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

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NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Tyler & Shannon 

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

A fun little five-game slate hits the board today. Some high-scoring match-ups are expected with four of the five games owning an over/under of at least 234 points. On the injury front, there are a couple of stars that have already been ruled out with Tyrese Haliburton and LeBron James set to miss tonight's action. Other than those two key players, there aren’t many other big-name injury impacts to monitor today, but we should be able to scope out some decent value plays nonetheless. Let’s dive in and try to crack the code for this small slate! Best of luck!

Today’s Key Injuries

Nuggets: M. Porter Jr. - Probable, A. Gordon - Probable, J. Strawther - OUT

Pacers: T. Haliburton - OUT, A. Nembhard - Questionable, I. Jackson - Questionable

Knicks: I. Hartenstein - Questionable (unlikely to play)

Nets: B. Simmons - OUT, D. Sharpe - OUT

Trailblazers: S. Sharpe - OUT

Thunder: None

Jazz: K. Dunn - Questionable

Pelicans: None

Lakers: A. Davis - Probable, L. James - OUT, J. Vanderbilt - Probable

Clippers: I. Zubac - 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 Jalen Brunson, NYK | DK: $8.7k, FD: $9.3k | @ BKN

Brunson has brought a strong floor and high ceiling to DFS lineups throughout the season and he’s been particularly hot as of late, scoring 60.75 DKFP/57.5 FDFP and 67.0 DKFP/65.6 FDFP in his last two games. Spanning his last 20 starts, Brunson is supplying 28.4 PPG, 7.7 APG, and he is averaging 47.8 DKFP/45.9 FDFP. This game features the lowest total of the day but it does own a fairly close five-point spread in favor of the Knicks and Brooklyn has ranked 24th versus starting PGs L20Games. Also, while the Knicks’ centers have not been high-usage players, that has not stopped Brunson from seeing a +3.5% usage bump and +10.1 fantasy point per 32 minutes when Isaiah Hartenstein (questionable, but reportedly unlikely to play) and Mitchell Robinson (potentially out for season) have been off the floor this season.

PG D’Angelo Russell, LAL | DK: $6.5k, FD: $7.1k | @ LAC

DLo has been cooking since re-entering the starting lineup five games ago, averaging 44.3 DKFP/42.6 FDFP in that span. One of the most notable injury absences of the day is LeBron James, who will be missing his fifth game of the season. Russell’s DKFP totals in the four previous games that LeBron has sat out have been 62.25 (1/13 @ UTA), 43.0 (12/21 @ MIN), 36.75 (12/13 @ SAS), and 36.75 (11/12 vs. POR). The Clippers have defended opposing PGs well (3rd in DvP L20Games) and the Lakers are nine-point underdogs without James in the lineup tonight. But, if they figure to win this game, or keep it close, then Russell is going to need to post up another big performance. He should rank no lower than second in the usage pecking order, behind only Anthony Davis.

PG/SG Collin Sexton, UTA | DK: $6.2k, FD: $7.8k | @ NOP

We’ve got a major price discrepancy on Sexton between DraftKings and FanDuel. The latter has him priced appropriately based on how he’s been performing lately, while he’s notably underpriced on DraftKings. Spanning his last five games, Sexton is averaging 41.2 DKFP/gm, 1.41 FPPM, and his usage has been over 30%, which is nearing elite usage territory. He hasn’t been locked into 30+ minutes on a nightly basis but there’s a chance he could surpass that minutes threshold if Kris Dunn (illness/questionable) sits out tonight. But all in all, Sexton sets up as a strong play on DraftKings and more of an “okay” play on FanDuel.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC | DK: $10k, FD: $10.9k | vs. POR

PG Jamal Murray, DEN | DK: $8.4k, FD: $8.4k | @ IND

PG/SG Malcolm Brogdon, POR | DK: $6.5k, FD: $7.6k | @ OKC (DK Preferred)

PG Russell Westbrook, LAC | DK: $6k, FD: $6.7k | vs. LAL

PG/SG Austin Reaves, LAL | DK: $5.8k, FD: $6.1k | @ LAC

PG/SG Josh Giddey, OKC | DK: $5.8k, FD: $6.5k | vs. POR

PG TJ McConnell, IND | DK: $5.5k, FD: $5.2k | vs. DEN (Only if he starts -- Boost if Nembhard is out)

PG/SF Kris Dunn, UTA | DK: $3.9k, FD: $5.2k | @ NOP (Currently questionable -- DK Preferred)

PG/SG Terrence Mann, LAC | DK: $3.9k, FD: $4.4k | vs. LAL

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF Zion Williamson, NOP | DK: $7.4k, FD: $7.7k | vs. UTA

Getting the Pelicans “right” when they’re fully healthy is always a crapshoot but it’s difficult to ignore Zion when he’s at these current price points. He’s scoring a healthy 1.19 FPPM L5Games and this sets up as a great environment given its slate-high 240 over/under and fairly close spread (NOP: -6.5). Zion has also put up a pair of strong DFS scores in two previous games against the Jazz this season -- 49.0 DKFP/48.0 FDFP (12/28) and 44.0 DKFP/43.6 FDFP (11/27). The Jazz have ranked 21st versus starting PFs L20Games and if this game stays close for four quarters, I believe we can get another 40+ FP out of Zion this evening.

