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 Wednesday arrives with an eight-game main slate on DraftKings, while FanDuel features nine games with the addition of the Lakers/Rockets nightcap. As usual for a slate of this size, we’re looking at a mix of competitive matchups and potential blowouts. Things could lean toward the latter, with five games carrying spreads of at least 12.5 points. Not all of those games are destined to be blowouts, but it’s something to keep in mind when building lineups. As expected, the injury report is also loaded, and there will be plenty of moving pieces to monitor throughout the day. Let’s try to find the right pieces to the puzzle. 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 Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}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 will miss the remainder of the season will be excluded from the injury report.}

• Warriors: S. Curry – OUT, M. Moody – OUT, A. Horford – OUT, G. Payton II – Probable, Q. Post – Questionable, LJ Cryer – Questionable

• Celtics: N. Vucevic – OUT

• Thunder: C. Holmgren – Questionable, Jal. Williams – OUT, I. Hartenstein – OUT, L. Dort – OUT

• Nets: M. Porter Jr. – OUT, B. Saraf – OUT

• Trailblazers: S. Sharpe – OUT, R. Williams – Questionable, V. Krejci – OUT

• Pacers: P. Siakam – OUT, A. Nembhard – Questionable, I. Zubac – Questionable, A. Nesmith – Questionable, M. Potter – Questionable, TJ McConnell – Questionable, Q. Jackson – Questionable, O. Toppin – OUT, B. Sheppard – Questionable

• Raptors: C. Murray-Boyles – DOUBTFUL

• Bulls: A. Simons – OUT, C. Sexton – Questionable, J. Ivey – OUT, I. Okoro – DOUBTFUL

• Jazz: L. Markkanen – OUT, K. George – OUT, A. Bailey – Questionable, J. Konchar – Probable

• Timberwolves: A. Edwards – OUT, N. Reid – Questionable, J. Clark – Questionable

• Clippers: K. Leonard – Questionable, B. Mathurin – OUT, N. Batum – Questionable

• Pelicans: None

• Hawks: J. Kuminga – Questionable

• Mavs: B. Williams – OUT, D. Gafford – Questionable, C. Martin – Questionable

• Nuggets: P. Watson – OUT, A. Gordon – OUT

• Grizzlies: J. Morant – OUT, S. Aldama – OUT, J. Mashack – Questionable

Late Game Injury Report (FanDuel Main Slate Only)

• Lakers: M. Kleber – OUT

• Rockets: None

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 Dejounte Murray, NOP | DK: $7.5k, FD: $7.8k | vs. LAC

Murray is off the injury report after missing Monday’s game with an illness and continues to produce at a high level since returning to the lineup. He has averaged an elite 1.44 FPPM across his last five starts, which ranks third among guard-eligible players on this slate behind only Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, both of whom come at a significantly higher cost. That level of efficiency gives Murray a strong combination of floor and ceiling in this range.

The Pelicans may be out of the postseason picture, but they’ve remained competitive down the stretch and haven’t been blatantly tanking like other bottom-tier teams. They will actually enter this matchup as 1.5-point favorites in a game carrying a healthy 236.5 total. The individual matchup also works in Murray’s favor, as the Clippers have allowed the fourth-most FPPG to starting point guards over their last 20 games. With strong recent form, a solid role, and a favorable environment, Murray profiles as one of the top mid-to-upper tier guard options on the slate.

PG Ty Jerome, MEM | DK: $6.7k, FD: $7k | vs. DEN

There’s no doubt Jerome carries some risk due to his firm minutes cap, as the Grizzlies have consistently held him around 24 minutes per game. That said, he continues to fly under the radar from an ownership standpoint and brings legitimate 40+ DKFP upside even in a limited role, which is strong in this salary range. Jerome has been extremely productive when on the floor, averaging an elite 1.56 FPPM with a massive 34.5% usage rate across his 12 games this season, and he’s been even better at home with a 1.72 FPPM average across four contests. His rotation is also fairly stable, typically playing the opening six minutes of each quarter before checking out, which helps insulate his role from game script in the event of a blowout – Memphis is listed as a 12.5-point underdog today.

