LineStar® Daily Dribble
Posts
Top NBA DFS Plays & Prop Picks 3/4 | Dissecting a Busy Tuesday Slate!

Top NBA DFS Plays & Prop Picks 3/4 | Dissecting a Busy Tuesday Slate!

Tuesday, March 4th - DFS Plays & Pick 'Ems for Today's NBA Action!

Ryan Humphries
March 04, 2025

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

🫡 Check out our revamped BetFully Cashback App (iOS only sorry) and get up to $200 cashback for trying new Sportsbook, DFS, horse-racing apps and playing games! ✔️✔️✔️

_Terms:_{Must be 18+ (some states may require 21+) and be present in an eligible state; if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling, and referral services can be accessed by calling}_{1-800-GAMBLER. Using an affiliate offer}_{will help support LineStar who may receive a commission fee from the referral. Other conditions may apply, please see link for full details.}

NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Tyler & Shannon

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

It’s an active NBA Tuesday with nine games on the schedule! DraftKings will exclude the two late games (LAC/PHX and NOP/LAL) from their main slate, while FanDuel’s slate will feature the full nine games. There will be plenty of injury news to monitor on this slate, so stay on your toes today! Best of luck!

Today’s Key Injuries

Rockets: F. VanVleet - OUT, J. Landale - Questionable
Pacers: B. Mathurin - Doubtful
Raptors: B. Ingram - OUT, G. Dick - OUT, O. Agbaji - OUT
Magic: J. Suggs - OUT, C. Anthony - Questionable
Bucks: G. Antetokounmpo - Probable, K. Kuzma - Questionable, B. Portis - OUT, P. Connaughton - OUT
Hawks: T. Young - Probable, V. Krejci - OUT
Warriors: S. Curry - Questionable, J. Kuminga - OUT, G. Payton II - OUT
Knicks: K. Towns - Questionable, A. Hukporti - OUT
Cavs: E. Mobley - OUT
Bulls: J. Giddey - Questionable, N. Vucevic - OUT, C. White - Probable, L. Ball - Questionable, K. Huerter - Questionable, P. Williams - OUT, A. Dosunmu - OUT (done for the season, will be excluded from future injury reports)
76ers: T. Maxey - OUT, P. George - Questionable, K. Oubre Jr. - Probable, Q. Grimes - Questionable, J. Edwards - Questionable, K. Lowry - OUT
Timberwolves: J. Randle - Questionable, R. Gobert - OUT
Nets: N. Clowney - OUT
Spurs: C. Bassey - OUT

Late Game Injury Report (FanDuel Main Slate Only)

Clippers: N. Powell - OUT, B. Simmons - OUT, D. Jones Jr. - OUT
Suns: B. Beal - Questionable, C. Martin - OUT
Pelicans: None
Lakers: L. Doncic - Questionable, L. James - Probable, A. Reaves - OUT, R. Hachimura - OUT, J. Goodwin - OUT

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

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/SG Donovan Mitchell, CLE | DK: $8.7k, FD: $8.9k | at CHI

It should be another good day to target some Cavs, as they lead the slate with a 128.0 implied team total. As usual, the matchup with the Bulls is always an excellent draw as they check in at 3rd in pace and 26th in DEFRTG. After getting the day off on Sunday for rest purposes, Donovan Mitchell should be ready to resume his usual role, though, perhaps it will be a more involved role with Evan Mobley sidelined tonight. Mitchell’s 34.3% USG% from the L5Games is already among the highest on the slate and he has seen a team-leading +2.4% USG% increase when Mobley has been off the floor this season. Mitchell has also erupted for an average of 36.5 PPG and 60.6 DKFP/60.0 FDFP in two previous meetings with the Bulls this season, and a similar result could be in the cards tonight… especially if Chicago (+12) can keep this game fairly competitive.

SG Quentin Grimes, PHI | DK: $6k, FD: $6.1k | at MIN

The 76ers continue to spiral, now losing 13 of their last 14 games. They will once again have a depleted lineup going tonight -- Joel Embiid has, of course, been ruled out for the season, Tyrese Maxey is out with a back injury, and before this game tips off there is a chance that at least one or two other key contributors will be ruled out. So we could see a sizable workload for Quentin Grimes tonight. Grimes is just three days removed from dropping a monster 44-point, 63.0 DKFP/62.7 FDFP performance against the Warriors, leading to Philadelphia’s lone victory in the aforementioned 14-game stretch. Grimes has also popped for a couple of other big games since joining the 76ers. The 76ers (+14) are the largest underdogs on the slate but, even in the event of a blowout, Grimes could still end up playing 35+ minutes while taking on a sizable slice of the usage.

