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

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

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

Following a Monday NBA hiatus, we’re getting punched in the jaw with a massive, “injury” riddled 13-game slate. Long-time NBA DFS players know how this final portion of the regular season goes. It’s often messy and filled to the brim with additional volatility. Today looks no different. Every NBA team has either three or four games remaining on their schedule leading up to Sunday’s regular season finale in which every team will take the court that day. So do be extra cautious with playoff teams who have little-to-no chance of improving their playoff seeding, watch out for all of those teams that are choosing to rest many of their starters and key rotational players, and beware of the likely blowout situations -- today there are many.

You can check the most up-to-date playoff standings here:

https://www.nba.com/standings

Also, in an effort to save a little time and get today’s newsletter out as quickly as possible, I will be attaching the LineStar injury report tweet instead of listing all 26 team’s injury reports separately. It is a wild one…

It is days like these where I really do wish everyone the best of luck out there!

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

Note: I’ll be doing away with the “Cash & GPP” and “GPP Preferred” designations for the remainder of the season. At this point, it largely comes down to a pure guessing game as to who could be considered a “cash-safe” play.

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG/SG Donovan Mitchell, CLE | DK: $9.1k, FD: $9.6k | @ ORL

While extremely unlikely, the Magic are still mathematically able to sneak into the Eastern Conference play-in tournament as the 10th seed if they win out and Chicago loses out. Either way, they have not been slacking off lately and are winners of five of their last six games. The Cavaliers could theoretically stand to improve their seeding if they can make up the 2 1/2 games on Philadelphia. I mention this to note that this game “should” stay competitive and there is only a five-point spread currently placed on this match-up. Donovan Mitchell has shouldered a heavy workload recently, putting up 27 shots per game over his last three while averaging 42 PPG and playing 40 minutes in each of those contests. Orlando looks like they’re at the very least going to make Cleveland work for a win tonight so we can look for Mitchell and the other Cavs starters to play full speed.

💫PG/SG Dejounte Murray, ATL | DK: $7.6k, FD: $8.8k | @ CHI

Trae Young (illness) has been ruled out for tonight’s contest and this is another match-up where both teams will be looking to improve their seeding in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Dejounte Murray has had a +2.76% usage increase when Trae Young has been off the court this season and his assist and rebound rates see a bump as well. Some extra usage could also fall to Murray with forward De’Andre Hunter missing his third consecutive game. Overall, this projects to be one of the more competitive games on the slate (ATL +5) and Murray should be locked into an expanded role.

💫PG/SG Jordan Goodwin, WAS | DK: $4k, FD: $5.2k | vs. MIL

The Wizards have been eliminated from postseason contention and, as a result, it looks like they’re throwing in the towel by resting Porzingis, Beal, Avdija, Kuzma, and Monte Morris. Delon Wright and Johnny Davis are the favorites to step in as the starting guards but Jordan Goodwin has the edge on them in terms of per-minute production (1.11 FPPM L5Gms). This game is a firm blowout candidate with the Bucks stepping in as -13.5 favorites, but that shouldn’t affect Goodwin’s minutes and, should he receive 25-30 minutes tonight, he’ll have ample opportunity to pay off his modest DFS salaries.

Other Guards to Consider:

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC | DK: $10k, FD: $10.6k | @ GSW

💫SG Mikal Bridges, BKN | DK: $8.3k, FD: $9.4k | vs. MIN

PG Jamal Murray, DEN | DK: $7.8k, FD: $7.9k | @ HOU

PG Theo Maledon, CHA | DK: $6.1k, FD: $6.3k | vs. TOR

💫PG Delon Wright, WAS | DK: $5.5k, FD: $6.6k | vs. MIL

SG Johnny Davis, WAS | DK: $4.2k, FD: $4.2k | vs. MIL

PG Shaquille Harrison, POR | DK: $3.9k, FD: $4.3k | @ MEM

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

💫SF Brandon Ingram, NOP | DK: $9.3k, FD: $9.9k | vs. SAC

The match-up between the Pelicans and the Kings feels like a reliable target tonight. The Kings could still capture the #2 seed in the West and the Pelicans, currently the #8 seed (play-in tournament) still have a chance to secure a guaranteed playoff spot if they finish strong and other teams, like the Warriors and Clippers, falter down the stretch. Brandon Ingram has been stellar over the last couple of weeks and he’s been the driving force behind New Orleans winning seven of their last eight games. In any competitive game, as this one should be (NOP -4 favorites), Ingram is going to push for upper-30s minutes and he’s been averaging an electric 1.48 FPPM over his last five starts. The 236 over/under in this game is the second-highest on the slate and Ingram is going to stand out as one of the safer DFS options to spend up on.

