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Welcome to the weekend, RotoBallers. We have a tricky little four-game slate on tap tonight in the NBA. The Magic-Pacers matchup projects as the top game to target for DFS, but the Jazz-Blazers affair looks targetable too and we have to get exposure to most teams on a four-gamer, anyway. There are a few significant injury situations to consider as both Tyrese Haliburton and Tyrese Maxey went down with ankle injuries in their games last night and Keldon Johnson, Jakob Poeltl, Tobias Harris, and Devin Vassell are all listed as questionable.
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 11/19/22. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Shake Milton, vs. MIN (FD: $3,600, DK: $3,100)
Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 10% off using code BALLER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!We have to take advantage of the value presented to us when injuries occur, and this is the case with Milton tonight. He stepped up and played 31 minutes last night after starter Tyrese Maxey was forced from the game with an ankle injury, and he was productive as he finished with 28.75 DK points on 6-of-12 shooting. Milton has a decent 20.1% usage rate and 0.80 FPTS/min rate with Harden and Maxey off the floor this season, but the primary thing we're targeting here is his 30-minute playing time projection at a near-minimum price tag. The Wolves allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams overall and rank fifth in pace this season, so there's some hidden upside in this matchup that Milton and Embiid will be happy to take advantage of.
Buddy Hield, vs. ORL (FD: $7,200, DK: $6,700) DraftKings
I'm more interested in this play at his DraftKings price, and I'm only going to be overweight on his exposure if we get confirmation that Haliburton is out. In a small sample of 29.7 minutes this season, Hield has a 24.5% usage rate and a sky-high 1.76 FPTS/min rate with Haliburton (and Duarte) off the floor. He averaged 1.00 FPTS/min in the same split last season, but we can expect a higher number tonight as the Magic struggle to defend opposing guards. Hield will be shooting, that's for sure.
Note: McConnell/Nembhard would become enticing value plays if Haliburton gets ruled out. Keep an eye on the news there.
Damian Lillard, vs. UTA (FD: $9,200, DK: $10,100) FanDuel
Also consider: De'Anthony Melton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Anthony Edwards, T.J. McConnell, Devin Vassell, Jalen Suggs
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Franz Wagner, vs. IND (FD: $6,800, DK: $6,800)
Wagner has scored at least 33 DK points in six of his last seven games, and he put up 28 DK points in the one miss during that stretch. He's still at a palatable price point and I think we have to keep riding this wave tonight in the most fantasy-friendly matchup on the board. The Pacers will (likely) be without Haliburton defensively and come into tonight allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards.
Jalen Smith, vs. ORL (FD: $5,300, DK: $4,800)
Smith's salary is too low to pass up, especially on DraftKings. He put up a monstrous 47.5 DK points performance over 30 minutes in his last game against the Rockets, snaring a career-high 18 rebounds in the victory. The Magic have a much better frontcourt, but we only need 24 DK points for him to reach 5x value and he's sitting at a 25.8 DK point average for the season. Plus, Tyrese Haliburton will likely be sitting this one out, and Smith's FPTS/min rate goes from 1.05 to 1.15 with him off the floor this season.
Also consider: Bol Bol, Karl-Anthony Towns, Myles Turner, Isaiah Jackson
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Joel Embiid, vs. MIN (FD: $11,500, DK: $11,200)
Embiid has put up an unfathomable 71.5, 100.25, and 65.75 DK points over his last three games. The triple-digit game came in the second half of a back-to-back set, which is the situation he's in tonight. Tyrese Maxey was forced from last night's game with an ankle injury and is questionable for tonight, and if he can't play, Embiid's projection shoots up even higher. The big man is averaging a 46.6% usage rate and 1.94 FPTS/min with Maxey and Harden off the floor this season (39.4% usage rate and 1.65 FPTS/min with Maxey and Harden off the floor last season).
The Wolves have greatly improved defensively against opposing bigs with the addition of Rudy Gobert. Still, there isn't a team in the league that's fully equipped to deal with Embiid's versatile game and I think he keeps his streak of monster games rolling at home tonight.
Also consider: Rudy Gobert, Kelly Olynyk
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