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

NBA DFS Today w/ Tyler Wiemann

🏀Tyler’s NBA prop bets can be found on the LineStar YouTube Shorts page!🏀

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

With the All-Star Break beginning on Friday, 28-of-30 NBA teams are hitting the hardwood this Wednesday evening. DraftKings will feature a mammoth 13-game slate while FanDuel has whittled its main slate down to 10 games. Whichever DFS site you prefer, you’ll be facing down a loaded slate with a ton of moving parts to consider. As you would expect on a huge slate – especially right before the All-Star Break – the injury report is jam-packed with high and medium impact players. There is much to dig into and decipher, so let’s jump right into the belly of this beast! 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 Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}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.}

• Hawks: J. Johnson – Questionable, D. Daniels – Questionable, J. Kuminga – OUT, Z. Risacher – Questionable

• Hornets: C. White – OUT, M. Bridges – OUT, M. Diabate – OUT, L. McNeeley – OUT

• Bucks: G. Antetokounmpo – OUT, R. Rollins – Questionable, P. Nance – Questionable

• Magic: J. Howard – OUT

• Wizards: T. Young – OUT, A. Sarr – Questionable, T. Vukcevic – OUT

• Cavs: E. Mobley – OUT, D. Wade – OUT

• Bulls: J. Giddey – DOUBTFUL, J. Smith – DOUBTFUL, T. Jones – DOUBTFUL, I. Okoro – Questionable, Z. Collins – OUT

• Celtics: None

• Pacers: P. Siakam – OUT, A. Nembhard – OUT, I. Zubac – OUT, J. Walker – Questionable, A. Nesmith – OUT, TJ McConnell – OUT, M. Potter – Questionable

• Nets: M. Porter Jr. – OUT, N. Claxton – DOUBTFUL, N. Clowney – Probable

• Pistons: J. Duren – OUT, I. Stewart – OUT, R. Holland II – OUT

• Raptors: C. Murray-Boyles – OUT, J. Poeltl – Questionable

• Knicks: OG Anunoby – OUT, M. McBride – OUT (will be excluded from future injury reports)

• 76ers: J. Embiid – Questionable, P. George – OUT, Q. Grimes – Questionable, D. Barlow – Questionable

• Clippers: D. Garland – OUT, N. Batum – OUT

• Rockets: A. Sengun – Probable, T. Eason – Questionable, D. Finney-Smith – OUT

• Trailblazers: S. Sharpe – OUT, K. Murray – OUT

• Timberwolves: A. Edwards – Questionable

• Heat: T. Herro – OUT, N. Powell – OUT, A. Wiggins – Questionable, P. Larsson – OUT

• Pelicans: M. Peavy – OUT

DraftKings Main Slate Only

• Kings: D. Sabonis – OUT, R. Westbrook – OUT, Z. LaVine – OUT, K. Murray – OUT, D. Hunter – OUT, M. Monk – OUT

• Jazz: K. George – OUT

• Grizzlies: J. Morant – OUT, Z. Edey – OUT, S. Aldama – OUT, C. Coward – DOUBTFUL, W. Clayton Jr. – DOUBTFUL

• Nuggets: N. Jokic – Probable, J. Murray – Probable, P. Watson – OUT, A. Gordon – OUT, C. Braun – Probable, S. Jones – Questionable

• Thunder: S. Gilgeous-Alexander – OUT, A. Mitchell – OUT

• Suns: D. Booker – Questionable, G. Allen – OUT, J. Green – Questionable, C. Anthony – 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 🏀

PG Cade Cunningham, DET | DK: $10.2k, FD: $10.8k | at TOR

If you’ve scanned today’s injury report, you already know that value won’t be difficult to come by on this slate. That flexibility makes it easier to spend up on a premium option like Cade Cunningham, even in a less-than-perfect matchup. Cunningham has been highly productive on a per-minute basis, averaging 1.50 FPPM over his last five games while carrying a 33.6% USG%. Following the brawl between the Pistons and Hornets on Monday night, Detroit will also be shorthanded due to multiple absences. Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Ronald Holland II (personal) will all be sidelined. Duren is the most impactful of those losses, and with those three players off the floor this season, Cunningham’s usage rate jumps to an elite 37.8% – a sizable increase from his 30.8% USG% baseline on the year. Toronto (6th in DEFRTG, 21st in pace) isn’t an ideal team to target, but they’ve been more vulnerable than expected against opposing point guards, allowing the 9th-most FPPG to the position over their last 20 games. On a slate where several blowouts are likely, this contest stands out by owning the narrowest spread of the night, with Detroit sitting as slight 1.5-point road favorites – giving Cunningham a strong chance to see full run in a competitive environment.

