NBA FanDuel Fantasy Basketball Picks & Lineup Tonight for 2/17/2022

The 2021-22 NBA season is in full swing. If you need some advice on your NBA FanDuel lineup tonight, The Duel is here to help. 

NBA DFS 2/17/2022

Without further ado, here are three players to target and two to avoid in Thursday, 2/17, NBA DFS action.

FanDuel Picks Tonight NBA - 2/17

Joel Embiid Fantasy

Target Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers ($11,400): It's not a massive slate of NBA games tonight, so finding a true star to bolster your lineup is crucial. Joel Embiid is an NBA MVP frontrunner averaging 29.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. A blowout loss on Tuesday night has allowed him to get more than enough rest to take on a tough Milwaukee Bucks team. Embiid has not played the Bucks since last season, but he's posted a double-double in six of his last seven matchups against them. Milwaukee also plays at the eighth-fastest pace in the NBA and will attempt to speed this game up in front of the home crowd. More possessions means more opportunities for Embiid to ball out.

Cam Thomas Fantasy

Target Cam Thomas, SG, Brooklyn Nets ($6,800): There may not be another player on the Nets roster benefitting from the departure of James Harden more than rookie guard Cam Thomas. The former LSU standout has the ball in his hands seemingly every possession and has poured in at least 20 points in three of his last four games. There is no reason head coach Steve Nash won't let him loose again tonight. Washington has posted the eighth-worst defensive efficiency mark in the NBA and allows 48.1 points in the paint per game (No. 21 in NBA). Look for Thomas to constantly drive to the rim, which gives him a lot of value at $6,800.

Nicolas Batum Fantasy

Target Nicolas Batum, SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers ($5,400): Targeting someone on the Clippers roster is a must tonight. Los Angeles is set to play a Houston Rockets team that gives up the most points per game (117.7) and also plays at the fastest pace in the league. Nicolas Batum is the perfect candidate given his low price tag. Batum has turned things around as of late, logging at least 14 points and 7 rebounds in each of his last two games. More importantly, he is heating up from three-point range, hitting 8 of his 15 attempts during that span. Houston gives up the sixth-most points from beyond the arc per contest (39.4) and should have no answer for Batum.

Brandon Ingram Fantasy

Avoid Brandon Ingram, SF, New Orleans Pelicans ($7,600): It's going to be a battle in New Orleans tonight. The Pelicans match up against the Dallas Mavericks in a game between two teams fighting for the playoffs. Both of these squads play at a bottom-10 pace in the NBA and love to drain the clock whenever possible. That does not bode well for Brandon Ingram from a fantasy perspective. Ingram is averaging just 16.3 points per game over his last four contests, which is well below his season average of 22.3. It's worth noting that the Mavericks also give up the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing small forwards. There are better options out there at SF.

LaMelo Ball Fantasy

Avoid LaMelo Ball, PG, Charlotte Hornets ($8,800): This has nothing to do with LaMelo Ball's play, but rather everything to do with the Miami Heat's defense. Head coach Erik Spoelstra's team gives up the fewest fantasy points to opposing point guards due to their ability to disrupt the position at the top of the key. Players like Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler know how to make their opponent uncomfortable when handling the basketball. Keep in mind Ball also gets most of his scoring done from beyond the three-point line and Miami has allowed an opponent three-point shooting percentage of just 33.2% in away games (No. 4 in the NBA).

FanDuel NBA Lineup Tonight From The Duel Staff for 2/17

Based on tonight's targets and avoids, here's the NBA FanDuel lineup The Duel staff has put together for 2/17:  

PG: Jalen Brunson ($6,500)
PG: Dennis Schroder ($4,300)
SG: Cam Thomas ($6,800)
SG: Khris Middleton ($7,400)
SF: Nicolas Batum ($5,400)
SF: Jae'Sean Tate ($5,200)
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge ($5,200)
PF: Kyle Kuzma ($7,700)
C: Joel Embiid ($11,400)

Remaining Salary: $100

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.