The matchup only enhances the appeal. Denver is on the second leg of a back-to-back and has allowed the most FPPG to starting point guards over its last 20 games. Jerome posted 36.25 DKFP in just 21 minutes in this matchup last month, and this game carries a slate-high 247.5 total with Memphis holding a solid 117.0 implied team total. Jerome has recorded at least 40 DKFP in four of the five games he’s played in which the Grizzlies have reached at least 117 points, so if Memphis meets expectations offensively, Jerome has a strong path to returning value.

PG/SG Bones Hyland, MIN | DK: $4.2k, FD: $4k | vs. UTA

With Anthony Edwards (knee) sidelined for the next 1-to-2 weeks, Hyland is in line to take on an expanded role in the Timberwolves’ rotation. Naz Reid and Jaylen Clark are both listed as questionable as well, and if either is unable to suit up, that would only strengthen Hyland’s path to additional minutes. Even if they both play, there should still be enough opportunity available for Hyland to remain firmly in the mix.

Hyland has always been an efficient per-minute scorer when given the chance, and we saw that upside in his last outing without Edwards, where he logged 29 minutes and produced 34.5 DKFP. He’s now projected for around 25 minutes tonight and has been highly productive recently, averaging 1.15 FPPM across his last five games. The matchup adds to the appeal, as Minnesota enters as a 13.5-point favorite against a tanking Utah team that ranks 29th in DvP versus bench guards. If this game plays to script, Hyland could benefit from additional run in a potential blowout, but he makes for a viable value option even if the game stays competitive. Hyland will be highly-owned this evening, but is tough to look past at these low-end $4k salaries.

Update: Naz Reid has been ruled out. Jaylen Clark remains questionable.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Josh Giddey, CHI vs. TOR

SG/SF Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. GSW

PG Cooper Flagg, DAL vs. ATL

PG Darius Garland, LAC at NOP (Boost if Kawhi is out)

PG/SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker, ATL at DAL

PG Jrue Holiday, POR at IND

SG/SF De’Anthony Melton, GSW at BOS

SG/SF Cody Williams, UTA at MIN

SG Christian Braun, DEN at MEM

SG/SF Ayo Dosunmu, MIN vs. UTA

PG Ajay Mitchell, OKC at BKN

SG/SF Gary Payton II, GSW at BOS

PG/SG Jordan Miller, LAC at NOP

PG/SG Tyson Etienne, BKN vs. OKC

PG Ryan Nembhard, DAL vs. ATL

FanDuel Main Slate Only

PG Luka Doncic, LAL at HOU

PG/SG Amen Thompson, HOU vs. LAL

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF Julius Randle, MIN | DK: $8.1k, FD: $8k | vs. UTA

Randle steps into a clear primary role for Minnesota with Anthony Edwards sidelined, and the usage spike has been substantial. He owns a team-leading 29.5% usage rate with Edwards off the floor, a jump of nearly six percentage points from his baseline (with Edwards on the floor), and that climbs to 30.9% with Naz Reid (ankle/out) also unavailable.

We saw just how aggressive that role can be in last night’s game, where he posted a massive 42.6% usage rate and 47.75 DKFP in 33 minutes while Minnesota ran a tight eight-man rotation. Even with some blowout risk here (MIN -13.5), the matchup is too strong to ignore. Utah has struggled badly against opposing power forwards, ranking 29th in DvP over their last 20 games while allowing the second-most FPPG to the position. If Randle approaches a similar workload to last night’s game, he brings a strong combination of floor and ceiling to the table.

SF RJ Barrett, TOR | DK: $7.3k, FD: $7.2k | at CHI

Barrett continues to play some of his best basketball of the season and enters this matchup in strong form. Over his last five games, he’s averaged 24.2 points per game while producing 1.13 FPPM on a solid 26.5% usage rate. It’s not elite, ball-dominant usage, but it’s a stable and reliable role that has allowed him to consistently deliver strong fantasy production, even in tougher matchups than what he’ll see this evening.