Update: Grimes is now listed as questionable on the updated 76ers injury report. Still like him as a mid-range option if he’s able to suit up.

SG/SF Gary Trent Jr., MIL | DK: $4k, FD: $4.4k | at ATL

The Bucks have been rolling with a fairly tight nine-man rotation in their recent games, and things could be condensed even further if Kyle Kuzma (ankle/questionable) is unable to go tonight. Gary Trent Jr. has been a key contributor off of the Bucks’ bench and heads into tonight’s game averaging 25.6 Min/gm L5Games and has scored at least 15 points in three of his last four. This game is one of the most appealing DFS environments on the slate given its hefty 243.5 total and fairly close spread (MIL -5.5). While he is not a prolific FPPM scorer, if Trent is going to play 25-30 minutes, he should be firmly on the value radar… at least until more options open up once further injury news is released.

Other Guards to Consider

SG Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. PHI

PG Damian Lillard, MIL at ATL

PG Darius Garland, CLE at CHI

PG/SG Dyson Daniels, ATL vs. MIL

PG/SG Stephon Castle, SAS vs. BKN

PG/SG Brandin Podziemski, GSW at NYK (Boost if Curry is out)

PG/SG Donte DiVincenzo, MIN vs. PHI

SG/SF Caris LeVert, ATL vs. MIL

PG Ty Jerome, CLE at CHI

SG Taurean Prince, MIL at ATL

PG/SG AJ Green, MIL at ATL

SG Lonnie Walker IV, PHI at MIN

PG Jeff Dowtin, PHI at MIN (Boost if starting)

PG/SG Jared Butler, PHI at MIN (Boost if starting)

FanDuel Main Slate Only

PG James Harden, LAC at PHX

PG/SG Kris Dunn, LAC at PHX

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL | DK: $11k, FD: $11.7k | at ATL

There should be ample value to choose from once we get closer to games tipping off so fitting in Giannis likely won’t be much of an issue. His minutes seem to be capped at 32-33 for the time being but he could resume playing without restrictions any day now. The Bucks are on the front end of a back-to-back, with a meeting against the depleted Mavs tomorrow, so it also wouldn’t be a surprise if Giannis sits out tomorrow. Even with the light minute restrictions, Giannis has been putting up his usual big numbers and he heads into tonight averaging a mammoth 1.81 FPPM L5Games. Both teams in this game rank top 10 in pace, hence the high total, and the last time Giannis suited up against the Hawks, he fell an assist shy of posting a triple-double with a 32/14/9 stat line which included four blocks and a steal (74.0 DKFP/76.3 FDFP). A similar result would be an aggressive expectation tonight but that is the sort of upside he has in this juicy matchup.

SF/PF De’Andre Hunter, CLE | DK: $5.3k, FD: $5.6k | at CHI

Hunter got the spot start on Sunday in place of the resting Donovan Mitchell, and he would go on to supply 32 points and seven boards -- 44.75 DKFP/42.40 FDFP -- in 32 minutes. He’ll now have a chance to stick in the starting rotation, this time in place of the resting Evan Mobley. In his limited time with the Cavs, Hunter has provided some solid contributions off of the bench and he has averaged 1.03 FPPM with Mobley off the court. Assuming he does start and plays 30+ minutes, he sets up nicely out of the $5k range in this very positive matchup versus the Bulls.

SF/SG Aaron Nesmith, IND | DK: $4.5k, FD: $5.2k | vs. HOU

Nesmith has been a pretty nice source of value lately, scoring at least 26.75 DKFP/25.9 FDFP in four of his last six games, and, most recently, he dropped 27 points and 37.25 DKFP/33.5 FDFP against the Bulls on Sunday. He is averaging a respectable 0.95 FPPM in that six-game stretch and the likely absence of Bennedict Mathurin (wrist/doubtful) should solidify Nesmith’s floor a bit further. The matchup with Houston perhaps isn’t ideal, but the Rockets have allowed the 11th most FPPG to starting SFs L20Games so it’s not a bad individual matchup for Nesmith either.

