As you build your fantasy basketball lineups for tonight’s DraftKings contests, check out Zach Thompson’s top three NBA DFS stacks to target.

The NBA is ready to tip off another big night of action this Friday with nine games on the main DFS fantasy basketball slate on DraftKings. Of the 18 teams taking the floor, six are finishing back-to-back sets of games, while the Grizzlies and Pelicans are the only teams on the front half of a back-to-back. With so many teams playing consecutive days, rotations continue to shift and move from game to game. However, a few teams stand out as strong NBA DFS stacks due to the matchup and expected opportunities, and these three teams can form the core of your DFS fantasy basketball lineups this Friday.

Especially at this point in the season, be sure to monitor the daily injury report to keep track of who is in and who is out for this slate. Some big names like Luka Doncic, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, Jusuf Nurkic and Austin Reaves are already on the injury report, and more will likely be added as the day goes on. Be sure to check the latest injury news before tip-off and adjust your lineup if needed.

The NBA DFS main slate includes various contests and payout structures on DraftKings, headlined by the NBA $200K Excellent 8’s [$5K to 1st].

Los Angeles Lakers at Washington Wizards

The Lakers have the highest implied team total of all teams taking the floor even though their rotation is very uncertain. The Wizards have been one of the best matchups to attack throughout the season, allowing the second-most points per game this season. Specifically, the Wizards have given up the most fantasy points per game to point guards and the second-most in the NBA to opposing power forwards and opposing centers.

If you’re building a Lakers stack for this matchup, keeping an eye on the injury report will be critical. Both Luka Doncic (ankle) and Austin Reaves (calf) are both questionable, and if both are out, the rotation will look very different from if both or one is available. The Lakers have been without Reaves for over a month, and his return will be critical for their offense as they look to make a playoff push.

Core Plays: If he plays, Luka Doncic ($11,900) has a very high ceiling, as always. He had 64+ fantasy points in four straight games before a down game in a blowout loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. He needs to go off to be worth his hefty salary, but he has been able to do that regularly while Reaves has been out. If Doncic is limited or out, LeBron James ($8,900) could step up as the center of the stack, but he hasn’t been turning in great value lately while Luka carries the load.

Value Options: If Doncic and Reaves both get the night off, James would need some help in the backcourt from Marcus Smart ($5,000) and Gabe Vincent ($3,300). On the wing, Rui Hachimura ($4,200) and Jake LaRavia ($4,300) would also get more usage, and Hachimura does have the added boost of a potential revenge game narrative. The Wizards have been a great matchup for centers too, so Deandre Ayton ($5,200) and Jaxson Hayes ($3,900) could be in a good spot to step up. Ayton has been struggling lately, so Hayes is an interesting value option if you need a cheap big man to round out your Lakers stack.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies

The highest point total on Friday night’s NBA slate comes from this matchup between two of the teams with the worst records in the Western Conference. Combined, the teams are 30-64, but both sides still have players who are worth considering for fantasy lineups. Since the Grizzlies are so shorthanded, they’ve been the better matchup to attack lately, and the Pelicans beat the Grizz last Friday in Memphis, scoring 133 points. They’ll look to post another big total on Friday night, and should be mostly healthy aside from Dejounte Murray (Achilles).

Core Plays: The Pelicans have won two of their last three games and are 5-6 in their last 11, looking much better since Zion Williamson ($7,800) has returned to the rotation. Zion has put up three straight double-doubles, highlighted by 50.75 fantasy points in his matchup last week with the Grizzlies. He always brings some injury risk but also brings a very high ceiling. Trey Murphy III ($8,100) has been the other main contributor in the offense and had 32 points and 46.75 fantasy points against the Grizzlies last week. He’s been quieter in the two games since then but brings boom-or-bust upside if you have the salary to pair him with Zion. Saddiq Bey ($6,000) has also been excellent lately and is a cheaper option to roll out with Zion. Bey had 36 points and 52 fantasy points in Memphis last week and has over 45 fantasy points in each of his last three contests.

Value Options: Herbert Jones ($4,400) has been back for the last three games for the Pelicans, and he worked his way up to 31.2 fantasy points in 27 minutes on Wednesday against the Thunder. He’s the best value play left in the rotation at this point since his return has pushed Murphy more to point guard, squeezing  the playing time of rookie point guard Jeremiah Fears ($4,200) and Jordan Poole ($4,000). Poole has fallen out of the rotation entirely in the last two games, and Fears still has a little fantasy value, but he isn’t getting nearly the run he did during the Pelicans’ bout with more injuries. Yves Missi ($4,600) still has some value potential in the second unit as well and had 37.5 and 26.5 fantasy points in his last two games.

Boston Celtics vs. Sacramento Kings

The Celtics are home for this matchup with the Kings, who are playing for the second night in a row and have only gone 3-21 on the road this season, including going 0-4 to start their current trip, while giving up an average of 119.5 points per game.
In addition to the favorable matchup, the Celtics should offer plenty of value as the team covers for the expected absence of Jaylen Brown (knee), who is doubtful.

Core Plays: If Brown is out, Payton Pritchard ($6,700) becomes one of the top value plays on the board since he should get a lot more work. Pritchard had 42.5, 45.5 and 59.75 fantasy points in the three games he has played this season without Brown, and he should be in a smash spot against Sacramento. Derrick White ($7,700) will also likely get more usage, but he hasn’t been quite as hot lately as Pritchard.

Value Options: On the wings, Sam Hauser ($5,200) and Anfernee Simons ($4,700) both have high upside with more work as well and can be valuable stacking options in the mid-range. Hauser has 25+ fantasy points in seven of his last eight games with an outburst of 50 fantasy points against the Hawks in a ceiling game a few weeks ago. Simons also had a spike game with over 50 fantasy points earlier this month, but his minutes have been more limited lately. Neemias Queta ($5,700) is probable after missing Wednesday’s game with illness, so Luka Garza ($4,400) and Amari Williams ($3,900) will return to their more limited roles. Further down the bench, Hugo Gonzalez ($3,400), Jared Walsh ($3,200) and even Baylor Scheierman ($3,300) could get more work and bring bargain punt potential at their salaries just over the minimum.