FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Tuesday 11/21/23

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and a lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

Here at FanDuel Research, we'll also come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

NBA DFS Picks

Guards

Top Plays

Trae Young ($9,200) -- If you haven't seen it yet, the NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook have the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks projected for a 251.5-point total, which makes sense for two teams that are top-six clubs in offensive rating and pace factor. An insane double-double could be coming Trae Young's way at this four-digit, friendly salary. He's topped 10 assists in four of his last five games with a team-best 30.4% usage rate as Atlanta operates at relatively full strength.

D'Angelo Russell ($6,600) -- If there's a marquee unknown on the slate, it's LeBron James' continued "will he or won't he" due to a calf issue. Should James sit tonight, it'll be from a sublime 237.5-point total facing the Utah Jazz's fourth-worst defensive rating (117.8). D'Angelo Russell was benched due to 1-for-8 shooting in the Los Angeles Lakers' last game, but he'll be a factor if James sits. He averages 42.4 FanDuel points per 36 when LBJ is off the floor, and they won't have the luxury of benching him without King.

Keyonte George ($5,200) -- On the other side of that one, Utah rookie Keyonte George continues to impress. He's topped 27 FanDuel points in four straight games since entering the Jazz starting lineup, logging a season-high 34 minutes in their last game in double OT. The Jazz have plenty of backcourt pieces to add risk to playing time, but Keyonte continues to separate from the other mediocre pieces next to Jordan Clarkson.

Others to Consider

Darius Garland ($8,300) -- I'd imagine Darius Garland will be popular in the third game for the Cleveland Cavaliers without Donovan Mitchell (hamstring), but he's not popping in numberFire's player projections because this is the right salary. He's only averaging 37.4 FanDuel points per 36 minutes without Mitchell on the floor, which leaves minimal upside in a difficult matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jalen Suggs ($5,900) -- Jalen Suggs' salary has returned to Earth, so I think we can turn back this direction on a short slate with Markelle Fultz (knee) sitting again. Suggs was limited to 18 minutes in his return from injury, but he averaged 31.5 per game in his four contests before. Now back up to speed, I'd imagine he'll be on the court plenty as Cole Anthony ($6,100) and Anthony Black ($4,000) have failed to make supreme statements to take him out of the lineup.

Wings

Top Plays

Kevin Durant ($10,200) -- With Bradley Beal (back) confirmed out for a while, we shouldn't see Kevin Durant's salary at this mark for long. He averages 50.4 FanDuel points per 36 with Beal off the floor, exiting back-to-back contests north of 60.0 FanDuel points. I'd expect closer to the latter with familiarity now grown in the Phoenix Suns' rotation. He's an easy choice with LeBron questionable and Scottie Barnes' role shrinking a bit at the top of the small forward pool.

Bruce Brown Jr. ($5,300) -- As mentioned, we do want to get to Pacers-Hawks as often as possible, but that does unfortunately leave only three comfortable Indiana options averaging at least 30 minutes per game. Bruce Brown Jr. (30.8) is one of them, and I'm unbothered by just 22 minutes in last game's blowout against the Orlando Magic. The glue guy is projected for 27.9 FanDuel points by numberFire today, and he pairs well with either of Indiana's other key parts, Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner, due to a low usage rate (14.6%).

Nicolas Batum ($4,400) -- The Sixers are trying to find a power forward, and Batum appears to be the leader in the clubhouse following consecutive starts. He logged 33 minutes in the only competitive game he's played in that span, and he's a noted stock threat (1.8 steals plus blocks per 36 minutes) dating back to his days with the Los Angeles Clippers in a lesser role. There isn't a better sub-$5,000 play on the short slate.

Others to Consider

Lauri Markkanen ($8,600) -- Though Lauri Markkanen's usage rate (24.9%) is down considerably from last year (26.9%), I can still turn to him above $8,000 with Walker Kessler (elbow) still out. After all, Markkanen is a seven-footer who sees a team-best boost of 0.9 rebounds per 36 minutes with Kessler off the floor. He's a high-upside stacking candidate to Lakers pieces if needed.

Jalen Johnson ($6,500) -- Atlanta's rotation of wings would be clearer if they benched the struggling De'Andre Hunter ($4,800), but as of now, it's a game of Russian roulette where Hunter and Jalen Johnson start, but the Hawks will ride Saddiq Bey ($5,100) off the bench if he outperforms either. I've been nervous of Johnson's lofty salary all year, but entering this premium matchup, he's topped 30 minutes in three straight. I now feel his floor is the best of the trio.

Bigs

Top Plays

Anthony Davis ($10,800) -- On paper, Anthony Davis isn't viable at this salary averaging fewer than 52 FanDuel points per 36 minutes with or without LeBron on the floor. However, anyone who follows the Lakers knows that average comes with extreme highs or lows, enhancing Davis' arguments in tournaments. I could absolutely see a ceiling effort against Utah, who have allowed the eighth-most paint points per game (52.2) this season.

Evan Mobley ($8,100) -- Though Evan Mobley isn't going to sneak past anyone tonight, he's tremendous chalk for a reason. Mobley, not Garland, is the supreme beneficiary of Mitchell's absence despite his role in the frontcourt, averaging a whopping team-best 51.8 FanDuel points per 36 minutes with Spida off the floor. Expect a heavy, heavy dose of Mobley-Batum combinations in single-entry tournaments despite the game's poor total (219) for other pieces.

Myles Turner ($7,500) -- FanDuel didn't really plan ahead for salaries within the supreme Pacers-Hawks environment, and that's left guys like Trae Young and Myles Turner viciously under-salaried as my two favorite pieces from the game. Turner's double-double upside is obvious, but a small caveat that could lead to absurd upside is that Atlanta is also allowing the 10th-most blocks per game to centers (2.4). I'd roster Turner at a $9,000 salary in this game; this mark is a gift.

Others to Consider

Jusuf Nurkic ($6,600) -- This is definitely a night where I wish Turner had power-forward eligibility, though. In a revenge spot against his former Portland Trail Blazers, Jusuf Nurkic averages 43.3 FanDuel points per 36 minutes with Beal off the floor. Portland is also allowing the most FanDuel points per game to centers (61.5) on the season. I do see him in the same tier as Turner -- likely at a fraction of the popularity.

John Collins ($6,400) -- The Jazz have a soft cap on Kelly Olynyk ($5,000) of about 20 minutes, and I just can't talk myself into him with that the case. However, Collins has topped 32 minutes and 37 FanDuel points in three straight games manning the center spot in Kessler's stead, so I can continue to get here. Despite Davis' defensive excellence, the Lakers are still an average matchup for a center, allowing 51.3 FanDuel points per game to pivots.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.