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

NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Tyler Wiemann

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DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

The NBA Cup quarterfinals are shaking up the schedule this week, and that means a string of small DFS slates are on the horizon. We get just three games today, followed by two-game slates on both Tuesday and Wednesday (those are the two NBA Cup quarterfinals slates), then a modest four-gamer on Thursday. Friday is the closest thing to normal with seven games. If bite-sized NBA slates aren’t your thing, this might be a good week to play light on the ole bankroll, but we’ll still have newsletters each day -- just expect them to be on the shorter side. 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 Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}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. Injured players who have been out for an extended period of time and/or are not expected to play for a month-plus will also be excluded.}

• Kings: D. Sabonis - OUT, K. Murray - Questionable, D. Schroder - Questionable

• Pacers: A. Nesmith - OUT, Q. Jackson - OUT, B. Sheppard - OUT

• Suns: D. Booker - OUT, J. Green - OUT, D. Brooks - Questionable, I. Livers - OUT

• Timberwolves: None

• Spurs: V. Wembanyama - OUT, L. Kornet - Questionable

• Pelicans: Z. Williamson - OUT, J. Poole - OUT, H. Jones - Questionable

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 🏀

SG Anthony Edwards, MIN | DK: $9.5k, FD: $9.7k | vs. PHX

Anthony Edwards is coming off two down games, but that shouldn’t overshadow the ceiling he showed just a week ago. He closed November on an absolute heater, averaging 38.3 PPG and 56 DKFP over a six-game stretch while shooting nearly 50% from three. Edwards began that run with a big 41-point, 63.2 DKFP performance against this same Suns team back on Nov. 21st.  He’s the most expensive player on this small three-game slate, but still checks in with the highest consensus projection and second-highest LineStar projection, along with relatively modest projected ownership numbers. Don’t let a short cold stretch put you off of him -- on a slate lacking clear studs, Ant’s ceiling is exactly the kind of swing you may need.

PG/SG Collin Gillespie, PHX | DK: $6.7k, FD: $6.6k | at MIN

Collin Gillespie has been one of the few stabilizing forces for the Suns while Devin Booker and Jalen Green remain out. With Booker and Green off the floor, Gillespie has handled a 25.8% USG%, 28.0% Assist Rate, 1.21 FPPM, and has consistently outperformed his salary expectations. If Dillon Brooks (questionable) also sits, Gillespie’s offensive role becomes even more secure -- Brooks leads the team with a massive 35.0% USG% when both Devin Booker and Jalen Green have been off the court. Gillespie’s salaries have climbed, but he’s still projecting as one of the strongest values on this small slate. He logged 34 minutes (off the bench) the last time these teams met and delivered 39.2 DKFP on a well-rounded stat line (20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals). Given Phoenix’s current injury situation, a similar opportunity is very much on the table again tonight. He’s one of the safest mid-range guard plays available and will be extremely popular for good reason.

PG TJ McConnell, IND | DK: $4.5k, FD: $5.6k | vs. SAC

McConnell is one of the more appealing salary-savers on this three-game slate, especially on DraftKings, where the $4,500 tag is simply too low for his per-minute production and upside. The minutes are frustratingly volatile, but he’s averaged an elite 1.32 FPPM for the season, and that number has climbed to 1.49 FPPM over his last seven. If we could somehow guarantee that McConnell would play low-20s minutes on any given night, he’d be a virtual lock in lineups. He’s still viable in tournaments on FanDuel, but the DK price point makes him particularly attractive, and if he pushes closer to 20 minutes, he becomes one of the best values on the slate.

Other Guards to Consider

SG Trey Murphy III, NOP vs. SAS

PG Russell Westbrook, SAC at IND (Boost if Murray and/or Schroder are out)

PG Andrew Nembhard, IND vs. SAC

PG Donte DiVincenzo, MIN vs. PHX

PG Jose Alvarado, NOP vs. SAS

PG/SG Ethan Thompson, IND vs. SAC (Boost if he starts over G. Mathews)

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF Pascal Siakam, IND | DK: $8.8k, FD: $8.7k | vs. SAC