Other Forwards to Consider

SF Franz Wagner, ORL vs. TOR

PF/C Naz Reid, MIN vs. PHI

SF/PF Josh Hart, NYK vs. GSW

PF/C Julius Randle, MIN vs. PHI (Currently questionable)

SF/PF OG Anunoby, NYK vs. GSW

PF Tari Eason, HOU at IND

PF Matas Buzelis, CHI vs. CLE

SF/PF Keldon Johnson, SAS vs. BKN

SF/SG Max Strus, CLE at CHI

FanDuel Main Slate Only

SF/PF LeBron James, LAL vs. NOP (Boost if Doncic is out)

PF Zion Williamson, NOP at LAL

SF/PF Kawhi Leonard, LAC at PHX

PF/C Bol Bol, PHX vs. LAC

SF/SG Bogdan Bogdanovic, LAC at PHX (Preferred if starting)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Onyeka Okongwu, ATL | DK: $6.2k, FD: $7.1k | vs. MIL

It’s nice to see Okongwu consistently getting 30+ minutes/gm as of late -- he is averaging nearly 32 minutes/gm over his last five. In that span, he is putting up an excellent 1.21 FPPM and he’s coming off of back-to-back double-doubles where he has supplied 39.0 DKFP/38.4 FDFP (at MEM) and 44.75 DKFP/41.6 FDFP (vs. OKC). Okongwu has been better at home this season, where he is averaging +16.5% more FPPG than on the road, and the matchup doesn’t look too shabby as the Bucks have surrendered the 4th most FPPG to starting centers L20Games.

C Jalen Smith, CHI | DK: $4k, FD: $5k | vs. CLE

Jalen Smith isn’t as appealing given his $5,000 price tag on FanDuel, but he remains a strong value option at a flat $4,000 on DraftKings. Nikola Vucevic remains out with a calf injury. Zach Collins has been receiving the starts but Smith is a candidate to pick up a couple of extra minutes. The Bulls tend to keep Smith’s playing time under 20 minutes, even while Vuvevic has been out, but he doesn’t need big minutes to return value. Smith has averaged a stout 1.25 FPPM this season, which he has upped to 1.33 FPPM L5Games. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if Smith sees some additional run in the fourth quarter in the event of a blowout (CHI +12.5 underdogs).

Other Centers to Consider

C Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK vs. GSW (Currently questionable)

C Alperen Sengun, HOU at IND

C Jarrett Allen, CLE at CHI

C Draymond Green, GSW at NYK

C Nic Claxton, BKN at SAS

C Andre Drummond, PHI at MIN

FanDuel Main Slate Only

C Ivica Zubac, LAC at PHX

C Jaxson Hayes, LAL vs. NOP

PrizePicks NBA Power Play of the Day ⚡

Here is a two-pick “Power Play” I’m liking for today's NBA action over on PrizePicks! Nothing is ever a guarantee to hit but I put my own money on these bets so I don't just lightly throw these out there without believing they'll cash! If it hits, it will return 3x the wager.

Donovan Mitchell MORE than 13.0 Points (1st Half)

Onyeka Okongwu MORE than 31.5 Fantasy Score

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we are introducing 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 and UnderDog Fantasy!

Speaking of props, put the Props AI tool to use by signing up for PrizePicks (Promo code: LINESTAR) or Underdog (Promo code: LINESTAR). You'll receive a 100% match on first deposits up to $100 PLUS a free month subscription to LineStar Premium. Many people may not realize that you can legally place prop bets in most states using UnderDog (or PrizePicks) – it’s called Pick'Em, and it’s incredibly easy.

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!

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

🫡 Check out our revamped BetFully Cashback App (iOS only sorry) and get up to $200 cashback for trying new Sportsbook, DFS, horse-racing apps and playing games! ✔️✔️✔️

NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Tyler & Shannon

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

It’s another busy day in the NBA. Eleven games reside on the Wednesday schedule -- DraftKings will exclude the two late games (PHX/OKC and ORL/SAC) from their main slate while FanDuel will feature the full menu. Trades continue to go down with the biggest move today involving the Bucks and Wizards trading Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma. The injury report is also a complete fiasco so keep those eyes and ears peeled for all the news that drops throughout the afternoon and evening! Let’s jump into the chaos! Best of luck!

