FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Wednesday 11/22/23

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

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,000) -- Jalen Williams is out today for the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Williams off the floor this year (163-minute sample), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has produced a whopping 1.84 FanDuel points per minute on a 42.1% usage rate, according to RotoGrinders' CourtIQ. The Chicago Bulls have been very tough on point guards, but that's not enough to scare me off of SGA.

Jordan Poole ($6,500) -- Jordan Poole has been frustrating in DFS this year, but a date with the Charlotte Hornets gives him a chance to have a big game. Charlotte is permitting the third-most FanDuel points per night to two-guards (46.3), and this game has a slate-leading 242.5-point total and 4.5-point spread. Both teams are in the top 10 in pace. It should suit Poole down to the ground.

Buddy Hield ($4,800) -- Last night, Buddy Hield started for the Indiana Pacers. If that holds true again tonight, Hield will be a smashing point-per-dollar option. The Pacers -- per usual -- are in a fantasy-friendly clash as their matchup with the Toronto Raptors carries a 238.5-point total and 4.5-point spread. If Hield goes back to the bench, he'll be a lot less appealing.

Others to Consider

LaMelo Ball ($9,900) -- LaMelo Ball can go off against the Washington Wizards, a team surrendering the fifth-most FanDuel points per game to floor generals (54.1). Ball has been generating elite numbers lately in fantasy, averaging 54.0 FanDuel points per night across his past five outings.

James Harden ($7,400) -- The Los Angeles Clippers are starting to figure things out, and James Harden has posted outputs of 37.6 and 45.3 FanDuel points in his last two games. The Clips are 8.5-point favorites against the San Antonio Spurs, so there's blowout risk. But it's a sublime matchup otherwise as San Antonio is 28th in defensive rating while playing at the 5th-fastest pace.

Wings

Top Plays

Brandon Ingram ($8,200) -- Brandon Ingram was on his way to a huge game against the Sacramento Kings last time out, but the blowout monster got him (39.3 FanDuel points in 25 minutes). He'll see the Kings again today, and things should be more competitive, as the spread is only 2.0 points (although it was a close spread Monday, too). Combine the tight spread with the 237.0-point total, and this game profiles as a great DFS environment. Ingram is a priority for me.

Austin Reaves ($6,000) -- With Cam Reddish exiting early last night, Austin Reaves might be thrust back into the starting five. That would enhance his outlook. Reaves put up 39.5 FanDuel points yesterday in just 26 minutes due to a blowout. The Los Angeles Lakers' matchup with the Dallas Mavericks has a 236.0-point total and 1.5-point spread. It should be all systems go for Reaves (assuming he starts).

Grayson Allen ($4,900) -- As of early Wednesday, there's not a lot of great value tonight. Given how big this slate is, some value will probably open up throughout the day, but as of now, Grayson Allen is an appealing low-salary pick. He's played 35 and 43 minutes in the past two games, totaling 27.7 and 27.3 FanDuel points in those contests. There's plenty of shootout potential in the Phoenix Suns' matchup with Golden State Warriors (233.5-point total; 2.5-point spread).

Others to Consider

Kevin Durant ($10,300) -- Kevin Durant is a high-ceiling way to get a piece of the aforementioned Suns-Warriors clash. Prior to his last game, KD had scored at least 60.0 FanDuel points in two straight. He's got slate-winning upside tonight.

Kyle Kuzma ($7,900) -- A fast-paced matchup with the Hornets figures to play right into the hands of Kyle Kuzma. He racked up 47.8 FanDuel points on Charlotte earlier this year. Fresh off a 52.1-point FanDuel outburst in his previous game, Kuzma may be fairly popular, but that's OK by me. He offers enticing upside at a fairly modest salary.

Gordon Hayward ($6,400) -- So, yeah, I like the Wiz-Hornets game. Gordon Hayward is an economical way to get in on the fun. He nuked the Wizards for 61.5 FanDuel points earlier this year. We can't expect that again, but Washington is allowing the most FanDuel points per game to small forwards (49.9).

Bigs

Top Plays

Nikola Jokic ($12,500) -- This is the obligatory mention of Nikola Jokic. After an ejection-shortened outing in his most recent game (15 minutes), Jokic is going to be rested and ready to rock against the Orlando Magic. For me to prioritize using Jokic, I'd like to see some value open up this afternoon. If it doesn't, his salary becomes tougher to build around. Plus, this game's 217.5-point over/under is pretty meh.

Domantas Sabonis ($10,100) -- A Domantas Sabonis-Ingram pairing is a high-upside stack in what should be a great DFS game environment. Sabonis underwhelmed in a blowout versus the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. Before that dud, he'd gone for at least 51.5 FanDuel points in six straight games. The Pels surrender the fourth-most FanDuel points per game to centers (58.8). I think he's a triple-double candidate tonight (+410 to do so, per FanDuel Sportsbook).

Mark Williams ($6,800) -- Center is loaded tonight. You can make a strong case for both Mark Williams and Daniel Gafford ($5,800) from the Washington-Charlotte affair. I prefer Williams, who erupted for 51.2 FanDuel points in his last game and had a 54.3-point explosion in one of his two games against Washington earlier this season. The Wizards are allowing the second-most FanDuel points per game to centers (59.4).

Others to Consider

Victor Wembanyama ($8,700) -- As of early Wednesday, several Clippers project well. If you're looking for a bring-back piece from the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama is the obvious top choice. The blowout risk may keep his draft percentage down, and we know what kind of upside Wemby brings to the table.

John Collins ($6,500) -- John Collins has been a projections darling lately. He's mostly delivered, too, scoring at least 37.4 FanDuel points in three of his last four outings. The exception was a 26.3-point performance last night when he logged just 24 minutes in a blowout. The Portland Trail Blazers present Collins with a great chance to bounce back.

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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.