Back on the small slate grind with a Thursday four-gamer! Let’s hone in on some top NBA DFS plays and props to consider this evening!

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

Straight Locks🔒 | NBA Props w/ Shannon & Tyler!

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

Let’s get to work on this four-game Thursday slate! There are plenty of worthy DFS plays in the mid-to-upper salary ranges so, as usual with these smaller slates, finding the right value will be key. Best of luck this evening!

Today’s Key Injuries:

Grizzlies: D. Bane - OUT, B. Clarke - OUT

Magic: J. Suggs - Questionable, M. Wagner - OUT, B. Bol - OUT, C. Okeke - OUT

Mavericks: D. Finney-Smith - OUT, M. Kleber - OUT, Josh Green - OUT

Jazz: C. Sexton - OUT

Clippers: P. George - Questionable, N. Batum - OUT

Nuggets: Jeff Green - OUT

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 Luka Doncic, DAL | DK: $12.6k, FD: $12.8k | vs. BOS | Cash & GPP

As we all know, Luka has been playing out of his mind lately, even by his lofty standards. He has benefited from playing against mediocre-to-awful defensive teams over the last couple of weeks. The Celtics do not represent such an easy match-up, ranking 11th in defensive efficiency -- however, they are mid-pack in PPG allowed (113.3 PPG, ranks 15th) and allow the 11th highest shooting percentage (47.8%). Luka also put up a 42-8-9 P/R/A stat line when he went up against Boston earlier this season. He’s also shooting 53.3% and averaging 66.7 FPPG at home this season, compared to 47.7% FG%/61.6 FPPG on the road. Even as he approaches $13,000 DFS salaries, he’s always going to be tough to fade on such a small slate.

💫SG Jalen Green, HOU | DK: $6.6k, FD: $7.2k | vs. UTA | Cash & GPP

Green owns a team-leading 27.6% USG% and highly stable minutes on a nightly basis. While he’s been bucking his home/road trend recently, with four of the Rockets’ last six games being played on the road, he does still average +13.5% more FPPG at home. This is a great game environment to target on this small slate, with both teams ranking bottom five in defensive efficiency and the Jazz rank 28th against opposing shooting guards. Green has posted a couple of solid performances against the Jazz already this season, and he’ll remain one of the more reliable guard options out of the mid-range.

PG Tyus Jones, MEM | DK: $4.3k, FD: $4.9k | @ ORL | GPP Preferred

At the moment, there is not a ton of standout guard value on this slate. However, with Desmond Bane out tonight, Tyus Jones does have a chance to pick up a few extra minutes off of the bench. Jones has been dealing with a non-COVID illness recently and only logged 15 minutes last night, but he doesn’t own an “injury” designation heading into tonight. He is averaging 1.01 FPPM over his last five games and had a big New Year’s Day game (18-6-8 P/R/A in 32 minutes, 42.0 DKFP) which was a game where Bane also sat out. If he can squeeze in around 30 minutes this evening, Jones could be one of the better value guard options on the slate.

Other Guards to Consider:

PG Ja Morant, MEM | DK: $10.4k, FD: $10.5k | @ ORL | GPP Preferred

💫PG/SG Jordan Clarkson, UTA | DK: $7.3k, FD: $6.8k | @ HOU | Cash & GPP

PG Jamal Murray, DEN | DK: $7k, FD: $8.1k | vs. LAC | GPP/DK Preferred

PG Mike Conley, UTA | DK: $5.7k, FD: $6.2k | @ HOU | Cash & GPP

SG/SF Norman Powell, LAC | DK: $5.2k, FD: $5.7k | @ DEN | GPP Preferred (Bump if P. George is out)

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

💫SF/PF Lauri Markkanen, UTA | DK: $9k, FD: $8.6k | @ HOU | Cash & GPP

Markkanen has been a sharpshooter from beyond the arc, connecting on 42.1% of 3PA this season. That bodes well in this match-up seeing as how the Rockets allow an NBA-high 42.7 PPG from three-pointers and 39.4 3PA per game. Markkanen has poured in at least 28 points in five consecutive games. If he can put up some decent peripherals, primarily in the rebounding category, then we could see him pop off for another 50+ fantasy point night.

