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 📰

A busy NBA Thursday is on tap with a nine-game slate on DraftKings and a seven-game slate on FanDuel, with FD excluding the two 9:00 ET matchups (NOP/UTA and LAL/PHX). There are several high totals on the board, along with a healthy mix of quality matchups and potential blowouts. The injury report also carries a solid number of impact players with Q-tags, so this shapes up as one of those slates where staying on top of news and confirmed starting lineups will be especially important. Let’s jump in. Best of luck!

Note: I am short on time today so this will be a more condensed newsletter!

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 Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}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.}

• Hornets: None

• Pacers: P. Siakam – DOUBTFUL, A. Nembhard – Questionable, I. Zubac – OUT, A. Nesmith – OUT, O. Toppin – Probable

• Heat: N. Powell – Questionable, D. Mitchell – Questionable, N. Jovic – OUT

• 76ers: J. Embiid – Probable

• Wizards: T. Young – OUT, A. Sarr – OUT, K. George – OUT

• Hawks: J. Johnson – OUT, N. Alexander-Walker – Questionable, Z. Risacher – Questionable

• Spurs: S. Castle – Questionable, K. Johnson – Questionable

• Nets: None

• Rockets: J. Tate – OUT

• Magic: F. Wagner – OUT, J. Suggs – Questionable

• Trailblazers: D. Avdija – OUT, D. Clingan – Questionable, S. Sharpe – OUT, R. Williams – Questionable, H. Yang – Questionable

• Bulls: A. Simons – OUT, J. Smith – OUT, J. Ivey – OUT, P. Williams – OUT

• Kings: R. Westbrook – OUT, K. Murray – OUT, D. Cardwell – OUT, M. Monk – Questionable

• Mavs: C. Flagg – OUT, PJ Washington – OUT, K. Middleton – Probable, D. Gafford - DOUBTFUL

Late Game Injury Report (DraftKings Main Slate Only)

• Pelicans: T. Murphy III – OUT, Y. Missi – OUT

• Jazz: L. Markkanen – OUT, K. George – OUT, J. Nurkic – OUT (for rest of season, will be excluded from future injury reports), V. Williams Jr. – OUT (for rest of season, will be excluded from future injury reports)

• Lakers: J. Hayes – Probable, R. Hachimura – Questionable

• Suns: D. Booker – OUT, D. Brooks – OUT, J. Goodwin – OUT, C. Anthony – 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 Tyrese Maxey, PHI | DK: $10k, FD: $10.9k | vs. MIA

Maxey has been carrying the offense recently and remains an explosive option in faster-paced environments. The only variable here is how his role shifts with Joel Embiid expected back, but the recent production shows just how high his ceiling can be when the game stays competitive. This game is tied for the closest spread on the slate (PHI -2.5) and owns one of the highest totals (238.5). On a slate lacking many high-end guard options, Maxey should be in the mix by default.

PG Scoot Henderson, POR | DK: $5.5k, FD: $5.4k | at CHI

Henderson has seen his minutes stabilize recently (29+ minutes in B2B games) and continues to benefit from Portland’s thin perimeter rotation. He’s shown a steady scoring floor while contributing as a facilitator, and his most recent outing highlighted the upside when everything clicks. He’s averaged a quality 1.14 FPPM across his seven games played this season and projects for 29.5 minutes tonight. This is a favorable matchup that should allow him to stay aggressive with the ball in his hands. The Bulls have ranked dead last in DvP versus bench guards over their last 20 games.

PG/SG Brandon Williams, DAL | DK: $5.2k, FD: $5.9k | vs. SAC

Williams continues to stand out as a strong per-minute producer (1.20 FPPM L5Games), even if the minutes can fluctuate from game to game. With Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington sidelined, Dallas should lean on him for added scoring and playmaking off the bench. The Kings also check in dead last in DvP versus bench guards across their last ten games. He’s been efficient when on the floor and doesn’t need a massive workload to pay off. If he lands in the mid-to-upper 20s in minutes, his FPPM profile gives him a clear path to exceeding value.

