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The NBA is back on the court after taking Thanksgiving Day off, and ten NBA Cup games are on the Black Friday schedule. After three afternoon matchups, the seven games tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET or later make up the main slate for DraftKings contests. No teams are playing for the second day in a row, but the Pistons do turn around and play again on Saturday.
With 14 teams in the player pool, some options stand out as great plays to build your fantasy lineup around this Friday night while other value plays are true Black Friday bargains. Let's look at the best of these matchups from a DFS perspective on DraftKings. If you're looking for FanDuel-specific advantage, check out Thunder Dan's FanDuel picks!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/29/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:30 p.m. EST on DraftKings.
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DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks
De'Aaron Fox, SAC - PG ($9,200)
Fox and the Kings visit the Blazers in the last matchup of the night, but they'll be without DeMar DeRozan (back) for a second straight game. In his absence, Fox is in a great spot to continue his impressive November. In his 16 games this month, Fox has averaged 1.2 DraftKings points per minute and 46.0 DraftKings points per game. With DeRozan off the floor, his usage spikes to 37.6% and his production increases to 1.47 DraftKings points per minute.
With DeRozan out on Wednesday, here's what Fox did vs. the Timberwolves on his way to 51 DraftKings points:
De'Aaron Fox : 26 points (10-22 shooting, 3-8 from 3 & 3-5 from the FT line), 8 rebounds, 8 assists & 2 steals in 38 minutes pic.twitter.com/gy0Ie9GmCi
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) November 28, 2024
The Trail Blazers have given up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to point guards this season, so it should be a smash spot for Fox on Friday night.
Scottie Barnes, TOR – PG/SF ($8,500)
The Raptors have looked much better since getting Barnes back from his orbital fracture, and he has quickly re-established himself as the focus of the team's offense. Barnes has scored at least 17 points and handed out at least six assists in each of his four games since returning and has posted back-to-back double-doubles which have helped him reach 44+ DraftKings points in three straight games including Wednesday's win over the Pelicans.
RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes:
22 PTS 17 PTS
8 REB 13 REB
11 AST 7 AST pic.twitter.com/onLifKRsHd— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 28, 2024
In his four games back, Barnes has averaged 1.55 DraftKings points per minute on 20.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 2.0 threes, and 1.3 steals per game. He and the Raptors will look to beat the Heat on Friday night in Miami.
Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC – C ($6,800)
Like Barnes, Hartenstein has missed significant time with an injury this season. The free-agent acquisition just made his Thunder debut last week and has played just three games due to a broken hand. Hartenstein has instantly become a huge part of the Thunder's regular rotation and a big-time fantasy contributor in his expanded role due to the absence of Chet Holmgren (hip).
Isaiah Hartenstein for the Thunder so far
15.3 PPG
12.7 RPG
3.3 APG
2.0 BPG
57% FG
6.0 Screen Assists (Leads NBA)
90.9 DRTG (#1 among bigs)
3-0 RecordThe exact player the Thunder needed pic.twitter.com/eGDECXo5tn
— Matt (@sixringsofsteeI) November 28, 2024
Hartenstein has produced 1.33 DraftKings points per minute on those numbers with three double-doubles in three games and over 38 DraftKings points in each contest. On Friday, he'll have to deal with Anthony Davis ($10,400), so he'll continue to play as many minutes as he can handle in Los Angeles. Getting him under $7,000 is a top option at center on Friday.
Others Under Consideration: Jayson Tatum - SF/PF ($10,000), Anthony Davis - PF/C ($10,400), Domantas Sabonis - C ($9,700), Anthony Edwards - PG/SG ($9,300), RJ Barrett - SF/PF ($8,300)
DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Franz Wagner, ORL - SF/PF ($9,600)
Wagner has carried the Magic this month with Paolo Banchero (oblique) sidelined and has helped them go 2-0 in Group Play so far. They visit the Nets on Friday night in a favorable matchup for him to continue his recent surge.