SF/PF Kawhi Leonard, LAC | DK: $8.1k, FD: $9k | @ DEN | Cash & GPP

Paul George (hamstring) is quite easily the biggest piece of injury news we’ll be waiting on this evening. Kawhi makes for a strong play whether or not George suits up, and he has actually had higher usage when George plays this season. Kawhi is still getting the occasional “injury management” day off, but recently, when he’s starting, he hasn’t faced any noticeable minute restrictions. He has played at least 35 minutes in his last three games. The Nuggets rank 27th in defensive efficiency and Kawhi has been looking more and more like his old self lately so we can turn to him as a spend-up option this evening, especially at his $8,100 price tag on DraftKings.

💫SF/SG Malik Beasley, UTA | DK: $5k, FD: $4.8k | @ HOU | Cash & GPP

Beasley owns SF and SG eligibility on both sites so he offers some nice flexibility out of the value tier on this slate. Collin Sexton (hamstring) will be missing his second consecutive game which bodes well for Beasley’s minutes off of the bench tonight. He played 31 minutes on Tuesday and averages close to an FPPM on the season. Beasley also puts up quite a few three-pointers which, as noted above with Markkanen, bodes well against a Rockets team that allows the most points and attempts from three-point range this season.

Other Forwards to Consider:

SF/PF Jayson Tatum, BOS | DK: $10.9k, FD: $10.8k | @ DAL | GPP Preferred

PF/C Christian Wood, DAL | DK: $7.9k, FD: $8.1k | vs. BOS | GPP Preferred

💫PF Aaron Gordon, DEN | DK: $6.9k, FD: $7.2k | vs. LAC | Cash & GPP

PF/C Jarred Vanderbilt, UTA | DK: $5.1k, FD: $5.8k | @ HOU | GPP Preferred

💫PF Marcus Morris Sr., LAC | DK: $4.7k, FD: $5.3k | @ DEN | Cash & GPP

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $11.8k, FD: $11.5k | vs. LAC | GPP Preferred

Does it always seem like these small slates feature both Luka and Jokic as the top two superstars, or am I crazy? Typically most people will elect to spend up on Luka as their stud player. Jokic obviously has very similar upside to Luka, but he doesn’t hit that ceiling nearly as often… at least not this season with a mostly healthy Nuggets lineup. Despite ranking 6th in overall defensive efficiency, the Clippers are surprisingly bad against centers, ranking 27th against the position over their last 20 games. If you believe in a ceiling game tonight, Jokic makes for the ultimate pivot away from Luka Doncic.

💫C Steven Adams, MEM | DK: $5.7k, FD: $7.3k | @ ORL | Cash & GPP/DK Preferred

There is so much more value at center on DraftKings than FanDuel today so I wouldn’t mind viewing the aforementioned Jokic as a go-to cash play on FD. Meanwhile, if Steven Adams continues playing as he has in the last four games (averaging 44.5 DKFPPG), then he is far too cheap at $5,700. Orlando rates out very well defensively against centers but they are missing several players on their frontcourt today so Adams may continue putting up big numbers. He also could receive a few extra minutes with Brandon Clarke (hip) sidelined for a third consecutive game.

Other Centers to Consider:

C Wendell Carter Jr., ORL | DK: $6.4k, FD: $5.9k | vs. MEM | GPP Preferred

C Ivica Zubac, LAC | DK: $4.9k, FD: $6.6k | @ DEN | GPP/DK Preferred

💫C Robert Williams, BOS | DK: $4.1k, FD: $5k | @ DAL | Cash & GPP/DK Preferred

NBA Player Props 📊

Player Prop or Bet | Odds | Unit Bet Size

Christian Wood OVER 1.5 Steals + Blocks | -135 (Caesars) | 2.0 Units

Lauri Markkanen OVER 29.5 Points + Rebounds | -125 (DraftKings) | 2.5 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.

Christian Wood MORE than 34.5 Fantasy Score

Jordan Clarkson MORE than 2.5 3-PT Made

🆕 Props Edge+ 🆕

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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!