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 modest four-game main slate is on tap for Tuesday evening. It’s not the most exciting slate at first glance, but there’s still plenty of scoring upside, with every game carrying a total of at least 229.5 points. The nightcap between Denver and Phoenix stands out as the premier game environment, though it comes with an 11:00 PM ET tip, so East Coast viewers may need to stay up a bit later than usual if they want to catch that one.

The injury report is also fairly clean. Grayson Allen is the only true impact player carrying a questionable tag, while most other notable names have already been ruled out or are expected to play. Best of luck!

Also, a quick reminder that the MLB season officially gets underway tomorrow night! Be sure to check out the 2026 LineStar MLB Strategy Guide if you’re looking to dive into MLB DFS or just shake off some rust.

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 Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}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

• Kings: R. Westbrook – OUT, P. Achiuwa – OUT, N. Clifford – OUT, K. Murray – OUT, K. Hayes – OUT

• Hornets: K. Knueppel – Probable, T. Salaun – OUT, P. Connaughton – Questionable

• Pelicans: None

• Knicks: L. Shamet – OUT

• Magic: F. Wagner – OUT, J. Suggs – OUT, A. Black – OUT

• Cavs: J. Allen – OUT, J. Tyson – OUT, C. Porter Jr. – OUT, T. Proctor – Probable

• Nuggets: P. Watson – OUT

• Suns: D. Brooks – OUT, G. Allen – Questionable, M. Williams – OUT, R. O’Neale – Probable, A. Coffey – OUT, H. Highsmith – 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 LaMelo Ball, CHA | DK: $8.6k, FD: $8.6k | vs. SAC

Ball enters this slate in elite form, averaging a scorching 1.74 FPPM over his last five games, which leads all players on the slate, even edging out Nikola Jokic over that span (1.67 FPPM L5Games). The minutes haven’t been massive due to blowouts, but it hasn’t mattered, as he’s still producing 47.0 DKFP/gm across just 26.9 minutes/gm in that five-game stretch. That efficiency keeps both his floor and ceiling intact, even if the workload lands in the same arena tonight – Ball currently projects for 27.0 minutes.

This also sets up as another strong spot, with Charlotte carrying a slate-high 124.5 implied team total against a Sacramento team that ranks near the bottom of the league defensively and is extremely shorthanded. The Kings have struggled badly against opposing point guards, ranking dead last in DvP versus the position over their last 10 games. Blowout risk is clearly present with a 17.5-point spread, but Ball has already shown he can get there in limited run, making him one of the top guard options on this short slate.

PG/SG Coby White, CHA | DK: $4.7k, FD: $5.4k | vs. SAC

White is another piece of this Hornets’ backcourt who has been extremely efficient of late. He has operated in a sixth-man role since being acquired by Charlotte ahead of the trade deadline, but he has quickly found his footing with this team. He’s been especially productive recently, averaging an elite 1.55 FPPM and a 34.5% USG% over his last four games, to go along with 20.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, and 34.0 DKFP/gm in just 22.0 minutes/gm.

Given his role, he’s not a typical bench piece who benefits from extra blowout run, so he’s likely to remain in that 20–22-minute range regardless of game script. Still, with his current efficiency and usage, that workload is more than enough for him to pay off these price points. The matchup only helps, as Sacramento ranks 29th in DvP versus bench guards over its last 20 games.

SG Sam Merrill, CLE | DK: $4.3k, FD: $4.6k | vs. ORL

Merrill continues to see strong run in this Cavaliers rotation, and that should hold steady again tonight with Jarrett Allen and Jaylon Tyson both sidelined. Over his last three games, he’s averaged 30.3 minutes/gm while producing 15.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, and 29.4 DKFP/gm, good for a solid 0.97 FPPM. That combination of steady minutes and balanced production keep him firmly in play at these mid-$4k price points.

The matchup isn’t overly concerning either, as Orlando has allowed above-average production to starting shooting guards, giving up the 12th-most FPPG to the position over their last 20 games. Merrill also benefits from a strong home split, shooting an excellent 46.1% from three-point range in home games this season. With a clear path to 30+ minutes and consistent involvement, he stands out as one of the stronger value options at guard.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Jalen Brunson, NYK vs. NOP

PG/SG Devin Booker, PHX vs. DEN

PG James Harden, CLE vs. ORL

PG Dejounte Murray, NOP at NYK

SG/SF Desmond Bane, ORL at CLE

SG/SF Josh Hart, NYK vs. NOP

PG Collin Gillespie, PHX vs. DEN

PG/SG Malik Monk, SAC at CHA

PG/SG Devin Carter, SAC at CHA

PG Jevon Carter, ORL at CLE

PG Jase Richardson, ORL at CLE

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF Paolo Banchero, ORL | DK: $8.9k, FD: $9.6k | at CLE

Banchero continues to operate as the clear offensive engine for Orlando with multiple key pieces sidelined. With Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black off the floor this season, he’s taken on a 33.2% USG% and 25.0% AST%, both notable increases from his baseline. That role was on full display last night with those three players sidelined, as Banchero poured in 39 points on 27 FGA and 54.5 DKFP while carrying a massive 42.9% USG%, which was more than double the next-closest Magic player.

