NBA Daily Fantasy Picks & Playbook October 31
Published: Oct 31, 2023
Happy Halloween NBA fans. We have a small three-game slate ahead of us on this beautiful Tuesday night. Even with just three games on the slate, we have a good amount of star power including Kevin Durant and the Suns taking on rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama. Plus, we also have Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and the rest of the Clippers taking on the young Orlando Magic team led by Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. We also have a rematch from the first round of the playoffs last year with the Knicks take on the banged-up Cleveland Cavaliers team.
Make sure to check out today's NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections before finalizing your lineups today.
Notable NBA Injury Updates
- Devin Booker - Doubtful
- Donovan Mitchell - QUEST
- Ivica Zubac - QUEST
- Caris LeVert - Questionable
- Darius Garland - OUT
- Jarrett Allen - OUT
- Ty Jerome - OUT
- Bradley Beal -OUT
- Damian Lee - OUT
- Ivica Zubac - QUEST
- Norman Powell - QUEST
- James Harden - QUEST
- P.J. Tucker - QUEST
- Filip Petrusev - QUEST
- Terance Mann - OUT
- Brandon Boston - OUT
- Josh Primo - OUT
Highest NBA Game Totals
- San Antonio Spurs vs Phoenix Suns - 225
- Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Clippers - 221.5
- New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers - 213.5
Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups
Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
Durant is the easiest play on the slate with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal out. He is the highest-priced player on the slate but it doesn't even matter. Looking at the rest of the power forwards on the slate, there is not much value outside of the top guys. He will be very chalky, but it does not matter to me. It is the highest game total on the slate as well, so Durant is in line to see 20+ shots tonight.
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
If Mitchell gets the good to go from the hamstring injury, he is another top-play option without Darius Garland in the lineup once again. Caris LeVert is also questionable heading into this one, so that means, Mitchell should see even more on the ball possesions and shot attempts. In the two games he has played this season, he has gotten up 48 shots while also getting to the free throw line 12 times. If Mitchell plays tonight, I think the play is to find a way to get both Durant and Mitchell in your lineups.
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers pulled off a massive trade to acquire James Harden early this morning. I would assume PJ Tucker and James Harden who are coming over tonight will not play. Plus they also shipped out Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, and KJ Martin. There just aren't many options for the Clippers to throw out there tonight which means wheels up for Clippers guys who play. If Mitchell doesn't play, or you just need to save money, I am fine pivoting to Paul George as well.
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson has a great price on DraftKings at just $7,700 and thus far this Cleveland defense has not been as good as last season. The Cavs rank just 24th in defensive efficiency and they are without their best rim protector in this one as well, Jarrett Allen. I think Brunson has an opportunity to go undervalued on this slate because of the low game total, and the expectation that Mitchell will pay tonight.
Honorable Mention(s):
Favorite Value Plays to Use for DFS Lineups
Bones Hyland, Los Angeles Clippers
Hyland is a great option on this slate with his price being $4,300. This slate is starved for value plays and I think Bones deserves to be locked into your lineup. He has played at least 21 minutes in three games this season. Plus his minutes could go up tonight with all the moving pieces around him. We love Bones because he is a chucker. He has put up double-digit shots in the three games and 21 three point attempts during that span as well.
Eric Gordon, Phoenix Suns
Eric Gordon is probably going to be a higher-owned player on this slate after his last game. He scored 33 fantasy points last game while getting up 14 shots. He produced this past game because he finally hit shots. In his previous two games, he got up 16 shots in each game he just didn't make enough of them. With Beal and Booker being out once again, it looks like Gordon is in line to be the second option again without Durant.
Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
Okoro brings solid value even if Mitchell plays at his price of $4,500. The minutes are there each night as he has played over 28 minutes in each game while scoring at least 23 fantasy points in each game. In the past, we have seen the floor just absolutely fall out from Okoro, but it hasn't happened yet. He is doing enough in the other categories outside of scoring to keep his floor up. He has grabbed at least five rebounds in each game, and two steals in two of the three games. On a slate that we are struggling to find value on, Okoro is a fine play.
Mason Plumlee, Los Angeles Clippers
The center position isn't great tonight so punting the position might be the best way to go. If you go, Plumlee, you aren't completely punting the position at his $4,900 price. He could be in line to start if Zubac is ruled out tonight. As mentioned above, the Clippers front line is already thin after trading Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum. Even if Zubac plays, Plumlee can still bring value. But if he does not play expect Plumlee to be very claky.
Honorable Mention(s)
Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Donovan Mitchell  $10,600 |  Paul George $9,000 |  Kevin Durant $11,000 | ||
| Medium |  Jalen Brunson $8,200 | ||||
 Russell Westbrook $7,600 | |||||
| Low |  Bones Hyland $4,800 | Eric Gordon $5,200 | Isaac Okoro $5,300 | Mason Plumlee $4,200 | |
 Jalen Suggs $4,700 |
Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.