This Tuesday, the NBA has six games on the main FanDuel slate as the NBA Emirates Cup continues. All six games are part of Group Play, which means they are conference matchups and take on a little more significance for teams trying to advance to the next stage of the tournament. To place more emphasis on these matchups, the schedulers also made sure no team is on the second night of a back-to-back as well, meaning all 12 teams are coming into Tuesday's action with at least one day off. The teams will again be wearing different uniforms and the courts will have their NBA Cup designs.
In today's edition, I recommend some higher-priced players for cash games and GPPs while highlighting some of my favorite value plays and game stacks. If you want advice on the DraftKings NBA slate, check out today's article by my colleague Max Kulish.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 11/19/24. 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 FanDuel.
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FanDuel NBA DFS Core Picks
Jalen Williams, OKC – PF/SF ($8,800)
The Thunder have adjusted to the loss of Chet Holmgren by moving Williams to center, and somehow, the plan has worked extremely effectively even though Williams is undersized for the position and played point guard in college.
Williams has produced 1.46 FanDuel points per minute in the five games dating back to the injury to Holmgren and has averaged 47.8 FanDuel points per game. While producing better defensive numbers, he has also scored over 25 points in three of his last four games and had 27 points and 45.5 FanDuel points in his most recent game vs. the Mavs on Sunday.
jalen williams continues to emerge as the 2nd star for the thunder.
averaging 20.8/6.4/5.0 on 51.3/40.3 splits.
keeps growing as a scorer and as a secondary playmaker and has been an elite defender so far, well on his way to an all defense selection. pic.twitter.com/3iQgnzELFp
— 🛸 (@nflinabnit) November 18, 2024
Williams probably won't have to deal with Victor Wembanyama (knee, doubtful) as the Thunder visit the Spurs, and his emergence alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,800) will make the Thunder an even more formidable factor in the Western Conference this season.
Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM – PF/C ($8,300)
The Grizzlies lost all of last season to injury woes, and this season has continued the same theme. Ja Morant (hip) is still sidelined, but Desmond Bane ($7,500) and Scotty Pippen Jr. ($5,800) have picked up the slack in the backcourt. Morant's absence has also given Jackson the room to step into a larger role in the offense, and the 25-year-old forward is averaging 1.46 FanDuel points per minute with a 31.5% usage rate with Ja off the floor this season.
Over his last five games, Jackson has produced 44.6 FanDuel points per game with 20+ points in each contest.
Jaren Jackson Jr. in the Last 5 Games for the Grizzlies :
- 28.0 PPG
- 50% FG (19.2 FGA)
- 89% FT (7.2 FTA)
- 6.4 RPG
- 1.6 SPG / 1.4 BPG
- +49 +/-
- 29.8 Minutes Per GameTHE FRANCHISE HAS BEEN DOMINANT. pic.twitter.com/GG6rgQU4Eu
— Grizz Lead (@Grizz_Lead) November 18, 2024
The Grizzlies knocked off the Nuggets on Sunday behind 20 points and 41.2 FanDuel points from Jackson, and they'll look to get another win in Tuesday's rematch, although Nikola Jokic (personal, questionable) could return after missing Sunday's contest.
Brandon Boston Jr., NO – PG ($6,400)
The Pelicans have also had to overcome multiple injuries this season and remain without Zion Williamson (hamstring), Dejounte Murray (hand), CJ McCollum (thigh), Jose Alvarado (hamstring), and Jordan Hawkins (back) for Tuesday's game in Dallas. Boston has been huge for the Pelicans in the absence of all those players and has become a key fantasy contributor.
In his nine games in November, Boston is averaging 31.5 FanDuel points per game at the rate of 0.93 FanDuel points per minute while playing 34 minutes per game.
Brandon Boston Jr. 19-4-4, 7/13 FG
Certified 🪣 pic.twitter.com/FXEY5cGWB1
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) November 16, 2024
Boston and Brandon Ingram ($8,600) will have to continue to carry the Pelicans until their teammates start returning, and both are strong fantasy plays on Tuesday.
Others Under Consideration: Brandon Ingram - SF/PF ($8,600), LeBron James - PF/SF ($10,000), Donovan Mitchell - SG/PG ($9,400), Evan Mobley - PF/C ($7,900)
FanDuel NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Anthony Davis, LAL – C/PF ($11,200)
Davis is in a smash spot against a vulnerable Jazz frontcourt that remains without starting center Walker Kessler (hip). Davis has been ridiculously good all season, averaging 1.60 FanDuel points per minute and 56.2 FanDuel points per game.
He's expensive at over $11,000 but brings a very high ceiling that makes him perfect for tournament plays if you can find the values to make his salary work under the cap.
Jayson Tatum, BOS – PF/SF ($10,300)
Another pay-up play to consider building around Tuesday night is Tatum, who will try to hand the Cavs their first loss of the season as they visit TD Garden in Boston. Tatum fell just a single rebound and then a single assist short of a triple-double in each of his last two games, posting 60.8 and 48.7 FanDuel points in wins over the Nets and Raptors. He also hit the game-winning shot on Saturday night in memorable fashion.