In his last nine games, Wagner is averaging 1.43 DraftKings points per minute and 52.6 DraftKings points per game. His shot was a little off on Wednesday, but he still posted 38.75 DraftKings points in a win over the Bulls. Before that, he posted 45+ DraftKings points in three straight and seven of his previous eight games, highlighted by his monster night with 71 DraftKings points against the Lakers last week.
James Harden, LAC – PG ($9,200)
Harden is coming off a huge game on Wednesday when he needed just 32 minutes to rack up 66 DraftKings points.
James Harden was FEELING IT tonight in DC!
🔥 43 PTS (59.1 FG%)
🔥 7 3PM
🔥 7 AST
🔥 3 STL
🔥 W pic.twitter.com/q0VUJcwfz7— NBA (@NBA) November 28, 2024
Over his last six games, he has averaged 48.0 DraftKings points per game and 1.44 DraftKings points per minute. He had a team-high 31.1% usage rate during that span, and the star point guard has also passed out at least seven assists in six of his last seven games including a pair of double-doubles that each resulted in over 50 DraftKings points.
Ivica Zubac, LAC – C ($6,800)
Zubac continues to be a very steady contributor alongside Harden and has helped the Clippers' ship stay afloat even without Kawhi Leonard (back) so far this season. Zubac has posted between 35 and 45 DraftKings points in seven straight games with six double-doubles during that span and an average of 16.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game.
Even with that consistent production, his salary has dipped below $7,000 for this Friday night matchup with the Timberwolves. While he will have to deal with Rudy Gobert ($6,500), he still brings a very high ceiling as he continues to get plenty of minutes and usage. Both he and Harden had their monster games on Wednesday while resting the whole fourth quarter, so they should be rested and ready for Friday's game in Minnesota.
Bennedict Mathurin, IND – SG/SF ($6,300)
Mathurin has been excellent this season, averaging 1.01 DraftKings points per minute and 32.4 DraftKings points per game overall in his 19 games with a 23.7% usage rate that leads the Pacers' players who have played more than five games.
The third-year wing posted his fifth double-double of the season on Wednesday, finishing with 24 points, 10 boards, and 46 DraftKings points in a win over the Blazers.
🇨🇦 Represent The Canadians 🇨🇦
Bennedict Mathurin | vs. Portland
24 POINTS
3 THREE POINTERS
10 REBOUNDS
3 ASSISTS pic.twitter.com/KZFihLejUL— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) November 28, 2024
Mathurin brings a very high ceiling for a player around $6,000, and he's in a good matchup at home against the Pistons on Friday night
Others Under Consideration: Jaylen Brown - SG/SF ($8,000), LeBron James - PF/C ($9,900), Jalen Williams - PF ($9,200), Nikola Vucevic - C ($8,200), Derrick White - PG/SG ($6,800), Deandre Ayton - C ($6,600)
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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks
Malik Monk, SAC – PG/SG ($5,400)
Without DeRozon, Monk was able to step up on Wednesday alongside Fox and finish with a season-high 27 points to go with nine assists and eight rebounds on his way to 53 DraftKings points.
The Kings really missed this version of Malik Monk
He was electric in the 4th last night — dropped 11 points and had 5 assists, propelling the Kings to a comeback. pic.twitter.com/vcmv4IrNFI
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) November 28, 2024
That was just his second game back after missing two weeks with an ankle injury, but he's ready to make an immediate impact when given the chance. He should be set for more big numbers Friday in Portland.
Deni Avdija, POR – SF ($5,300)
On the other side of that matchup in the City of Roses, Avdija is another great veteran value since he has stepped into a larger role for the Blazers lately as well. He had been very successful coming off the bench, but he returned to the starting five on Wednesday and played a season-high 41 minutes against the Pacers.
Deni Avdija in the last 6 games:
14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 stl/blk, 57.8 TS%
Keep on going @deniavdia8 💪🔥 pic.twitter.com/iB7WEysAhD
— Deni Avdija SZN 🎗️ (@avdijaszn) November 29, 2024
Avdija has scored double-digit points in six straight games, averaging 33.0 DraftKings points per game and 1.11 DraftKings points per minute.
