Alex Hunter breaks down his top DraftKings NBA DFS targets and value plays for tonight’s slate on Sunday, March 29.
DraftKings’ main NBA DFS slate for Sunday starts at 6:00 PM EST and features six games. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players, and below, I break down some of my favorite NBA DFS options at each position for Sunday’s NBA action.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $80K Fadeaway [$20K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New York Knicks, $10,300
This is a reasonable price for Gilgeous-Alexander. The reigning MVP is scoring 1.6 FPTS per minute with a 32.2% usage rate this season. Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 52 FPTS in three of his last six, and while the Knicks rank fifth in defensive rating this season, the Thunder still present the second-highest implied team total on the slate at 116.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Oklahoma City is also only favored by 8.5 points, which is a rare sight, as the club has been favored by double-digits very often this season. When competing in a single-digit spread, Gilgeous-Alexander is producing 52.6 FPTS per game this season (18 games).
Other Options: LaMelo Ball ($8,600)
Value
Miles McBride, New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder, $3,000
Upgraded to questionable, McBride (core) is trending towards making his return tonight. The guard has been sidelined since late January, so he will likely be limited to around 20 minutes. This is also a tough matchup, as the Thunder are the NBA’s highest rated defense. Still, McBride’s salary has plummeted to a bare minimum of $3,000, and surpassing five-times value at this cheap salary shouldn’t be difficult.
McBride is scoring 0.8 FPTS per minute with a 17.8% usage rate this season, and he was priced up to $5,400 for his last game, so tonight’s salary is a dramatic discount.
Other Options: Payton Pritchard ($6,400), Devin Carter ($5,500), Killian Hayes ($4,800), Tari Eason ($4,400), Baylor Scheierman ($3,600)
Forward
Stud
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Washington Wizards, $9,400
While there is blowout risk with this game, as the Trail Blazers are 16.5 point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, Avdija has a high ceiling worth chasing in this elite spot vs. his former team. The Wizards rank sixth in pace and 29th in defensive rating this season, making them one of the best matchups in the league.
The Trail Blazers carry a 127.5-point implied team total on DraftKings Sportsbook, which is the highest on the slate by a huge 11 points and the highest Portland has seen this season. Avdija is leading Portland with 1.4 FPTS per minute and 29.4% usage rate, and he is generating 51.3 FPTS per game when playing behind an implied team total of at least 120 points this season (eight games).
Other Options: Paolo Banchero ($9,400), Jayson Tatum ($9,300), Scottie Barnes ($8,800)
Value
Ja’Kobe Walter, Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic, $3,900
If Walter continues to start tonight with Immanuel Quickley (foot) sidelined, Walter will be a strong bargain. The 21-year-old has started in two of the last three Quickley has missed, and in those contests, Walter scored 36.75 FPTS in 28 minutes vs. the Jazz and 26.75 FPTS in 33 minutes vs. the Pelicans.
Ranking 15th in defensive rating and 19th in pace, the Magic are a subpar matchup, but Walter is clearly underpriced if he is starting at only $3,900. With Quickley off the floor this season, Walter is supplying 0.8 FPTS per minute with a 17% usage rate.
Other Options: Jabari Smith Jr. ($6,300), Daeqwon Plowdon ($4,800), Sidy Cissoko ($3,300), Jordan Walsh ($3,200)
Center
Stud
Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Washington Wizards, $8,700
Clingan has topped 50 FPTS in three of his last six, and the big man brings huge upside Sunday. On top of ranking sixth in pace and 29th in defensive rating, the Wizards are giving up the most rebounds and third-most points in the paint this season.
Centers dominate Washington on a nightly basis. Most recently, Kristaps Porzingis exposed the club for 45 FPTS this past Friday night, and more importantly, Clingan posted 46.5 FPTS when he faced the Wizards in January. The UConn product is scoring 1.3 FPTS per minute this season, and he should post a big double-double tonight.
Other Options: Alperen Sengun ($9,000)
Value
Anthony Gill, Washington Wizards at Portland Trail Blazers, $4,000
Gill has exceeded 20 FPTS in four straight games, and he should garner roughly 25 minutes tonight with Alex Sarr (toe) out. Since the All-Star break, Gill is scoring 0.8 FPTS per minute while shooting 62% from the field.
This matchup between the Wizards and Trail Blazers carries the highest total on the slate at O/U 237.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook, and Gill should score 20+ FPTS in this setting.
Other Options: Wendell Carter Jr. ($5,600), Robert Williams ($4,600, if active)