NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Lineup Strategy for Saturday, November 22
We have a small four-game slate on tap for Saturday, but there will be no shortage of quality DFS selections to offer for the evening. I'll combine the latest NBA news, RotoWire's world-class NBA projections and our customizable NBA DFS Optimizer to provide the best possible outcome for your DraftKings contests.
SLATE OVERVIEW
For the latest spreads and over-unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There, you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
I'm endorsing an Atlanta stack for this slate. I'm also identifying key spots for Chicago and Washington due to the impressive total projection.
INJURIES
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the most recent and relevant injuries for Saturday. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list. Use your best judgment when evaluating ongoing injury scenarios elsewhere on the slate.
WAS Alex Sarr (toe) - OUT
WAS Marvin Bagley (hip) - OUT
With both big men sidelined, starting duties under the basket will shift to Tristan Vukcevic ($3,500).
CHI Matas Buzelis (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
CHI Isaac Okoro (back) - QUESTIONABLE
Ayo Dosunmu ($5,100) and Patrick Williams ($3,700) should see usage bumps if these tags hold. Keep tabs on the eventual starters via our NBA Starting Lineups tools.
DET Tobias Harris (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
Isaiah Stewart ($5,900) should excel if Harris is out, but he would still have some value even if Harris returns to action.
MIL Giannis Antetokounmpo (groin) - OUT
With Giannis out for at least another week, Bobby Portis ($6,500) will serve as his replacement in the starting lineup. I also expect Myles Turner ($6,900) to step up and produce more during the absence.
MEM Ja Morant (calf) - OJT
MEM Jaren Jackson (ankle) - DOUBTFUL
Vince Williams ($5,700) and Santi Aldama ($6,700) will be the pivots to target in this injury scenario.
ELITE PLAYERS
Cade Cunningham ($10,700) is the only player with a five-figure salary on our four-game slate. While he has an excellent projection for Saturday's game against the Bucks, Jalen Johnson ($9,700) will likely be my first elite off the board. The Hawks face an exploitable Pelicans squad on the road, and Williams will face little opposition from New Orleans' interior defense. I would also give some attention to Josh Giddey ($9,600) in a favorable matchup against the Wizards.
EXPECTED CHALK AND VALUE PLAYS
We will combine these two sections due to the size of Saturday's slate.
Trey Murphy, NOP ($7,000) vs. ATL
The Pelicans have to get production from somewhere, and the potential return of Zion Williamson could draw some attention away from Murphy, who has been the Pelicans' most dependable scoring option this season. I'd take a quick look at our NBA lineups page to see how the first unit shakes out, but Murphy should work with or without Williamson's presence. I will avoid Williamson as a DFS option due to a potential minute limit.
Cooper Flagg, DAL ($6,900) vs. MEM
Flagg is still getting accustomed to the frequent back-to-backs that NBA players experience, and his record on the back end of those sets has been a mixed bag. Despite the quick turnaround tonight, a compromised Memphis lineup could be an excellent opportunity for the rookie. He's also running hot, coming off the best performance of his NBA career against New Orleans.
Dyson Daniels, ATL ($6,800) @ NOP
Daniels continues to put up respectable totals during Trae Young's extended absence, and he'll be a continuation of our Atlanta stack against the Pelicans. After a subpar effort against the Jazz, Daniels has rattled off three consecutive magnificent games, highlighted by a 43.3-DKFP effort against the Suns.
Kristaps Porzingis, ATL ($6,700) @ NOP
I'm following the same script as Johnson, using a quality Atlanta interior player against New Orleans. While Zion Williamson may show up tonight and wreak some havoc on my Atlanta selections, Porzingis has a clear height and skill advantage over whomever the Pelicans choose to use at the five. They've frequently tinkered between Derik Queen and Yves Missi, and I don't have faith in either player in this specific matchup. I'm taking Porzingis over other centers like Zach Edey and Nikola Vucevic tonight, although the aforementioned Myles Turner will also get some exposure for me.
Ausar Thompson, DET ($6,000) @ MIL
Thompson came off the bench and was limited in his return from injury, but the Pistons haven't played since Monday, giving him more time to heal. He could sneak under the radar and post a considerable number if he's given his usual allotment of minutes.
Cam Spencer, MEM ($4,700) @ DAL
Spencer should come off the bench as part of the platoon that will account for Ja Morant's absence. Jaylen Wells hasn't been especially effective in this scenario, but Spencer has shown an ability to find openings when given enough minutes. The Grizzlies are well-rested after a few days off, and although I think Vince Williams is still the best bet for this backcourt, we can also use Spencer if we experience cap trouble.
Cam Whitmore, WAS ($3,600) @ CHI
If you're looking for a bargain dart throw to make more room for elites. Whitmore is worth a look. Although he didn't convert in his last game, he showed up with a 13/6/2 line earlier in the week with Alex Sarr out of the lineup. It won't take much at this salary for Whitmore to send up a value-beating number, and he'll be a great help against a DraftKings salary cap that limits our ability to spend up frequently.
Also consider: Kyshawn George, WAS ($6,300) @ CHI, Kyle Kuzma, MIL ($6,700) vs. DET