This spot sets up much more favorably. Chicago ranks 23rd in defensive efficiency on the season and 24th in DvP versus starting small forwards over their last 20 games. The Bulls also play at the fourth-fastest pace, giving Toronto (22nd in pace) the second-highest tempo boost on the slate. That environment should help elevate Barrett’s scoring and overall production, making him a strong mid-range option with both a solid floor and room for upside.

PF Spencer Jones, DEN | DK: $4k, FD: $4k | at MEM

With Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson both ruled out, Jones is in line to draw a spot start and take on a meaningful role in Denver’s frontcourt. He has been volatile as a starter throughout the season, but the opportunity is difficult to ignore at $4,000 on both sites, especially with a workload projection pushing toward 30 minutes.

We’ve already seen the upside when things break right, as Jones posted 36.5 DKFP in his most recent start against the Spurs last Thursday. The matchup only adds to the appeal. Memphis ranks dead last in defensive rating over its last eight games, and Denver enters with, by far, the highest implied team total on the slate (130.5). If the Nuggets have their way offensively as expected, Jones should have plenty of chances to contribute and return value at these price points.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF Jalen Johnson, ATL at DAL

SF/PF Deni Avdija, POR at IND

SF/PF Matas Buzelis, CHI vs. TOR

SF/SG Dyson Daniels, ATL at DAL

SF/SG Naji Marshall, DAL vs. ATL

PF/C Kristaps Porzingis, GSW at BOS

SF Jaden McDaniels, MIN vs. UTA

PF/C Jaylin Williams, OKC at BKN (Boost if Holmgren is out)

SF/PF Leonard Miller, CHI vs. TOR

PF/C Kyle Anderson, MIN vs. UTA

PF/C Karlo Matkovic, NOP vs. LAC

FanDuel Main Slate Only

SF/PF Kevin Durant, HOU vs. LAL

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $12.5k, FD: $12.9k | at MEM

Jokic remains in a tier of his own at the top of the slate. Denver enters this matchup with a slate-high 130.5 implied team total in a game pushing a 250-point over/under, putting Jokic in one of the best offensive environments available. He has been operating at an elite level even by his standards, averaging 1.94 FPPM across his last five games.

The only real concern here is potential blowout risk, with the Nuggets listed as double-digit favorites. That said, Jokic doesn’t need a full workload to pay off this salary, and if Memphis can keep things remotely competitive and push him into the 30+ minute range, another triple-double is well within reach. He has already recorded triple-doubles in both previous meetings with the Grizzlies this season and Denver limited him to just 25 minutes in last night’s decisive 124-96 win over Philadelphia, so the back-to-back isn’t much of a concern. With plenty of value available across the slate, Jokic brings an unmatched combination of floor and ceiling and stands out as a premier spend-up option yet again.

C Robert Williams, POR | DK: $4.3k, FD: $5.5k | at IND

Williams is currently listed as questionable but based on Portland’s recent usage pattern with him over the last couple of months, he’s a strong candidate to return after sitting out Monday’s contest. When he’s active, he continues to deliver excellent per-minute production, averaging 1.33 FPPM over his last five games and an even stronger 1.37 FPPM across his last 20. That level of efficiency gives him significant upside, even in a limited bench role that keeps him at about 20-22 minutes.

The matchup is also favorable, as Indiana has allowed the fourth-most FPPG to bench players over its last 20 games. Williams is clearly more appealing on DraftKings at $4,300, where the price point stands out for his per-minute production and upside. On FanDuel at $5,500, he’s more of a tournament option, but still viable given his ability to rack up stats quickly when on the floor.

Other Centers to Consider

C Donovan Clingan, POR at IND

C Onyeka Okongwu, ATL at DAL

C Rudy Gobert, MIN vs. UTA

C Jakob Poeltl, TOR at CHI

C Daniel Gafford, DAL vs. ATL (Questionable)

FanDuel Main Slate Only

C Deandre Ayton, LAL at HOU

🔥 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!