The NBA in-season tournament takes a break and with it we get 11 games on today's main slate featuring the teams that won't be heading off to Las Vegas. This slate is loaded with top end talent such as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic whom are both coming off monster performances in their last games. As always, make sure you pay attention to the news throughout the day as there isn't a ton of value currently available on today's main slate. 

NBA DFS Tools to dominate tonight's NBA DFS slate!

Make sure to check out today's NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections before finalizing your lineups today. We also have the NBA Consistency Report to help identify players that have exceeded value based off their current price tag this season and of course our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!

 

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Notable NBA Injury Updates

Out

Questionable

Teams on Back-to-Backs

  • None

Pace Up Spots

Pace definition: Pace is the total number of possessions a team uses in a game.

*key* Green is elite pace of play, Blue is decent pace of play, & Red is slow pace of play.

Green = Fast Paced team

Blue = Neutral Paced team

Red = Slow Paced team

Notable NBA Game Totals

Top Tier Core Plays

Joel Embiid, C Philadelphia 76ers

It's hard not to play Nikola Jokic after he nearly dropped 90 FP in his last start but Embiid is cheaper and has a matchup against the Wizards in which he already saw him drop 75 fantasy points against them this season. Embiid is averaging close to 70 FP over the last three games in which he faced the Lakers, Thunder and Cavaliers who offer up a much tougher test than he will have tonight.

Trae Young, PG Atlanta Hawks

With Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. now active we pivot from Luka to Young here today in the top of the core plays. Its not that I don't still like Luka but that game against Utah likely becomes far less competitive. Here we have the Hawks at home in a game with the highest total on the board in a spot where we saw Trae nearly go for 70 FP earlier this season. Atlanta is playing in a ton of high scoring games of late and Young has been a monster.

Desmond Bane, SG/SF Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies continue to be down bodies and that means the scoring falls directly onto the shoulders of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. JJJ has been inconsistent at best but Bane has been an absolute stud, averaging 45 FP over the last three games and now has a matchup against a Pistons team who ranks among the worst defensive teams in the NBA and Memphis is in a pace up spot.

Victor Wembanyama, PF/C San Antonio Spurs

I'm a sucker for the talent here. We only need around 45 FP for 5x return on Wembanyama and we've seen him pretty consistently hit the 50 FP mark this season which includes a prior matchup against these same Timberwolves where he scored 29 points with nine rebounds, four assists, four blocks and one steal. He also had five fouls in that game so the hope here is that he doesn't let Towns bully him around and keep him off the floor.

Mid-Tier Core Plays

Dejounte Murray, PG/SG Atlanta Hawks

The game has a 240 total and you can really play anyone you want but why not take the discount here with Murray who is back to giving us over 40 fantasy points after a short stretch where he struggled to get things going. We know Trae Young is going to do his thing but part of Young doing his thing is also seeing him get double-digit assists. Murray is benefiting and when on the floor without Trae he is taking over. I love this spot for Murray here today at the price point.

Cam Thomas, PG/SG Brooklyn Nets

Getting more action in this game he have an absolute bucket and the cover of today's playbook. The Hawks are allowing a ton of points to opposing teams and play at a great pace. Thomas played 38 minutes in his second game back from injury so we can feel comfortable knowing there are no limitations here. Love the scoring upside at the price tag.

John Collins, PF/C Utah Jazz

Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen are both out again. We got a ceiling scoring game from Collins over the weekend as he finished with over 40 FP against the Trail Blazers. The Mavericks are a bit beat up in their front court and the shot and rebounding opportunities should be there for Collins this evening.

Coby White, PG/SG Chicago Bulls

Zach LaVine is already ruled out and Coby White has been a scoring machine of late, averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists over the past four games. Tonight he draws a great pace matchup against the Hornets who struggle defensively and tend to play in high scoring contests. I look for White to continue his hot shooting here in this matchup.

Value Tier Core Plays

Collin Sexton, PG/SG Utah Jazz

There really isn't a ton of value currently on this slate so we look to Sexton who just scored 25 actual points in Utah's last game and someone that I feel that we can rely on to see good minutes with Jordan Clarkson out of the lineup. The price isn't what it use to be so the upside isn't great unless we get another ceiling game but I think the floor here is pretty safe.

Bojan Bogdanovic, SG Detroit Pistons

Welcome back Bojan! Coming off the bench he immediately played 27 minutes and scored 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting while going 3-of-10 from three-point range. We know Bogdanovic is not a great contributor of secondary stats, he can get you a few rebounds and assists while providing the spacing and scoring that the Pistons lineup has lacked this season on a consistent basis.

Dereck Lively II / Derrick Jones Jr. Dallas Mavericks

Both Mavs players are coming off some strong games. The rookie Lively had the best game of his career against the Thunder, scoring 20 points with 16 rebounds, seven blocks and one steal. Now, its unlikely we get another seven block game but the matchup against the Jazz is a favorable one and we know the kid can catch the lob and rebound. For Jones, we've never seen him shoot like this but teams weren't asking him to shoot like this either. With the injuries to the Mavericks the team is looking for that guy to help Doncic on the offensive end and for the past few games that has been Jones.

UPDATE: BOTH Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. are active for today's slate. This downgrades both slightly as less shot attempts may be available. I'd still lean Lively over Jones Jr. if picking one. 

Vince Williams Jr., SF Memphis Grizzlies

Grande put us all on Williams a few slates back when he played 20 minutes and since then the minutes have only gone up, playing 26 and 30 minutes over the past tow games while going for 35 and 21 fantasy points. There aren't many viable plays in the 4k range here today but Williams certainly checks the box as a guy we should be looking at here against the Pistons.

Jabari Walker / Duop Reath Portland Trail Blazers

With Deandre Ayton doubtful and Jerami Grande already ruled out tonight both Walker and Reath figure to be mighty popular given the limited value plays on the board. Reath has been the backup center and likely gets the start while Walker should be starting at the power forward spot. Both have decent upside but also low floors. Ownership will dictate just how much exposure we plan on getting.

Don't Miss Today's Livestream at 5pm ET

The grid below will be updated prior to today's livestream and updated based on breaking news!

Roster Lock Updates

  • Mark Williams is OUT –  Boost to value in P.J. Washington and Nick Richards
  • Jordan Poole IS ACTIVE
  • Bojan Bogdanovic IS STARTING

Player Pool

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Stacks

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