A loaded NBA Tuesday rolls around with 10 games on tonight’s menu! This sets up as a high-scoring evening so let’s go find those ideal DFS and prop plays!

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

Straight Locks🔒 | NBA Props w/ Tyler!

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

Time to lock in on this 10-game slate! Tuesday’s games feature some huge totals, with five games currently holding at least a 237 O/U. I may be wrong, but I’m fairly sure that is the first time this season that we’ve seen a slate with that many massive totals. This one is sure to be a doozy so let’s buckle down and crush it! Best of luck!

Today’s Key Injuries:

Lakers: A. Davis - OUT, L. James - Probable, D. Schroder - Probable

Magic: J. Suggs - OUT, C. Okeke - OUT

76ers: T. Maxey - OUT

Wizards: D. Avdija - Questionable

Rockets: J. Tate - OUT, E. Gordon - OUT

Celtics: R. Williams - Questionable, P. Pritchard - Questionable

Clippers: J. Wall - OUT

Raptors: P. Achiuwa - Doubtful, O. Porter Jr. - OUT

Pacers: C. Duarte - Questionable

Hawks: C. Capela - OUT, D. Hunter - Questionable, J. Culver - OUT

Spurs: K. Johnson - Questionable, D. McDermott - Questionable

Thunder: J. Robinson-Earl - OUT

Suns: D. Booker - OUT, C. Johnson - OUT, C. Payne - OUT, L. Shamet - OUT

Knicks: J. Brunson - Questionable, O. Toppin - OUT

Mavericks: K. Walker - Probable, D. Finney-Smith - OUT, M. Kleber - OUT, F. Ntilinka - Probable, J. Green - OUT

Hornets: L. Ball - Probable, D. Smith Jr. - Questionable, N. Richards - OUT

Warriors: S. Curry - OUT, A. Wiggins - OUT, D. Green - Probable, J. Green - OUT

Nuggets: A. Gordon - Questionable, K. Caldwell-Pope - Probable, J. Green - OUT

Kings: D. Sabonis - Questionable

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.

💫 = Favorite Play

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC | DK: $10k, FD: $10.6k | vs. SAS | Cash & GPP

It’s just a smash spot for SGA tonight. The Thunder are tied for the slate lead with a 122.3 implied point total, facing the Spurs who rank dead last in defensive efficiency and are playing on the second leg of a B2B. Both teams in this game play at a very fast pace (OKC: 3rd in pace, SAS: 8th in pace) and SGA is posting 33.6 PPG with a massive 35.5% USG% over his last five starts -- all of which have been at home (Thunder are at home tonight). The only real hangup here would seem to be the blowout concern. OKC (-7.5) is one of the larger favorites on the slate but, unless we’re talking a 20+ point blowout at the start of the 4th quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander should still play 35+ minutes. And he would no doubt be the key reason why the game would be a blowout in the first place. With that said, the Thunder have struggled to put away teams they’re favored against this season so it seems more likely that the Spurs can keep this one close for all four quarters.

PG Fred VanVleet, TOR | DK: $7.6k, FD: $8.8k | vs. LAC | Cash & GPP/DK Preferred

This price tag on FVV feels like a steal on DraftKings. VanVleet has secured at least 39.5 DKFP in six of his last seven games and he has a few trends working in his favor. The Raptors have not played since Friday and VanVleet has averaged +23% more FPPG when well-rested. It’s not a major pace-up spot for Toronto (25th in pace, LAC: 22nd in pace) but FVV has averaged +20% more FPPG in up-pace games and +17.5% more FPPG in home games. The Clippers are also on the second leg of a B2B after playing an overtime game last night where they gave up 131 points to the Pistons. He’s more of a GPP play at $8,800 on FanDuel but a strong play in all formats at $7,600 on DraftKings.

PG/SG Duane Washington Jr., PHX | DK: $3k, FD: $3.5k | @ MEM | Cash & GPP

Washington is at the stone minimum on both sites, and he should see some decent run off of the bench tonight. The Suns' backcourt is extremely thin with Devin Booker, Cam Payne, and Landry Shamet all ruled out for tonight’s game. Washington should project for around 18-20 minutes and, if he matched his recent production (1.40 FPPM L5Gms) then he’ll be a solid source of value. Either way, he won’t tank your lineup(s), and he’ll open up an easy pathway to rostering multiple superstars.

Other Guards to Consider:

PG Luka Doncic, DAL | DK: $12k, FD: $12k | vs. NYK | GPP Preferred

PG/SG James Harden, PHI | DK: $9.7k, FD: $9.6k | @ WAS | Cash & GPP

PG LaMelo Ball, CHA | DK: $9.6k, FD: $8.9k | @ GSW | GPP/FD Preferred

PG Tyrese Haliburton, IND | DK: $9k, FD: $9.8k | vs. ATL | Cash & GPP/DK Preferred

PG De’Aaron Fox, SAC | DK: $8.4k, FD: $8.6k | vs. DEN | GPP Preferred (Boost if Sabonis is out)

PG/SG Josh Giddey, OKC | DK: $6.9k, FD: $7.2k | vs. SAS | Cash & GPP

PG Markelle Fultz, ORL | DK: $5.9k, FD: $6.3k | vs. LAL | GPP Preferred

PG/SG Cole Anthony, ORL | DK: $5k, FD: $5.8k | vs. LAL | GPP/ DK Preferred

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF/PF Paolo Banchero, ORL | DK: $8.1k, FD: $7.9k | vs. LAL | Cash & GPP

Banchero has been a very consistent source of fantasy points out of this high $7k/low $8k range. Before his previous game where he played only 29 minutes in a 20-point blowout win over the Spurs, Banchero had scored between 35.25 DKFP and 49.0 DKFP in his previous nine games. The rookie has averaged 39.4 FPPG at home this season and the Lakers have been torched by opposing forwards this season. I also like the “young rookie going up against LeBron for the first time” narrative and Banchero should have some fresh legs in this game since the Magic have been off for the last four days.

