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

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NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Tyler Wiemann

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

Hump Day brings us a healthy dose of NBA action! DraftKings rolls out a seven-game main slate, while FanDuel tacks on the two late contests for a nine-gamer. With each passing slate, we’re getting a clearer picture of team rotations and usage trends. There’s still plenty to learn, but we finally have a solid sample of data points to work with. Let’s dive in and see if we can piece this slate together the right way. Best of luck!

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

Today’s Key Injuries 🚑

^{Note: NBA injury reports can be fickle and often update throughout the day. Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}

^{Additional Note: Players who have yet to play this season will be excluded from the injury report, unless they have either a probable, questionable, or doubtful injury designation, with some amount of chance to make their season debut.}

**Indicates that this would be a player’s season debut if they are active tonight.

• Cavs: S. Merrill - OUT

• Celtics: J. Brown - Probable

• Magic: None

• Pistons: A. Thompson - Questionable, C. LeVert - Questionable, **M. Sasser - Questionable

• Hawks: J. Johnson - Probable, Z. Risacher - Probable

• Nets: Z. Williams - OUT

• Kings: N. Clifford - OUT

• Bulls: None

• Pacers: B. Mathurin - OUT, A. Nembhard - OUT, O. Toppin - OUT, T. Peter - Doubtful

• Mavs: A. Davis - Probable, D. Lively II - Doubtful, **D. Gafford - Doubtful, B. Williams - Questionable

• Trailblazers: K. Murray - Questionable, M. Thybulle - Questionable

• Jazz: J. Nurkic - Questionable

• Pelicans: Z. Williamson - Questionable

• Nuggets: C. Johnson - Questionable

Late Game Injury Report (FanDuel Main Slate Only)

• Lakers: L. Doncic - OUT, M. Smart - OUT, G. Vincent - OUT

• Timberwolves: A. Edwards - OUT, J. Clark - Questionable

• Grizzlies: S. Aldama - Questionable, **V. Williams Jr. - Questionable

• Suns: **J. Green - Questionable, D. Brooks - OUT

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.

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG Jamal Murray, DEN | DK: $7.8k, FD: $8.1k | vs. NOP

The guard options at the top end of the slate have mixed appeal, so we’ll start a bit further down with Jamal Murray. Thanks to a steady high level of play over the Nuggets’ first three games, Murray’s DFS price points are steadily climbing. However, he may still be a bit underpriced as he is playing like a guy who should be closer to the $9k range. Murray has led the Nuggets with a 30.4% USG% to start the year, and he’s making 53% of his FG attempts, including 42.9% of his 3PAs on 7.0 3PA/gm. He’s also posting solid peripherals with 6.0 APG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.3 STL/gm. It has all equated to a stout 1.35 FPPM. Unfortunately, we do have to be mindful of some blowout potential here as the Nuggets (-12.5) are the heaviest favorites on the slate. But they also lead the slate with a 125.5 implied team total and, if Zion Williamson (foot/questionable) suits up for the Pels, I’d like this game’s chances of staying competitive.

PG Tre Jones, CHI | DK: $5.8k, FD: $6.1k | vs. SAC

Tre Jones is another guy who has been playing well above his current price points, and he’s been a quality fill-in for the 3-0 Bulls while Coby White recovers from a calf injury. Jones is not going to take on a ton of usage (16.7% USG%, 13.0 PPG), but his peripherals have been excellent. Jones is averaging 8.3 APG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.3 STL/gm. He’s put up at least eight assists and multiple steals in every game thus far while averaging a steady 1.25 FPPM. This game also features one of the highest totals on the slate (238.5 O/U) with a fairly close 4.5-point spread in favor of Chicago.

