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 📰

We head into the weekend with another six-game Friday NBA slate. The totals aren’t overly high across the board, but we do get several appealing matchups, with five of the six games carrying spreads under eight points. Pending any late additions to the injury report, there aren’t too many high-impact players carrying questionable tags heading into tonight, which should keep things relatively straightforward from a news standpoint. Let’s dive in and see what stands out. 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 Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}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.}

• Mavs: B. Williams – Probable, D. Gafford – DOUBTFUL, M. Bagley III – DOUBTFUL, K. Thompson – Probable

• Celtics: J. Walsh – Questionable (Note: Jayson Tatum will make his season debut)

• Heat: N. Powell – OUT, A. Wiggins – DOUBTFUL, D. Smith – Probable, S. Fontecchio – OUT, N. Jovic – OUT

• Hornets: T. Salaun – OUT

• Trailblazers: D. Avdija – DOUBTFUL, S. Sharpe – OUT, K. Murray – Questionable

• Rockets: A. Thompson – Questionable, J. Smith Jr. – Questionable

• Knicks: J. Hart – Questionable

• Nuggets: P. Watson – OUT, A. Gordon – Questionable, C. Johnson – Questionable, S. Jones – Questionable

• Pelicans: D. Murray – Questionable

• Suns: D. Brooks – OUT, R. O’Neale – Questionable, M. Williams – OUT, J. Goodwin – OUT

• Clippers: D. Garland – OUT, J. Collins – OUT, B. Bogdanovic – Questionable

• Spurs: J. Champagnie – Questionable, H. Barnes – 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 Jalen Brunson, NYK | DK: $9k, FD: $8.7k | at DEN

Point guard isn’t loaded with elite spend-up options on this slate, which helps Brunson stand out near the top of the position. He has been productive in recent outings, posting back-to-back double-doubles while finishing with 45.25 DKFP against the Thunder and 47.5 DKFP versus the Raptors. Brunson continues to handle a massive workload for New York and is projected to lead all guards in minutes tonight (37.0 projected minutes).

The matchup is also appealing. This game carries the highest total on the slate at 230.5 points and features a tight 1.5-point spread, setting up well for full starter minutes on both sides. When these teams met about a month ago, the game went into double overtime, and Brunson erupted for 42 points and 69.5 DKFP. Denver has struggled to contain opposing point guards as well, allowing the most FPPG to starting PGs over their last 20 games. The Nuggets are also on the second leg of a back-to-back after playing a competitive game against the Lakers last night, which could further tilt the matchup in Brunson’s favor. If Josh Hart (questionable) is unable to go, Brunson would also see a small usage bump, adding even more appeal to an already strong spot.

PG/SG Reed Sheppard, HOU | DK: $6.2k, FD: $7.1k | vs. POR

Sheppard has been one of Houston’s most productive fantasy pieces recently, averaging 1.22 FPPM over his last five games while topping 39.75 DKFP in four of them. His role has expanded significantly compared to earlier in the season, and the increased minutes have translated directly into stronger production.

That trend continued last night against Golden State, where Sheppard logged 37 minutes off the bench and produced 44.25 DKFP in a competitive game with Houston running a tight eight-man rotation. Alperen Sengun is off the injury report tonight, but Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. remain questionable on the second leg of a back-to-back. If either player sits – particularly Thompson – Sheppard’s role would be further cemented.

Even with his rising DFS salaries, Sheppard remains appealing given the workload and per-minute production, and the matchup helps as well, with Portland ranking 23rd in defensive rating over their last 10 games.

PG/SG Dylan Harper, SAS | DK: $4.5k, FD: $5.3k | vs. LAC

There isn’t a ton of appealing guard value on this slate at the moment, which makes Harper one of the more viable salary-saving options at the position. He has scored at least 27.25 DKFP in three of his last five games and continues to produce efficiently when given enough run. Over his last 20 games, Harper has averaged a solid 1.06 FPPM, giving him a strong per-minute foundation at these price points.

San Antonio played last night and still leaned on the starters despite a comfortable 15-point win over Detroit, with each starter logging at least 30 minutes. That could open the door for Harper to see a slight minutes bump on the second leg of the back-to-back. In similar situations recently, his workload has climbed closer to the 28-minute range, which would be more than enough for him to pay off his salary. The matchup also helps, as the Clippers rank 28th in DvP versus bench guards over their last 20 games.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Jamal Murray, DEN vs. NYK

PG LaMelo Ball, CHA vs. MIA

PG Jrue Holiday, POR at HOU

SG Kon Knueppel, CHA vs. MIA

SG/SF Bennedict Mathurin, LAC at SAS

SG/SF Klay Thompson, DAL at BOS

SG Landry Shamet, NYK at DEN (Boost if Hart is out)

SG/SF Kris Murray, POR at HOU (Questionable)

PG Kasparas Jakucionis, MIA at CHA

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF Kevin Durant, HOU | DK: $9.2k, FD: $9.4k | vs. POR

Durant has averaged a quality 1.31 FPPM across eight games since the All-Star break. He has topped 54.75 DKFP in three of those outings while continuing to deliver elite scoring with steady peripheral production. Durant could also see a usage bump if either Amen Thompson or Jabari Smith Jr. sits tonight, and he has already had success in this matchup, scoring 30+ points in all three meetings with Portland this season. In the most recent meeting, he went for 57.5 DKFP.

