FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Tuesday 2/6/24

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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. Our projections -- which are powered by numberFire -- update throughout the day to reflect current news. You can also turn to numberFire for player news updates as well as a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down some of the day's top plays at each position.

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

NBA DFS Picks

Tuesday's main slate on FanDuel features seven games, but some dramatically different game environments.

For a full breakdown, see numberFire's matchup heat map. Odds and totals via the NBA odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Top game environments:

Other games:

Guards

Top Plays

Jalen Brunson ($9,700) -- With Julius Randle sidelined the last four games, Jalen Brunson has averaged 49.5 FanDuel points per game (FPPG). That would rank third among guards (seventh overall) for the entire season, and it makes him a quality building block against the depleted Grizzlies tonight. Don't be scared off by the 14.5-point spread, either. The Knicks have won by at least 15 points in 17 different games this season -- Brunson has averaged 44.3 FPPG in those contests. His points prop is up at 31.5 points tonight, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Josh Giddey ($6,900) -- In two prior matchups with the Jazz, Josh Giddey went for 39 and 42 FPs. Giddey averaged 45.8 FPPG in four games against them last season, so this looks to be an advantageous matchup for him. He's not the only guard who enjoys facing Utah -- most do. Per FantasyPros, the Jazz are bottom 10 in FPs allowed to both guard spots and 25th in defensive rating. With this game boasting a 241.0-point over/under, Giddey is an intriguing pivot away from the always popular Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Amen Thompson ($5,600) -- With 20 FPs in seven of his last nine games, Amen Thompson is trending up. Tonight's matchup with Indiana is a pace-up spot for Houston, and he should get a bump in usage with Fred VanVleet out. Thompson went for 40.3 FPs in VanVleet's previous absence, so we can turn to the rook against a Pacers D allowing the sixth-most FPPG to shooting guards over their last 15 games. As of Tuesday afternoon, Thompson's 34.4-FP projection makes him the slate's top point-per-dollar value among guards.

Others to Consider

Devin Booker ($9,800) -- The Suns have the second-highest implied total (123.5) of the slate, so we can confidently turn to Devin Booker as our high-salary guard. Book was quiet in their most recent outing, totaling just 24.2 FPs in a 28-point blowout W. Tonight's date with Milwaukee should be closer, but Phoenix can still put up points in bunches. The Bucks have allowed the fourth-most points to both guard spots this season, and they've surrendered 118.0 points per game in Doc Rivers' limited stint.

Ben Simmons ($6,700) -- I'm not enamored with Ben Simmons' salary, but he rested yesterday while both Dallas and Brooklyn played their regulars in the first leg of this back-to-back for each side. Simmons was held under 20 minutes in each of his first two games back, but that didn't stop him from totaling 42.1 and 17.3 FPs. The absence ofCameron Johnson (20% usage) today should lead to more work for Simmons, so there's upside against a Mavs squad that's 27th in defensive rating over their last 15 games.

Jacob Gilyard ($5,300) -- Jacob Gilyard has played 30 minutes in each of the last two games, notching 33.9 and 27.4 FPs. Memphis' injury report is so extensive that I'm willing to look his way even in a rough matchup with the Knicks.

Cameron Payne ($4,100) -- Damian Lillard is questionable. If Dame sits, I don't mind looking at Cameron Payne. Per RotoGrinders CourtIQ, Payne has averaged 28 minutes and 21.2 FPs in two prior games without Dame, though he's yet to play more than 12 minutes with Doc Rivers running the show.

Wings

Top Plays

Kevin Durant ($9,900) -- Like Booker, Kevin Durant didn't see much work in the Suns' most recent win, totaling 35.3 FPs in 26 minutes. Tonight's matchup should be much closer, and KD could thrive against a Bucks team that's third in pace but below-average in defensive rating. His 45.1-FP projection is the highest among SFs. FanDuel Sportsbook has Durant's points + rebounds + assists line at 37.5.

Josh Hart ($6,600) -- I don't want too much exposure to this Knicks-Grizzlies matchup, but Josh Hart's wide range of contributions and enhanced role make him viable in a variety of game environments. Over his last five games, Hart averaged 9.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists -- good for 33.3 FPPG. Only one of those five matchups finished with a total north of 221 points, so there's room for optimism against a Memphis defense that's bottom 10 in FPs allowed to both forward spots.

