A hefty mid-week 10-game slate comes in hot this evening. Let’s get set up with some go-to plays and props to consider!

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

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

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

There are only three NBA match-ups on the schedule tomorrow so today’s 10-game slate is the final huge set of games before the All-Star Break hits on Friday! With the exception of the Chicago Bulls, this is the last game for every other team on this slate ahead of the break. That may factor into several injury situations as teams may look to give certain players a lengthier rest period before games resume next Thursday. Just be a little extra observant of the injury report leading up to tip-off! B.O.L!

Today’s Key Injuries:

Spurs: D. Vassell - OUT, T. Jones - OUT, R. Langford - OUT, D. McDermott - Questionable, I. Roby - OUT, K. Birch - OUT

Hornets: T. Rozier - Doubtful, K. Oubre Jr. - OUT, C. Martin - OUT

Bulls: D. DeRozan - OUT, A. Caruso - Questionable, G. Dragic - Questionable, D. Jones Jr. - OUT

Pacers: M. Turner - Questionable, D. Theis - Questionable

Pistons: M. Bagley III - OUT, N. Noel - OUT

Celtics: J. Brown - OUT, D. White - Probable, R. Williams - Questionable, M. Muscala - OUT

Knicks: M. Robinson - OUT

Hawks: J. Collins - Questionable, D. Hunter - Probable

Heat: T. Herro - OUT, V. Oladipo - OUT, K. Lowry - OUT, D. Robinson - Questionable, N. Jovic - OUT

Nets: None

Cavs: R. Rubio - Questionable, C. Osman - Questionable

76ers: J. Embiid - Questionable, PJ Tucker - Probable

Rockets: K. Porter Jr. - OUT

Thunder: A. Pokusevski - OUT

Jazz: L. Markkanen - Questionable, R. Westbrook - OUT, R. Gay - Questionable

Grizzlies: S. Adams - OUT

Mavs: K. Irving - Probable, C. Wood - Questionable, T. Hardaway - OUT, R. Bullock - Questionable, M. Kleber - OUT, D. Bertans - OUT

Nuggets: J. Murray - Questionable, A. Gordon - Questionable, Z. Nnaji - OUT

Pelicans: Z. Williamson - OUT, CJ McCollum - Questionable, D. Daniels - OUT

Lakers: L. James - Questionable, A. Davis - Probable

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.

💫 = Favorite Play

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

💫PG LaMelo Ball, CHA | DK: $10.4k, FD: $9.9k | vs. SAS | Cash & GPP

This match-up features two teams that have a combined 30-87 record and it’s truly a game that only DFS enthusiasts could love. Defense is neither team’s specialty here -- the Spurs continue to rank dead last in defensive efficiency while the Hornets sit at 25th. Both teams also rank inside the top 10 when it comes to offensive pace. Knowing this, it is no surprise that this match-up features a massive 243.5 over/under, which is the highest total on the slate. The Hornets could begin to initiate full-on tank mode as they look to improve their chances of winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, but for now, LaMelo Ball is getting plenty of run and posting huge fantasy scores. Ball has racked up at least 52.25 DKFP in six of his last eight games and has hit a ceiling of 72.0 DKFP in that stretch. He brings triple-double upside in this dream match-up at home tonight.

Update: Terry Rozier has been downgraded to doubtful tonight. Assuming he sits, that would provide Ball with a notable boost (+4.77% USG% increase w/ Rozier, Oubre, Plumlee, and C. Martin off the court this season).

SG/SF Max Strus, MIA | DK: $5k, FD: $5k | @ BKN | Cash & GPP

The Heat are shorthanded in the backcourt once again tonight with Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo, and Kyle Lowry all taking a seat in Miami’s final game before the All-Star Break. Those injuries should lead to Max Strus landing in the starting lineup for a second consecutive game. Strus started against the Nuggets on Monday and went on to log 42 minutes in a non-overtime game and he poured in 23 points, seven boards, four assists, and a steal (41.25 DKFP). He has only averaged 0.76 FPPM this season but if he’s going to push for 40 minutes again tonight, there is plenty of 6x upside and beyond at his current $5,000 salary on both sites.

