NBA Daily Fantasy Picks & Playbook February 22
Published: Feb 22, 2024
The NBA All-Star break is over and we are back with 10 games on Thursday's NBA DFS main slate. This 10 game slate is full of absolute banger matchups which includes the Phoenix Suns vs Dallas Mavericks which has a 244 game total and Los Angeles Clippers against the Oklahoma City Thunder. We also have a slate high 247 game total between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers which figures to be a popular game from a rostership standpoint.
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 on their current price tag this season and of course our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!
Check out today's NBA DFS Playbook Preview Show
Notable NBA Injury Updates
Out
- DONOVAN MITCHELL
- BRANDON INGRAM
- BRADLEY BEAL
- Julius Randle
- OG Anunoby
- Aaron Nesmith
- Tari Eason
- Patrick Williams
- Torrey Craig
- Markelle Fultz
Questionable
- LaMelo Ball
- Donovan Mitchell
- Brandon Ingram
- Tobias Harris
- Donte DiVincenzo
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Kyle Kuzma
- Bradley Beal
- Isaiah Hartenstein
- De'Anthony Melton
- Bojan Bogdanovic
- Al Horford
- Ben Simmons
- Isaiah Stewart
- Dante Exum
- Nicolas Batum
- Xavier Tillman
- Kelly Olynyk
- Jalen Suggs
- Maxi Kleber
- Jalen Smith
- Quentin Grimes
Teams on Back-to-Backs
Second Leg
- None
First Leg
- Charlotte Hornets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Denver Nuggets
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Clippers
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Phoenix Suns
- Toronto Raptors
- Washington Wizards
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
- Orlando Magic 25th vs Cleveland Cavaliers 21st
- Detroit Pistons 7th vs Indiana Pacers 2nd
- New York Knicks 29th vs Philadelphia 76ers 13th
- Brooklyn Nets 23rd vs Toronto Raptors 14th
- Phoenix Suns 15th vs Dallas Mavericks 8th
- Boston Celtics 19th vs Chicago Bulls 30th
- Houston Rockets 17th vs New Orleans Pelicans 16th
- Los Angeles Clippers 22nd vs Oklahoma City Thunder 10th
- Washington Wizards 1st vs Denver Nuggets 28th
- Charlotte Hornets 20th vs Utah Jazz 9th
Notable NBA Game Totals
- Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers -7.5 (216.5)
- Detroit Pistons vs Indiana Pacers -11.5 (247)
- New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers -1 (226)
- Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors -2.5 (231.5)
- Phoenix Suns vs Dallas Mavericks -3 (244)
- Boston Celtics vs Chicago Bulls +8 (226)
- Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans -7 (227)
- Los Angeles Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder -2 (237.5)
- Washington Wizards vs Denver Nuggets -15 (230.5)
- Charlotte Hornets vs Utah Jazz -9.5 (232.5)
Top-Price Core Plays
Luka Doncic, PG Dallas Mavericks
What more really needs to be said about Luka here? We have a game with a 240+ game total and what is expected to be a competitive game. Doncic has flashed 70-80 fantasy point upside in recent contests and he has thrashed the Suns this season in their head-to-head matchups, averaging 42 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists per game.
Kevin Durant & Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
On the flip side of that matchup we have both Durant and Booker who are decently priced given the matchup and their respective ceilings. If I had to pick one to build my core lineups around tonight I'd lean Durant but I can easily see both Suns stars going for 50+ fantasy points tonight.
Tyrese Haliburton, PG Indiana Pacers
He is a $10,000 player on DraftKings that is just being priced too cheap for a guy that should be a lock for a double-double tonight in this matchup against the Pistons. One thing we talk a lot about is how the Pistons manage to cover the spread which should mean a full run of minutes for Haliburton here this evening in a great matchup.
Jalen Brunson, PG New York Knicks
If you are looking to save a little bit of cash from Haliburton then go check out Jalen Brunson. The Knicks guard is still the “whole show” in New York with Julius Randle injured. His usage rate is insane and he hasn't missed a beat when it comes to his overall production. The 76ers are not a great defensive team, especially without Joel Embiid in the paint.