NBA Trade Tracker

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/transactions/trade/

Today’s Key Injuries

Spurs: C. Paul - Questionable, C. Bassey - OUT
Hawks: C. Capela - OUT, B. Bogdanovic - OUT
Bucks: G. Antetokounmpo - Probable, D. Lillard - Probable, B. Portis - Probable, K. Middleton - OUT (traded), AJ Johnson - OUT (traded)
Hornets: L. Ball - OUT, J. Okogie - OUT, V. Micic - Questionable, T. Mann - OUT, C. Martin - OUT
Cavs: D. Mitchell - Questionable, D. Wade - OUT, I. Okoro - OUT
Pistons: None
Wizards: K. Kuzma - OUT (traded), A. Sarr - OUT, P. Baldwin Jr. - OUT (traded)
Nets: C. Thomas - OUT, N. Clowney - OUT, D. Sharpe - Questionable, T. Watford - OUT
Grizzlies: D. Bane - OUT, B. Clarke - Questionable, M. Smart - Questionable, J. Konchar - Questionable, V. Williams Jr. - Questionable
Raptors: RJ Barrett - OUT, J. Poeltl - OUT, I. Quickley - OUT, C. Boucher - Questionable
Heat: J. Butler - OUT, D. Robinson - Probable, H. Highsmith - Probable
76ers: J. Embiid - OUT, P. George - Doubtful, A. Drummond - Doubtful, Q. Grimes - Questionable (trade pending), E. Gordon - Questionable, K. Lowry - Questionable
Bulls: L. Ball - OUT, T. Jones - OUT, Z. Collins - OUT, T. Horton-Tucker - OUT, K. Huerter - OUT, D. Terry - Questionable
Timberwolves: J. Randle - OUT, D. DiVincenzo - OUT
Warriors: A. Wiggins - Probable, J. Kuminga - OUT, D. Green - Probable, M. Moody - OUT
Jazz: L. Markkanen - Questionable, C. Sexton - OUT, C. Williams - OUT
Pelicans: B. Ingram - OUT, J. Alvarado - Questionable, D. Theis - OUT (traded)
Nuggets: R. Westbrook - OUT, A. Gordon - Questionable, P. Watson - OUT

Late Game Injury Report (FanDuel Main Slate Only)

Suns: K. Durant - OUT
Thunder: C. Holmgren - OUT, C. Wallace - OUT
Magic: J. Suggs - Doubtful
Kings: None

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

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/SG Jamal Murray, DEN | DK: $7.7k, FD: $8.3k | vs. NOP

The Nuggets lead the slate with a lofty 124.8 implied team total so the Denver studs will make plenty of sense today. Jamal Murray has been playing very well of late, averaging 1.21 FPPM L5Games and scoring at least 42.0 DKFP/44.0 FDFP in four of those last five games. He has secured 40+ FP in all three previous meetings with the Pelicans this season and, given their 29th-ranked DEFRTG and 29th-ranked DvP versus starting PGs L20Games, Murray’s expectations should be high once again this evening.

PG/SG Isaiah Collier, UTA | DK: $5.2k, FD: $5.2k | vs. GSW

Perhaps not the most exciting DFS play, but Isaiah Collier has provided some quality value in recent weeks, routinely returning 6x value at these low-$5k price points. Collier’s minutes and role should be more secure with Collin Sexton (ankle/out) expected to be sidelined for at least a week -- with Sexton only playing three minutes in Monday’s game, Collier went on to supply a point/assist double-double in 32 minutes versus the Pacers. Collier has also shot it significantly better at home this season with a 48.5% FG% versus a 32.6% FG% on the road. This may not be the best match-up but Collier did post a quality 12/6/9 stat line and 31.0 DKFP/28.7 FDFP against the Warriors just last Tuesday, and that was with Sexton active and putting up 30 points of his own.

SG Gradey Dick, TOR | DK: $4.2k, FD: $4.6k | vs. MEM

The Raptors will be shorthanded today with RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and Immanuel Quickley ruled out. Gradey Dick has seen a notable +4.5% USG% boost with those three players off the court this season along with a +5.8 FP per 32 minutes increase. Both teams in this game rank top 10 in pace, with Memphis ranking 1st in the NBA, so there will be plenty of possessions to go around. If the Raptors (+10.5) hope to pull off the upset, Gradey Dick will likely need to be heavily involved in the scoring.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Cade Cunningham, DET vs. CLE

PG Tyrese Maxey, PHI vs. MIA

PG/SG Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. CHI

SG/SF Trey Murphy III, NOP at DEN

PG Darius Garland, CLE at DET (Boost if D. Mitchell is out)

PG/SG Dyson Daniels, ATL vs. SAS

PG Josh Giddey, CHI at MIN

PG Jordan Poole, WAS at BKN

PG Keyonte George, UTA vs. GSW

SG/SF Bilal Coulibaly, WAS at BKN

SG/SF Christian Braun, DEN vs. NOP

PG/SG Keon Johnson, BKN vs. WAS

PG Ty Jerome, CLE at DET (Preferred if D. Mitchell is out)

PG Jamal Shead, TOR vs. MEM

FanDuel Main Slate Only

SG/SF Devin Booker, PHX at OKC

PG/SG Malik Monk, SAC vs. ORL

PG/SG Cole Anthony, ORL at SAC

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM | DK: $8.3k, FD: $8.7k | at TOR

Over the last two games, JJJ has led the Grizzlies in scoring, with 31 and 37 points, as well as usage rate, with 31.8% USG% and 43.8% USG%. One of those games was without Ja Morant, but the other was without Desmond Bane, who will be out once again tonight. For a big man, Jackson is not a very prolific rebounder, but he can rack up multiple blocks and steals on any given night and he’ll draw a strong individual match-up. The Raptors have ranked 27th versus starting PFs L20Games and when these teams met in late December, Jackson dropped 50.25 DKFP/49.2 FDFP. I believe we can get a similar result out of him this evening.

