NBA DFS: Top DraftKings, FanDuel daily Fantasy basketball picks for Thursday, Feb. 19 include Cade Cunningham
A massive 10-game slate awaits NBA Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) players this Thursday, February 19. With action tipping off at 7 p.m. ET, fantasy managers are looking for the perfect blend of superstars and value plays to navigate the salary caps on DraftKings and FanDuel. SportsLine’s predictive data engineer and DFS pro, Mike McClure, has locked in his optimal lineups, identifying Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham as a must-have cornerstone for tonight's rosters.
Cunningham enters Thursday’s contest carrying a massive offensive burden. With key frontcourt teammates Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart currently serving suspensions, the Pistons’ offensive production will flow almost exclusively through their franchise point guard. Cunningham has been electric in February, averaging 25.5 points over his last 10 outings. His recent form includes a dominant 33-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 9, followed by a near triple-double—28 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds—in a victory over the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 11. Priced at $10,300 on DraftKings and $10,900 on FanDuel, Cunningham offers the high usage rate and explosive ceiling necessary for tournament play, despite a matchup against the New York Knicks.
To afford a premium asset like Cunningham, McClure recommends finding value in the paint. Paul Reed emerges as a critical value play at $5,700 on both platforms. The absences in Detroit’s frontcourt clear the runway for Reed to see significant minutes. He recently proved his upside with a 22-point, four-block eruption against Toronto, making him an ideal candidate to pair with Cunningham for a cost-effective Detroit stack.
Beyond the Pistons, the player pool is deep with high-end talent. Stars such as Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, and Victor Wembanyama are also scheduled for action, providing managers with multiple paths to differentiation. However, the concentrated volume in Detroit makes the Cunningham-Reed combination a priority for McClure's model, which simulates every possession 10,000 times to uncover statistical edges for this specific slate.
Cunningham enters Thursday’s contest carrying a massive offensive burden. With key frontcourt teammates Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart currently serving suspensions, the Pistons’ offensive production will flow almost exclusively through their franchise point guard. Cunningham has been electric in February, averaging 25.5 points over his last 10 outings. His recent form includes a dominant 33-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 9, followed by a near triple-double—28 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds—in a victory over the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 11. Priced at $10,300 on DraftKings and $10,900 on FanDuel, Cunningham offers the high usage rate and explosive ceiling necessary for tournament play, despite a matchup against the New York Knicks.
To afford a premium asset like Cunningham, McClure recommends finding value in the paint. Paul Reed emerges as a critical value play at $5,700 on both platforms. The absences in Detroit’s frontcourt clear the runway for Reed to see significant minutes. He recently proved his upside with a 22-point, four-block eruption against Toronto, making him an ideal candidate to pair with Cunningham for a cost-effective Detroit stack.
Beyond the Pistons, the player pool is deep with high-end talent. Stars such as Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, and Victor Wembanyama are also scheduled for action, providing managers with multiple paths to differentiation. However, the concentrated volume in Detroit makes the Cunningham-Reed combination a priority for McClure's model, which simulates every possession 10,000 times to uncover statistical edges for this specific slate.