Mid-Price Core Plays
Lauri Markkanen, SF/PF Utah Jazz
He is the cover of the playbook as we look to get a lot of exposure to this matchup between the Hornets and Jazz tonight. Markkanen has shown a really nice ceiling this year, including a game against these same Hornets and while his recent production has been a bit inconsistent, I just don't see who the Hornets have that will match him on their defensive end of the court.
Cade Cunningham, PG Detroit Pistons
We were paying more for Cade earlier this season when he was in full takeover mode. Then he got hurt and the price tag has come down. This matchup is a perfect spot to go back to the well where we could be looking at a 50+ fantasy point performance if he takes it to the Pacers in this game.
Zion Williamson, PF New Orleans Pelicans
Another guy that we go back and forth on, Williams has shown the ceiling we've been asking for of late and the price tag isn't rising which is even better. If we will continue to see him in this range while he scores and fills out the stat sheet he will be a nightly lock into my cash and GPP lineups.
The Jazz have been running a big lineup but this matchup against the Hornets could lead to them going a bit “smaller” with Collins playing over Walker Kessler if the Hornets decide to play their “small ball” lineup. Either way we've been getting double-double production from Collins as long as he is seeing 28+ minutes and I can't really see him not getting that playing time tonight unless he is in foul trouble.
Brandon Miller, SG Charlotte Hornets
We could go a few different ways with the Hornets tonight and while Miles Bridges has been the more consistent player with the higher ceiling we are getting a decent discount in a spot where I could see Brandon Miller being the one to thrive as he looks to score against the likes of the Jazz backcourt grouping.
Buddy Hield, SG/SF Philadelphia 76ers
Hield has taken on a completely new roe with the 76ers which has resulted in him becoming more of a complete player than a guy asked to stand in the corner and wait for the basketball. Prior to the break we saw Hield notch a 10 assist game while continuing to score at a high rate. This price tag is too cheap if THIS is the Hield we will continue to get.
Value Tier Core Plays
Darius Garland, PG Cleveland Cavaliers
Oh boy, on DraftKings this is just too cheap for what his ceiling can be. Now, he would be an automatic play if Donovan Mitchell was ruled out but either way he has 5x potential just but being on the floor given his double-double upside. – Mitchell is OUT – MUST PLAY
Tre Mann, PG Charlotte Hornets
Mann has taken over as the starting point guard with LaMelo Ball out with an injury and he has thrived in the role. Now, we discussed on the preview show that Mann has been wildly efficient when it comes to his assists conversion rate and while we do think there could be some regression coming, this is an elite spot for him to keep producing at an elite level.
Speaking of elite upside. It's clear the Jazz are turning the reins over to their first round pick as he moves back into the starting lineup. George started slow this year, struggling to score, but he has been a much better shooter lately and he is a guard that fills up the stat sheet. Getting him at his price on DK and FD is a great value.
Simone Fontecchio, SF/PF Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are still without Isaiah Stewart after his three game suspension so the hope here is that Fontecchio will continue to benefit from the open rotation minutes. His ability to spread the floor with his new team is something we want to keep taking tabs on because we've seen what his upside can be now that he gets to be a volume shooter.
Trey Murphy, SG/SF New Orleans Pelicans
With Brandon Ingram out we likely see Murphy move into the starting lineup. We've seen Murphy have a lot of success as a starter given his high volume shooting and scoring upside.
Tune into the 5pm ET Livestream
ROSTER LOCK UPDATES
Donovan Mitchell is OUT
- Darius Garland is a CORE PLAY
- Evan Mobley is a T1 play for me tonight
Brandon Ingram is OUT
- Trey Murphy should start, nice scoring upside
- Herb Jones is a great pivot off of Murphy, has great upside thanks to defensive stats.
Bradley Beal is OUT
- Eric Gordon is starting in his place
- Gordon, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale all have increased GPP upside.
Player Pool
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Stacks
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