This week in the NBA features very balanced DFS slates, which are my favorite weeks of basketball. It continues Tuesday with a strong seven-game slate with a ton to keep an eye on.
Of course, be sure to check out the FTN NBA Optimizer throughout the day.
NBA Vegas Data for February 1 | NBA DFS First Look
New Orleans Pelicans @ Detroit Pistons
DET -2, total: 214.5 Pace: NOP (23rd), DET (9th)
Situations to monitor:
Brandon Ingram (ankle) has missed the last five games and is questionable again for Tuesday’s contest.
For Detroit, Jerami Grant is off the injury report and will make his return.
Washington Wizards @ Milwaukee Bucks
MIL -11.5, total: 225.5 Pace: WAS (17th), MIL (7th)
Situations to monitor:
Bradley Beal will miss at least the next two games with a wrist injury.
Miami Heat @ Toronto Raptors
TOR -3, total: 210.5 Pace: MIA (29th), TOR (27th)
Situations to monitor:
Kyle Lowry is still out due to personal reasons. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler missed Monday’s game with a toe injury and is questionable for Tuesday.
James Harden missed last game with a hand injury and although he did practice Monday, he is listed as questionable. LaMarcus Aldridge, meanwhile, has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
Washington has been at full strength for a while now, but that will change for at least the next two games with Beal sidelined. This team has been very unappealing for fantasy when fully healthy, but Beal’s absence changes things. With Beal off the floor this season, Dinwiddie is sporting a 25.8% usage rate to go along with a massive 23% assist rate. He is also averaging 1.14 fantasy points per minute in the split and per the FTN NBA Splits tool, Dinwiddie is averaging 44.6 fantasy points per game in games Beal has missed this season, compared to just under 30 fantasy points per game when Beal is active.
Green continues to miss time with a calf injury and with this being the second end of a back-to-back, Thompson will rest. This should lead to increased opportunity for Poole, who is flirting with a 28% usage rate with both players off the floor this season, while also averaging 1.0 fantasy points per minute in the split. The matchup is favorable, facing a San Antonio team that plays at the fifth-fastest pace in the NBA, while also coughing up a league-leading 1.06 points per possession to players off hand-offs, as well as the second-highest field goal percentage off the play type (48.2%). Expect Poole to attempt way more than the four fields goals he attempted on Monday.
Chris Paul is sporting a 34% assist rate over the last two weeks
Paul has been fantastic lastely, averaging 21.4 points, 13.4 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 54.8 fantasy points per game over his last five outings. And with Cameron Payne sidelined, Paul is also averaging just under 39 minutes per game during that span, which is way, way more than he’s accustomed to. And over the last two weeks, Paul is sporting a massive 34% assist rate to go along with a 17% rebounding rate and 1.37 fantasy points per minute. Paul has recorded double-digit assists in six of his last seven games and has a strong matchup with Brooklyn Tuesday.
Value Plays | NBA DFS First Look
Jordan McLaughlin vs. DEN — With both D’Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley out last game, McLaughlin drew the start for Minnesota, logging 27 minutes and scoring just under 28 fantasy points. If both Russell and Beverley are sidelined again Tuesday, McLaughlin would become one of the best value plays of the slate. He is sporting a strong 21% assist rate with both players off the floor over the course of the season.
Last Night’s GPP Performances | NBA DFS First Look