PG Russell Westbrook, SAC | DK: $4.5k, FD: $4.8k | at CHI

We have more potential value on the other side of this Bulls/Kings matchup. Russell Westbrook entered the starting lineup for the first time this season in yesterday’s game. He responded by posting a 16/9/4 stat line in 30 minutes, resulting in 36.25 DKFP/33.80 FDFP. Westbrook may not be the triple-double machine that he was in his prime, but he’s still got gas in the tank and has averaged a very respectable 1.15 FPPM in four games with the Kings this season. If he continues to crack the starting rotation, I don’t see how you can ignore a sub-$5k Russell Westbrook.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Trae Young, ATL | DK: $9.1k, FD: $8.6k | at BKN

SG Trey Murphy III, NOP | DK: $7.4k, FD: $7.2k | at DEN (Boost if Zion is out)

SG Cam Thomas, BKN | DK: $6.8k, FD: $6.6k | vs. ATL

PG Jrue Holiday, POR | DK: $6.8k, FD: $6.5k | at UTA

PG/SG Keyonte George, UTA | DK: $6.7k, FD: $6.6k | vs. POR

PG/SG D’Angelo Russell, DAL | DK: $5.3k, FD: $5.3k | vs. IND

SG/SF Nickeil Alexander-Walker, ATL | DK: $5.2k, FD: $5.2k | at BKN

SG/SF Ben Sheppard, IND | DK: $4.2k, FD: $4.5k | at DAL

PG RayJ Dennis, IND | DK: $3.8k, FD: $4.7k | at DAL

FanDuel Main Slate Only

SG/SF Austin Reaves, LAL | FD: $9.3k | at MIN

PG/SG Devin Booker, PHX | FD: $9.1k | vs. MEM (Preferred if Jal. Green remains out)

PG Mike Conley, MIN | FD: $3.9k | vs. LAL

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF Pascal Siakam, IND | DK: $8.4k, FD: $9.2k | at DAL

The Pacers are very banged up already, and it’s a major reason why the reigning NBA Eastern Conference champs are off to a 0-3 start. They, of course, do not have star PG Tyrese Haliburton available at all this season due to a torn Achilles that he sustained in the NBA Finals. But they’re also going to be without Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and Obi Toppin tonight. Most of the injuries are in the backcourt, but a ton of usage will still be siphoned off to their lone healthy star player, Pascal Siakam. Siakam is averaging 1.55 FPPM and 53.9 FP per 32 minutes with those aforementioned injured players off the floor this season. With the Pacers working with a limited rotation in their last game on Sunday, Siakam handled a massive team-leading 35.1% USG% while posting a 33/10/8 stat line (with three steals), which resulted in 65.5 DKFP/64.0 FDFP. The Pacers have a more favorable opponent lined up tonight as they visit the 1-3 Mavs in Dallas, but they’re still 6.5-point underdogs in this matchup. If Indiana hopes to get into the win column for the first time this season, Siakam is likely going to need another huge performance.

SF Lauri Markkanen, UTA | DK: $7.7k, FD: $7.4k | vs. POR

Expectations will need to be dialed back a few notches following Markkanen’s career-high 51-point night in their overtime win over the Suns on Monday. But that doesn’t mean we have to expect a dud from him tonight, by any means. Markkanen has hoisted 22.3 FGA/gm through three games, and he has made 42.4% of his three-pointers on 11.0 3PA/gm. If he’s going to keep letting it fly from deep, Markkanen could be in for another big night versus a Trailblazers team that has allowed the 3rd-highest opponent 3P% so far this season. Markkanen and the Jazz (25th in pace) also receive a significant pace upgrade versus the Trailblazers, who are currently 5th in pace this season.

SF Josh Minott, BOS | DK: $4k, FD: $4k | vs. CLE

Minott, a 2022 second-round draft pick by the Timberwolves, has played sparingly in his NBA career, but he received his first career start on Monday and delivered a quality performance. In 28 minutes versus the Pelicans, Minott posted 15 points, nine rebounds, and one assist, block, and steal apiece -- that statline equated to 32.25 DKFP/33.30 FDFP. He also put up a ridiculous plus/minus of plus-42 in the Celtics’ blowout win. Considering that was Boston’s first win of the season, it would be a mild surprise if they don’t roll out an identical lineup tonight with Minott in as a starter. Assuming he does start again this evening, he’s a clear value option at a flat $4,000 on both sites. He has averaged just over an FPPM this season and would project for around 25-30 minutes.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF Anthony Davis, DAL | DK: $10.1k, FD: $10.7k | vs. IND

