NBA DFS Picks & Playbook for Today’s Games: March 8th
Published: Mar 08, 2024
Just six games for tonight's NBA DFS main slate with some fun matchups to take advantage of. When it comes to top priced plays, this slate shapes up to be more of a fair and balance roster construction day given the pricing across the platforms.
On the injury front, most of the big names have already been ruled out but we await the news on Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards as the notable players that would impact the value plays this evening.
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 on their current price tag this season and of course our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!
Join Today's BettorEdge NBA Pick 6 Pick'em Contest
Check Out Today's NBA DFS Playbook Preview Show
NBA Injury Report for Today, 3/8
Out
- Joel Embiid
- Donovan Mitchell
- Evan Mobley
- LaMelo Ball
- Tyrese Maxey
- Julius Randle
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Jalen Johnson
- Tyler Herro
- OG Anunoby
- Onyeka Okongwu
- Marvin Bagley
- Max Strus
- Mark Williams
- Ziaire Williams
- De'Anthony Melton
- Cody Martin
- Kevin Love
- Landry Shamet
- Derrick Rose
- Josh Richardson
- Monte Morris
Questionable
NBA Teams on Back-to-Backs Today
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
- New Orleans Pelicans 16th vs Philadelphia 76ers 17th
- Charlotte Hornets 20th vs Washington Wizards 1st
- Minnesota Timberwolves 25th vs Cleveland Cavaliers 22nd
- Orlando Magic 26th vs New York Knicks 30th
- Atlanta Hawks 4th vs Memphis Grizzlies 18th
- Miami Heat 28th vs Oklahoma City Thunder 7th
Notable NBA Game Totals Today, 3/8
- New Orleans Pelicans vs Philadelphia 76ers +7.5 (221.5)
- Charlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards -2 (225.5)
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs Cleveland Cavaliers -2.5 (206)
- Orlando Magic vs New York Knicks +1.5 (205)
- Atlanta Hawks vs Memphis Grizzlies +3 (215)
- Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder -8.5 (224.5)
Top-Price NBA DFS Core Plays
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG Oklahoma City Thunder
I mean, listen, on a slate with few “top” priced plays, SGA is going to fit the bill in many lineups today. We have a 224.5 game total and the Heat defense is good, not great. We know in competitive games we are getting 35 minutes and you can lock SGA in for 30 actual points most games here as well. We are two games removed from 70 fantasy points so we know the ceiling is there.
Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C Memphis Grizzlies
He missed a few games, comes back and takes 25 shots for his second straight game of near 60 fantasy points. The Hawks are a team missing some core players which now include starting power forward Jalen Johnson. Clint Capela is going to have too hard of a time defending Jackson on the perimeter which means we could see less of him on the floor. That's a bonus for Jackson here tonight and a reason he is one of my favorite plays on the slate.
Kyle Kuzma, PF/C Washington Wizards
On smaller slates the pricing tiers are different so while we likely usually consider Kuzma in the mid-tier range, today he is a core top tier play for me. He started at center the other day against the Magic and finished with over 40 fantasy points for the sixth straight game. The Hornets are a team that CAN play small with either Grant Williams or Miles Bridges at the center spot so while Nick Richards may start, I still love this spot for Kuzma here as he stretches out an already bad Hornets defense.
Mid-Price NBA DFS Core Plays
Rudy Gobert, C Minnesota Timberwolves
Another huge game for Gobert on Thursday as he played 40 minutes and finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Tonight the Timberwolves might also be without Anthony Edwards, along with Karl-Anthony Towns which could create more opportunities for Gobert on the offensive end of the floor. The matchup against Jarrett Allen doesn't really worry me here as I think both centers have good nights against one another.
Miles Bridges, PF Charlotte Hornets
I think the Wizards/Hornets game is the game to stack tonight but as we talked about on the DFS show this morning there is a chance that Bridges ends up being the overlooked man given his price tag and that could very well be a mistake. If the Hornets decide to play “small” to match the Wizards using Kyle Kuzma at their center spot then we could see Bridges return to looking like the guy who had that stretch of games where he was pulling down double-digit rebounds while being a leading scorer on this team.
Jordan Poole, PG/SG Washington Wizards
He's the cover of today's playbook so no real surprise to see him listed here in the mid-tier core plays section. Poole was moved to the bench and may thought that was the end of the season but instead it turned out to be the thing that may have saved his season. Over the last five games Poole is averaging nearly 38 fantasy points a night while shooting 47% from the floor and 39% from three-point range.
Value-Tier NBA DFS Core Plays
Vasilije Micic, PG/SG Charlotte Hornets
He started the other day with Cody Martin ruled out and now the Hornets may be without Tre Mann as well. Micic played 29 minutes the other night and went for 35 fantasy points. He has scored at least 25 fantasy points now in three straight games. This is a great spot for one of the highest rostered players on the board.
Saddiq Bey/De'Andre Hunter - Atlanta Hawks
Listen, both guys are already playing big minutes in the Hawks rotation but with Jalen Johnson now ruled out I am expecting to see Hunter moved into the starting lineup. This is a good spot for both players here given the poor defensive effort the Grizzlies put out on the floor most nights.
Josh Giddey, PG/SG Oklahoma City Thunder
Had to give Giddey a shout here after Grande pointed out his increased playing time over the last two games for OKC. Giddey is a fantasy point per minute + player most nights and thats when he is in the mid-to-low 20s but it is possible that the team is starting to ramp him up with the playoffs just a few weeks away. We know the Heat are not the greatest defensive team and Giddey is a guy that can fill up the stat sheet and quick if he gets going.
