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

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

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

The NBA season continues to dwindle down and there are now 13 days remaining in this regular season. The late-season chaos continues to ramp up and some teams are even looking to shut down their star player(s). For DFS (and prop betting) purposes, it becomes more important to lean toward targeting teams that have something to play for. Every team has between six and eight games remaining on their schedule; some teams are on the bubble of the playoff standings while others could either benefit from improving their seeding -- in some cases, that means trying to lock up a guaranteed playoff seed (instead of having to compete in the play-in tournament). To see the most up-to-date playoff standings, check here: https://www.nba.com/standings

Eight NBA games are on the Monday menu so let’s get into it! Best of luck!

Today’s Key Injuries:

Mavericks: M. Kleber - Questionable

Pacers: T. Haliburton - Questionable, M. Turner - Questionable, B. Hield - OUT, C. Duarte - OUT

Bucks: G. Antetokounmpo - OUT, J. Holiday - OUT, J. Crowder - Probable, M. Leonard - OUT, G. Dragic - Probable

Pistons: B. Bogdanovic - OUT, R. McGruder - Questionable, I. Stewart - OUT, C. Joseph - Questionable, A. Burks - OUT, H. Diallo - OUT

Rockets: J. Tate - OUT

Knicks: J. Brunson - Questionable

Suns: K. Durant - OUT, D. Ayton - Probable

Jazz: L. Markkanen - Questionable, J. Clarkson - OUT, C. Sexton - OUT, S. Fontecchio - OUT, R. Gay - OUT

76ers: J. Embiid - OUT, J. Harden - Questionable, D. House Jr. - Questionable

Nuggets: M. Porter Jr. - Questionable

Timberwolves: None

Kings: D. Fox - Questionable

Pelicans: Z. Williamson - OUT, J. Alvarado - OUT

Trailblazers: D. Lillard - Questionable (May be shut down for ROS), J. Grant - Questionable, J. Nurkic - Questionable, A. Simons - Questionable, T. Watford - Questionable

Bulls: A. Caruso - Questionable

Clippers: K. Leonard - Probable, P. George - OUT, N. Powell - 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.

💫 = Favorite Play

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG/SG Kyrie Irving, DAL | DK: $9.8k, FD: $9.4k | @ IND | GPP Preferred

There is a pretty obvious spend-up guard option on tonight’s slate. The Mavs, who are currently one game behind the 9th and 10th-seeded Lakers and Thunder in the West, will be without star guard Luka Doncic (suspension) tonight. With seven games remaining on their schedule, this is a game that Dallas really needs to win if they hope to punch a ticket into the play-in tournament. Kyrie Irving has been a disappointment since being traded over to the Mavs from the Nets but he’ll need to shoulder a huge workload in tonight’s game. The Pacers struggle when it comes to defending opposing guards and Kyrie is currently the top projected guard in both the LineStar and consensus projections. This match-up carries the closest spread on the slate (DAL +1) along with one of the higher over/unders (233.0 O/U) so it should be a strong spot for Irving to pay off his sub-$10 DFS salaries.

Update: Luka Doncic’s 16th technical foul has been rescinded so he will no longer be suspended for tonight’s game. Kyrie is now a much riskier DFS play. GPP only for me. With their season hanging in the balance, Luka Doncic (DK: $11.9k, FD: $12.1k) looks like a strong play in all formats.

💫PG/SG Shaedon Sharpe, POR | DK: $6.2k, FD: $7.2k | vs. NOP | Cash & GPP (Pending POR injury report)

While not mathematically eliminated, the Trailblazers’ playoff hopes are extremely grim at this point now that they are 4.5 games back from the 10th seed in the West with eight games to play. The team is looking to shut down Damian Lillard for the rest of the season and they're dealing with injuries to other key starters like Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, and Jusuf Nurkic. We’ll still need confirmation that all of those players are out tonight, but for now, we’ll assume that they are. Sharpe has started the last three games and returned DKFP totals of 38.75, 34.5, and 49.25 while averaging 37.7 Min/Gm and 25.7 PPG. Even in a potential blowout (POR +11), Sharpe should play significant minutes and, given his recent success in the starting lineup, he sets up as a strong target out of the mid-range.