💫SF/SG Anthony Edwards, MIN | DK: $8.1k, FD: $8.5k | @ BKN

We’ll continue the running theme of targeting games where both teams still have some level of postseason motivation. In the case of the T-Wolves/Nets match-up, Brooklyn is looking to hang on to their guaranteed playoff seed (#6 in the East) and Minnesota is another one of those Western Conference teams that are currently positioned in the play-in tournament bracket, but could still vie for a guaranteed seed. So that brings us to Anthony Edwards, who is coming off of a 37-point game on Sunday where he hoisted 30 shot attempts and racked up 53.75 DKFP against the tanking Trailblazers. Elite consistency is not Edwards’ forte but we do know he has a lethal ceiling. His $8,100/$8,500 DFS salaries are nearly the lowest he’s had this entire season so, in a meaningful game, Edwards is going to be worthy of some attention.

PF/C Dominick Barlow, SAS | DK: $3.1k, FD: $3.7k | @ PHX

For the cheap forward play, we’ll be going with a bit of an unknown with Dominick Barlow. The Spurs have been dead in the water essentially since the season began but now is when these bottom-of-the-barrel teams can get a longer look at their younger players. The Spurs have already ruled out Zach Collins, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Romeo Langford for tonight’s likely blowout loss to the Suns (-19 favorites). But the Spurs gave Barlow 30 minutes against the Kings on Sunday and the undrafted rookie went on to post a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double while adding five assists, two blocks, and a steal -- good for 39.0 DKFP. There is no guarantee he’ll handle similar minutes tonight, but he has averaged 0.88 FPPM over his last five appearances and, at this point, Gregg Popovich has no reason *not* to give a player like Barlow some extra time on the court.

Other Forwards to Consider:

PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL | DK: $11.4k, FD: $11.9k | @ WAS

SF Jimmy Butler, MIA | DK: $8.8k, FD: $9.4k | @ DET

💫SF/PF DeMar DeRozan, CHI | DK: $8.2k, FD: $8.8k | vs. ATL

SF/SG Trey Murphy III, NOP | DK: $6.2k, FD: $6.4k | vs. SAC

💫SF/PF Saddiq Bey, ATL | DK: $4.8k, FD: $5.6k | @ CHI

SF/PF TJ Warren, PHX | DK: $3.7k, FD: $4.5k | vs. SAS

SF/PF Anthony Gill, WAS | DK: $3.3k, FD: $3.6k | vs. MIL

Centers to Consider 🏀

💫C Anthony Davis, LAL | DK: $10.9k, FD: $11.4k | @ UTA (Note: Davis is probable to play tonight)

I’m always wary of playing AD but he has posted four games of at least 56.75 DKFP within his last five starts and both teams in this game will have some motivation; the Lakers are still in a position to land a guaranteed playoff seed and the Jazz (currently 2.5 GB from the #10 seed), while unlikely, can still make a final push for the play-in tournament. The Lakers own one of the higher team totals of the slate with 122.8 implied points and Anthony Davis has put up at least 20 FGA in four of his last five games while corralling double-digit rebounds and multiple blocks in three of his last five.

PF/C Kai Jones, CHA | DK: $4k, FD: $4.5k | vs. TOR

The Hornets are also resting a slew of players tonight and that should also include center Mark Williams (ankle) since he is officially listed as doubtful. That will leave Nick Richards and Kai Jones as the Hornets’ two available centers. While Jones is not the favorite to start, he should still see his fair share of minutes on the court in yet another likely blowout (TOR -14.5 favorites). Jones played 32 minutes in Sunday’s game against this same Raptors squad and he came away with a respectable 25.75 DKFP score. Jones has scored at least that many DKFP in four of the five games in which he has played at least 22 minutes this season.

Other Centers to Consider:

C Joel Embiid, PHI | DK: $11.1k, FD: $11.7k | vs. BOS

PF/C Pascal Siakam, TOR | DK: $8.7k, FD: $9.2k | @ CHA

C Nikola Vucevic, CHI | DK: $7.9k, FD: $8.4k | vs. ATL

C Brook Lopez, MIL | DK: $7k, FD: $8.2k | @ WAS

💫C Alperen Sengun, HOU | DK: $6.9k, FD: $7.4k | vs. DEN

C Deandre Ayton, PHX | DK: $6.2k, FD: $7.3k | vs. SAS

💫C Clint Capela, ATL | DK: $6k, FD: $7.5k | @ CHI

NBA Player Props 📊

Player Prop or Bet | Odds | Unit Bet Size

I'll personally be wrapping up the recommended NBA player props for the remainder of the regular season (including the PrizePicks Power Play of the Day). There is just too much volatility in play at this point so I'll err on the side of caution and wait for the playoffs to arrive!

🆕 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!