Tuesday night, and he might work better than Pascal Siakam without losing much production, if you’re trying to squeeze in every last dollar. Barnes averages 43.1 fantasy points per game, to Siakam’s 46.3, and he faces a Brooklyn Nets team with an opponent rank of 28th.
After some erratic stat lines in October, Barnes has started to settle in nicely. He went for 18 points, five rebounds and four assists with two blocks and two steals across 32 minutes in Philadelphia last time out on Saturday before fouling out. He didn’t post a double-double there, but he has managed double-doubles in three of the past five games. Barnes also has at least two blocks in four in a row, and at least one steal in each of the past six outings.
DraftKings: $7,200
FanDuel: $7,100
A stack of Raptors wouldn’t be a terrible idea, as the Nets are very giving. Defensively, the Nets are struggling, allowing 125.5 points per game (29th in the NBA) with a 52.1% field-goal rate (30th) and 41% 3-point rate.
RJ Barrett is on fire from distance, going for two or more 3-pointers in all four of his November games, and seven straight games dating back to October 27th. He is averaging 22.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, five assists and 2.5 3-pointers per game in four November outings. Barrett is averaging 3.5 points per game more in November.
DraftKings: $7,600
FanDuel: $7,200
Let’s keep sticking with the Raptors stack… or, is it a ‘stack-tor?’ OK, that was bad.
Brandon Ingram has scored 20+ points in three of the past four outings. He is also working on a five-game streak with six or more rebounds. Ingram also has four or more assists in seven consecutive outings. You’re going to get your money’s worth, and he comes with a cap-friendly price given the matchup.
NBA DFS GPP targets
Jarace Walker (SF, PF – IND)
DraftKings: $6,700
FanDuel: $5,800
The first-round pick in 2023 didn’t make much of a splash in his rookie season, posting 3.6 points per game in 33 outings with no starts. Walker wasn’t much better last season, going for 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists and one 3-pointer per game in 75 games, including five starts. It’s year No. 3, and the Pacers’ patience is paying off.
Walker is averaging 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 3-pointers per game in seven starts and 10 appearances. The Utah Jazz have an opponent rank of 23rd, and he is averaging 25.4 fantasy points per game. The Jazz are allowing 120.1 points per game (25th), while allowing a 47.3% field-goal rate (19th) and a 35.7% 3-point rate (16th).
DraftKings: $6,100
FanDuel: $5,700
Jusuf Nurkić and the Jazz should be able to hang against a banged-up Indiana side with six players listed as out on the injury report, and two other players listed as questionable.
Nurkić hasn’t racked up very much in the way of points lately, averaging five points per game in the past three contests, but he has rolled up 10+ rebounds in three of the past four games. Nurkić is averaging 5.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in four November contests.
Immanuel Quickley (PG – TOR)
DraftKings: $6,400
FanDuel: $6,600
Sticking with the Raptors, Immanuel Quickley is another stack option. He is averaging 32.3 fantasy points per game, and he is facing a leaky Nets defense with an opponent rank of 25th.
After a couple of rough outings, Quickley is back on track, and you’ll be smart to play him. He is averaging 18.3 points, 6.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game in the past three contests, while hitting a total of 10 3-pointers during that span. He is locked in and balling out again.
NBA DFS value plays
Isaiah Joe (SG – OKC)
DraftKings: $4,600
FanDuel: $4,000
Isaiah Joe didn’t have the best outing last time out Sunday in Memphis, going for just eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. But, before that, he had at least 13 points in each of his first five games.
Golden State has an opponent rank of 18th, and Joe is averaging 23.9 fantasy points per game, significantly more than a lot of others in this salary neighborhood.
Tyrese Martin (PG, SG – BKN)
DraftKings: $4,300
FanDuel: $4,000
With Cam Thomas (strained left hamstring) sidelined for this one, Tyrese Martin should see plenty of production. He has averaged just 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in the past two games.
However, Martin is just a few games removed from a two-game span where he averaged 14 points, four rebounds and two assists, while hitting a total of six 3-pointers.
DraftKings: $5,100
FanDuel: $4,000
Ben Sheppard had a tough start against the Warriors, but most of the Pacers had rough performances. He was just 1-of-10 from the field, finishing with just three points.
However, he should still log plenty of minutes for the injury-plagued Pacers, and could exceed DFS salary expectations by miles.