Siakam is shaping up as the chalky pay-up option on this three-gamer, and it’s hard to argue with the spot. He’s coming off a monster outing vs. Miami, where he poured in 36 points, 10 boards, and 56.5 DKFP while taking a season-high 24 shots and hitting 5-of-7 from deep. Siakam continues to function as Indiana’s clear No. 1 option, carrying a 29.0% USG% on the season (33.6% USG% L5Games) and leading the team in both scoring and rebounding. The matchup only strengthens the case. Sacramento ranks dead last in Rebounding%, 26th in DEFRTG, and 23rd in DvP versus starting power forwards. It’s simply a perfect environment for Siakam’s high-volume role, and this game features the closest spread of the night (IND -4.5). Given slate dynamics and the combination of usage, minutes, and matchup, he’s easily one of the strongest spend-up plays on both sites.

PF/C Naz Reid, MIN | DK: $6.1k, FD: $6.2k | vs. PHX

Naz Reid has been a very dependable mid-range option of late. Over his last five games, he’s averaged 16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 stocks across 30.1 minutes, resulting in 35.6 DKFP/gm and a strong 1.18 FPPM. His usage rate in that stretch (19.7%) isn’t anything outrageous, but the efficiency and across-the-board contributions have kept his floor extremely steady. Reid has now hit 30+ DKFP in four straight, and he continues to benefit from Minnesota tightening their rotation during competitive games. His dual PF/C eligibility also boosts roster flexibility. At these low-$6k salaries, Reid profiles as one of the cleaner value anchors available for both cash and tournaments.

PF/C Jay Huff, IND | DK: $5.6k, FD: $5.5k | vs. SAC

Huff has now started five straight games at center for the Pacers, though he still carries dual PF/C eligibility on DraftKings. Across those starts, he’s averaged a sturdy 1.21 FPPM, driven largely by his elite defensive activity: 4.0 stocks per game over that span. He’s not a high-usage player, and the rebounding numbers can be modest, but his ability to pile up blocks and steals gives him a legitimate ceiling. His most recent outing -- five blocks and two steals vs. Chicago -- was a perfect example of how quickly he can get there. And just like Siakam, Huff benefits from a favorable matchup. Sacramento has struggled mightily against opposing bigs, allowing the most FPPG to starting centers over the last 20 games.

Other Forwards to Consider

SF Bennedict Mathurin, IND vs. SAC

SF/PF Saddiq Bey, NOP vs. SAS

SF Devin Vassell, SAS at NOP

SF Jaden McDaniels, MIN vs. PHX

SF/PF Keldon Johnson, SAS at NOP

PF/C Jeremy Sochan, SAS at NOP (Preferred if Kornet is out)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Rudy Gobert, MIN | DK: $6k, FD: $5.9k | vs. PHX

Center is extremely short on appealing options today, and Gobert stands out simply because he offers a fairly stable path to minutes and production at reasonable price points. The fantasy output has been solid over his last five starts: 30.5 DKFP per game over that stretch, fueled by strong rebounding (9.6 RPG L5) and respectable per-minute play (1.02 FPPM L5). Gobert posted a double-double the last time he faced Phoenix, along with 35.5 DKFP, and the matchup remains perfectly reasonable -- the Suns have been middle-of-the-pack versus centers and continue to give up consistent production on the glass. He’s not the highest-ceiling option on the slate, but the combination of matchup, floor, and price makes him one of the more logical center choices tonight, especially given how weak the position is.

C Maxime Raynaud, SAC | DK: $5k, FD: $5.3k | at IND

Maxime Raynaud has stepped up nicely for Sacramento in the absence of Domantas Sabonis. He drew the first start of his career in the Kings’ last game and delivered a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double with two blocks across 25 minutes -- which resulted in 31.5 DKFP. Over his last four games with extended minutes, Raynaud has averaged 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.19 FPPM, and 30.4 DKFP while shooting an efficient 59.1% from the field. He’s expected to start again tonight and project for mid-20s minutes, which is all he needs to remain a strong value option on both DK and FD. The matchup also works in his favor: the Pacers rank 23rd in Rebounding% and 24th in PPG allowed in the paint, making this a plus spot for a productive interior big.

Other Centers to Consider

C Derik Queen, NOP vs. SAS

C Mark Williams, PHX at MIN

C Luke Kornet, SAS at NOP (Currently questionable)

🔥 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!