Written By: Ryan Humphries on Twitter & LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries

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NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Tyler & Shannon

The NBA videos will be posted later this afternoon. Click the link above to view the latest LineStar YouTube content!

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

NBA Cup group play resumes Friday evening and, with most teams hitting the hardwood, that will put a hefty 10-game (DraftKings) and a 12-game (FanDuel) main slate on the board! As usual, the two 10 o’clock ET tip-offs will only be featured on FanDuel’s main slate. DFS strategy should not be altered much, if at all, for this in-season tournament slate but, since scoring differential does matter for the tournament standings (used as a tiebreaker), we may see some teams do their best to run up the score late in games that they’re leading. It’s a loaded day of basketball so let’s jump into it! Best of luck!

Today’s Key Injuries

Note: I am writing today’s newsletter earlier than usual so there is a good chance that a few more players will pop up on their team’s injury report later in the day (or have their current injury designations updated). This list is up-to-date as of 1 o’clock ET today.

• Heat: J. Butler - OUT

• Pacers: A. Nembhard - OUT, A. Nesmith - OUT

• 76ers: T. Maxey - OUT, A. Drummond - Questionable

• Magic: P. Banchero - OUT, W. Carter Jr. - OUT

• Pistons: J. Ivey - Questionable, T. Hardaway Jr. - Doubtful, S. Fontecchio - Doubtful

• Raptors: S. Barnes - OUT, I. Quickley - OUT, J. Walter - OUT

• Wizards: None

• Hawks: B. Bogdanovic - OUT, V. Krejci - OUT

• Bulls: L. Ball - OUT

• Cavs: E. Mobley - Probable, J. Allen - Probable, S. Merrill - OUT

• Nets: N. Claxton - OUT, D. Finney-Smith - Probable

• Knicks: K. Towns - Questionable, J. Brunson - Probable, M. McBride - Questionable, C. Payne - Probable

• Lakers: A. Davis - Probable, R. Hachimura - Questionable, J. Hayes - OUT

• Spurs: J. Sochan - OUT, T. Jones - OUT

• Clippers: None

• Rockets: S. Adams - Questionable

• Nuggets: N. Jokic - Questionable, A. Gordon - OUT

• Pelicans: Z. Williamson - OUT, D. Murray - OUT, CJ McCollum - OUT, J. Alvarado - OUT, J. Hawkins - OUT, H. Jones - OUT

• Suns: K. Durant - OUT, B. Beal - OUT, J. Nurkic - Questionable, G. Allen - Questionable

• Thunder: C. Holmgren - OUT, A. Caruso - OUT

Late Game Key Injuries (FanDuel Main Slate Only)

• Grizzlies: J. Morant - OUT, D. Bane - Questionable, B. Clarke - Questionable, V. Williams Jr. - Questionable (would be season debut)

• Warriors: D. Melton - OUT, K. Anderson - Probable

• Timberwolves: None

• Kings: D. DeRozan - Doubtful, M. Monk - OUT

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

Top DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Plays

Note: NBA position designations are never going to perfectly align between the major DFS sites. For the purposes of these newsletters, positional designations will default to DraftKings.

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG/SG Donovan Mitchell, CLE | DK: $8.2k, FD: $8.7k | vs. CHI

The Cavs will look to move their record to a perfect 14-0 at home against the Bulls this evening. Donovan Mitchell has been a major key to their last two wins, racking up a studly 60.75 DKFP/58.1 FDFP (@ PHI), falling one assist shy of a triple-double, and 60.5 DKFP/60.6 FDFP (@ CHI). It’s a high expectation, but there’s no reason to doubt Mitchell’s ability to replicate the same success he had against the Bulls on Monday. Chicago continues to lead the NBA in pace while ranking 22nd in DEFRTG. They’ve also struggled mightily against opposing backcourts, ranking 29th versus starting SGs and 30th versus starting PGs. Mitchell and Darius Garland (DK: $7.1k, FD: $7.7k) somewhat alternate between PG/SG roles with Mitchell largely playing the two while posting up an elite 31.1% USG%. Mitchell could also take on a heavier offensive workload if either Evan Mobley (illness/questionable) or Jarrett Allen (leg/questionable) are ruled out, with Mobley potentially leaving behind the most usage (23.8%).

