NBA Daily Fantasy Picks: DraftKings + FanDuel Ownership Projections

Tonight is the final Friday of the NBA regular season, and this slate is going to be insane to say the least. Of the nine games on the schedule, none sport a total over 230 points, and four of these contest’s carry double-digits spreads. By my count, only five of the 18 teams in action have playoff implications on the line tonight, and still, some of those team’s might choose to limit or rest their players instead of competing for a better playoff seed. The two main teams that should play Friday as a must-win are the Wizards and Mavericks. Surely, we can expect chaos near the start of this slate, so be sure to be actively checking Awesemo’s NBA daily fantasy picks, basketball rankings and projections for both DraftKings and FanDuel when your building NBA DFS lineups.

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NBA Daily Fantasy Picks: Awesemo Grades | May 14

Point Guard: Jordan Poole

DraftKings Grades: B, Values: A

FanDuel Grades: B, Values: A

Tonight, Stephen Curry (tailbone) is questionable to play, and with a matchup against Grizzlies on Sunday that will decide who gets the No. 8 seed, it would make a ton of sense for the point guard to take Friday off. Our NBA DFS projections here at Awesemo are anticipating this likely event, vaulting Poole up the value rankings for Friday night’s full slate. Poole has been the replacement starter for Curry this season and is producing 28.6 DraftKings points per game in the seven starts he has made for the sharpshooter. Let’s not forget Kelly Oubre (wrist) is also still on the shelf, and in the lone contest the Warriors have played sans Oubre and Curry this year, Poole posted 37.75 DraftKings points in a very difficult matchup with the Suns.

Overall, in the 411 minutes he has played without Curry and Oubre in 2020-21, Poole has supplied 1.03 DraftKings points per minute with a strong 28.4% usage rate. Combine this expanded role with a matchup against a Pelicans’ team that is officially eliminated from the postseason and decimated by injuries, and Poole is rating as the strongest point-per-dollar value on DraftKings tonight, via Awesemo’s NBA DFS projections.

NBA DFS Ownership Projection: DraftKings 86.4%, FanDuel 24.0%

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Shooting Guard: Terance Mann

~~DraftKings Grades: E, Values: E~~

~~FanDuel Grades: E, Values: E~~

After they both played in last night’s win over the Hornets, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are “uncertain” for Friday. Combined between the two All-Stars, they have only played in both legs of a back-to-back set seven times this season. It seems very unlikely that we see either George or Leonard in uniform tonight against the hopeless Rockets, which should result in a large role for Mann. The last time the pair of Clippers’ stars were inactive collectively, the guard out of Florida State drew the start and recorded 37 DraftKings points across 33.5 minutes against the Grizzlies.

Mann generates 0.92 DraftKings points per minute with George and Leonard off the court and in the 20 tilts he has gained at least 25 minutes this season, the combo-guard is averaging 26.5 DraftKings points per game. Mann has eclipsed 30 DraftKings points on seven occasions this season, showing you his potential upside when given ample opportunity, and we can roster him with full confidence tonight vs the Rockets if the Clippers are shorthanded. Over their last 10, no defense in the NBA owns a worse rating than Houston.

Update as of 2:25 p.m. EST

The Clippers have ruled out Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, but unfortunately Mann is also out due to a personal reason. Furthermore, Reggie Jackson (doubtful, Achilles), Patrick Beverly (rest) and Amir Coffey (health and safety protocols) are all not expected to play, while Serge Ibaka (back) is questionable. Luke Kennard, who is very cheap on both sites, instantly becomes an elite value play. Albeit a small sample, the wing scores 1.15 DraftKings points per minute in this situation and should be in line for over 30 minutes tonight. Also, Marcus Morris and Rajon Rondo are both rating very well. As veterans, I do worry about how their playing time will be handled tonight, but if the two are confirmed starters, I think they are worthwhile gambles in GPPs, particularly Rondo at the cheaper price points.

NBA DFS Ownership Projection: DraftKings 0.1%, FanDuel 0.1%

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook

DraftKings Grades: A, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: A, Values: B

Westbrook’s price tags on both DraftKings and FanDuel have eclipsed $12,000, but given that he is one of the only stars still playing for something and the overabundance of value this slate has to offer, you aren’t fading the point guard tonight. The Wizards need to beat the Cavs on Friday to hold onto hope of securing the No. 8 seed, and this matchup with Cleveland holds the highest over/under game total of this tricky slate at 228 points. Chasing this No. 8 seed, Westbrook has surpassed 40 minutes in five of his last seven, and over this seven-game stretch, the superstar has contributed a ridiculous 76.9 DraftKings points per game.

Bradley Beal (hamstring) will also miss his third in a row, and the Wizards will be back at home after a five-game road trip. Beal being off the court has pushed both Westbrook’s usage and assist rates up 5.4%, and the point guard has provided 3.3 more DraftKings points per game on his home floor this season, compared to when he is on the road. Westbrook holds the highest DraftKings projection of the night by nearly 10 fantasy points via Awesemo’s NBA DFS projections, and plain and simple, you aren’t building a lineup without him this evening.

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NBA DFS Ownership Projection: DraftKings 61.2%, FanDuel 63.0%

Power Forward: K.J. Martin Jr.

DraftKings Grades: B, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: B, Values: B

Martin Jr. has been smashing with 46 DraftKings points per game in these past five with Christian Wood (ankle) out, and the center has already been deemed inactive for Friday night. Still, Martin Jr. is projected for less than 15% ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel per Awesemo’s NBA DFS ownership projections. This is something we must capitalize on in GPPs tonight, with Martin Jr. going head to head with a Clippers’ team that is expected to be down their two best players.

The forward has received a team-high 39.8 minutes per game in these last five, and the vast volume will continue tonight, no matter if this contest is close or not. I fully expect Martin Jr. to provide over 40 fantasy points and with so much uncertainty surrounding almost every expensive player tonight, the rookie is one of the safest high-end spends on the slate.

NBA DFS Ownership Projection: DraftKings 10.8%, FanDuel 14.2%

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