PF Evan Mobley, CLE | DK: $8.7k, FD: $8.6k | at BOS

PF Jalen Johnson, ATL | DK: $8.2k, FD: $8.4k | at BKN

PF Michael Porter Jr., BKN | DK: $6.6k, FD: $6.4k | vs. ATL

SF PJ Washington, DAL | DK: $6k, FD: $6.2k | vs. IND

SF/PF Jerami Grant, POR | DK: $5.8k, FD: $5.7k | at UTA

PF Matas Buzelis, CHI | DK: $5.6k, FD: $5.8k | vs. SAC

SF/PF Jarace Walker, IND | DK: $4.5k, FD: $4.8k | at DAL

SF/PF Naji Marshall, DAL | DK: $4k, FD: $4.1k | vs. IND

SF/SG Max Christie, DAL | DK: $3.9k, FD: $4k | vs. IND (Preferred if starting again)

FanDuel Main Slate Only

PF Julius Randle, MIN | FD: $7.9k | vs. LAL

SF/PF Jaden McDaniels, MIN | FD: $5.8k | vs. LAL

SF/PF Rui Hachimura, LAL | FD: $5.3k | at MIN

PF/C Jarred Vanderbilt, LAL | FD: 4.6k | at MIN (Only if starting again)

PF/SF GG Jackson, MEM | FD: $3.6k | at PHX (Only if S. Aldama is out)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $11.5k, FD: $12.1k | vs. NOP

By his standards, Jokic has not yet to play overly well offensively -- he has only taken on a 22.8% USG% and is shooting 12.5% from three-point range (5.3 3PA/gm), after shooting for a career-best 41.7% 3P% last season. Despite not having a huge offensive game yet, Jokic is still averaging a stellar 1.80 FPPM and has notched a triple-double in all three of Denver’s games. He’ll eventually pop for some big offensive performances, but it says a lot about the type of floor he can provide even when he’s not putting up a ton of points or making his three-pointers consistently. This matchup sets up extremely well for another stat-stuffing Jokic performance. The Pelicans are dead last in Rebounding% (44.1%), they’re allowing the 4th-most points in the paint per game (60.0), and they’re 26th in overall DEFRTG. Jokic is always an obvious play anytime he’s on the slate, but if the Pelicans (+12.5) can keep this game competitive, this could be Jokic’s best game yet of the young season.

C Tony Bradley, IND | DK: $3.5k, FD: $4k | at DAL

After losing Myles Turner to free agency in the offseason, the Pacers have yet to settle on a primary center, with Isaiah Jackson, Tony Bradley, and Jay Huff all splitting the minutes up to this point. However, Bradley could be pulling ahead in the Pacers’ primary center competition, and with Obi Toppin (foot/out) sidelined for at least a month, there is room for another big man to take on a heavier role. Bradley played 25 minutes in the Pacers’ most recent game and provided 12 points, five boards, and one assist, block, and steal apiece -- good for 23.75 DKFP/25.50 FDFP. More notably, Bradley closed the game in the fourth quarter with most of the other starters in what was a competitive game that the Pacers lost by only four points. So, even if he doesn’t slide into the starting rotation, we can make a logical assumption that Bradley will handle mid-20s minutes again this evening. And he’s capable of being around an FPPM type of player, so if you’re looking to save some salary at the center position, Bradley looks like a quality option to consider.

Other Centers to Consider

C Nikola Vucevic, CHI | DK: $8.3k, FD: $8.1k | vs. SAC

C Kristaps Porzingis, ATL | DK: $7k, FD: $6.7k | at BKN

C Walker Kessler, UTA | DK: $6.6k, FD: $7.5k | vs. POR

C Donovan Clingan, POR | DK: $6.3k, FD: $6k | at UTA

C Wendell Carter Jr., ORL | DK: $5.4k, FD: $5.3k | at DET

C Jusuf Nurkic, UTA | DK: $3.8k, FD: $4.4k | vs. POR (Currently questionable)

FanDuel Main Slate Only

C/PF Naz Reid, MIN | FD: $5.7k | vs. LAL

C Jock Landale, MEM | FD: $4k | at PHX

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we have rolled out 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, UnderDog Fantasy, and other prop apps/sites!

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter/X or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!