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Top NBA DFS Plays & Prop Picks 3/7 | More Injury-Ridden Chaos on Friday's Eight-Game Slate!

Top NBA DFS Plays & Prop Picks 3/7 | More Injury-Ridden Chaos on Friday's Eight-Game Slate!

Friday, March 7th - DFS Plays & Pick 'Ems for Today's NBA Action!

Ryan Humphries
March 07, 2025

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

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NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Tyler & Shannon

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

Eight games are on the menu this Friday! There are some solid matchups on the board but, once again, injuries will be an overshadowing factor. A slew of key players have already been ruled out for tonight’s action with plenty of other guys listed as questionable. As usual, stay on top of the news and starting lineups as they roll in this afternoon and into the evening as there could be some benefit in implementing some late swapping. Best of luck!

Today’s Key Injuries

Cavs: None
Hornets: L. Ball - Probable, M. Williams - OUT, N. Smith Jr. - Probable, J. Okogie - OUT, J. Green - Probable, J. Nurkic - Probable
Grizzlies: J. Jackson Jr. - OUT, S. Aldama - Questionable, J. Konchar - Questionable
Mavs: A. Davis - OUT, PJ Washington - OUT, D. Gafford - OUT, D. Lively II - OUT, K. Jones - OUT, D. Exum - Questionable, J. Hardy - OUT, O. Prosper - OUT, C. Martin - Questionable
Jazz: L. Markkanen - OUT, J. Collins - OUT, K. George - Questionable, J. Clarkson - OUT, J. Springer - Questionable
Raptors: B. Ingram - OUT, RJ Barrett - OUT, J. Poeltl - OUT, J. Mogbo - OUT, G. Dick - OUT, O. Agbaji - OUT, C. Boucher - Doubtful
Timberwolves: R. Gobert - Questionable
Heat: T. Herro - Questionable, A. Wiggins - Questionable, K. Ware - OUT, N. Jovic - OUT, J. Jaquez Jr. - Questionable, A. Burks - Questionable
Trailblazers: D. Avdija - Questionable, D. Ayton - OUT, J. Grant - Questionable, R. Williams - OUT, D. Banton - OUT
Thunder: S. Gilgeous-Alexander - OUT, Jal. Williams - OUT, C. Holmgren - Questionable, I. Hartenstein - OUT, L. Dort - OUT, C. Wallace - OUT
Suns: C. Martin - OUT
Nuggets: N. Jokic - Questionable, A. Gordon - Questionable, Z. Nnaji - Probable, J. Strawther - OUT
Spurs: C. Bassey - OUT
Kings: D. Sabonis - OUT, M. Monk - OUT
Knicks: J. Brunson - Questionable, P. Achiuwa - Questionable, M. Robinson - Questionable
Clippers: N. Powell - OUT, B. Simmons - 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/SF Scottie Barnes, TOR | DK: $7.9k, FD: $9.1k | vs. UTA

Considering he is $1,200 cheaper on DraftKings versus FanDuel, this will be a more favorable DK play. That said, Barnes should at least be in the conversation as a strong target on FD. The Raptors will be missing some key pieces and role players this evening with RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, and Jonathan Mogbo all ruled out. As a result, Barnes should handle a significant workload in this game and, while he hasn’t had the best floor lately, he has popped for a couple of 45+ FP performances within his last three games. It’s also simply an excellent matchup versus a Jazz team that is dead last in DEFRTG this season and has played at the 4th fastest pace over their last five games.

SG/SF Klay Thompson, DAL | DK: $5.5k, FD: $5.8k | vs. MEM

The Mavs were forced to run a slim eight-man rotation on Wednesday night and they could be similarly shorthanded again today, pending the availability of Dante Exum and Caleb Martin (both questionable) -- but even if both of those players suit up, that leaves Dallas at nine available players on the active roster. Klay Thompson led the depleted Mavs with a 31.1% USG% in the previous game, scoring 28 points on 27 shot attempts, 14 of which were three-point attempts. The Mavs (+10) are still double-digit underdogs versus the Grizzlies, but they are back at home, which bodes well for Thompson as he has drained 41.3% of his 3PA at home this season. The Grizzlies are also 1st in pace so there should be a ton of possessions in this game, which holds a slate-high 239.5 over/under.

SG Isaiah Joe, OKC | DK: $4k, FD: $3.9k | vs. POR

As you can easily gather by skimming through today’s injury report, value is not going to be in short supply. The Thunder, in particular, should provide plenty of value as they’ll be sitting most of their usual starters (SGA, Jal. Williams, I. Hartenstein, L. Dort, C. Wallace are all out) and, if Chet Holmgren (leg/questionable) is eventually ruled out, that will be their entire starting five that is out. So the Thunder role players will transition into key players tonight. Isaiah Joe should be a lock to start tonight and play big minutes, potentially in the mid-30-minute range. Joe has averaged a solid 1.07 FPPM across his L5Games as a starter and that bumps up to 1.12 FPPM with SGA, Jalen Williams, and Luguentz Dort off the floor this season. Joe is also making 42.7% of his 3PA at home this season. While Portland is far from a top NBA team, it says quite a bit about the depth of this OKC squad that they’re still 2.5-point favorites with so many of their main guys sitting out tonight.