JAYSON TATUM FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!
“NOT CLUTCH” 😭
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) November 17, 2024
Tatum is averaging 50.9 FanDuel points per game on the season and 51.2 FanDuel points over his last 10 games. He'll try to rise to the occasion in a spotlight matchup against the Cavs on Tuesday, and the Celtics will try to re-assert their place as the top team in the Eastern Conference against the unbeatable (so far) Cavs.
Dennis Schroder, BKN - PG ($6,500)
Schroder has been a streaky producer throughout his career and has continued that trend this season. He's had a couple of very impressive runs that make him look like one of the best fantasy values on any slate, but then he has also had a few clunkers and struggled for stretches.
He's coming off a rough game on Sunday when he managed just 18.2 FanDuel points in a loss to the Knicks. However, Schroder has produced over 27 FanDuel points in 10 of his last 12 games on the main slate, though, so I expect him to bounce back vs. the Hornets, who have been an outstanding matchup for opposing point guards.
Keldon Johnson, SA - PF/SF ($5,500)
Johnson is still very under-priced in his role with the Spurs, and he will help pick up the slack if Wemby misses a second straight game, as expected. Johnson is a stat sheet-stuffer and had 29 FanDuel points on Saturday even though he only scored eight points. He had four steals in that game in just 21 minutes and is averaging 1.02 FanDuel points per minute over his last nine games. His role is a little tenuous from game to game, but he usually finds meaningful ways to contribute to the Spurs and your fantasy team.
Others Under Consideration: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - PG ($10,800), LaMelo Ball - PG ($9,600), John Collins- PF/C ($7,600), Brandon Miller - SG/SF ($6,700), Daniel Gafford - C ($5,100)
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FanDuel NBA DFS Value Picks
Zach Collins, SA – PF/C ($5,400)
Collins stepped into the starting lineup for Wemby on Saturday and had 37.2 FanDuel points in the Spurs' loss to the Mavs. He has averaged 1.08 FanDuel points per minute so far this season, and if he starts again on Tuesday vs. the Thunder, he will have plenty of upside due to the increased minutes and usage.
Jay Huff, MEM - C ($4,000)
With Zach Edey (ankle) out, Huff should get more work behind Brandon Clarke ($3,900), and both centers have a chance to make a big fantasy impact as value plays. Huff has produced an impressive 1.33 FanDuel points per minute in his 14 games this season.
Jay Huff had 10 points (4-5 FG) tonight in the Grizzlies’ win over the Nuggets
— Hoos In The NBA (@hoosinthenba) November 18, 2024
He had 10 points in 12 minutes against the Nuggets on Sunday and delivered 20+ FanDuel points in each of his last four games with at least 13 minutes.
Jaylen Nowell, NOP – PG ($4,300)
Nowell played a season-high 35 minutes on Saturday vs. the Lakers and produced a season-high 29.7 FanDuel points on 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Jaylen Nowell being back in the NBA is good business pic.twitter.com/WC7oAUIF5z
— Jackson Lloyd (@JacksonLloydNBA) November 17, 2024
Nowell just joined the Pels six games ago but has played at least 22 minutes in his last four games and averaged 0.80 FanDuel points per minute.
Josh Green, CHA – SF/SG ($4,400)
Green has scored 15 points in each of his last two games producing 37.5 and 25.8 FanDuel points in games against the Bucks and Cavaliers, respectively.
Josh Green was instrumental today in the Hornets' one-point win over the Bucks! 💪
📊 15 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 3 STL pic.twitter.com/RrApgBBEvt
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) November 16, 2024
Green's role has been increasing after some early-season injury issues, and the versatile wing can fill the box score in multiple categories. If his scoring spree continues, he'll be a steal at this salary.
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers (235.5 total)
This is a great spot for the Lakers, who have the highest implied team total on the slate, and get the Jazz at home. The biggest concern may be that this turns into a blowout, but even in that case Davis and LeBron should be solid pay-up plays. Other Lakers to consider include Austin Reaves ($7,100) and D'Angelo Russell ($5,000) and you could also toss in Dalton Knecht ($5,100) or even Max Christie ($3,900), who has played big minutes in the last few games for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura ($5,100; ankle) is questionable but Cam Reddish ($4,300) is not on the injury report after missing Friday's game.
On the other side, the Jazz won't have Kessler, but John Collins ($7,600) has stepped up along with Jordan Clarkson ($6,000) and Collin Sexton ($5,600). Rookie Isaiah Collier ($4,100) handed out a career-high eight assists on Sunday and finished with 22.6 FanDuel points. He's an interesting flier who should get playing time regardless of the game script.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (234.5 total)
This is the game of the night and features great fantasy options on both sides. There won't be many "sneaky" plays since the stars carry the workload for these teams, and that should especially be the case this Tuesday in a showcase NBA Cup game. You can build around the star set for either team, but you'll probably have to find value plays from other matchups to mix into your Cavs or Celtics stacks.
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: Jaren Jackson Jr.
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jalen Williams
- My favorite VALUE play: Jay Huff
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