The only potential concern is workload after Durant logged 41 minutes in last night’s overtime loss to Golden State. However, back-to-backs have not been much of an issue for him this season. In fact, he has often produced more fantasy points on the second leg of a back-to-back. The matchup also sets up favorably, with Portland ranking 29th in DvP versus forwards over their last 10 games.

SF Brandon Miller, CHA | DK: $7.7k, FD: $7.6k | vs. MIA

Miller brings a legitimate ceiling at a moderate discount compared to other top-tier forwards on this slate. His recent per-minute production has been outstanding, averaging 1.50 FPPM over his last five games while carrying a 32.6% USG%, which is near superstar caliber usage.

The only thing holding his fantasy totals down lately has been playing time. Charlotte has won six straight games by 16+ points, which has limited Miller’s workload as he has played more than 27 minutes just once during that stretch. If Miami can keep this game competitive as 7.5-point underdogs, Miller’s minutes should push closer to his normal range. He’s currently projected for 33.5 minutes, and the matchup is favorable with the Heat ranking 27th in DvP versus starting small forwards over their last 20 games. If the minutes are there, Miller has the type of role and usage that could easily lead to a ceiling performance.

PF Myron Gardner, MIA | DK: $3k, FD: $3.5k | at CHA

We’re dropping all the way to the stone minimum salary for the final forward spotlight of the day, but there is an important caveat here. Gardner should likely only be considered if he lands a spot start in place of Andrew Wiggins, who is doubtful with a knee injury. Gardner has been out of the rotation in recent weeks, but he did start in each of the last two games that Wiggins has missed (Feb. 11th and Feb. 3rd).

Across four spot starts this season, Gardner has averaged an excellent 1.35 FPPM, producing 29.9 DKFP per game across 22.1 minutes per game. That level of per-minute production is difficult to ignore for a player at these price points. That said, the play becomes far riskier if he doesn’t start. With Kel’el Ware playing extremely well lately, he is another candidate who could potentially move into the starting lineup. Fortunately, this game tips at 7:00 ET, so we should have Miami’s starting lineup around 6:30 ET. If Gardner is included, he immediately becomes one of the top salary-saving options on the slate with legitimate 10x upside.

Other Forwards to Consider

SF/SG Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. DAL (Reminder that Tatum returns but will be very limited)

SF/SG Kawhi Leonard, LAC at SAS

PF Zion Williamson, NOP at PHX

SF/PF Saddiq Bey, NOP at PHX

SF Jaime Jaquez Jr., MIA at CHA

SF Devin Vassell, SAS vs. LAC (Boost if Champagnie is out)

SF/SG Keldon Johnson, SAS vs. LAC (Preferred if Champagnie is out)

PF Grant Williams, CHA vs. MIA

PF Mohamed Diawara, NYK at DEN

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Kel’el Ware, MIA | DK: $5.4k, FD: $6k | at CHA

Center might be the most interesting position on this slate. You could certainly choose to spend up for Nikola Jokic or Victor Wembanyama, and either one has slate-breaking upside, but both players logged 38+ minutes last night. Because of that, it might make sense to look at some of the more affordable options at the position.

Kel’el Ware stands out at the top of that group after another incredible performance last night against Brooklyn. He finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, but the defensive stats were the real story – piling up seven blocks and five steals on his way to 56.75 DKFP in 32 minutes. Ware has now averaged 1.46 FPPM across his last 10 games and has played at least 29 minutes in three straight contests. With Andrew Wiggins (knee/doubtful) expected to miss tonight’s game, there is a chance Ware could move into the starting lineup. But even if he continues to come off the bench, his recent workload and elite per-minute production keep him firmly on the radar at these price points which haven’t caught up to his recent level of play. He’ll be one of the most popular options on the slate, but certainly a scary fade.

C Oso Ighodaro, PHX | DK: $5.2k, FD: $5.3k | vs. NOP

Ighodaro stands out as another strong value option at center on this slate. With Mark Williams (foot) expected to miss the next 2–3 weeks, Ighodaro should continue filling in as Phoenix’s starting center and is a good bet to see around 30 minutes tonight. At these low-$5k salaries, that workload is more than enough for him to return strong point-per-dollar value, as he has averaged 1.05 FPPM over the past month.

He logged 36 minutes in his start against the Bulls last night and has now played at least 26 minutes in three straight games. The matchup also sets up well, as New Orleans ranks 28th in DvP versus starting centers this season, placing him in another favorable spot to return value.

Other Centers to Consider

C Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. NYK

C Victor Wembanyama, SAS vs. LAC

C Alperen Sengun, HOU vs. POR

C Donovan Clingan, POR at HOU

C Moussa Diabate, CHA vs. MIA

C Dwight Powell, DAL at BOS

C Moussa Cisse, DAL at BOS

C Isaiah Jackson, LAC at SAS

🔥 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!