PG Kasparas Jakucionis, MIA | DK: $3.9k, FD: $4.6k | at NOP

Miami is thin in the backcourt tonight, with Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, and Pelle Larsson all ruled out, while Andrew Wiggins (toe) remains questionable. That opens the door for Jakucionis to continue carving out a meaningful role, and he’s made the most of these recent opportunities. He’s coming off back-to-back strong outings of 27.25 and 43.25 DKFP, and his per-minute production has been trending up. Over his last five games off the bench, Jakucionis has averaged a rock-solid 1.11 FPPM, and he’s currently projected for around 29 minutes this evening. That’s plenty of runway at his current salaries, especially in an excellent game environment. New Orleans ranks 27th in DEFRTG, and this matchup carries the highest combined pace on the slate.

SG/SF Quenton Jackson, IND | DK: $3.8k, FD: $3.9k | at BKN

The Pacers accidentally won a game last night, so it looks like they’ll be sitting most of their primary pieces tonight to get the tank job back on track. Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and T.J. McConnell are all out, Johnny Furphy (torn ACL) is done for the season, Jarace Walker and Micah Potter are questionable, and Ivica Zubac will not yet make his Pacers debut. That leaves Indiana extremely thin once again and sets Quenton Jackson up for another spot start. Jackson has taken full advantage of these opportunities, clearing 36.5 DKFP in back-to-back games and producing at an elite rate when given extended run. Over his last two starts, he’s averaged a massive 1.63 FPPM. Even if Indiana keeps his minutes somewhat in check, his per-minute profile gives him plenty of room to pay off at sub-$4k salaries. Given the combination of role security, recent production, and slate-wide value, Jackson profiles as one of the stronger salary-saving options in the backcourt, especially in a matchup against a Brooklyn team that doesn’t present any major defensive concerns.

Other Guards to Consider

SG Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. POR (Currently questionable)

SG Donovan Mitchell, CLE vs. WAS

PG James Harden, CLE vs. WAS

PG Trey Murphy III, NOP vs. MIA

PG LaMelo Ball, CHA vs. ATL

PG/SG Kevin Porter Jr., MIL at ORL (Boost if Rollins is out)

PG Jalen Suggs, ORL vs. MIL

PG/SG Payton Pritchard, BOS vs. CHI

SG Kon Knueppel, CHA vs. ATL

SG Anfernee Simons, CHI at BOS

SG/SF Jaden Ivey, CHI at BOS

PG/SG Collin Sexton, CHI at BOS

PG/SG Bones Hyland, MIN vs. POR (Preferred if Edwards is out)

PG/SG Kam Jones, IND at BKN (Boost if starting)

SG/SF Ben Sheppard, IND at BKN (Boost if starting)

DraftKings Main Slate Only

PG Jamal Murray, DEN vs. MEM

PG Isaiah Collier, UTA vs. SAC

PG Collin Gillespie, PHX vs. OKC (Preferred if Booker is out)

PG Ty Jerome, MEM at DEN

SG/SF Nique Clifford, SAC at UTA

PG/SG Devin Carter, SAC at UTA (Boost if starting)

PG Javon Small, MEM at DEN

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF Brandon Miller, CHA | DK: $7.8k, FD: $7.5k | vs. ATL

The top-end forwards have some appeal, but no one player truly stands out, so we’ll start closer to the mid-range with Brandon Miller. With Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate both sidelined while serving their suspensions, Miller’s role expands significantly. In those on/off splits, his usage rate jumps from an already solid 25.4% to a massive 36.1%, while his per-minute production climbs from 1.06 FPPM to 1.24 FPPM. The matchup only adds to the appeal. Charlotte receives a major pace boost, moving from 25th in pace to facing an Atlanta team that ranks second, and the Hawks have struggled mightily against opposing forwards, sitting dead last in DvP versus the position this season. This game also profiles as one of the best environments on the slate, carrying a high 233.5 total with a slim 3.5-point spread in favor of Charlotte. With increased shot volume, pace, and matchup all lining up, Miller brings legitimate ceiling potential to the table today.

PF Noah Clowney, BKN | DK: $5k, FD: $5.4k | vs. IND

From an active personnel standpoint, you won’t find many uglier matchups on the 2025-26 NBA schedule than this Nets–Pacers game tonight, but it’s one that will play a meaningful role in DFS for today’s slate. Most of the value will come from the Pacers’ side, but Clowney stands out as a viable and affordable option for Brooklyn. Michael Porter Jr. (knee) will miss a second straight game, Nic Claxton (hip) has been downgraded to doubtful, and the Nets waived Cam Thomas last week, all of which should push Clowney into a featured role. He heads into this one coming off back-to-back games of 30+ DKFP and is listed as probable despite dealing with an ankle injury. He currently projects to play around 30 minutes this evening. While Clowney has been somewhat inconsistent as a starter, he’s also flashed legitimate 40+ DKFP upside on multiple occasions. Against what projects as a near G-League lineup for Indiana, this is as good a spot as any for Clowney to push for another ceiling outcome.