Tune Into the 5PM ET Livestream
DFS NBA Lineup Lock Updates
Waiting on the news for Anthony Edwards
- IF OUT >> Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid would certainly get a boost with NAW moving into the starting lineup.
Jalen Brunson IS EXPECTED TO PLAY
Jalen Suggs is OUT
- Could see Fultz enter starting lineup > Boost to Cole Anthony off the bench
Nicolas Batum is OUT
- Batum has been playing 30 minutes off the bench. Look for KJ Martin/Buddy Hield to see more run
GG Jackson unlikely to play
- Solidifies minutes for Aldama and LaRavia
Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander  $11,000 |  Jimmy Butler $8,800 |  Paolo Banchero $8,700 |  Jaren Jackson $9,000 | |
 Dejounte Murray $8,900 |  Brandon Ingram $8,000 |  Kyle Kuzma $8,500 |  Rudy Gobert $8,500 | ||
 Miles Bridges $8,400 | |||||
| Medium |  Darius Garland $7,700 | Vince Williams $7,200 |  Josh Hart $7,900 | Santi Aldama $6,000 |  Bam Adebayo $8,400 |
 Jordan Poole $6,900 | Jalen Williams $7,700 | Naz Reid $6,400 | |||
 Caris LeVert $6,400 | Brandon Miller $7,000 | ||||
 Josh Giddey $6,300 |  Kelly Oubre $6,800 | ||||
 Deni Avdija $6,600 | |||||
| Saddiq Bey $6,300 | |||||
| Low |  Vasilije Micić $5,400 | Duncan Robinson $5,600 | Isaac Okoro $5,500 | De'Andre Hunter $5,700 | Richaun Holmes $4,700 |
| Kyle Lowry $5,100 | Cameron Payne $5,200 |  Jake LaRavia $5,300 |  Caleb Martin $5,200 | ||
| Davis Bertans $4,300 | Georges Niang $4,200 | ||||
| Jaden McDaniels $4,900 |
Player News
Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) won’t face suspension for Tuesday’s matchup against the Clippers.
MPJ left the bench area during a Game 4 scuffle but won’t face suspension if he suits up on Tuesday. He logged a series-high 42 minutes in Game 4 and will likely play a significant role in Game 5 if healthy and engaged.
Jimmy Butler returned to the lineup on Monday and contributed 27 points (7-of-12 FGs, 12-of-12 FTs), five rebounds, six assists, one block and one three-pointer in a 109-106 win over the Rockets in Game 4 on Monday.
After missing Game 3, Butler was back in the lineup on Monday. He started off slow, but he scored 23 points after halftime to help Golden State take a 3-1 lead in the series. This was “Playoff Jimmy” on full display. Excluding his early exit in Game 2, Butler had scored at least 24 points in his last six completed games, dating back to April 9. If he’s playing this well, the Warriors will be tough to beat in a seven-game series. It’s worth noting that Jonathan Kuminga, who started in place of Butler in Game 3, was back to being out of the rotation in this game. Expect Butler to continue to dominate as Golden State attempts to clinch this series in Houston in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Buddy Hield started on Monday and finished with 15 points (6-of-15 FGs), four rebounds, three assists, two steals and three three-pointers against the Rockets in Game 4 on Monday.
Jimmy Butler’s return from a one-game absence also allowed Hield to enter the starting lineup after scoring 17 points in Game 3. He really struggled in Games 1 and 2, but he was able to build on his performance from Saturday in Monday’s win. Hield is a streaky shooter, but he has been on recently and hit eight triples across Golden State’s two home games. He’ll look to carry this shooting with him to Houston for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Quinten Post provided a boost off the bench with 13 points (4-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, three assists and two three-pointers against the Rockets in Game 4 on Monday.
With Jimmy Butler, head coach Steve Kerr bumped Post back to the bench, though he still played a significant reserve role. After playing 27 minutes as a starter, he played 20 minutes off the bench in Game 4 and scored in double figures for the second time this postseason. The numbers weren’t eye-popping, but the threat of a stretch big certainly opens things up on offense for Golden State. Post will continue to be an important part of the team’s rotation moving forward.
Brandin Podziemski lit up the Rockets with 26 points (9-of-18 FGs), five rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block and six three-pointers in Game 4 on Monday.
Podziemski has made things happen in this series. He scored in double figures in Games 1 and 3, which were wins. He exited early from Game 2, which was a loss. He played 40 minutes in Game 4 and had his best game of the postseason, which helped the Warriors take a 3-1 lead in the series. Podz did a little bit of everything in this game, but he did most of his damage beyond the arc. He’ll look to stay hot in Game 5 on Wednesday to help the Warriors close out the series.
Amen Thompson finished with 17 points (7-of-12 FGs), nine rebounds, two assists and one steal in Game 4 against the Warriors on Monday.
Thompson dealt with some foul trouble in the first half, but he was able to turn things around after the break. He was able to turn in decent numbers, but Thompson’s first postseason hasn’t been as expected. Through four games, he has averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. He has also contributed just 1.3 defensive stats per game after averaging 2.6 per game during the regular season. The Rockets will need him to be much better to keep their season alive in Game 5 on Wednesday.