💫PG/SG Devonte’ Graham, SAS | DK: $4k, FD: $5.2k | @ CHA | Cash & GPP

Let’s dip back into this Hornets/Spurs game, this time hunting for some guard value. The Spurs traded for Graham ahead of last week’s deadline. Graham was struggling to log even 15 minutes per game with his previous team, the Pelicans, but he has made a much more significant impact during his first three games with San Antonio. Graham has averaged 30 Min/Gm with the Spurs while putting up DKFP totals of 42.25, 26.5, and 29.75. His minutes may take a hit when the Spurs’ backcourt gets healthier but, for now, they’ll still be without Devin Vassell, Tre Jones, and Romeo Langford. Graham has averaged 1.02 FPPM over his last five games and should project for high-20s minutes in an excellent DFS game environment tonight. He’s a strong value target, particularly on DraftKings at his flat $4,000 price tag.

Other Guards to Consider:

💫PG Jalen Brunson, NYK | DK: $8.6k, FD: $8.4k | @ ATL | Cash & GPP

SG/SF Zach LaVine, CHI | DK: $8.5k, FD: $7.6k | @ IND | GPP Preferred

SG Brandon Ingram, NOP | DK: $8.2k, FD: $8.1k | @ LAL | GPP Preferred

SG Desmond Bane, MEM | DK: $7.1k, FD: $8.2k | vs. UTA | DK Preferred

PG/SG Jalen Green, HOU | DK: $6.8k, FD: $7.4k | @ OKC | GPP Preferred

💫PG/SG Collin Sexton, UTA | DK: $5.6k, FD: $5.8k | @ MEM | Cash & GPP

SG/SF Josh Richardson, NOP | DK: $3.9k, FD: $5.8k | @ LAL | DK Preferred

💫PG Dennis Smith Jr., CHA | DK: $3.7k, FD: $4.9k | vs. SAS | Cash & GPP (If he starts for T. Rozier)

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

💫PF Jimmy Butler, MIA | DK: $8.8k, FD: $9.4k | @ BKN | GPP Preferred

It’s not a great slate for high-end forwards but Jimmy Butler is going to pick up some additional ball-handling duties with the Heat backcourt being as shorthanded as it is tonight. With Herro, Oladipo, and Lowry (all three are out tonight) off the court this season, Butler has seen a slight +0.75% usage bump but, more notably, his assists and rebounds have seen a noticeable spike (+2.69 REB, +2.15 AST per 48 minutes). Over his last five games, Butler is averaging 23.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.37 FPPM, which is a decent increase from his 1.24 FPPM average on the season. Butler fell one assist shy of a triple-double against the Nuggets on Monday but he ended up posting 53.5 DKFP. We could see similar production out of him tonight which makes Butler one of the more appealing high-end forward options on this slate.

💫PF/C PJ Washington, CHA | DK: $6.1k, FD: $6.9k | vs. SAS | Cash & GPP

The Hornets are mostly healthy but they continue to play without Kelly Oubre Jr. and Cody Martin, and they recently traded Mason Plumlee away. PJ Washington is the Hornets player who has benefited the most with those three players off the court this season, posting a team-high +2.48% USG% and +5.33 FP per 48 minutes. He heads into this game averaging 37.7 FPPG over his last four games while playing consistent mid-30s minutes. As discussed multiple times already, this match-up sets up as arguably the best DFS environment on the slate and Washington put up 38.75 DKFP in 30 minutes against the Spurs earlier this season. We should be able to get a strong 30-ish FP floor out of Washington this evening with 40+ FP upside potential.

Update: Terry Rozier has been downgraded to doubtful tonight. Assuming he sits, Washington should expect to see an additional usage boost (+2.7% USG% increase & +7.38 FP per 48 minutes w/ Rozier, Oubre, Plumlee, and C. Martin off the court this season).

