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Zach's top DraftKings NBA DFS picks for today, Friday, 11/15/24. His favorite daily fantasy basketball lineup sleepers and value picks for DraftKings DFS.
After just a single game on Thursday, the NBA has a massive Friday night schedule stuffed with 12 games as Group Play of the NBA Emirates Cup (formerly known as the in-season tournament) continues. The first 10 of those 12 games are on the main slate on DraftKings, giving us 20 teams in the player pool and plenty of strong matchups to attack.
With such a light schedule on Thursday, no team is playing on the second night of a back-to-back, but the Lakers, Pelicans, Spurs, and Raptors do have another matchup on Saturday to consider as they make injury and rotation decisions. Even though it's early in the season, there are still already multiple injury situations that are dramatically impacting the slate, so be sure to check back and finalize your lineup with the latest news just before tipoff. Let's look at all of these matchups from a DFS perspective on DraftKings. If you're looking for FanDuel-specific advantage, check out Thunder Dan's FanDuel picks!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/15/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7 p.m. EST on DraftKings.
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DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks
Jalen Williams, OKC – C ($8,300)
The Thunder have had to adjust to life without Chet Holmgren (hip), and Williams has been the answer at center so far, even though he's very undersized for the position at just 6-foot-6. He produced 51 DraftKings points in his first start at center on Monday against the Clippers and followed that up with 31 points and 62 DraftKings points against the Pelicans on Wednesday.
Jalen Williams vs New Orleans Pelicans Highlights
31 PTS
6 REB
7 AST
4 STL
2 BLK
10-18 FGM [4-7 3PT]Dominant 2-Way performance against NOLA pic.twitter.com/DSWAsABQDs
— 𝐙 (@homahoops) November 14, 2024
Williams' usage rate this season jumps from 24.4% with Holmgren to 29.2% with Holmgren off the floor, and he produces an impressive 1.44 DraftKings points per minute in that situation.
Getting Williams at just over $8,000 is a great option since he has been so solid all season, averaging 42.5 DraftKings points per game, and he has taken his game to another level with more opportunities and responsibility with Holmgren sidelined.
Cade Cunningham, DET – SF ($9,300)
Cunningham has taken his game to an elite level so far this season, and his salary is still a little slow to react. He's not cheap, but he's not priced with the point guards that regularly drop 50+ DraftKings points, which has become a norm for him over the past couple of weeks.
He was at it again on Tuesday and Wednesday, leading the Pistons to their first NBA Emirates Cup win in franchise history with 44.75 DraftKings points, and then dropping 71.25 DraftKings points on the second night of the back-to-back with this stat line.
Cade Cunningham Stats For NBA Game vs BUCKS 13-11-2024 https://t.co/4Z6j7ChcOI#CadeCunningham #Cade #Cunningham #nba #nbahighlights #basketball #detroit #pistons #pistons #detroitpistons pic.twitter.com/3UJgPcptB0
— NBA Players Highlights (@NBAPlayersHigh) November 14, 2024
He has 50+ DraftKings points in five of his last six games and has averaged 1.45 DraftKings points per minute with a 31.7% usage rate over that span.
On Friday, he faces the Raptors in a favorable matchup in Toronto. The Pistons are in a tough group, but they could improve to 2-0 in NBA Cup play and have a real chance of advancing to the knockoff stage with a win on Friday.
Bennedict Mathurin, IND - SG/SF ($6,200)
Mathurin is another young player who has taken his game to another level this season. He's averaging 32.3 DraftKings points per game and 1.06 DraftKings points per minute for the season, but he has been even better over his last four games, averaging 42.8 DraftKings points per game and 1.17 DraftKings points per minute while leading the team with 26.2% usage.
What a NIGHT for the @Pacers backcourt duo... combining for 73 points in the win 🔥
Mathurin: 38 PTS, 7 3PM (both career highs)
Haliburton: 35 PTS, 14 AST, 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/tMNVvFvXW6— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2024
Mathurin followed that 38-point performance on Sunday with a 23-point double-double in a loss to the Magic on Wednesday. He has 37+ DraftKings points in four straight games, and his improved work on the glass makes him a safer play with a higher ceiling than he has been in the past.
The Pacers showed they care about the NBA Emirates Cup last year with a run to the Finals, and they'll start their tournament on Wednesday in Miami against the Heat in what should be a good matchup for Mathurin.
Others Under Consideration: Jamal Murray - PG ($7,100), Bam Adebayo - C ($8,200), Devin Booker - PG/SG ($9,700), Franz Wagner - SF/PF ($8,800)
DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Nikola Jokic, DEN - C ($12,000)
Jokic is incredibly expensive and very hard to build around, but his production has been good enough that he still deserves attention since there is enough value on the board to make this salary work. He could end up being a good value given his recent results and favorable matchup with the banged-up Pelicans.
On Sunday in the Nuggets' most recent game, Jokic posted an absolutely bananas 92 DraftKings points with 37 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists, and three steals. He took over down the stretch and led the Nuggets to their fifth straight win.
Nuggets-Mavs was tied at 108 with 5:51 left in the 4th.
Nikola Jokic then scored 11 of the Nuggets’ final 16 points and 5 of Denver’s final 7 baskets.
This season, Jokic is first in the NBA in clutch points (38) and shoots 57.1% in clutch situations, which ranks third. pic.twitter.com/MgYRtqDbOP
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) November 12, 2024
He is questionable for Friday due to personal reasons, so be sure he's in the lineup. If he plays against the Pelicans, though, he'll have an extremely fantasy-friendly matchup. The Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Herbert Jones (shoulder), leaving rookie Yves Missi ($5,000) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl ($4,400) as their top two options at center.
Tyler Herro, MIA – PG/SG ($7,800)
Herro is coming off a career-high 40 points on Monday against the Pistons, knocking down 10 triples and producing 70.75 DraftKings points.
This is what GROWTH looks like
Tyler Herro tonight
🔥40 PTS
🔥10 3s
🔥5 REB
🔥8 AST
🔥4 STLThrough 10 games
24.9 PTS
5.2 REB
5.3 AST
50.9/47.9/82.9 Splitspic.twitter.com/LaN42lwjWh— COACH LU🏀 (@SaucyTakez) November 13, 2024
He has produced over 40 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and should continue to be the focus of the offense with Jimmy Butler (ankle) out again on Friday vs. the Pacers.
With that kind of upside at under $8,000, Herro deserves a look.
Jalen Johnson, ATL – PF ($8,900)
Johnson responded to the absence of Trae Young ($9,900) on Wednesday with a triple-double and 60 DraftKings points while leading his team to a win over the Celtics. While that was his first time dropping 60 DraftKings points, he has had 50+ in five of his last nine games.
After the Dejounte Murray trade, the Hawks needed the 22-year-old forward to step up this season, and he has done just that, averaging 44.7 DraftKings points per game. Even with Young back to run the show, he still makes sense since he has a beautiful matchup vs. the Wizards on Friday.
Zach LaVine, CHI – SG/SF ($6,800)
LaVine and the Bulls will try to hand the Cavs their first loss of the season in Cleveland, and LaVine's salary is still reduced even though he seems to be back at full strength after a three-game absence. He had 26 points and 38 DraftKings points against the Cavs on Monday, but he looked even sharper with 31 points and 56.75 DraftKings points on Wednesday while leading the Bulls to a one-point road win over the Knicks.
Others Under Consideration: LeBron James - SF/PF ($10,200), Karl-Anthony Towns - PF/C ($9,100), Darius Garland - PG ($7,100), Brandon Boston Jr. - PG/SG ($6,400)
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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks
Jared McCain, PHI – PG ($5,500)
The Sixers are expected to have Joel Embiid ($10,000) and Paul George ($8,300) available after both stars sat out Wednesday. Since the injury to Tyrese Maxey (hamstring), it hasn't mattered who is around him, as McCain has been outstanding. He took it to a new level on Wednesday as the focus of the offense and produced 58.5 DraftKings points on a career-high 34 points.
