FanDuel NBA DFS Picks for Today (Wednesday 11/20/24): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

It's a Wednesday night with only eight games for once and three of those games are on the West Coast with 10:00 PM tips. We have an abundance of injury info still not confirmed, so stay tuned on those developments, but for now, we can still look at some of the top players and games to target on FanDuel in NBA DFS contests tonight.

I recommend some higher-priced players for cash games and GPPs in today's edition while highlighting some of my favorite value plays and game stacks. Read my buddy Zach Thompson's article for advice on the DraftKings NBA slate!

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 11/20/24. 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 FanDuel. 

FanDuel NBA DFS Core Picks

Damian Lillard, MIL – PG ($8,400)

Lillard was a bit rusty in his first game back from a concussion, shooting only 30% from the field and going 0-6 from deep. I think he will fare much better tonight against a Bulls team that has allowed the most FD points to opposing point guards.

This game projects for a fast pace and has the second-highest total on the board. With the Bucks as 8-point home favorites, I think we can count on the Bulls hanging with them, too, as they have enough offensive firepower to push Milwaukee. They beat the Bucks earlier this season, and we know that Milwaukee has not been all that good defensively this year.

Lillard won't be this cheap for long and I think he's easily one of the safest point-per-dollar plays on the slate.

Robert Williams III, POR - C ($5,400)

Deandre Ayton is doubtful for Portlant tonight so we get a chance to roster the TIME LORD once more!

Man, it's so good to see Robert Williams III back on the basketball court.

19 PTS | 9 REB | 3 AST | 3 STL | 3 BLK

One of one. pic.twitter.com/eKhhlS4cVL

— Jake Issenberg (@jakeissenberg) November 13, 2024

RW3 is one of the most fun players to watch in the NBA. He has one of the sweetest DFS skill sets, too, as he can pile up points, boards, assists, steals, and blocks quickly and doesn't need to play starters' minutes to post big numbers. He already has a 50 FanDuel point game this season in just 25 minutes against Minnesota and he could do something similar tonight against a center-less OKC team with a similar minute allotment. You don't want to risk missing out on an 8-10x classic RW3 line, fire him up in all formats!

Franz Wagner, ORL – SF/PF ($9,000)

Wagner is finally priced correctly for his current production and is more of a safe floor play tonight than a GPP play. Consider that he has logged 40+ FD points now in six straight games and you'll see why I'm willing to pay up for such a safe, high floor.

He's been carrying this Orlando team on offense and playing huge minutes (39.5 over his last two games) in the process. This should be a close, hard-fought game against the Clippers tonight. And the low game total means nothing to me as I'm not targeting more than a handful of players from this game.

In fact, a slower-paced game that is played mainly in the half-court favors Wagner and his skills if anything. He's a great cash game option at either small forward or power forward tonight.

FanDuel NBA DFS Tournament Pivots

Stephen Curry, GSW – PG ($8,700)

The top total tonight comes in the Atlanta-Golden State game (239) as the Warriors are heavy home favorites against the Hawks. Stephen Curry is probable for this game and is the one Warrior we can count on to play more than 30 minutes this season as the rest of the rotational players have been used as interchangeable parts by coach Steve Kerr.

This is a major pace-up spot for the Dubs as the Hawks play fast and loose. I love Curry in those types of game environments, and Curry loves to square off against the younger version of himself (Trae Young) as you can see from the graphic above what he's done vs. Young the last four times the two of them squared off.

Lillard is the safer play for $300 less, but I love the ceiling that Curry brings in this game as long as the Hawks can hang in and keep it close into the fourth quarter.

Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM – PF/C ($8,200)

The Sixers are allowing the second-most FD points to power forwards this season. Yes, it's a back-to-back for JJJ, but he played only 28 minutes last night against Denver and should be good for 30+ tonight.

Without Ja Morant, JJJ has become the top offensive option for Memphis, especially with Desmond Bane struggling with his shot since returning from injury. Due to his combination of scoring and incredible defensive stats, Jackson Jr. has posted 40+ FD points in four straight games and five of his last six.

Memphis is a home dog tonight to Philadelphia but only by a few points. This game feels like it could be close and perhaps we get a ceiling performance out of JJJ as Memphis looks to bounce back after a disappointing loss against a Philly team that has been incredibly disappointing in their own right.

Shaedon Sharpe, POR - SG/SF ($6,600)

The key news to monitor here is the status of Anfernee Simons, who is currently questionable. Simons has missed the last two games for Portland, opening the door for Sharpe to start and post two consecutive 30+ actual point performances.

Sharpe was hurt early in the year and missed most of the first month of the season, but he's an emerging star with a very diverse offensive skill set. If Simons misses again, then Sharpe is easily one of my favorite options in the mid-tier as he's gone 6x or better on this price tag in both of the last two games.

Others Under Consideration: Jared McCain - PG/SG ($6,500), Paul George - SF/PF ($7,600), Fred VanVleet - PG ($7,800), Karl-Anthony Towns - C ($9,300)

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FanDuel NBA DFS Value Picks

Amir Coffey, LAC – SF ($4,200)

Norman Powell is out tonight, which should mean more minutes for Coffey and Terance Mann. I prefer Coffey as he is a much better scorer and the wing player who is more likely to start in Powell's absence and play 30+ minutes.

His per-36-minute averages this season are 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals. That's nothing spectacular, but would be good for about 25 FD points and that's all I'm looking for from him at this price point.

Dalano Banton, POR – PG/SG ($5,600)

We have yet another "if Simons sits" play here for Portland in addition to Shaedon Sharpe. It's been Banton coming off the bench who has had huge fantasy upside for the Blazers lately. With Simons and Ayton sidelined, Portland has needed offense in a big way, and it's been Sharpe and Banton who have been the best players on the floor for the Blazers.

🇨🇦 Represent The Canadians 🇨🇦

Dalano Banton | vs. Atlanta

23 POINTS
4 THREE-POINTERS
4 REBOUNDS
4 ASSISTS pic.twitter.com/peMBTxTTgQ

— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) November 18, 2024

Don't worry if he doesn't start, his role and minutes should be secure tonight as long as Simons is out and

Luguentz Dort, OKC – SG/SF ($5,500)

Dort has been super consistent since Chet Holmgren went down with a hip injury as he's been forced to play more minutes at small forward and even some power forward. He has five straight games now with 25 or more FD points and a tasty matchup against Portland - the same team that he had two blocks and four steals against earlier this season.

Jake LaRavia, MEM – SF/PF ($4,400)

LaRavia is a really good NBA player that not too many casual fans know about. His minutes have fluctuated anywhere from 16 to 28 over the last two weeks, so it's hard to know exactly when he is going to pop off, but at this price, he's worth a shot as he's got a 40+ FD point ceiling if he ends up getting enough time on the floor. If you don't want to invest in JJJ tonight but still want some Memphis exposure on the cheap then this is your guy.

Others Under Consideration: Georges Niang - PF ($4,000), Santi Aldama - PF/C ($5,400), T.J. McConnell - PG ($4,000)

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: Damian Lillard
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Franz Wagner
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Steph Curry
• My favorite VALUE play: Robert Williams III

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis