We have an action-packed eight-game NBA DFS main slate on Friday night, including a doubleheader on ESPN. It starts with the Heat continuing their four-game road trip against the Bucks before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Thunder take on Devin Booker and the Suns on the second night of a back-to-back at 10 p.m. ET. Our DraftKings lineup has a good mix of veterans and multiple value sleepers under $6K who are the type of low-risk, high-reward options that are key in daily fantasy basketball tournaments.
Before we break down all of our picks, here are the most notable scoring rules for DraftKings contests: Made three-point shot (+0.5 points), rebound (+1.25 points), assists (+1.5 points), steals and blocks (+2 points), double-double (+1.5 points -- max one per player) and triple-double (+3 points -- max one player).
MORE NBA DFS: Tonight's FanDuel lineup
Friday night's NBA DraftKings Picks: NBA DFS lineup for GPP tournaments
Friday night main slate, $50,000 budget
PG Jalen Brunson, Knicks @ Wizards ($8,800). Before the All-Star break, the vet shined against the Hawks, putting up 28 points, nine rebounds, and five assists for 44.8 DraftKings points. Brunson has scored 40 or more DraftKings points in five-straight games and is averaging 49 DraftKings points per game this month. He will try to add another 40-point effort against the Wizards, who allow the 13th-fewest DraftKings points per game to PGs (48.03). It's not an ideal matchup for the veteran point guard, but he's played well in two games against the Wizards this season, averaging 33.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.5 assists per game. Brunson also shot an efficient 47.9 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from three-point range. With that type of production, we will take our chances with Brunson as our lead guard for tonight's lineup.
SG Paul George, Clippers vs. Kings ($8,200). George will be our starting two-guard for tonight's main slate as he'll be facing a Kings' team, who just played on Thursday night against the Trail Blazers. The All-Star wing has scored 20 or more points in five out of his past six games, which is a good sign heading into tonight. The 32-year-old George played well in the Clippers' last game against the Suns, posting 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists. George scored 43 DK points in that contest and has gone over the 40-point threshold in four out of his past six games. The veteran wing player might struggle tonight against Sacramento, who allow the 12th-fewest DraftKings points per game to SGs (41.97). However, when George faced the Kings in October, he had 40 points (16-31 FG, 3-10 3pt), six rebounds, and six assists. If the veteran can have another complete performance like this tonight, our starting backcourt should be in great shape.
SF Khris Middleton, Bucks vs. Heat ($6,300). With Giannis Antetokounmpo (wrist) listed as questionable for tonight's game, Milwaukee might have to lean on the duo of Middleton and Jrue Holiday. Middleton hasn't rejoined the starting lineup since returning from a knee injury, but he's still been productive. The 31-year-old small forward is averaging 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in his past 10 games. He's also scored in double figures in six consecutive games and has produced 32.2 DraftKings points per game. One of those games was against tonight's opponent -- the Heat, where Middleton recorded 24 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 20 minutes (39.3 DK points). Miami has struggled against opposing SFs this season, allowing the eighth-most DK points per game (42.76).
PF Cameron Johnson, Nets @ Bulls ($5,200). Johnson will be one of our first value plays for tonight's main slate. The 26-year-old forward has scored 10 or more points in his first three games with the Nets. The former Suns forward did not play in the last meeting in Brooklyn on Feb. 9. However, Johnson should be a nice pivot for DFS players looking to save some salary. With Spencer Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges garnering attention on the perimeter, Johnson should be able to get his as Chicago allows the 10th-most DraftKings points per game to PFs (41.62) this season.
C Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves vs. Hornets ($7,200). Gobert hasn't looked like the All-Star center we saw with the Jazz over the past few years. However, he's still averaging 13.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 33.1 DK points per game in his first season with Minnesota. The 30-year-old Gobert is coming off back-to-back 40-point DK performances against Dallas (40) and Washington (48.8). It wouldn't be shocking to see the veteran go off against the Hornets tonight, who allow the most DK points per game (60.32) to centers this season. The last time Gobert played the Hornets, he had 17 points and 17 rebounds in a two-point win back in November.
G Gabe Vincent, Heat @ Bucks ($5,000). With Kyle Lowry (knee) out again for tonight's game against the Bucks, Vincent will be in the starting lineup for the seventh-straight game. In the previous six starts, the 26-year-old combo guard averaged 14.2 points and 25.2 DraftKings points per game. Additionally, Vincent has scored at least 20 or more DraftKings points in the past five games. In the Heat's last meeting against the Bucks earlier this month, Vincent had seven points, three rebounds, and one assist (17.8 DraftKings points) in 34 minutes. However, in the first two meetings against the Bucks, Vincent went off for 28 and 27 points. DFS players will hope for a similar performance tonight, especially with Tyler Herro (knee) listed as probable.
F Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors vs. Rockets ($4,200). The 20-year-old power forward is an underrated play in tonight's main slate, as he'll likely be in the starting lineup tonight for Andrew Wiggins. The former NBA G League Ignite standout produced 10 points, five assists, and three rebounds in 25 minutes against the Lakers on Thursday night. It was the second-straight game that Kuminga scored in double figures and posted 20-plus DK points. We hit on Cam Reddish last night as a value play, so hopefully, we can get the same luck tonight with Kuminga.
UTIL Immanuel Quickley, Knicks @ Warriors ($4,700). Our last play for tonight's main slate will be Quickley, who has scored in double figures in five consecutive games. Over that period, the former Kentucky guard also recorded 27.24 DraftKings points per game. The last time Quickley played the Wizards on Jan. 18, he had 18 points (6-13 FG, 2-6 3pt) and five rebounds in 32 minutes (26.8 DK points). The third-year guard should be on many DFS players' radar, as the Wizards are ranked 27th against PG/SGs in OPRK.