Jared McCain tonight:
34 PTS
10 AST
2 STL
6 3PJoins Jason Kidd and Steph Curry as the only rookies in NBA history to reach those numbers. pic.twitter.com/WBEvFnVXfA
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 14, 2024
While the rookie will have more help in Friday's matchup with the Magic, he's shown plenty of potential to still be an exceptional value under $6,000.
Peyton Watson, DEN – PF ($4,600)
Watson has also stepped up this season, playing an expanded role since the injury to Aaron Gordon (calf). Watson has double-digit points and over 25 DraftKings points in four straight games and played 40 minutes against the Mavs on Sunday. He could get even more work if Jokic is out, but either way, he's a great value under $5,000.
Josh Okogie, PHX – PF ($3,800)
More great value could open up if other stars sit, but we already know the Suns will be without Kevin Durant (calf), Bradley Beal (calf), and possibly Jusuf Nurkic ($6,200; ankle, questionable) and Grayson Allen ($3,700; hamstring, questionable). All the injuries opened up playing time for Okogie, who is just getting up to speed after missing the first eight games of the season with his hamstring injury.
Josh Okogie Stats For NBA Game vs KINGS 13-11-2024 https://t.co/zHuZSzoUTv#JoshOkogie #Josh #Okogie #nba #nbahighlights #basketball #phoenix #suns #suns #phoenixsuns pic.twitter.com/5Xy76zYtRM
— NBA Players Highlights (@NBAPlayersHigh) November 14, 2024
Okogie led the team with 25 points and finished with 42 DraftKings points on Wednesday, and he could be called upon for another heavy workload Friday.
Anthony Black, ORL – PG/SG ($3,800)
Black has quietly and consistently been an excellent value this season. He is averaging 7.9 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game this season with an average of 21 DraftKings points per contest. He has over 21 DraftKings points in five straight games and had 30.25 DraftKings points with four steals, six assists, and six points off the bench on Wednesday.
Shoutout to Anthony Black, who at just 20 years old, is on the cusp of the top-10 in DRTG in the league
He impacts winning in a way that the boxscore cant capture, but it’s important to notice that he averages 1.2 steals AND 1.2 blocks in his last 5 GP pic.twitter.com/8SA5jX7zV0
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) November 14, 2024
He hasn't had the spike game of the other values, but he has been consistent and comes very cheap in this matchup vs. the Sixers.
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
Wizards at Hawks (239 total)
The Wizards rank second in the NBA this season in pace, and both teams rank in the bottom five in defensive rating, so there should be plenty of points scored in this matchup. Trae Young's return does drain a little value from the Hawks, but he can be stacked with Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu ($4,900), Garrison Mathews ($3,900), and breakout fantasy star Dyson Daniels ($6,700).
On the other side of this matchup, the Wizards make sense in this up-tempo matchup as well. Kyle Kuzma ($7,000) has played limited minutes in his two games since returning while Jordan Poole ($7,400) and Bub Carrington ($5,700) continue to carry the offense. Bilal Coulibaly ($6,000) and Kyshawn George ($5,100) have flashed potential but are no longer as cheap as they were earlier this season.
Bulls at Cavaliers (237 total)
These two teams combined for 232 points on Monday and should put up points again on Friday since both rank in the top 10 in pace. LaVine and Patrick Williams ($4,400) have both outplayed their salary recently while Coby White ($6,700) has been good all season.
The Cavaliers have been extremely balanced in their strong start to the year. Garland has been excellent and Donovan Mitchell ($8,200) has shown he can take over the game when necessary, posting over 60 DraftKings points in each of his last two contests. Evan Mobley ($7,800; illness, probable) and Jarrett Allen ($6,800; leg, probable) would each be must-starts if the other sat out and have been productive all season. Values on the Cavs to consider include Ty Jerome ($3,700) and Caris LeVert ($5,000).
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite OVERALL play on the slate: Jalen Williams
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Cade Cunningham
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Bennedict Mathurin
- My favorite VALUE play: Josh Okogie
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