Dillon Brooks ($4,900) -- numberFire sees value in Houston's role players tonight, and it's hard to argue with Dillon Brooks at this salary. Brooks has hovered around 20 FPPG for the last month, but he continues to play 30 minutes on a regular basis. He's posted a 25% usage rate in two previous games without VanVleet, and the Pacers have given up the seventh-most FPPG to opposing SFs. With a projection of 25.6 FP, Brooks is the third best point-per-dollar value among wings.

Others to Consider

Lauri Markkanen ($8,600) -- We're pretty starved for high-salary wings tonight, but I don't mind Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen has been hit or miss of late, exceeding 45 FPs in three of the last six but failing to record 30 FPs in the other three. Although OKC has a strong defense, Markkanen went for 45 FPs in an earlier meeting with them. A high total (240.5) and tight spread (OKC -3.0) hints at a favorable game environment.

Donte DiVincenzo ($7,600) -- Donte DiVincenzo is the top point-per-dollar value among wings tonight, per numberFire, as he's projected for 41 FPs. That's the most among any player salaried under $8,000. He went for only 32.6 FPs the last time New York faced Memphis, but he's averaged 44.5 FPPG in four games without Randle.

Josh Green ($4,900) -- The return of Kyrie Irving didn't cool off Josh Green, so we can turn to him as a salary-saver with Dallas on the second night of a back-to-back. Green has totaled 35 FPs in consecutive games, and he's averaging 22.6 FPs and 33.1 minutes over the last 10.

Bigs

Top Plays

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,100) -- Giannis Antetokounmpo carries numberFire's second-highest projection tonight (55.9). With three 75-FP outings in his last eight games, that projection could be the floor. Giannis continues to fill up the box score on a nightly basis, and he's averaged 8.0 assists per game over those last eight. Phoenix has given up the seventh-most points per game to PFs, and this matchup has the highest total of the night. He's set up for a ceiling game. His points + rebounds + assists line is way up at 50.5.

Precious Achiuwa ($6,300) -- Precious Achiuwa is a great mid-range big to pair with Giannis. He's averaged 29.6 FPPG in four games since Randle went down and saw 40 minutes in each of the last three. numberFire projects Achiuwa for 35.4 FPs, making him the top point-per-dollar value among PFs. The Grizzlies rank 24th in rebound rate over their last 15 games, and they've given up the second-most FPPG to Cs over that span. Consequently, Isaiah Hartenstein ($7,800) makes sense here, too, though his salary is considerably higher than Achiuwa's.

Jonathan Isaac ($4,400) -- Jonathan Isaac has played at least 18 minutes in five of the last six games. In those five outings, he averaged 20.3 FPPG. I want to avoid this Miami-Orlando matchup as much as possible, but Isaac's 23-FP projection is hard to ignore. The Heat defense hasn't been especially scary of late, either. Over their last 10 games, they're 21st in both defensive rating and rebound rate.

Others to Consider

Alperen Sengun ($9,200) -- Alperen Sengun may slip under the radar with Giannis in a good spot, but Houston's big man is primed for an uptick in usage with VanVleet out. In two prior games without VanVleet, Sengun averaged 44.4 FPPG on a 30% usage rate. Indiana is a neutral matchup for Cs, but they're a fantasy-friendly defense as a whole.

Jabari Smith ($6,300) -- Jabari Smith is struggling, racking up 27.7 FPs total across his last three games. He played a season-low 19 minutes in their most recent outing, and his FanDuel salary has dipped to its lowest mark since early December. Still, prior to this three-game stretch, Smith posted consecutive 45-FP nights, so I'm bullish he bounces back. An enhanced role in a pace-up spot with Indiana's 26th-rated defense could be the antidote for his cold spell, especially considering the Pacers have given up the second-most FPPG to opposing PFs.

Maxi Kleber ($4,600) -- Dallas is still without Dereck Lively, so Maxi Kleber should draw a third consecutive start. He went for 31.6 and 28.3 FPs in the last two games and figures to flirt with 30 minutes again tonight.

Trey Jemison ($3,900) -- Xavier Tillman and Jaren Jackson Jr. are doubtful, while Santi Aldama is questionable. If those three are out, Trey Jemison is interesting at $3.9K. Jemison started when those three were sidelined over the weekend -- totaling six points, four rebounds, and two blocks across 23 minutes. Over two games, he's now scored 29.6 FPs in 36 minutes. Facing the Knicks isn't ideal, but Jemison projects for 25.3 FPs, making him the second-best value on the slate.

Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.

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.

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