There are 6 games scheduled for tonight, but with the Miami at Cleveland game having a weird 6:00 PM EST start time (to be able to watch Baker Mayfield and the Browns in action perhaps) the main slate is dwindled to 5 games. That's still a decent amount of games for a Thursday that might only see 2-3 some weeks.

It's a night of shoulders in tonight's DFS landscape. Paul George may return from his shoulder injury while Kyrie Irving may sit with his. The team from the City of Broad Shoulders is also in action when the Bulls visit the Bucks.

Tonight's DFS Headlines

Paul George ($7,900) is playing the Brett Favre "will he or won't he" game when trying to return from offseason shoulder surgery. Could tonight be the night as the Clippers are in the back-to-back at New Orleans? Kawhi Leonard ($9,500) is almost a guaranteed sit here after logging 40+ vs. Houston last night. Brandon Ingram ($7,500) may also return for the Pelicans in this one.

The Bucks begin life without Khris Middleton tonight vs. the Bulls. The all-star will miss 3-4 weeks with a deep thigh bruise. Does Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700) get even more shots here or is it somebody off the Milwaukee bench that sees a DFS increase?

Kyrie Irving ($8,800) played through his shoulder injury on Tuesday but is questionable tonight vs. Denver. If Irving sits, do the Nuggets still get the pace differential boost they would against Brooklyn's #2 team in possessions per game?

It's a 🚨REVENGE GAME🚨 when Kristaps Porzingis makes his return to Madison Square Garden as the Mavs take on the Knicks. The Unicorn had 28 and 9 vs. his old team on Friday but things will be a bit different in front of the New York crowd tonight.

Guards

Spencer Dinwiddie(DK: $5,700 FD: $5,500 Y! $19)

Good value on Spencer Dinwiddie of Brooklyn tonight. The Nets are already without Caris Levert for up to 3 weeks and now Kyrie Irving has been added to the injury report with a shoulder impingement. Dinwiddie gets a 17% usage boost with Levert and Irving out of the lineup. He also has at least 16 field goal attempts in the last three, which may even increase tonight.

Luka Doncic (DK: $10,000 FD: $11,200 Y! $49)

He needs a 60 point night for value at this price but it's attainable for Luka Doncic vs. the Knicks. Doncic has three 73+ fantasy point nights over his last 6 games and has 20+ field goal attempts in 3 of the last 4. The assist numbers should climb back up to the 15+ at the start of November as Dallas feeds Kristaps Porzingis against his old team tonight. Doncic had just 16/8/5 in his Madison Square Garden debut a year ago and you'd think he wants a boost on that poor showing. He also went for 38/14/10 last Friday vs. the Knicks for a 73 point fantasy night.

Ricky Rubio (DK: $7400 FD: $7700 Y! $28)

Gotta get Ricky Rubio in the lineup tonight in his duel against Trae Young and the Hawks. Rubio is thriving in his first year with the Suns and has posted at least 44 fantasy points in 3 of the last 4. Rubio is getting shots (16+ last two) and has double digit assists in 3 of the last 4 games. Atlanta's pace is down a bit compared to last season and their defensive efficiency has "improved" to 17th in the league. Young and the Hawks still struggle against opposing PG's though. Tomas Satoransky had a 49 point fantasy night last week and Dame Lillard dropped a 51 fp night on Sunday.

🏀👍 Other Likes  / Dislikes 👍🏀

Jamal Murray ($6,800) has a price tag a little bit higher than you'd like but he's got a nice matchup against Brooklyn's up-pace and banged up back court. 5 straight SG's have hit value vs. Milwaukee, which bodes well for Zach Lavine ($7,100) as long as he's healthy from an ankle injury. That could give Tomas Satoransky ($5,000) value in the same spot.