💫PG Jevon Carter, MIL | DK: $3.4k, FD: $4.8k | @ DET | Cash & GPP

Jrue Holiday (personal) has been ruled out so that means Jevon Carter should start and play significant minutes. Carter has started 35 games this season and, while he has not always produced big numbers consistently, he has exhibited a high ceiling. He also won’t have to have an amazing game in order to return value, particularly on DraftKings where he is just $400 above the minimum. He’ll get a great match-up with a Pistons team that ranks 28th in defensive efficiency and 21st (L20Gms) versus starting point guards.

Update: The Bucks will also be without Giannis tonight. This opens up more usage for a guy like Jevon Carter.

Other Guards to Consider:

💫PG Luka Doncic, DAL | DK: $11.9k, FD: $12.1k | @ IND | Cash & GPP

PG Tyrese Haliburton, IND | DK: $9.1k, FD: $9.8k | vs. DAL | DK Preferred (Note: Haliburton is currently questionable)

PG Chris Paul, PHX | DK: $7.4k, FD: $7.8k | @ UTA | Cash & GPP

💫PG/SG Tyrese Maxey, PHI | DK: $7.7k, FD: $7.7k | @ DEN | GPP Preferred (Cash play if Harden is out)

SG/SF Kevin Huerter, SAC | DK: $6.7k, FD: $6.8k | vs. MIN | GPP Preferred

PG/SG Immanuel Quickley, NYK | DK: $6.5k, FD: $6k | vs. HOU | Cash & GPP (If Brunson is out)

SG/SF Trey Murphy III, NOP | DK: $6.4k, FD: $6.2k | @ POR | GPP Preferred

SG/SF Bennedict Mathurin, IND | DK: $4.8k, FD: $4.8k | vs. DAL | GPP Preferred

PG/SG Davion Mitchell, SAC | DK: $4.5k, FD: $5k | vs. MIN | Cash & GPP (If. D. Fox is out)

SG/SF Terrence Ross, PHX | DK: $4.1k, FD: $4.9k | @ UTA | GPP Preferred

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

💫SF Brandon Ingram, NOP | DK: $8.9k, FD: $9k | @ POR | Cash & GPP

This game carries some blowout concerns (NOP -11) since the Trailblazers are expected to roll out their Damian Lillard-less B-squad. The Pelicans are on the front end of a back-to-back and have a much more important game with playoff seeding implications against the Warriors tomorrow night, so playing time limitations are a real concern for Ingram (and other NOP starters) if the Pelicans get up big. However, if things stay remotely competitive, Brandon Ingram is going to set up as a favorable DFS option tonight. He’s been balling out as of late, averaging 30.2 PPG, 9.0 APG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.48 FPPM over his last five starts. Consider him a riskier cash play for now, but he’s certainly someone to target in GPPs.

💫PF/C Bobby Portis, MIL | DK: $5.6k, FD: $6.3k | @ DET | Cash & GPP

In the midst of writing today’s article, some huge injury news dropped with Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) being ruled out for tonight’s game in Detroit. Even without Jrue Holiday and Giannis available, the Bucks are still going to be heavy favorites over the Pistons but we now know that Bobby Portis will re-enter the starting lineup. Portis has rarely disappointed when given a starter’s workload -- he has scored at least 28.5 DKFP in 18-of-19 starts this season and his ceiling is well beyond the 40+ FP range when he handles 30+ minutes. He’ll be a rock-solid option at $5.6k/$6.3k this evening.

