Eight games on tonight's NBA DFS main slate for DraftKings and FanDuel to close out the week. This eight game slate is loaded with injury news as we already know that Joel Embiid and Tyrese Haliburton will not play tonight but we may also get the return of LaMelo Ball for the Charlotte Hornets. This slate also features a 252 game total between the Hawks and Pacers that should see plenty of ownership tonight.

NBA DFS Tools to dominate tonight's NBA DFS slate!

Make sure to check out today's NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections before finalizing your lineups today. We also have the NBA Consistency Report to help identify players that have exceeded value based off their current price tag this season and of course our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!

 

Check out today's NBA DFS Playbook Preview Show

Notable NBA Injury Updates

Out

Questionable

Teams on Back-to-Backs

Second Leg

First Leg

Pace Up Spots

Pace definition: Pace is the total number of possessions a team uses in a game.

*key* Green is elite pace of play, Blue is decent pace of play, & Red is slow pace of play.

Green = Fast Paced team

Blue = Neutral Paced team

Red = Slow Paced team

Notable NBA Game Totals

Top Tier Core Plays

Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

What more really needs to be said here? After going for 70 FP two games ago we saw Sabonis on track to repeat that performance against the Hornets if not for the blowout. Tonight he should find himself in a more competitive matchup with the 76ers who are going to be without Joel Embiid here this evening.

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

On the flip side of that matchup with Sabonis is going to be Maxey who had a huge effort in the team's last game against the Hawks and will now face one of the worst defenses in the NBA against opposing point guards. I look for Maxey to again take over here in this spot against the Kings in what should be a high scoring contest.

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Yes, I realize there is a big risk here because of the price tag and the fact that Wemby is going to be limited to somewhere around 25 minutes here tonight but he has now put up three straight games of 50 FP while being on his minutes restriction and we've seen him have a higher ceiling that that when limited already this year. The matchup against the Hornets is one of the best in the NBA for opposing centers and another triple-double performance would not be the least bit shocking. 

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

He is a one man wrecking crew right now for the Magic and while he finally had an off night against the Timberwolves in his most recent outing I am expecting better things from Banchero tonight against the Heat team that will be without both Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro this evening. Prior to the Timberwolves matchup Banchero had six straight games of over 50 fantasy points with two games of over 60.

Mid-Tier Core Plays

Chicago Bulls

Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Colby White are all in play for me tonight against the Golden State Warriors. I've listed them in my order of preference here this evening as I look at Vucevic in an elite matchup while we saw LaVine finally break out the other night. Colby White has been the most consistently impressive but the price tag on DeMar DeRozan has him ranked ahead of him for me this evening. 

Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

You can really play any Hawks player you want tonight in this spot against the Pacers but Johnson is far too cheap right now given his standard of play since returning from his injury. Over the last four games he is averaging 44 FP, going for 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.8  blocks and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 37.5% from three-point range.

Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers

With Joel Embiid out few have been as impressive as Tobias Harris this season on the 76ers roster. While Maxey gets all the initial plugs into lineups, Harris is cheaper and giving us 40+ fantasy points in these spots consistently. The matchup against the Kings isn't one that should slow down his pace and usage with the 76ers current starting lineup.

Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are a super frustrating team and it doesn't get much better with Haliburton injured. We also are paying a bit of a premium for Mathurin tonight which also doesn't feel great. That said, this game has a 252 total and in my opinion, Mathurin has the highest scoring ceiling on the Pacers roster tonight. If he can get the minutes, I just don't see how he doesn't produce. The problem? He may not get the minutes.

Value Tier Core Plays

Caleb Martin, Miami Heat

After missing the last eight games it is looking like Martin will be back for the Heat tonight and he could be forced into a big role right away with Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro both considered doubtful for tonight's matchup against the Magic. There is definitely some risk here but Martin was being priced much higher earlier this season when he was healthy so this could be a spot to get him at a discount.

Cam Whitmore, Houston Rockets

If you've followed the livestreams this season you know that Grande has been screaming from the rooftops to keep Cam Whitmore on your radar and last slate if finally hit as he closed for the Rockets and played over 30 minutes. This dude was a first round pick and is an absolute bucket and can be a great fantasy point per minute play. At his price tag and given the matchup against the Pistons he likely garners a lot of love here today.

Bruce Brown, Indiana Pacers

Bruce Brown was the Pacer to play the other night as he went for 40 fantasy points against the Wizards. It was still annoying that he didn't crack the 30-minute mark but he is cheap enough and he is going to fill the stat sheet like we know him to do. Against the Hawks this season he is shooting 68% from the floor and averaging 22.4 fantasy points.

Saddiq Bey, Atlanta Hawks

I'm going to keep playing Bey if they are just going to keep pricing him in this range. He has become a great rebounder this year and the scoring is reliable. When he adds in some defensive stats we get a nice ceiling but overall he has a very solid floor for cash games.

Luke Kennard, Memphis Grizzlies

Someone in Memphis has to score the basketball and with Marcus Smart hurt again and Ja Morant out there is a chance that Kennard, who is already in the starting lineup, may finally get his minutes limit removed and may approach the 30-minute mark. He is a knock down three-point shooter and can compliment Bane and Jaren Jackson in this offense if given the playing time.

Check out today's NBA DFS Playbook Live Show at 5pm ET

ROSTER LOCK UPDATES

  • Kelly Oubre is OUT >> Increase for Batum and Melton here
  • Wendell Carter Jr. is OUT >> Goga and Mo Wagner
  • Aaron Nesmith and Jalen Smith are IN >> Downgrade Toppin and Jackson
  • Clint Capela is IN >> Slight downgrade for Okongwu 
  • LaMelo Ball is a GTD
  • Deandre Ayton is OUT >> Duop Reath 

Player Pool

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Stacks

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