NBA DFS Summer League Playbook July 12th: Top DraftKings NBA DFS Picks
The 2023 NBA Summer League has been breaking viewership records everywhere you look because Victor Wembanyama made his debut and star after star after star is showing up in the stands to watch the future of the league take the floor. More basketball is better and today, Wednesday, July 12th, we have a four-game NBA DFS Summer League slate and there is a $25K prize up top for their top contest on DraftKings. Let’s dive into the top NBA DFS plays of the day for today’s summer league slate.
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News we’re monitoring:
Ochai Agbaji, Utah Jazz - QUEST – PROB
Taylor Hendricks, Utah Jazz - QUEST – OUT
Brice Sensabaugh, Utah Jazz - QUEST – OUT
Oklahoma City Thunder - Everyone (Note here is expectations everyone but Jalen Williams & Tre Mann play, but TBD)
Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers - OUT
Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers - OUT
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers - OUT
NBA DFS Top Plays
Keyonte George, Utah Jazz (DraftKings - $9,900)
George was the 16th pick in this years NBA Draft and he’s shown out thus far in Summer League scoring 33 and 26 points in his last two games and 44.75 DKP or more in each. He’s playing big minutes and there are multiple injury concerns on the Jazz front. IF some of the guys in question play, I’d scale back my interest in George a bit.
Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers (DraftKings - $9,300)
With Isaiah Jackson, Benedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard out, Jarace Walker takes center stage. The 8th overall pick has looked sharp from a fantasy perspective through two Summer League games, averaging 37.1 DKP/game. He’s averaged 31 minutes and 15 shots through two games and now the best three guys for the Pacers are out. Walker is one of the best spend-ups of the day.
NBA DFS Mid-Tier Plays
Jalen Pickett, Denver Nuggets (DraftKings - $8,100)
Pickett has been a very consistent contributor on the fantasy front putting up 32+ DKP in each of the team’s first two Summer League games and he’s doing it in a variety of ways. He shot 63% from the floor last year in college while also dishing out 6.5 assists/game, so he can beat you in multiple ways. If he plays another 30+ minutes here, he’s going to be a FP/min producer once again, with a ceiling for much more.
Justin Champagnie, Boston Celtics ($7,100)
The Celtics are playing a nine-man Summer League rotation at this point and nobody is playing more than Champagnie. He’s averaged 29 minutes/game through the first two Summer League games and has double-digit rebounds in each game. He scored 21 points last game, showing us what his upside is when he’s scoring/rebounding at an elite level.
Ben Sheppard, Indiana Pacers (DraftKings - $5,800)
Sheppard has been starting for the Pacers this preseason and after his first game, which didn’t go well, his second did. He scored 16 points with nine rebounds and 30.75 DKP and now Nembhard, Mathurin, and Jackson are out. Sheppard scored 18.8 points/game during his season year at Belmont, shot 41% from three, and averaged nearly three assists/game. He’s an elite play today.
NBA DFS Value Plays
Oscar Tshiebwe, Indiana Pacers (DraftKings - $5,200)
With Isaiah Jackson now officially ruled out in the front court, look for the Pacers to turn to Oscar Tshiebwe a bit more. He’s only averaged 11 minutes/game thus far, but in just 12 minutes last game, he had seven points and eight rebounds and put up 18 DKP. He’s flashed a very solid FP/min average and he could approach and surpass 20 minutes.
Oklahoma City Thunder
What are the Thunder going to do on Wednesday? They rested pretty much everyone on Tuesday and that led to all the incredible value on Tuesday’s slate and if they choose to do that again, rinse and repeat. If all the same guys are out again, the top values for the Thunder are KJ Williams, Jaden Shackelford, Caleb McConnell, and Hunter Maldonado. Thankfully we have this game listed as the early game to find out who’s in/out. Join our discord to get the scoops before lock.
Jaylen Martin, New York Knicks (DraftKings - $5,400)
Nobody on the Knicks has played more minutes this Summer League than Jaylen Martin. He has not shot the ball well thus far, but he’s not shy about shooting and is contributing across the board. If Martin continues to play 30+ minutes, he should continue to stuff the stat sheet and love that he’s multi-position eligible as well.
D'Moi Hodge, Los Angeles Lakers (DraftKings - $4,900)
It’s likely we see Hodge start for the Lakers here again and with limited value on a four-game slate, Hodge is a solid value option. He played 25 minutes and put up 16 points, five assists, two rebounds, two blocks, and a steal along with 31 DKP. Hodge averaged nearly 15 PPG for Missouri last year and shot 40% from three as a score-first guard. The low assist numbers likely won’t rise here.
Others: Kendall Brown, Indiana Pacers, Isaiah Wong, Indiana Pacers (if starting), Dmytro Skapintsev, New York Knicks
Join our Discord to continue to discuss everything related to tonight's NBA DFS Summer League slate!
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.