NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Saturday Playbook

Published: Feb 22, 2025
Happy Saturday, February 22nd, we have a four-game NBA DFS main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel.
The stars are out as Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid are taking the floor. We have a game with a 243 total and 211.5 as well. There aren't a lot of injuries we're looking at but it's the NBA so anything is possible, at least that's what Kevin Garnett told us.
Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.
- News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
- Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
- Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
- NBA DFS Projections
- Lineup Generator
- NBA Ownership
NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, February 22nd
Pre/Post-Lock Update
This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock.
Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.
3:30 pm ET
- Robert Williams was downgraded to QUEST with a knee. Donovan Clingan would be poised for a massive workload & Jabari Walker would operate as the backup center.
7:15 pm ET
- Killian Hayes is STARTING. Really strong value on a slate lacking in that department.
- Trendon Watford is another very interesting Nets value I'm growing a liking to in GPPs.
- With everyone out in Houston (VanVleet, Tate, Adams, Eason), I'm OK going to Cam Whitmore in GPPs, but he was a DNP yesterday. Keep that in mind.
8:30 pm ET
- Donovan Clingan is a solid value with Robert Williams out.
- Utah becomes very interesting in GPPs with John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, and Collin Sexton out.
- Lauri Markkanen +7% USG bump up to 31%, 1.16 FP/min
- Isaiah Collier +4.7% USG bump, .95 FP/min
- Keyonte George +3.8% USG bump, 1.08 FP/min
NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 2/22
- Luka Doncic - IN
- LeBron James - IN
- Jamal Murray - IN
- Fred VanVleet - OUT
- Tari Eason - OUT
- Cam Thomas - OUT
- Collin Sexton - OUT
- Deandre Ayton - OUT
- D'Angelo Russell - OUT
- Aaron Gordon - IN
- Noah Clowney - OUT
- Justin Edwards - OUT
- Jordan Clarkson - OUT
- Robert Williams - OUT
- Lauri Markkanen - IN
- John Collins - OUT
- Steven Adams - OUT
- Jae'Sean Tate - OUT
NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews
In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads. Not every game is listed, but every game listed has the pace and defensive numbers listed.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets
- Total: 243
- Spread: DEN -7
- Lakers are 21st in pace, Nuggets are 5th in pace
- Lakers are 15th in DRtg, Nuggets are 17th in DRtg
- Total: 228.5
- Spread: HOU -7.5
- Rockets are 20th in pace, Jazz are 10th in pace
- Rockets are 4th in DRtg, Jazz are 30th in DRtg
Charlotte Hornets vs. Portland Trail Blazers
- Total: 223
- Spread: POR -4.5
- Hornets are 24th in pace, Trail Blazers are 18th in pace
- Hornets are 14th in DRtg, Trail Blazers are 24th in DRtg
Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Total: 211.5
- Spread: PHI -11.5
- Nets are 30th in pace, 76ers are 27th in pace
- Nets are 21st in DRtg, 76ers are 23rd in DRtg
NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks
Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.
High
Mid
- Amen Thompson, Jamal Murray, Jalen Green, Keyonte George, Deni Avdija (GPP), Isaiah Collier, Cameron Johnson, Lauri Markkanen (GPP)
Value
- Nic Claxton, Toumani Camara, Jabari Smith., Aaron Gordon, Ziaire Williams, Donovan Clingan, Killian Hayes, Trendon Watford (GPP)
Stacks
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