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Welcome back, Rotoballers! Tonight we have five more NBA Cup Group Play matchups, highlighted by a TNT doubleheader. These articles focus on the best plays, typically more suited for cash games. However, some exceptions may apply, depending on the size of the slate.
The key to succeeding in NBA DFS is making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always essential to have a game plan and zero in on the best players and spots before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/26/24. For FanDuel picks, check out Zach Thompson's breakdown here. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on DraftKings. Good luck, RotoBallers!
DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks
Tonight's slate is thin in both total options and positional variance at the top. With only four players having a 5-figure price tag, all four being Center eligible, and three of those four only available at Center, there figures to be significantly less star power than usual on a per-lineup basis. With price consideration, Victor Wembanyama is my favorite of the bunch, based on matchup and recent production levels.
On the other side of the SA @ UTA matchup, Lauri Markkanen is finally starting to perform like a team's top offensive option with some consistency. Markkanen has scored 33+ fantasy points in five straight games and is coming off his best game of the season. This will be the fourth time these two teams have faced each other already this season. Both played in two of the three games and had successful fantasy nights in their appearances.
Some can make this deep 3-pointer off the catch, some can make this out-of-nowhere helpside rim protection...you're not supposed to be able to do both. Victor Wembanyama can. Absolute freak.pic.twitter.com/wmv5egGy9N
— Hot Hand Theory (@HotHandTheory) November 24, 2024
- Victor Wembanyama, SA @ UTA - C ($10,800)
- Lauri Markkanen, UTA vs SA - SF/PF ($7,400)
- Anthony Davis, LAL @ PHX - C ($10,500)
DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.
By now, you're probably wondering "When is he going to mention the CHI @ WAS game?". Well, wait no longer. I wanted to discuss this game in the value section because it's not very often the game with the highest implied total on the slate (242.5) by nine points is also a game with some of the cheapest starting players. Many lineups will favor this game thanks to its massive total, and the pricing enables more balanced builds to shine through.
Perhaps the biggest pressure point of this slate is whether or not Jordan Poole suits up for Washington or not. As of Monday night, he seems to be on the wrong side of questionable, but keep an eye out for an injury update during the day. Poole being ruled out could lead to an even greater vacuum of ownership to this game, so if you plan to play tournaments keep that in mind.
Bilal Coulibaly consistently makes eye-popping plays, including self-created dunks or high flying blocks
But plays like this really highlight his growth
95% of his 3s were assisted last year, so seeing him create perimeter shots for himself is amazing pic.twitter.com/o9oY7ymRam
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) November 24, 2024
Top Value Plays:
- Johnny Juzang, UTA vs SA - SG/SF ($3,200)
- Bilal Coulibaly, WAS vs CHI - SF ($5,700)
- Harrison Barnes, SA @ UTA - SF/PF ($4,100)
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DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Should Jordan Poole miss this game, we'll likely see Carlton Carrington rejoin the starting lineup. Carrington has been solid when given the chance to play extended minutes, but he's much less likely to break the slate than Poole. The Bulls rank dead last against PGs this season, so feel confident in firing up whoever the Wizards start.
Top PG Options:
- Wizards Starting PG
- Josh Giddey, CHI @ WAS ($6,400 DK)
- Tyus Jones, PHX vs LAL ($5,700 DK)
DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
SG is the most versatile position on the slate. There are great options at all price ranges, and good options for game stacks in the more appealing games tonight. Figure out the cornerstones of your lineup first then choose your SG accordingly.
Top SG Options:
- Johnny Juzang, UTA vs SA ($3,200)
- Anthony Edwards, MIN vs HOU ($9,500)
- Collin Sexton, UTA vs SA ($5,800)
DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
SF by nature is the cheapest position on the slate, with only four players priced above $6k. This makes it a great spot to save some money, so that's what we'll look to do.
Top SF Options:
- Bilal Coulibaly, WAS vs CHI - ($5,700)
- Gary Trent Jr., MIL @ MIA ($4,100)
- Amen Thompson, HOU @ MIN ($5,000)
DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
PF has a lot of great options tonight between the CHI @ WAS and SA @ UTA games. It looks like the overwhelming majority of total ownership at PF will concentrate on those two games, making it an interesting leverage spot for tournaments.
Top PF Options:
- Lauri Markkanen, UTA vs SA ($7,400)
- Harrison Barnes, SA @ UTA ($4,100)
- Kyle Kuzma, WAS vs CHI ($6,300)
DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Center
As the only position that even offers the choice of paying up or not, Center is where I'm starting to build my lineups. With how loose the pricing is on this slate, you can reasonably spend up at the center position while maintaining a balanced build. If you choose not to, there are other viable options out there, but the three guys at the top have such a safe floor/ceiling combo I wouldn't recommend it in cash games.
Top C Options:
- Victor Wembanyama, SA @ UTA ($10,800)
- Anthony Davis, LAL @ PHX ($10,500)
- Nikola Vucevic, CHI @ WAS ($8,200)
DraftKings Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- CHI @ WAS (o/u 243.5)
- SA @ UTA (o/u 227)
DraftKings Top NBA DFS Avoids
While the LAL @ PHX game boasts the second-highest total on the slate (234), it's not a game I'm particularly interested in. The Lakers have had two days of rest while the Suns have had five (not a typo). Typically games with well-rested teams feature a little more defense than the average NBA game. With that in mind, and Kevin Durant returning after missing seven games, I'm tempering expectations for this game.
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: Victor Wembanyama
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Lauri Markkanen
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Nikola Vucevic
- My favorite value play: Johnny Juzang
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