Despite this slate's small size, there are huge injury implications to consider. We'll highlight some players expected to see a significant bump in usage and playing time tonight.

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

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

We’ve got a modest four-game slate to jump into this evening. Not an ideal slate size, if you ask me, but it’ll do… it’ll do. Several key players are sitting out tonight so here is a quick rundown (not including players that haven’t played yet this season):

DET: None

WAS: None

DAL: SG/SF Tim Hardaway Jr. (doubtful)

NOP: PF Zion Williamson (OUT), SG Brandon Ingram (OUT), SF Herbert Jones (OUT)

LAC: SG Paul George (OUT), PF Marcus Morris Sr. (OUT)

OKC: PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Questionable), PG/SG Josh Giddey (OUT), SG/SF Jalen Williams (OUT)

GSW: SG/SF Donte DiVincenzo (OUT)

PHX: None

There are some big names on that list, so there will be a ton of extra minutes/usage to go around, primarily for the Pelicans, Clippers, and Thunder. Let’s get into it!

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

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 Luka Doncic, DAL | DK: $11.1k, FD: $11.2k | @ NOP | Cash & GPP

With all of those injuries listed above, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find value on today’s slate. That means spending up for Luka, AKA the highest ceiling player on the slate, should be very doable. It’s only a two-game sample size, but Luka has owned a mammoth 39.4% USG% and he’s always going to put up strong peripherals (8.0 RPG, 8.0 APG, 2.5 Stl+Blk/G). The Pelicans will be without three of their starters (Zion, Ingram, H. Jones) so there is some potential for a blowout but, as it stands now, Dallas is only favored by six points so the sportsbooks are expecting this game to at least stay competitive.

PG CJ McCollum, NOP | DK: $8k, FD: $8.3k | vs. DAL | Cash & GPP

Here is one of the “chalk du jour” plays. With Zion and Ingram off the court, McCollum should command massive usage and big minutes. He is already averaging 23.3 PPG with a strong 25.9% USG% in three games with those guys playing, but he could realistically put up 25-30 shots tonight. This is a certified no-brainer play, and the only ways McCollum fails tonight would be either due to an injury, unforeseen foul trouble, or if the game turns into an early, early blowout (which, as mentioned with Luka, the NOP +6 line suggests they should keep this fairly close).

PG/SG Tre Mann, OKC | DK: $5.5k, FD: $4.8k | vs. LAC | Cash & GPP

Mann didn’t perform overly well in the Thunder’s last game when SGA and Giddey were also out. Perhaps that will scare some folks off of him since value can be found elsewhere. But he should be in line for a solid bounce-back performance as he takes the reigns of this OKC offense. Dating back to last season, Mann has seen a +4.8% USG% increase when SGA and Giddey are off of the floor. Even if this game trends towards a blowout, Mann should see 30+ minutes in this game which makes him a good bet to hit 6x value or beyond.

Also Consider:

PG/SG Devin Booker, PHX | DK: $9k, FD: $8.5k | vs. GSW | GPP Preferred

PG/SG Spencer Dinwiddie, DAL | DK: $5.4k, FD: $5k | @ NOP | GPP Preferred

PG John Wall, LAC | DK: $5.2k, FD: $5.7k | @ OKC | GPP Preferred

PG Monte Morris, WAS | DK: $5k, FD: $4.9k | vs. DET | Cash & GPP

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF/C Christian Wood, DAL | DK: $7.6k, FD: $8.2k | @ NOP | GPP Preferred

This slate is pretty thin at forward, at least up top. One pay-up option to consider would be Christian Wood. Despite not playing more than 25 minutes in either game off the bench this season, Wood has been a monster while posting a 35.4% USG% and 1.80 FPPM. He is due for some regression, especially in the 3PT% department (currently shooting 50.0% from three), but perhaps some additional minutes could be handed to him as well if he keeps this level of play up.

SF Luguentz Dort, OKC | DK: $6k, FD: $6.2k | vs. LAC | Cash & GPP

Dort is the player who has historically seen the largest usage bump (+5.3%) when SGA and Giddey are off the court. We can expect Dort to put up a minimum of 15 shot attempts tonight. He’s a solid rebounder as well, and on top of that, he is capable of racking up some steals. There are some blowout concerns here with OKC being +9 underdogs, but odds are that Dort plays at least 30 minutes tonight and perhaps a good bit more if the game stays competitive into the fourth quarter.