Ja'Kobe Walter, TOR – SG ($3,000)
Walter had spent most of November in the G League for the Raptors, but he exploded with a double-double and 40.25 DraftKings points on Wednesday in New Orleans.
The player with the largest (positive) point differential in one stint of playing time during last night's games:
Ja'Kobe Walter - Point diff: +27.0 with a usage % of 22.90% during that stretch.#NBA #JaKobe #Walter #Raptors #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/bsDuEWczq4
— Swish Stats (@SwishStatistics) November 29, 2024
It was the first start of the season for the No. 19 pick in last year's NBA Draft who just turned 20 earlier this season. If the Raptors are ready to give him a nightly role, he will be a strong value going forward, and on Friday at the minimum salary on DraftKings, he's a must-play if he gets another start on Friday.
Dalton Knecht, LAL – SG/SF ($4,500)
Knecht is another rookie putting up great value in a starting role for his team.
Dalton Knecht as a starter in 6 games for the #Lakers:
19.7 PPG
5.2 RPG
55% FG (13.3 FGA)
48% 3PT (8.3 3PA) pic.twitter.com/0rZ9YGaTKs— Halftime Hoops (@_halftimehoops) November 28, 2024
Knecht is probable with a right quad contusion but has started five of the Lakers' last eight games, averaging 29.4 DraftKings points per game and 0.84 DraftKings points per minute. He had 37 DraftKings points against the Spurs on Wednesday and showed an even higher ceiling with a pair of games over 45 DraftKings points in the last two weeks against the Jazz and Pelicans.
Others Under Consideration: Quenton Jackson - SG/SF ($4,000), Terance Mann - SG/SF ($3,400), Trendon Watford - PF/C ($3,900), Jonathan Isaac - PF/C ($4,200)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
Celtics at Bulls (238.5 total)
Due to their pace and lack of defensive efficiency, the Bulls are regularly in high-scoring matchups that often land in this slot. The Celtics get to face them on Friday and have the highest implied team total on the slate as a result. Tatum, Brown, and White were other considerations above and can be the core of a strong Celtics' stack. Kristaps Porzingis ($7,500) looked strong in his limited minutes in his return on Monday, and his return could shake up the usage a bit for Boston as he ramps up to full speed. Payton Pritchard ($4,800) and Neemias Queta ($3,900) are good values to consider if you think the C's second unit gets more run in this game.
The Bulls are reportedly shopping Nikola Vucevic ($8,200) and Zach LaVine ($7,800) in trades but both have had solid production this season. Coby White ($6,900; wrist) is questionable for this contest, and his absence would leave even more usage for Vucevic and LaVine along with Ayo Dosunmu ($5,400), who has a high ceiling as a value play. With Patrick Williams (foot) out, Matas Buzelis ($3,800) is also a bargain to consider.
Pistons at Pacers (229.5 total)
The Pistons come into this Eastern Conference Group B game undefeated in NBA Cup play, but Cade Cunningham ($9,800; hip) and Tobias Harris ($6,400; hip) are both questionable. If Cunningham misses a fourth straight game, Jaden Ivey ($7,000) and Malik Beasley ($5,600) will continue to get more usage and be strong plays to consider. Marcus Sasser ($3,300) has also been very strong in the last three games, producing 20.5, 13 and 37.25 DraftKings points while helping pick up the slack.
On the Indy side, Mathurin is my favorite Pacers' play (as highlighted above). You can stack him with Pascal Siakam ($7,200) or Tyrese Haliburton ($8,500) at the top of the salary structure. To save some salary, Quenton Jackson ($4,000) has also had solid numbers recently as a starter.
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: De'Aaron Fox
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Isaiah Hartenstein
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Scottie Barnes
- My favorite VALUE play: Ja'Kobe Walter
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