PF Draymond Green, GSW | DK: $5.9k, FD: $6.8k | vs. CHA | GPP Preferred

Draymond has not been able to consistently take advantage of all of the Warriors’ injuries but, as he proved on Christmas Day (45.75 DKFP vs. MEM), he still has major upside at these DFS salaries. It would also be unwise to completely ignore this game against the Hornets which carries the highest total (240 O/U) and the fastest combined pace (208.7) on the slate. As you’re probably aware, Draymond is never going to be a high-usage player (8.0 PPG, 12.6% USG% this season) but he can rack up plenty of rebounds and assists against a Hornets team that bleeds fantasy points to opposing frontcourts. Green also contributed in all five categories when he faced the Hornets back on 10/29 when he put up 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and a steal -- good for 37.5 DKFP. He does have a “probable” injury designation tonight, which should scare some people off of him. He’s by no means a safe option but he’ll be ideal for GPP builds and could check in at sub-5% ownership.

PF/C John Collins, ATL | DK: $5.4k, FD: $6.3k | @ IND | Cash & GPP

Collins recently missed eight games with an ankle injury and made his return to the Hawks lineup three games ago. His minutes were limited to around 20 minutes in his first two games back, but the restrictions were lifted in Atlanta’s last game on Friday where Collins logged 29 minutes and put up 33.5 DKFP. He likely would have played closer to 32-34 minutes were it not for a 25-point blowout win. He has been a 1.13 FPPM player over his last five starts, and he has seen the largest usage boost with Clint Capela (calf/out) off the court this season. The Pacers are weak against opposing frontcourts so, assuming Collins plays mid-30s minutes, he’s a strong option out of this price range this evening.

Other Forwards to Consider:

SF/PF LeBron James, LAL | DK: $10.6k, FD: $11.5k | @ ORL | GPP/DK Preferred

PF Julius Randle, NYK | DK: $9.3k, FD: $9.4k | @ DAL | Cash & GPP

SF/SG Devin Vassell, SAS | DK: $6.9k, FD: $7k | @ OKC | GPP Preferred (Cash play if K. Johnson is out)

PF Aaron Gordon, DEN | DK: $6.6k, FD: $7.4k | @ SAC | GPP Preferred (Note: Currently questionable)

SF/SG OG Anunoby, TOR | DK: $6.2k, FD: $7.5k | vs. LAC | Cash & GPP/DK Preferred

PF Jeremy Sochan, SAS | DK: $4.1k, FD: $5.1k | @ OKC | GPP/DK Preferred

PF Rui Hachimura, WAS | DK: $4k, FD: $4.5k | vs. PHI | GPP Preferred (Boost if D. Avdija is out)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $11.4k, FD: $12.4k | @ SAC | Cash & GPP

Jokic’s back-to-back-to-back MVP campaign: OFF, [ON]. Jokic is clearly one of the best players in the world, but he began the season shouldering less of a workload with the Nuggets entering this season at full health. They are still mostly healthy, but Jokic has gone full MVP mode lately, putting up four 80+ DKFP performances in his last seven games. His floor has been around 55 fantasy points lately as well, so you can feel safe about spending up on the big Serbian baller tonight. He’s averaging +26% more FPPG in up-pace games (SAC: 4th in pace) and 66 FPPG in close games (DEN -3.5 road favorites).

C Alex Len, SAC | DK: $3k, FD: $3.5k | vs. DEN | Cash & GPP (*IF Sabonis is out and he is starting)

Domantas Sabonis (thumb) is currently questionable to play tonight. He wasn’t spotted at shootaround earlier today which leads to the assumption that he is on the wrong side of that questionable tag. Sabonis has yet to miss a game this season so it’s unclear how the Kings’ center minutes would shake out. But, Alex Len was working with the Kings’ starters at shootaround today so he would be the odds-on favorite to earn the start, should Sabonis eventually get ruled out. Len can pour in the fantasy points in a hurry but he has been seldom used this season. If he’s not starting, then he becomes a very risky option and we may not know Sabonis’ status until well after the first games tip-off. Just keep this play in mind and be prepared to late swap off of him if Len doesn’t crack the starting lineup tonight.

Other Centers to Consider:

PF/C Pascal Siakam, TOR | DK: $10.1k, FD: $10.4k | vs. LAC | GPP Preferred

C Deandre Ayton, PHX | DK: $7.5k, FD: $8.2k | @ MEM | GPP Preferred

C Mason Plumlee, CHA | DK: $5.6k, FD: $6.2k | @ GSW | Cash & GPP

C Onyeka Okongwu, ATL | DK: $5.5k, FD: $5.8k | @ IND | GPP Preferred

C Kevon Looney, GSW | DK: $4.8k, FD: $5.5k | vs. CHA | GPP Preferred

NBA Player Props 📊

Player Prop or Bet | Odds | Unit Bet Size

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OVER 31.5 Points | -105 (DraftKings) | 2.0 Units

Nikola Jokic OVER 36.5 Points + Assists | -106 (Caesars) | 2.0 Units

PrizePicks 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.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MORE than 31.5 Points

Nikola Jokic MORE than 36.5 PTS+ASTS

Reminder: Don't forget about the discounted Taco Tuesday props over on PrizePicks today!

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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!