PF/C Kelly Olynyk, UTA | DK: $5.1k, FD: $5.6k | @ MEM | GPP Preferred

Olynyk has a pair of 39.0 DKFP performances within his last three games and he seems to be getting back to a more consistent 30-minute workload following an extended injury absence in January. Olynyk has averaged 33.3 FPPG in three games against the Grizzlies this season and he could take on a more significant offensive workload if Lauri Markkanen (knee/questionable) is eventually ruled out. But regardless of Markkanen’s availability, Olynyk carries some decent GPP appeal out of this $5k range.

Other Forwards to Consider:

PF/C Julius Randle, NYK | DK: $9.9k, FD: $9.3k | @ ATL | FD Preferred

SF/PF Lauri Markkanen, UTA | DK: $9.1k, FD: $8.2k | @ MEM | FD Preferred (Note: Markkanen is currently questionable)

💫SF Keldon Johnson, SAS | DK: $6.6k, FD: $7.4k | @ CHA | DK Preferred

SF/SG Josh Hart, NYK | DK: $5.7k, FD: $5.9k | @ ATL | GPP Preferred

PF/C Isaiah Stewart, DET | DK: $5.2k, FD: $5.7k | @ BOS | GPP Preferred

PF Jeremy Sochan, SAS | DK: $5k, FD: $5.5k | @ CHA | GPP Preferred

SF/SG Talen Horton-Tucker, UTA | DK: $4.3k, FD: $4.9k | @ MEM | GPP Preferred

Centers to Consider 🏀

💫C Nikola Vucevic, CHI | DK: $9.2k, FD: $8.6k | @ IND | Cash & GPP

DeMar DeRozan (thigh/out) is one of the more significant injury absences on tonight’s slate. DDR’s absence should open up some more upside for center Nikola Vucevic, who has seen a +3.38% usage bump and +10.86 FP per 48-minute increase with DeRozan off the court this season. The Pacers have been sneaky bad against centers lately, ranking 28th versus the position over their last 20 games. Indiana could be even more vulnerable in the paint if rim protector Myles Turner (back/questionable) is unavailable tonight. Either way, Vuc lands in a strong spot this evening and he makes for a worthy pivot off of Jokic or one of the value centers.

💫C Zach Collins, SAS | DK: $5.1k, FD: $6.4k | @ CHA | Cash & GPP

The Spurs traded away starting center Jakob Poeltl last week which has led to Zach Collins entering the starting rotation. Collins has played 35 and 32 minutes in the two non-blowout games since Poeltl’s exodus. He has averaged 1.10 FPPM this season so the increased playing time once again makes him a stand-out value target tonight. The Hornets represent one of the best match-ups that an opposing center could ask for (25th vs. Centers L20Gms). Collins remains a major value at $5,100 on DraftKings and still a rock-solid play at $6,400 on FanDuel.

Other Centers to Consider:

💫C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $11.8k, FD: $12k | vs. DAL | Cash & GPP

PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM | DK: $7.2k, FD: $8.3k | vs. UTA | DK Preferred

C Clint Capela, ATL | DK: $6k, FD: $7.2k | vs. NYK | DK Preferred

💫C Mark Williams, CHA | DK: $5.3k, FD: $5.7k | vs. SAS | Cash & GPP

C James Wiseman, DET | DK: $3.4k, FD: $4.5k | @ BOS | GPP Preferred (If he starts)

NBA Player Props 📊

Player Prop or Bet | Odds | Unit Bet Size

LaMelo Ball OVER 34.5 Points + Assists | -120 (DraftKings) | 2.0 Units

Jimmy Butler oVER 5.5 Assists | -128 (FanDuel) | 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.

Jarrett Allen MORE than 32.5 Fantasy Score

Jalen Brunson MORE than 40.5 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: BETFULLY) or Underdog (Promo code: LINESTAR). You'll receive a 100% match on first deposits up to $100 PLUS a free two-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!