Other Guards to Consider

PG James Harden, LAC vs. NYK

SG. Anthony Edwards, MIN at MIA

PG/SG Devin Booker, PHX at DEN

PG/SG De’Aaron Fox, SAS at SAC

PG Ja Morant, MEM at DAL

PG/SG Jamal Murray, DEN vs. PHX (Boost if Jokic is out)

PG Immanuel Quickley, TOR vs. UTA

PG/SG Stephon Castle, SAS at SAC

SG/SF Christian Braun, DEN vs. PHX (Boost if Jokic is out)

PG/SF Alex Caruso, OKC vs. POR (Preferred if starting)

PG/SG Keon Ellis, SAC vs. SAS

PG/SG Miles McBride, NYK at LAC (Only if Brunson is out - Boost if starting)

PG Brandon Williams, DAL vs. MEM

PG Jamal Shead, TOR vs. UTA

PG/SG Cameron Payne, NYK at LAC (Only if Brunson is out - Boost if starting)

PG/SG AJ Lawson, TOR vs. UTA

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF/PF Kevin Durant, PHX | DK: $8.9k, FD: $9.3k | at DEN

This slate certainly lends itself to a “stars and scrubs” approach, but there really aren’t a ton of superstar-caliber players that set up well on this slate. That said, you usually can’t go wrong by inserting KD into some lineups. In his age 36 season, Durant is still playing massive minutes and ranks 5th in the NBA with 36.8 Min/gm this season -- that is up a couple of ticks to 38.5 Min/gm L5Games. He may not be as dominant on a fantasy point-per-minute basis as he once was, but he’s still posting a strong 1.24 FPPM on the year. Phoenix is clinging onto postseason hopes and Durant will need another big game tonight if the Suns (+7) are going to pull off the road upset. It is a strong matchup for KD as the Nuggets have ranked 29th versus starting forwards over their last 20 games.

SF DeMar DeRozan, SAC | DK: $7.5k, FD: $7.7k | vs. SAS

The Kings will be down two key players with Domantas Sabonis out for a third straight game and Malik Monk out for a second consecutive game. With Sabonis, Monk, and De’Aaron Fox (traded) off the floor this season, DeRozan has taken on a significant +5.62% USG% increase. With both Sabonis and Monk out in the Kings’ previous game versus the Nuggets on Wednesday, DeRozan went on to score 35 points on 32 FGA while accounting for a monster 37.8% USG%. He has also played well in three previous meetings with the Spurs this season, averaging 1.23 FPPM, 24.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 5.3 APG. Since Victor Wembanyama’s season was cut short eight games ago, the Spurs’ DEFRTG has dipped to 22nd and they’ve been much more vulnerable against mid-range shots and shots around the rim, which is where DeRozan generally makes his living on offense.

SF/PF Aaron Wiggins, OKC | DK: $4.9k, FD: $5.4k | vs. POR

More OKC value here as Aaron Wiggins should presumably step into a starting role. Wiggins routinely plays solid minutes (25+ Min/gm) off of the Thunder bench but he’ll now have a chance to play mid-30s minutes while handling a significant usage bump. It’s only a 50-minute sample size but with SGA, Jal. Williams, L. Dort, C. Wallace, I. Hartenstein, and A. Mitchell all off the floor this season, Wiggins has handled a team-leading +14.6% USG% increase while averaging +14.8 FP per 32 minutes. 6x value feels like the floor for Wiggins this evening.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF/C Bam Adebayo, MIA vs. MIN (Boost if Herro and/or Wiggins are out)

SF/SG Zach LaVine, SAC vs. SAS

SF/PF Kawhi Leonard, LAC vs. NYK

PF/C Chet Holmgren, OKC vs. POR (Currently questionable)

PF Santi Aldama, MEM at DAL (Currently questionable)

SF/PF OG Anunoby, NYK at LAC

SF/PF Naji Marshall, DAL vs. MEM

PF Keegan Murray, SAC vs. SAS

PF/C Brandon Clarke, MEM at DAL

SF/SG Ja’Kobe Walter, TOR vs. UTA (Only if starting)

SF/PF Jake LaRavia, SAC vs. SAS

PF/C Ousmane Dieng, OKC vs. POR

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $12.3k, FD: $12.7k | vs. PHX

Jokic is dealing with a lingering ankle injury and is officially “questionable” to play tonight. While he hasn’t appeared to be at 100% recently, he has been able to play through the issue and has logged nearly 40 minutes in each of the last two games. Even an “80% Jokic” is still a monster and, given all of the value that is available on this slate, he won’t necessarily need to have a huge triple-double to end up in the optimal lineup tonight. It also doesn’t hurt that he’ll be going up against a Suns team that has ranked dead last in DEFRTG over their previous 15 games. If he’s active tonight, he’s a clear spend-up option on this slate.

C Orlando Robinson, TOR | DK: $3.5k, FD: $4k | vs. UTA

While RJ Barrett is the biggest injury absence for the Raptors tonight, it’s their frontcourt that will be especially thin. Jakob Poeltl, Jonathan Mogbo, Ochai Agbaji, Chris Boucher (doubtful), and reserve center Ulrich Chomche are all out this evening. That will open up a spot start for Orlando Robinson, and likely 30+ minutes along with it. Robinson has averaged a respectable 0.90 FPPM in 27 games played this season and, on top of simply being dirt cheap, he’ll set up well versus a Jazz team that has ranked 30th versus starting centers L10Games.

Other Centers to Consider

C Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK at LAC

C Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. NYK

C Jonas Valanciunas, SAC vs. SAS

C Walker Kessler, UTA at TOR

C Jarrett Allen, CLE at CHA

C Zach Edey, MEM at DAL

C Jaylin Williams, OKC vs. POR (Preferred if starting)

C Jusuf Nurkic, CHA vs. CLE (Preferred if starting)

C Moussa Diabate, CHA vs. CLE

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.

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

🔥 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!