PF Aaron Gordon, DEN | DK: $5.9k, FD: $6.6k | @ IND

The general trend of DraftKings having softer pricing stays true for this play, but Gordon remains a worthy option on FanDuel at $6,600 as well. But he’s under $6k for just the fourth time this season on DraftKings, and it happens to be a quality match-up where Gordon could easily post up 6x value or better. We will need to get a bigger sample size with Pascal Siakam on the floor with his new Pacers team, but as it stands now, Indiana has ranked dead last versus starting PFs L20Games, allowing 44.3 DKFP/43.6 FDFP per game to the position in that span.

PF/C Precious Achiuwa, NYK | DK: $4.2k, FD: $5.5k | @ BKN

The most popular value play of the day may very well be Rui Hachimura (DK: $3.7k, FD: $4.5k), assuming he gets the start in place of LeBron James. Precious Achiuwa will make plenty of sense as a pivot away from Hachimura, or just as an additional value play to pair with Hachimura. The Knicks are not expected to have Isaiah Hartenstein available today, but there’s a good chance they’ll opt to start Jericho Sims at center. However, I would expect Achiuwa to end up playing more minutes [than Sims]. He had his best game as a Knick on Saturday, when he logged 25 minutes and posted an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, resulting in 33.75 DKFP/31.2 FDFP. Achiuwa has averaged 1.04 FPPM on the season so if he works into mid-20s minutes again, he’s a good bet to return some value today.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF/C Anthony Davis, LAL | DK: $10.2k, FD: $11.4k | @ LAC

PF/C Julius Randle, NYK | DK: $8.6k, FD: $9k | @ BKN

SF/SG Paul George, LAC | DK: $8.5k, FD: $8.3k | vs. LAL

SF/PF Lauri Markkanen, UTA | DK: $8.1k, FD: $8.9k | @ NOP (DK Preferred)

SF/SG Brandon Ingram, NOP | DK: $7.6k, FD: $8.1k | vs. UTA

SF/PF Jalen Williams, OKC | DK: $6.7k, FD: $7.9k | vs. POR (DK Preferred)

SF/PF OG Anunoby, NYK | DK: $5.8k, FD: $6.7k | @ BKN (DK Preferred)

PF/C John Collins, UTA | DK: $4.7k, FD: $6k | @ NOP (DK Preferred)

SF/PF Rui Hachimura, LAL | DK: $3.7k, FD: $4.5k | @ LAC

SF/PF Simone Fontecchio, UTA | DK: $3.6k, FD: $4.5k | @ NOP

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $11.2k, FD: $12.1k | @ IND

There should be enough value on this slate to make the Joker spend-up a viable route to take. Jokic hit a bit of a lull at the start of the calendar year, but he’s back up to his elite ways lately. In his previous five starts, he’s up to averaging 1.81 FPPM, 30.6 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 8.6 APG, and 2.0 STL+BLK/gm. The Pacers remain 2nd in the NBA in pace, so there should be ample possessions for Jokic to stuff the stat sheet, and this game also has the closest spread of the day (DEN: -4.5).

C Mason Plumlee, LAC | DK: $4.2k, FD: $5.3k | vs. LAL

Ivica Zubac will be out for a third consecutive game which should lead to another start for Plumlee. He only logged 15 minutes in the previous game but the Clippers will need his size to defend Anthony Davis around the basket this evening. Plumlee is averaging a sturdy 1.10 FPPM in his two starts so if he can push for around 28 minutes, as he did in his first start, then he’ll likely exceed salary-based expectations.

Other Centers to Consider

C Nic Claxton, BKN | DK: $6.8k, FD: $7.5k | vs. NYK

C Walker Kessler, UTA | DK: $5k, FD: $6.4k | @ NOP (DK Preferred)

C Larry Nance Jr., NOP | DK: $4.1k, FD: $4.8k | vs. UTA

C Christian Wood, LAL | DK: $3.4k, FD: $5.3k | @ LAC (DK Preferred)

PrizePicks NBA Power Play ⚡

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.

Collin Sexton MORE than 1.5 Three-Pointers Made

Brandon Ingram MORE than 4.5 Rebounds

🔥 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!