PG Fred VanVleet, HOU | DK: $6.6k, FD: $7k | vs. LAC

I’m thinking a lot of guards get overlooked out of this general price range today and Fred VanVleet is an intriguing low-owned guy to consider. We know he has 50+ FP upside in the tank, as we saw on plenty of occasions last season, though we have yet to see it this season with his best performance being 49.25 DKFP/47.4 FDFP against the Spurs last Wednesday. FVV has also been more of a facilitator with a usage rate that sits at just 17.5%. But if he ever gets hot from three-point range, I believe a ceiling game is very possible. VanVleet is attempting 7.1 3PA/gm but has only connected on 28.2% of those shots -- he’s never been known as an elite sharpshooter, but that is well below his 37.3% 3P% career average. We will also like the fact that the Rockets are at home tonight as FVV is averaging 1.04 FPPM across six home games versus just 0.77 FPPM over five road games. VanVleet just put up 36.75 DKFP/38.5 FDFP against the Clippers (22nd vs. Starting PGs) on Wednesday and I would expect him to put up a similar, if not better, FP total this evening.

PG/SG Kris Dunn, LAC | DK: $4.4k, FD: $4.7k | at HOU

We’ll go to the other side of the court and spotlight Kris Dunn for some value today. Dunn supplanted Terance Mann in the starting lineup on Wednesday, which was his first start of the season. He went on to post an 11/4/8 stat line (with two steals) across 31 minutes -- good for 32.0 DKFP/32.8 FDFP. Considering Terance Mann also performed well above his baseline while playing off of the bench (14/7/3 w/ four STL+BLKs -- 35.25 DKFP/36.9 FDFP in 24 minutes), I’d be fairly surprised if the Clippers don’t roll out the same approach with Dunn back in the starting lineup. Some additional guard value will likely open up later in the day but, for now, Dunn appears to be a great option out of the $4k range on both sites.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Trae Young, ATL vs. WAS

PG Cade Cunningham, DET at TOR

PG Jalen Brunson, NYK vs. BKN (Preferred if KAT is out)

PG/SG Tyler Herro, MIA at IND

PG Darius Garland, CLE vs. CHI

PG/SG Jamal Murray, DEN at NOP (Preferred if Jokic is out)

PG/SG Dyson Daniels, ATL vs. WAS

PG/SG Brandon Boston Jr., NOP vs. DEN

SG/SF Bennedict Mathurin, IND vs. MIA

PG/SG Carlton Carrington, WAS at ATL

PG/SG Jared McCain, PHI at ORL (Preferred if starting again)

SG Malik Beasley, DET at TOR (Preferred if J. Ivey is out)

PG Ben Simmons, BKN at NYK

SG Ziaire Williams, BKN at NYK

SG Duncan Robinson, MIA at IND

PG Ajay Mitchell, OKC vs. PHX

FanDuel Main Slate Only

SG/SF Anthony Edwards, MIN at SAC

PG Steph Curry, GSW vs. MEM

PG De’Aaron Fox, SAC vs. MIN

PG/SG Keon Ellis, SAC vs. MIN

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF Jalen Johnson, ATL | DK: $8.9k, FD: $8.6k | vs. WAS

Not sure if spending up at forward will be the most optimal route to take this evening but, even with rising price points, you can’t deny Jalen Johnson’s potential for another 50 (FP) burger tonight. Johnson has put up at least 54.75 DKFP/52.5 FDFP in five of his last nine games, and he exceeded that threshold in both contests against this same Wizards team that ranks 28th versus starting power forwards. The Wizards are up to 2nd in pace and are now dead last in DEFRTG so, to no surprise, the Hawks own a slate-leading 124.8 implied team total in this elite match-up tonight. Atlanta is also a nine-point favorite -- normally that would spark some blowout concerns, but given the tendency for teams to run up the score for this in-season tournament (point differential matters), then it’d be reasonable to assume that starters could get extended run late in the game even in the event of a blowout.

PF Tobias Harris, DET | DK: $6.2k, FD: $6.6k | at TOR

Harris continues to look like a “boring but safe” mid-range option while pumping out solid result after solid result. The Pistons are a little banged up at the moment but one impact worth noting, in Harris’ case, is the likely absence of Tim Hardaway Jr. (head/doubtful) who is slated to miss a second consecutive game. In 133 minutes with Hardaway off the floor this season, Harris has handled a slight usage boost (+1.5%) but, more notably, he has seen a +9.2 fantasy points per 32-minute increase. The Pistons may also be without Jaden Ivey (toe/questionable) and Simone Fontecchio (toe/doubtful), which could further increase Harris’ overall involvement. This is a pace-up spot for the Pistons (25th in pace) against the Raptors (11th in pace) who also rank 28th in DEFRTG this season.

