FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 11/26/22
If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.
With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.
Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.
We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.
Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.
| Team | O/U | Spread | Implied Total | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTAH | 230 | 7 | 111.5 | |
| SA | 230.5 | 3 | 113.75 | Richardson OUT |
| HOU | 233 | 2.5 | 115.25 | Sengun probable, Gordon not listed |
| LAL | 230.5 | -3 | 116.75 | James probable, Davis OUT |
| OKC | 233 | -2.5 | 117.75 | |
| PHX | 230 | -7 | 118.5 | Paul OUT |
Guards
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,600): In a mouth-watering matchup versus a Houston Rockets team allowing 56.8 FanDuel points per game to point guards, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks first among his positions with 48.9 expected FanDuel points. Despite scoring 30 or more real-life points in his last three contests, the Thunder guard's FanDuel salary has only moved up $100.
Devin Booker ($9,900): At his highest salary point this season, Booker will face a Jazz team ranked 15th in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position and 17th in opponent true shooting percentage. In his last encounter against Utah, the 26-year old accounted for a season-high 75.6 FanDuel points including 49 real-life points.
Kevin Porter Jr. ($8,000): Since November 2nd, Porter's FanDuel salary has increased by 8.1% to his highest point this season. During this time period, the Rockets' guard is averaging 1.02 FanDuel points, 0.17 rebounds, and 0.19 assists per minute and a 26.1% usage rate.
Josh Giddey ($7,700): In his last four games, Giddey's FanDuel salary has jumped by an eye-popping 16.7% to his highest mark after he recorded 1.05 FanDuel points, 0.23 rebounds, and 0.24 assists per minute. Oklahoma City's second year guard has a great spot versus a Rockets' team allowing the second most fantasy points to his position.
Devin Vassell ($7,100): San Antonio's 22-year old guard is having his best offensive month of his career, averaging 20.6 real-life points on 16.5 shot attempts. Through 11 games in November, Vassell ranks second among his team's starters in fantasy production (1.02 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (25.4%).
Jordan Clarkson ($7,000): After five straight games scoring 20 or more real-life points, Clarkson's salary has moved up 16.7%. The 30-year old has seen a sneaky boost in playing time during this stretch, recording 35 minutes per game (season average at 31.8).
Jalen Green ($6,900): Even at his highest salary point, Green offers underrated value with a 4.66 rating and a 32.2 fantasy projection against a Thunder team allowing 42.7 FanDuel points per game to shooting guards.
Cameron Payne ($6,700): With Chris Paul off the floor, Payne is averaging 1.05 FanDuel points, 0.11 rebounds, and 0.20 assists in a 396.8 minute sample size.
Tre Jones ($6,400): In 135.3 minutes with his team's starting lineup this season, Jones is recording 0.89 FanDuel points, 0.23 assists, and 0.35 shot attempts per minute. The 22-year old point guard has an underrated opportunity against a Los Angeles Lakers ranked 25th in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position.
Lonnie Walker ($5,200): If Anthony Davis is unable to play though his questionable designation, Walker sees a 0.06 FanDuel point boost to a 0.86 mark per minute with a 22.9% usage rate.
Forwards
LeBron James ($10,800): Despite playing just five games this month due to an adductor injury, James' FanDuel salary stands at his highest point this season. The 37-year old's production increases 0.07 to 1.40 FanDuel points per minute if Davis is not on the floor.
Lauri Markkanen ($8,200): Since his last matchup against the Phoenix Suns, Markkanen's salary has increased by 7.8%. The 25-year old forward was unstoppable versus Phoenix in their recent encounter, accounting for a season-high 38 real-life points while converting 15 of 18 shot attempts.
Mikal Bridges ($7,400): Phoenix's versatile forward has been more aggressive on the offensive end this month, increasing his shot attempts from 9.5 to 12.8. Despite a tough matchup versus a Jazz team ranked second in FanDuel points (37.6) allowed per game to small forwards, Bridges is ranked fourth among his position with 30.0 expected fantasy points.
Keldon Johnson ($6,100): After a 12.8% salary decrease, Johnsons stands as numberFire's top value forward with a 5.21 rating and a 31.8 FanDuel point projection. Despite a recent shooting slump in his last four games (25.4% field goal percentage), the Spurs' forward has remained aggressive with his shot, recording 0.61 shot attempts per minute and a 27.6% usage rate.
Aleksej Pokusevski ($5,700): In his last eight starts, Pokusevski has flashed an ability to rack up the stat sheet, producing 1.17 FanDuel points, 0.19 rebounds, and 0.07 assists in a 206.0 minute sample size.
Luguentz Dort ($5,600): The Thunder forward's FanDuel salary has moved down 11.1% since the start of November. While his offense can be inconsistent, Dort can still provide other peripheral statistics, accounting for 0.15 rebounds. 0.07 assists, and 0.04 steals per minute this season.
Kelly Olynyk ($5,300): Utah's veteran has not seen a salary change in his last three games despite averaging 1.03 FanDuel points, 0.14 rebounds and 0.11 assists per minute. Olynyk ranks fourth among forwards in value with a 5.09 rating and a 27.0 FanDuel point projection versus a Suns' team ranked 26th in opposing three point shooting percentage.
Jeremy Sochan ($4,400): Despite scoring 44.3 FanDuel points in this same matchup, Sochan's FanDuel salary did not move on Saturday. San Antonio's rookie ranks fourth among forwards in value with a 5.17 rating and a 22.8 FanDuel point projection versus a Lakers' team giving up 42.8 fantasy points per game to power forwards.
Centers
Deandre Ayton ($7,500): Phoenix's center produces 1.11 FanDuel points, 0.31 rebounds, and 0.08 assists in 294.8 minutes with Chris Paul off the floor this season. Even at his highest salary point this season, Ayton has an amazing opportunity versus a Jazz team allowing the second most FanDuel points (60.0) per game to the five spot.
Alperen Sengun ($6,700): The Rocket's big man has been super efficient when on the floor (26.4 minutes per game), ranking first among his team's starters in fantasy production (1.13 FanDuel points per minute), rebounds (0.31), and blocks (0.06).