SF/PF Michael Porter Jr., DEN | DK: $6.4k, FD: $6.6k | vs. NOP

MPJ has mostly been a solid floor play throughout this season but he erupted for 36 points and 52.75 DKFP/49.4 FDFP against this same Pelicans team on Monday. I believe the Peyton Watson (knee/out) injury is a bit underrated in regards to Porter’s role. Watson has been a key piece off of the Nuggets’ bench this season and, with Watson sidelined the last two games, Porter has played 40+ minutes in each contest. We can’t expect a repeat performance from Monday but I’d say 40+ FP is well within Porter’s wheelhouse tonight.

PF Matas Buzelis, CHI | DK: $4k, FD: $4.2k | at MIN

The Bulls took Buzelis with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. With Zach LaVine shipped off to the Kings and none of the recently acquired players (Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Tre Jones) ready to make their Chicago debut, Buzelis will have a chance to continue playing in an expanded role. He logged a season-high 31 minutes off of the bench in last night’s game versus the Heat and went on to score 24 points and 32.0 DKFP/31.4 FDFP. Buzelis has averaged a respectable 0.92 FPPM L5Games and, should he flirt with 30 minutes again tonight, he’ll be a great bet to return some nice value.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at CHA

SF/PG Scottie Barnes, TOR vs. MEM

PF/C Evan Mobley, CLE at DET (Boost if D. Mitchell is out)

PF/C John Collins, UTA vs. GSW

PF/C Naz Reid, MIN vs. CHI

PF/C Guerschon Yabusele, PHI vs. MIA

SF/PF Zaccharie Risacher, ATL vs. SAS

SF/PF Justin Edwards, PHI vs. MIA

SF/SG Corey Kispert, WAS at BKN

SF/PF Gregory Jackson, MEM at TOR

SF/PF Justin Champagnie WAS at BKN (Preferred if starting)

SF/SG Ja’Kobe Walter, TOR vs. MEM (Preferred if starting)

FanDuel Main Slate Only

PF/SF Paolo Banchero, ORL at SAC

SF/SG Grayson Allen, PHX at OKC

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Rudy Gobert, MIN | DK: $6.8k, FD: $6.9k | vs. CHI

Gobert continues to play some of his best basketball of the season following a 19/13/3 (plus two blocks and a steal) stat line against the Kings on Monday. He has now scored at least 37.0 DKFP/36.5 FDFP in five of his last six games, including three games of at least 47.25 DKFP/48.1 FDFP in that span. Gobert has averaged +4.6 FP per 32 minutes with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo (both out) off the floor this season and, as always, the Bulls represent an elite match-up for opposing centers, ranking 29th against the position this season. Gobert’s DFS salaries are on the up and up but there’s still some real upside at his sub-$7k price points.

C Kelly Olynyk, TOR | DK: $3.3k, FD: $4k | vs. MEM

There is some pretty clear value here with Kelly Olynyk expected to start in place of the injured Jakob Poeltl. In his only other start this season, which also came against the Grizzlies in late December, Olynyk averaged 1.20 FPPM and scored 27.75 DKFP/25.50 FDFP. Olynyk only played 23 minutes in that game but I believe he could get closer to 26-28 minutes as the starter tonight. Either way, he won’t have to do much to pay off these bottom-of-the-barrel salaries tonight.

Other Centers to Consider

C Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. NOP

C Victor Wembanyama, SAS at ATL

C Mark Williams, CHA vs. MIL

C Jalen Duren, DET vs. CLE

C Kel’el Ware, MIA at PHI

C Zach Edey, MEM at TOR

C Kevon Looney, GSW at UTA

C Quinten Post, GSW at UTA

FanDuel Main Slate Only

C/PF Domantas Sabonis, SAC vs. ORL

C Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC vs. PHX

PrizePicks NBA Power Play of the Day ⚡

No picks from me today but, as always, Tyler & Shannon have some great recommendations in the props video posted at the top of this newsletter!

🔥 Props AI 🔥

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!