SF/SG Taelon Peter, IND | DK: $3k, FD: $3.6k | at BKN

Peter checks a lot of boxes as a pure salary-relief punt option on this slate, especially with Indiana poised to be extremely thin again. He’s currently projected for around 26 minutes, and that number could easily creep higher if the Pacers are limited to eight available bodies. We saw a similar setup last Tuesday against Utah, when Peter played his way into a 30-minute role off the bench. The fantasy result wasn’t eye-popping in that game (16.2 DKFP), but he’s averaged a respectable 0.85 FPPM over his last 20 games, suggesting similar run would likely lead to a stronger return. At near-minimum salary, you’re not chasing upside here – you’re simply looking for 18–20 DKFP, and Peter has a very reasonable path to getting there if the minutes cooperate.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF Jalen Johnson, ATL at CHA (Currently questionable)

SF/SG Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. CHI

PF Deni Avdija, POR at MIN

PF Julius Randle, MIN vs. POR (Boost if Edwards is out)

SF/SG Josh Hart, NYK at PHI

SF/PF Saddiq Bey, NOP vs. MIA

PF Andrew Wiggins, MIA at NOP (Currently questionable)

SF/PF Jarace Walker, IND at BKN (Currently questionable)

PF Tobias Harris, DET at TOR

PF/C Danny Wolf, BKN vs. IND

PF Simone Fontecchio, MIA at NOP (Preferred if Wiggins is out)

PF Grant Williams, CHA vs. ATL

PF/C Micah Potter, IND at BKN (Currently questionable)

DraftKings Main Slate Only

PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr., UTA vs. SAC

SF/PF DeMar DeRozan, SAC at UTA

PF/C Dylan Cardwell, SAC at UTA

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Joel Embiid, PHI | DK: $9.9k, FD: $10.1k | vs. NYK

If Embiid (knee/questionable) is able to suit up, he shapes up as a very intriguing low-ownership stud to keep on the radar. He sat out the 76ers’ last game and hasn’t played in four days, so there’s a reasonable chance he sheds the Q-tag and takes the floor tonight. On paper, this is typically a difficult matchup for opposing centers – the Knicks rank 6th in DvP versus centers on the season and have allowed the 2nd-fewest FPPG to the position over their last 20 games. That said, Embiid showed plenty of upside in this matchup just over two weeks ago, torching New York for a 38/11/5 stat line and 62.25 DKFP. The Knicks are also on the second leg of a back-to-back after an overtime game against Indiana last night, with several starters logging 40+ minutes, so fatigue could play a role. If Embiid is active, he won’t be the safest option on the slate, but he brings legitimate 60+ FP upside at what should be very modest ownership.

C Day’Ron Sharpe, BKN | DK: $5.2k, FD: $4.7k | vs. IND

As we’ve already touched on, Brooklyn is shorthanded up front tonight, with Michael Porter Jr. ruled out and Nic Claxton downgraded to doubtful, while Cam Thomas was released last week. That situation should hoist Day’Ron Sharpe into a featured role. He’s projected for 30.0 minutes this evening and has averaged an outstanding 1.39 FPPM over his last five games, with a still-strong 1.28 FPPM mark this season when Claxton, Porter, and Thomas have been off the floor. If those projected minutes hold, there are very few paths where Sharpe doesn’t pay off against what amounts to a Pacers bench-heavy lineup. He’s going to be extremely chalky on this slate, but it’s the type of chalk that’s very difficult to fade given the role increase, matchup, and per-minute production.

Other Centers to Consider

C Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK at PHI

C Donovan Clingan, POR at MIN

C Jarrett Allen, CLE vs. WAS

C Derik Queen, NOP vs. MIA

C Paul Reed, DET at TOR (Assuming he starts)

C/PF Jay Huff, IND at BKN

C Ryan Kalkbrenner, CHA vs. ATL

C/PF Guerschon Yabusele, CHI at BOS

C Andre Drummond, PHI vs. NYK (Only if Embiid is out)

C Nick Richards, CHI at BOS

C/PF Anthony Gill, WAS at CLE (Boost if Sarr is out)

C Tolu Smith, DET at TOR

DraftKings Main Slate Only

C Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. MEM

C Jusuf Nurkic, UTA vs. SAC

C Maxime Raynaud, SAC at UTA

🔥 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!