DraftKings NBA DFS Picks for Today (Tuesday, 11/19/24): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

Welcome back, Rotoballers! Tonight we have six more NBA Cup Group Play matchups, highlighted by Cavaliers at Celtics. 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 11/19/24. 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 all about the injuries at center. Headlined by Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, 14 of the first 22 players with center eligibility will miss their respective games tonight. That leaves Anthony Davis as the last man standing at the top of the high-priced options. Davis has a smash match-up and provides a ceiling no other center can match.

With fewer of the truly elite options available, guys priced in the $9k range become much more viable. Two guys who fit that description are Brandon Ingram and Donovan Mitchell. Both are on 2+ days of rest and are the clear alpha on offense. Ingram has scored 53+ fantasy points in both games since the Pelicans got hit with another wave of injuries, and Mitchell has scored 60 fantasy points in three straight.

We went from wondering HOW / WHY TF Anthony Davis would only have 2 shots in so many 2nd Halves last year under Darvin Ham-

To now having AD Pick & Popping for Clutch 3’s with regularity.

Ham was So. Bad. pic.twitter.com/W4g6jMMmfm

— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) November 16, 2024

1. Anthony Davis, LAL vs UTA - C ($10,700)
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC @ SAS - PG ($10,600)
3. Donovan Mitchell, CLE @ BOS - PG/SG ($9,000)
4. Brandon Ingram, NO @ DAL - SG/SF ($9,300)

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.

With all the injuries at center, it's easy to find value tonight. Dario Saric and Zach Collins are the direct replacements for Jokic and Wemby, and both figure to be popular plays tonight. The Nets are also thin in the frontcourt and have six players priced $5.6k or cheaper, who all played 17+ minutes last game.

Nice play-design from the Nuggets here, probably the best of the half.

Jamal Murray-Christian Braun pick-and-roll. Murray gets downhill.

On the weak side, Peyton Watson sets an exit screen on Jay Huff to open up the wide-open corner three for Dario Šarić.

Creative usage of… pic.twitter.com/ImnFHpcZar

— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) November 18, 2024

Top Value Plays:

1. Dario Saric, DEN @ MEM - C ($4,700) 
2. Zach Collins, SAS vs OKC - C ($5,500)
3. Dorian Finney-Smith, BKN vs CHA - PF ($4,100) 

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DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard

With all the cheap options at forward/center, guard is the obvious place to spend your salary. The three stars at the top should account for most ownership at the position, and in cash games, you shouldn't overthink it.

Top PG Options:

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC @ SAS ($10,600)
2. Luka Doncic, DAL vs NO ($11,200 DK)
3. LaMelo Ball, CHA @ BKN ($9,800 DK)

DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard

Donovan Mitchell is an eruption candidate tonight, and even though his price jumped $800 since his last game on 11/15, $9k is still too cheap. He's taken a combined 70 shots (42 3's) in his last three games and will lead the Cavs into Boston to try and preserve their unbeaten start to the season, after resting on Sunday with the clear intention of guaranteeing fresh legs for this game.

Top SG Options:

1. Donovan Mitchell, CLE @ BOS, ($9,000)
2. Desmond Bane, MEM vs DEN ($7,300)
3. Jaylen Nowell, NO @ DAL ($4,500)

DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward

SF is the tightest position on the slate by far. With none of the top plays (by projected ownership) SF eligible, this is where lineups will get diverse. SF is a fantastic way to stack games and look for correlation when playing tournaments. In cash games, midrange options like Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun provide big minutes and solid floors.

Top SF Options:

1. Brandon Ingram, NO @ DAL ($9,300)
2. Cameron Johnson, BKN vs CHA ($5,6300)
3. Christian Braun, DEN @ MEM ($5,900)

DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward

PF is the thinnest position on the slate tonight. However, one name stands out from a projection standpoint; Miles Bridges. Bridges saw his price decrease by $200 after registering 49 fantasy points on Sunday, which was his third straight game scoring 35+ fantasy points. Like SF, it's another great position to include in-game stacks.

Top PF Options:

1. Dorian Finney-Smith, BKN vs CHA ($4,100) 
2. Miles Bridges, CHA @ BKN ($6,300 DK) 
3. Lauri Markkanen, UTA @ LAL ($7,000 DK)

DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Center

As mentioned at the start of the article, the center position is the pressure point on this slate tonight due to all of the injuries. The first (and maybe most important) decision to make tonight is: are you paying up for Anthony Davis or not? The next question should be: what other center am I playing in my UTIL spot?

Top C Options:

1. Anthony Davis, LAL vs UTA  ($10,700)
2. Dario Saric, DEN @ MEM - C ($4,700) 
3. Zach Collins, SAS vs OKC - C ($5,500)

DraftKings Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

1. UTA @ LAL (o/u 232)
2. CHA @ BKN (o/u 222.5)

DraftKings Top NBA DFS Avoids

While both teams are missing their best player, this Denver at Memphis game could be a good one to avoid. These teams just played on Sunday to a final score of 105-90 for Memphis. This game has an implied total of 225.5, which is 30 points higher than where this matchup just finished. Vegas always knows best, but that feels lofty.

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: Anthony Davis
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Dario Saric
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Donovan Mitchell
• My favorite value play: Dorian Finney-Smith

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis