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After a small two-game slate Thursday, the NBA bounces back with 11 games Friday. It’s a continuation of the In-Season Tournament, adding a little extra juice to the evening. Among the noteworthy matchups is the Hawks taking on the 76ers and the Pelicans facing the Nuggets.
A big slate also means lots of injuries to filter through. Players who have already been ruled out include Devin Vassell (thigh) and Terry Rozier (groin). The laundry list of players listed as questionable includes Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), LeBron James (calf) and Jaylen Brown (illness).
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 11/17/23. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Good luck, Rotoballers!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Damian Lillard, MIL at CHA – PG ($9,800 DK; $8,800 FD)
Lillard is off to a bit of a slow start by his lofty standards. He is shooting just 38.6 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent from behind the arc. He sure looked much better Wednesday versus the Raptors, scoring 37 points on 9-for-18 shooting from the field. In that matchup, he went 4-for-10 from behind the arc. With the Hornets having the worst defensive rating in the league, Lillard has a favorable opportunity to continue to improve his numbers.
Austin Reaves, LAL at POR – SG/SF ($6,100 DK; $6,100 FD)
Across the first eight games of the season, Reaves started and averaged 13.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 32 minutes per game. The Lakers recently moved him to the second unit, but he has actually been even better in that role. Over four games, he has averaged 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists. His playing time remained steady at 32 minutes per game during that span, so don’t shy away from him just because of his role change.
Jordan Hawkins, NO vs. DEN – PG/SG ($5,700 DK; $5,200 FD)
CJ McCollum (chest) is out again on Friday and Jose Alvarado (ankle) is listed as doubtful. That should leave Hawkins in an expanded role that has seen him average 18.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over the last five games. That included a matchup against these same Nuggets in which he racked up 31 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jalen Brunson, NY at WAS – PG ($8,300 DK; $8,000 FD); Immanuel Quickley, NY at WAS – PG/SG ($5,900 DK, $5,400 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kevin Durant, PHX at UTA – PF ($9,700 DK; $9,900 FD)
Just when it looked like the Suns would finally have their top players all on the floor together, Bradley Beal returned to the sidelines with his back injury. Durant provided another juicy stat line with him out Wednesday against a good defensive team in the Timberwolves, finishing with 31 points, six rebounds and six assists over 35 minutes. Beal is listed as doubtful to face the Jazz, leaving Durant with a tremendously high floor.
Julius Randle, NY at WAS – PF/C ($8,800 DK; $8,800 FD)
Randle is only shooting 35.9 percent from the field this season, but most of his struggles in that department are over his first six games. He has shot 44.4 percent over his last five games, leaving him with averages of 25.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. The Wizards have played at the fastest pace and have the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league, making Randle a prime forward to target.
Bilal Coulibaly, WAS vs. NY ($4,800 DK; $5,200 FD)
The Wizards haven’t been playing their starters' heavy minutes on a regular basis. Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, and Tyus Jones are all averaging 30 or fewer minutes per game. That has actually provided a windfall for Coulibaly, who has averaged 26 minutes per game off the bench. He has started to hit his stride, putting up 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals over the last four games. Given his cheap salary on both sites, he’s an appealing option in tournament play.
ALSO CONSIDER: Tobias Harris, PHI at ATL – SF/PF ($6,300 DK; $6,900 FD); Alec Burks, DET at CLE – SG/SF ($4,900 DK; $4,900 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Nikola Jokic, DEN at NO– C ($12,500 DK; $12,800 FD)
The injury to Jamal Murray (hamstring) has forced Jokic to take on more scoring responsibilities. Over the last four games, he has averaged 34.5 points on 24.5 shot attempts per game. In addition to his gaudy scoring contributions, he provided 16.0 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game during that span. His salaries will do a number on your budget, but his ceiling is arguably the highest of any player in this slate.
Alperen Sengun, HOU at LAC – C ($7,700 DK; $8,200 FD)
Although his numbers haven’t been as gaudy, Sengun provides a similar versatile skillset that Jokic does. Logging a career-high 31 minutes per game this season has helped Sengun average 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. The Clippers are a small team outside of Ivica Zubac, so don’t expect them to be able to slow Sengun down.
Goga Bitadze, ORL at CHI – C ($5,300 DK; $5,100 FD)
The Magic need Bitadze’s size to battle with Nikola Vucevic in the paint. That contributed to Bitadze tying his season high with 26 minutes of playing time when these teams met Wednesday. He came through with 15 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. For those looking to save some of their budget at the center position, Bitadze is a great option.
ALSO CONSIDER: Evan Mobley, CLE vs. DET – C/PF ($7,600 DK; $7,900 FD), Daniel Gafford, WAS vs. NY – C ($5,400 DK; $6,000 FD)
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