PF Peyton Watson, DEN | DK: $4.6k, FD: $5.7k | at NOP

More of a DraftKings play here as Watson’s DK salary has yet to reflect his current role as a starter in place of the injured Aaron Gordon (calf/out). Gordon exited last Monday’s game after playing just four minutes. Watson has since started the last three games while averaging 34.5 Min/gm L4Games. He has scored no fewer than 25.75 DKFP in that span and will draw a terrific match-up versus the banged-up Pelicans who rank dead last versus starting PFs. Nikola Jokic (personal/questionable) may also be unavailable tonight, which would provide a significant usage boost to the remaining starters if he were to sit.

Other Forwards to Consider

SF/PF LeBron James, LAL at SAS

SF/PF Franz Wagner, ORL vs. PHI

PF/C Pascal Siakam, IND vs. MIA

SF/PF Josh Hart, NYK vs. BKN

SF/SG Zach LaVine, CHI at CLE

SF/PF Michael Porter Jr., DEN at NOP (Boost if Jokic is out)

SF/PF OG Anunoby, NYK vs. BKN (DK Preferred)

SF/PF Tari Eason, HOU vs. LAC

PF Patrick Williams, CHI at CLE

PF/C Chris Boucher, TOR vs. DET

SF/PF Ryan Dunn, PHX at OKC

SF/SG Julian Strawther, DEN at NOP

FanDuel Main Slate Only

PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM at GSW

PF/C Draymond Green, GSW vs. MEM

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Victor Wembanyama, SAS | DK: $11.1k, FD: $11.8k | vs. LAL

Once again, Wemby is not immune to a dud performance as he’s barely into his second NBA season, but we’ve seen a couple of monster games out of him this week to the tune of 34/14/6 + 3 BLK/1 STL vs. SAC (71.5 DKFP/68.8 FDFP) and 50/6/2 + 3 BLK/1 STL vs. WAS (72.0 DKFP/71.2 FDFP). Wembanyama continues to excel at home (+21.6 more FPPG at home) and, with Jeremy Sochan (thumb/out) sidelined, there is no question he will lead this Spurs offense in usage on a regular basis. The Spurs are only three-point underdogs against LeBron, AD, and Co. tonight and Wemby had a couple of big DFS scores against the Lakers in his rookie season.

C Jalen Duren, DET | DK: $5.9k, FD: $6.1k | at TOR

As long as he stays out of foul trouble, Duren is highly capable of smashing value at his current DFS price points. I’d love to see him handle a bit more offensive responsibility, as he owns just a 12.2% USG% this season. Perhaps with the injuries the Pistons are currently dealing with, his shots will increase tonight. Regardless, Duren is a strong rebounder who is also averaging 1.2 BLK/gm and, when he does get shots in, they’re always high-percentage looks around the rim which has led to an 82.2% FG%. Toronto is allowing the 5th most points in the paint per game while ranking 26th versus starting centers. It’d be nice to see Duren channel the 2023-24 version of himself as he averaged 52.3 DKFP/48.8 FDFP in two games against the Raptors a season ago.

Other Centers to Consider

C Nikola Jokic, DEN at NOP (Currently questionable)

C Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK vs. BKN (Currently questionable)

C Jalen Williams, OKC vs. PHX

C Alperen Sengun, HOU vs. LAC

C Myles Turner, IND vs. MIA

C Goga Bitadze, ORL vs. PHI

C Clint Capela, ATL vs. WAS

C Jonas Valanciunas, WAS at ATL

C Mason Plumlee, PHX at OKC (Only if Nurkic is out)

FanDuel Main Slate Only

C Zach Edey, MEM at GSW

PrizePicks NBA Power Play of the Day ⚡

Here is a two-pick “Power Play” I’m liking for today's NBA action over on PrizePicks! Nothing is ever a guarantee to hit but I put my own money on these bets so I don't just lightly throw these out there without believing they'll cash! If it hits, it will return 3x the wager.

Jalen Duren MORE than 32.0 Fantasy Score

Fred VanVleet MORE than 32.5 Fantasy Score

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we are introducing Props AI for NBA – available for LineStar Premium users! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks and UnderDog Fantasy!

Speaking of props, put the Props AI tool to use by signing up for PrizePicks (Promo code: LINESTAR) or Underdog (Promo code: LINESTAR). You'll receive a 100% match on first deposits up to $100 PLUS a free month subscription to LineStar Premium. Many people may not realize that you can legally place prop bets in most states using UnderDog (or PrizePicks) – it’s called Pick'Em, and it’s incredibly easy.

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!