Forwards

Will Barton (DK: $6,600 FD: $7,400 Y!: $22)

His price is climbing to an uncomfortably high level but this may be the last time to get in on Will Barton for the time being at least. The reason Barton becomes a must-play tonight is because Denver has a nice matchup with the up-paced Nets. Brooklyn is 2nd in the league in possessions per game but also has the 4th worst defensive efficiency. Barton has gone for 40+ fantasy points in consecutive games and has at least 36 in four straight since returning from an injury. What you like is that he gets shots (16+ the last two) but also is good on the boards, with at least 7 in each of the last four.

Sterling Brown (DK: $4,400 FD: $4,300 Y!: $10)

Value play on Sterling Brown of the Bucks who is expected to slide into the swing position in the wake of Khris Middleton missing the next 3-4 weeks with a thigh injury. Even in limited minutes, Brown has posted consecutive 20+ point fantasy games. He had 8 boards in 23 minutes last Friday vs. Utah and made 5 of 9 shots Sunday vs. the Thunder. Milwaukee has a very favorable matchup with the Bulls in a game that has a betting total of 230.5.

JaMychal Green (DK: $4000 FD: $3900 Y! $10)

Good matchup for JaMychal Green who has been in a perfect lineup in the last two games. Green did play 32 minutes last night vs. Houston, but Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams both went for 40+ and Montrezl Harrell had 37. If he can muster the energy, New Orleans has the 3rd worst defensive efficiency in the league. The Pelicans also run the 3rd highest pace - which might be good or bad with the Clippers on 0 days rest. Green has double digit rebounds in three straight, and has 11+ field goal attempts in the last two.

🏀👍👍 Other Likes / Dislikes 👍👍🏀

That price really soared on Jabari Parker ($7,200) but he has 40+ fantasy points in 2 of the last 3 and had 53 the last time he played Phoenix. If the money is available, Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700) has gone for 60+ fantasy points in 6 straight and gets an even bigger usage and production boost with Khris Middleton out of the lineup.

Center

Wendell Carter, Jr. (DK: $5,600, FD; $6,600 Y!:$17 )

Good price tag on Wendell Carter, Jr. for Chicago tonight against Milwaukee who is 4th in the league in pace. Carter should see more of a role in the Bulls offense as Otto Porter, Jr. continues to sit and Zach Lavine missing practice Wednesday but probable with an ankle injury. The Bucks are the #1 offensive rebounding team in the NBA, but that's due mostly to there being so many chances with the amount of shots they fire up. Milwaukee is 24th in defensive rebounding, which bodes well for Carter, Jr. who is averaging 14 his last two games. He'll likely see some time against old teammate Robin Lopez as well and that familiarity can't hurt Carter's offensive production. Carter does have a thumb sprain though, so make sure to check out the LineStar lineup optimizer for real-time injury updates.

🏀👍 Other Likes / Dislikes 👍🏀

He's been called 'fat boy' and 'chubs' and a few other choice monikers in the LineStar chat but many feel that Nikola Jokic ($8,600) could finally have a breakout night vs. the Brooklyn front court. Kristaps Porzingis ($6,900) didn't do much vs. the Celtics last game, but he's up against his old squad the Knicks tonight and at the Garden.

8 games coming up on Friday in what has been a very bountiful NBA week. Make sure to check out that LineStar chat tonight for some valuable insight and angles from fellow DFS aficionados. You can also follow me, Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports), on Twitter for more daily fantasy and sports betting talk.

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🔥 SuperDraft Multiplier Must-Play

Today's SuperDraft multiplier must-play is Luka Doncic. He has 20+ field goal attempts in 3 of the last 4 games and should see huge assists numbers getting Kristaps Porzingis the ball back at Madison Square Garden.

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Get 3-months of LineStar Premium for new users to SuperDraft who deposit/play $10!

Terms: Partnership offers do NOT renew. See SuperDraft landing page for full terms and conditions. Must be a new user to SuperDraft and deposit and play a minimum of $10 to qualify. If you have an existing LineStar Premium subscription you get a Hat/Tee/Pen combo instead of the 3-months.