Other Guards to Consider

SG Kon Knueppel, CHA at IND

PG/SG CJ McCollum, ATL vs. WAS (Boost if Alexander-Walker is out)

PG Jrue Holiday, POR at CHI

SG/SF Dyson Daniels, ATL vs. WAS (Boost if Alexander-Walker is out)

SG/SF Nique Clifford, SAC at DAL

SG Max Christie, DAL vs. SAC

PG/SG Dylan Harper, SAS at BKN (Boost if Castle is out)

PG/SG Kam Jones, IND vs. CHA (Preferred if Nembhard is out)

PG Rob Dillingham, CHI vs. POR

DraftKings Main Slate Only

PG Luka Doncic, LAL at PHX

PG Collin Gillespie, PHX vs. LAL

SG/SF Brice Sensabaugh, UTA vs. NOP

PG/SG Jordan Poole, NOP at UTA

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF/PF Matas Buzelis, CHI | DK: $6.3k, FD: $6.6k | vs. POR

Buzelis offers one of the more intriguing ceilings at forward and has popped for 42+ DKFP in two of his last three. His results can be volatile, but he’s more often than not met or exceeded expectations over the last month. Buzelis has been active as a shooter and rebounder, with multiple games featuring three or more made threes, and the matchup only enhances his upside with Portland ranking 28th in DvP versus small forwards this season.

PF Andrew Wiggins, MIA | DK: $6.1k, FD: $6.8k | at PHI

Wiggins has had a tendency to disappoint us DFS players over the years, but he’s been rolling as of late scoring at least 35.5 DKFP in five of his last six and averaging an excellent 1.30 FPPM over that stretch. As touched on, this game environment looks like it could be one of the best on the slate and Wiggins could see an added boost if Norman Powell (groin/questionable) were to sit.

PF/C Precious Achiuwa, SAC | DK: $4.9k, FD: $6.1k | at DAL

The Kings are currently down Russell Westbrook, Keegan Murray, and Dylan Cardwell while other players like Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are done for the season. That should keep Achiuwa in a featured role this evening. He has posted a pair of double-doubles within his last four games, should push into the 30-minute range tonight, and is up against a Mavs defense that is 28th in DvP against starting power forwards over their last ten games.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF Paolo Banchero, ORL vs. HOU

SF Brandon Miller, CHA at IND

SF/PF Jarace Walker, IND vs. CHA

SF Naji Marshall, DAL vs. SAC

PF Miles Bridges, CHA at IND

SF/PF Jonathan Kuminga, ATL vs. WAS

PF Khris Middleton, DAL vs. SAC

PF/C Guerschon Yabusele, CHI vs. POR

PF Bilal Coulibaly, WAS at ATL

SF/SG Kris Murray, POR at CHI

PF/C Mouhamed Gueye, ATL vs. WAS (Preferred if starting)

DraftKings Main Slate Only

PF Zion Williamson, NOP at UTA

SF/PF John Konchar, UTA vs. NOP (Boost if starting)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Donovan Clingan, POR | DK: $7.3k, FD: $7.7k | at CHI

We’ll have to confirm Clingan is active tonight as he is currently questionable due to an illness, but if he suits up, he’s in a great spot. He has been dominant on the glass recently, posting multiple double-doubles and 50+ DKFP in three of his last four while averaging an incredible 1.70 FPPM in that stretch. Deni Avdija’s absence opens up more usage on the offensive end, and the Bulls are a constant team to target with opposing big men. They’re 27th in DvP versus starting centers on the season, and dead last over their previous ten games.

C Marvin Bagley III, DAL | DK: $4.9k, FD: $5.4k | vs. SAC

Bagley has averaged double-digit points and nearly nine rebounds in limited minutes with Dallas. He posted a team-leading 22 points and 37.2% USG% in the Mavs’ last game on Tuesday, despite playing just under 20 minutes. With Daniel Gafford (ankle) listed as doubtful, Bagley has a real chance to move into the starting lineup and push for 28-30 minutes. However, even if he continues to play off the bench, he remains a clear value target on this slate.

Other Centers to Consider

C Victor Wembanyama, SAS at BKN

C/PF Alperen Sengun, HOU at ORL

C Onyeka Okongwu, ATL vs. WAS

C Moussa Diabate, CHA at IND

C Robert Williams, POR at CHI (Currently questionable – Preferred if Clingan is out)

C Nick Richards, CHI vs. POR

DraftKings Main Slate Only

C/PF Kyle Filipowski, UTA vs. NOP

C DeAndre Jordan, NOP 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!