The matchup is tougher on paper, with Cleveland ranking 8th in DvP versus power forwards, but Banchero has already proven capable in this spot with strong performances in prior meetings – most notably, he dropped 57.0 DKFP when these teams met back in late January. With Orlando continuing to lean heavily on him for scoring and playmaking, he should once again handle a massive workload and remain one of the top spend-up options on the slate.

SF/PF Saddiq Bey, NOP | DK: $6.6k, FD: $6.4k | at NYK

Bey continues to play a key role in this Pelicans rotation, consistently logging heavy minutes and producing solid fantasy totals. He’s eclipsed 37 DKFP in three of his last four games, and since the All-Star break, he’s been averaging over 33 minutes per game while maintaining a steady offensive role with solid usage. Even with the roster getting healthier, his workload hasn’t taken a notable hit, and he’s projecting for 33.5 minutes tonight, which ranks third among forward-eligible players on this slate.

The matchup isn’t as intimidating as it looks on the surface, as New York has struggled against opposing small forwards recently, ranking 23rd in DvP over their last 10 games. Bey has already shown success in this spot earlier this season (47.5 DKFP in the last game vs. NYK), and with the Pelicans playing competitive basketball of late, he should remain heavily involved.

SF/PF Patrick Baldwin Jr., SAC | DK: $3.5k, FD: $3.9k | at CHA

The injury-riddled Kings honestly don’t even feel like a real NBA team right now, and it rarely feels great rolling out anyone from this roster. That said, they’re expected to be down to the league minimum eight active players tonight, which should open the door for some value, even in a likely blowout (SAC +17.5).

Baldwin has only appeared in eight games this season, but he’s produced a respectable 1.06 FPPM over his last five. With Sacramento so thin, he’s projecting for mid-20s minutes in this spot, and there’s a strong chance he picks up additional run in the fourth quarter if the game gets out of hand. It’s not a high-confidence play, but that’s enough to keep him firmly on the radar at these sub-$4k price points.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF/C Evan Mobley, CLE vs. ORL

SF/SG Jalen Green, PHX vs. DEN

SF DeMar DeRozan, SAC at CHA

PF OG Anunoby, NYK vs. NOP

SF/PF Cameron Johnson, DEN at PHX

SF/PF Daeqwon Plowden, SAC at CHA

SF/PF Tristan da Silva, ORL at CLE

PF/C Dylan Cardwell, SAC at CHA

PF Derik Queen, NOP at NYK

SF/PF Doug McDermott, SAC at CHA

PF/C Karlo Matkovic, NOP at NYK

SF/SG Jamal Cain, ORL at CLE

Centers to Consider 🏀

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

On a four-game slate, getting exposure to Jokic becomes even more important, even if he comes in as one of the most popular plays. He continues to produce at an elite level, clearing 60 DKFP in seven of his last 10 games while leading the league in overall FPPM. While there have been a couple of quieter outings mixed in recently, the ceiling remains unmatched, especially in a condensed player pool like this.

This game also stands out as the best environment on the slate, with a 232.5 total and a relatively tight 5.5-point spread that should keep Jokic fully engaged. Even though Denver handled Phoenix comfortably in their two previous meetings this season, this projects as a more competitive spot. With enough value available to make the salary work, Jokic is the clear top spend-up option and a priority on this slate given his combination of floor and ceiling.

C Maxime Raynaud, SAC | DK: $7k, FD: $7k | at CHA

There are a few sensible value center options to choose from, but we’ll opt to spotlight Maxime Raynaud out of the mid-range. While it’s been a rough season for Sacramento, he’s emerged as a rare bright spot, and the team should continue giving their rookie big as much run as possible down the stretch. Over his last three games, Raynaud has logged at least 36 minutes while producing 41.5+ DKFP in each.

Even in a 28-point blowout loss to San Antonio last Tuesday, Raynaud still played 42 minutes while most of the other starters hit the bench in the fourth quarter, which is extremely encouraging for his role regardless of game script. Also, as previously mentioned, the Kings are expected to be down to eight active players tonight, and with Domantas Sabonis, Drew Eubanks, and Precious Achiuwa all sidelined, the frontcourt depth is extremely thin. The matchup is difficult on paper (CHA 5th in DvP vs. Centers), but with his minutes looking as secure as anyone’s on the slate, Raynaud makes for a strong GPP pivot off Jokic and other higher-owned center options.

Other Centers to Consider

C/PF Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK vs. NOP

C Wendell Carter Jr., ORL at CLE

C Oso Ighodaro, PHX vs. DEN

C Mitchell Robinson, NYK vs. NOP

C Yves Missi, NOP at NYK

C Thomas Bryant, CLE vs. ORL

🔥 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!