SF Trey Murphy III, NOP | DK: $4.8k, FD: $5.6k | vs. DAL | Cash & GPP

Murphy is the leading candidate to replace Brandon Ingram in the Pelicans’ starting lineup. He’s projected for big minutes tonight, and he is the sort of player who can average over an FPPM when given the opportunity and usage. At worst, he would be the third shooting option behind McCollum and Valanciunas… and he could easily put up more shots than JVal. Murphy is making three-pointers at a 60% clip this season, so the Pelicans definitely have some incentive to keep him heavily involved if they wish to win this game without a couple of their star players available.

Also Consider:

PF Kyle Kuzma, WAS | DK: $6.9k, FD: $7.3k | vs. DET | Cash & GPP

SF Saddiq Bey, DET | DK: $6.1k, FD: $6.8k | @ WAS | GPP/DraftKings Preferred

SF Mikal Bridges, PHX | DK: $5.4k, FD: $5.4k | vs. GSW | GPP Preferred

SF Norman Powell, LAC | DK: $4.8k, FD: $3.9k | @ OKC | Cash & GPP

PF/C Robert Covington, LAC | DK: $4.1k, FD: $4.4k | @ OKC | GPP Preferred

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Kristaps Porzingus, WAS | DK: $7.7k, FD: $7.4k | vs. DET | Cash & GPP

Detroit has rated out 27th in defensive efficiency and 29th in FG% so this is a strong spot for Porzingus to put up some solid points and rebounds. He has put up 6.0 3PA/G and is sinking them at a solid 38.9% clip. He is the sort of player that can average around 1.3 to 1.4 FPPM so if he can get his minutes into the mid-30s (played 38 minutes last game, but it was an OT game) then we should get a huge performance out of him.

PF/C Larry Nance Jr., NOP | DK: $5k, FD: $5.5k | vs. DAL | Cash & GPP

With Zion out, Nance should enter the starting rotation today or at least see some extended run off of the bench. Nance has been right at an FPPM through three games this season while playing 21.4 Min/G. Historically, he has been above an FPPM-type player when given 30+ minutes of playing time. He’s a strong candidate to return 6x value or better on this slate.

Also Consider:

C Jonas Valanciunas, NOP | DK: $7.8k, FD: $7.6k | vs. DAL | GPP Preferred

C Deandre Ayton, PHX | DK: $6.7k, FD: $7k | vs. GSW | Cash & GPP

PF/C Isaiah Stewart, DET | DK: $5.3k, FD: $6k | @ WAS | Cash & GPP

C Mike Muscala, OKC | DK: $3.9k, FD: $4k | vs. LAC | GPP Preferred

NBA Player Props 📊

Player Prop or Bet | Odds | Unit Bet Size

CJ McCollum OVER 24.5 Points | -110 (FanDuel) | 2.0 Units

Pretty simple reasoning here. Without Ingram and Zion available, that opens up a 60.4% USG% in the Pelicans' starting lineup. McCollum will be the primary ball handler in this game and is going to be expected to chuck up a huge amount of shots. McCollum hit the over on this point total in his last game and was four points shy of hitting it in the previous two games, and that was with Ingram and Zion healthy. Barring a blowout or injury, McCollum surpasses this point total this evening.

McCollum’s over on points + assists is also set at 30.5 and looks like a strong bet as well (-115 DraftKings/Caesars)

Spencer Dinwiddie OVER 2.5 Rebounds | +100 (Caesars) | 2.0 Units

Dinwiddie should receive a decent minutes bump with Tim Hardaway Jr. not expected to suit up tonight. He’s clearly not a premiere rebounder but with potential for 30-34 minutes, he’ll have a great chance to bring in at least three boards. The fact that the Pelicans will be without a couple of members of their frontcourt could help as well. The Pelicans have also allowed 3.0 RPG to SG starters over their last 20 games.

PrizePicks Two-Pick 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.

Luka Doncic MORE than 7.5 Rebounds

CJ McCollum MORE than 24.5 Points

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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!