💫SF/PF Nassir Little, POR | DK: $3.8k, FD: $4.3k | vs. NOP | Cash & GPP

Along with Lillard, Grant, Simons, and Nurkic all looking highly questionable to play tonight, reserve big man Trendon Watford is also looking very ‘iffy’ to play after exiting last night’s game with an ankle injury. Nassir Little ended up logging 31 minutes off of the bench last night and he poured in 28 points and six boards -- good for 36.0 DKFP. Little has only averaged 0.74 FPPM this season, so last night’s game was certainly an outlier, but given how shorthanded the Trailblazers may end up being tonight, he could be a top-two or three offensive option. Monitor that Blazers injury report and if it looks like Little will draw a start, we can count on him as a value forward target on this slate.

Other Forwards to Consider:

PF Julius Randle, NYK | DK: $9.3k, FD: $10.2k | vs. HOU | DK Preferred

PF Karl Anthony-Towns, MIN | DK: $8.3k, FD: $8.3k | @ SAC | GPP Preferred

💫SF Khris Middleton, MIL | DK: $7.7k, FD: $7.4k | @ DET | Cash & GPP

💫SF/PF Tobias Harris, PHI | DK: $6.3k, FD: $6.8k | @ DEN | Cash & GPP (Bump if Harden also sits -- Embiid already ruled out)

SF/SG Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL | DK: $5.5k, FD: $5.2k | @ IND | GPP Preferred

PF Keegan Murray, SAC | DK: $5.4k, FD: $5.9k | vs. MIN | GPP Preferred

SF/PF Harrison Barnes, SAC | DK: $5.3k, FD: $5.3k | vs. MIN | Cash & GPP

SF/PF Kevin Knox II, POR | DK: $3.4k, FD: $3.9k | vs. NOP | GPP Preferred (Pending POR injury report)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Jonas Valanciunas, NOP | DK: $7.9k, FD: $8.1k | @ POR | Cash & GPP

Can JoVal extend his hot streak to six games in a row? If you’ve played NBA DFS for any extended amount of time, you know that Valanciunas is about as volatile as it gets at the center position. However, his recent five-game stretch is hard to ignore. In those five games, JoVal has put up at least 44.25 DKFP while averaging 47.5 FPPG, 1.48 FPPM, 19.8 PPG, 15.2 RPG, and 2.0 STL+BLK/Gm. As discussed already, the Pelicans may very well roll through the shorthanded Trailblazers with ease tonight but, at the same time, an 11-point spread is not a crazy high number. Most starters are going to play their normal minutes if a game is within around 10 points in the fourth quarter. We’ll hope that is the case in tonight’s NOP/POR game because Valanciunas would set up as a very favorable DFS option at his current price tags.

💫C Drew Eubanks, POR | DK: $4.3k, FD: $5.2k | vs. NOP | Cash & GPP

Back to the Blazers patchwork lineup we go. We’re still working under the assumption that Portland will eventually rule out all of the players that currently hold a questionable designation (Lillard, Grant, Simons, Nurkic, Watford). If that is the case, Drew Eubanks is going to get another start at the five. He has started the last two games and has turned in strong performances of 38.0 DKFP in 33 minutes versus OKC last night and 27.75 DKFP in 25 minutes versus the Bulls on Friday. Eubanks has averaged 1.06 FPPM over his last five starts so 30+ minutes would (likely) lead to some fairly easy, albeit chalky, value.

Other Centers to Consider:

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $11.4k, FD: $12k | vs. PHI | GPP Preferred

C Christian Wood, DAL | DK: $6.7k, FD: $7.4k | @ IND | GPP Preferred (Bump if M. Kleber is out)

C Brook Lopez, MIL | DK: $6.4k, FD: $7.6k | @ DET | GPP Preferred

C Jalen Duren, DET | DK: $5k, FD: $6.2k | vs. MIL | GPP Preferred

💫C Paul Reed, PHI | DK: $3.2k, FD: $4.8k | @ DEN | DK Preferred (If he starts in place of Embiid)

NBA Player Props 📊

Player Prop or Bet | Odds | Unit Bet Size

No standard prop plays today.

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.

Brandon Ingram MORE than 21.5 Fantasy Score (1st Half)

Khris Middleton MORE than 11.5 Points (1st Half)

🆕 Props AI 🆕

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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!