Welcome to our NBA DFS Playbook for Wednesday, October 29, 2025, where we're breaking down the action-packed main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. With 10 thrilling matchups on tap, including high-profile clashes like the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the Boston Celtics on ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers battling the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Houston Rockets facing the Toronto Raptors in an early tip-off, and intriguing cross-conference showdowns such as the Orlando Magic taking on the Detroit Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks clashing with the Brooklyn Nets, this slate promises plenty of fantasy fireworks. 
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Whether you're chasing value plays, stacking high-upside studs, or navigating the latest injury news, we've got the picks, projections, lineup strategies, and insights to help you cash in big tonight. Let's lock in those rosters and get to the analysis!
 

 

 

Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.

  • News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
  • Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
  • Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
  • NBA DFS Projections
  • Lineup Generator
  • NBA Ownership

NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, October 28th

Be sure to like and subscribe to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel!

 

 

 

Pre/Post-Lock Update

This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock. 

Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.

All status updates after contest roster lock will be made in the Fantasy Alarm Discord: https://discord.gg/2yATJxXe8G

 

6:30 pm ET UPDATE

  • Donovan Mitchell said HE WILL PLAY
  • Jalen Green Ruled Out

 

6:10 pm ET UPDATE

  • Donovan Mitchell is a GTD – Will try to play with hamstring tightness. 
    • DeAndre Hunter, Lonzo Ball, Craig Porter all get bumped if Mitchell is ruled out.

NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 10/29 

(As of 11am ET, see latest updates above)

Injuries 10/29

HOU:
Fred VanVleet - Out
Dorian Finney-Smith - Out

TOR:
Jakob Poeltl - Out

CLE:
Sam Merrill - Out
Darius Garland - Out
Max Strus - Out

BOS:
Jaylen Brown - Probable
Jayson Tatum - Out

ORL:
Moe Wagner - Out

DET:
Ausar Thompson - Questionable
Caris LeVert - Questionable
Marcus Sasser - Questionable
Jaden Ivey - Out

ATL:
Jalen Johnson - Probable
Zaccharie Risacher - Probable

BKN:
Ziaire Williams - Out
Haywood Highsmith - Out

SAC:
Yet to submit

CHI:
Coby White - Out
Zach Collins - Out

IND:
Taelon Peter - Doubtful
Andrew Nembhard - Out
Johnny Furphy - Out
Bennedict Mathurin - Out
Tyrese Haliburton - Out
TJ McConnell - Out
Obi Toppin - Out
Kam Jones - Out

DAL:
Anthony Davis - Probable
Dereck Lively - Doubtful
Daniel Gafford - Doubtful
Brandon Williams - Questionable
Kyrie Irving - Out
Dante Exum - Out

NOP:
Zion Williamson - Questionable
Dejounte Murray - Out
Kevon Looney - Out

DEN:
Cameron Johnson - Questionable

POR:
Matisse Thybulle - Questionable
Damian Lillard - Out
Scoot Henderson - Out
Robert Williams - Out

UTA:
Jusuf Nurkic - Questionable
Isaiah Collier - Out
Georges Niang - Out

LAL:
Marcus Smart - Out
Jaxson Hayes - Out
Luka Doncic - Out
LeBron James - Out
Gabe Vincent - Out
Maxi Kleber - Out

MIN:
Jaylen Clark - Questionable
Anthony Edwards - Out

MEM:
Santi Aldama - Questionable
Vince Williams - Questionable
Ty Jerome - Out
Scotty Pippen Jr. - Out
Brandon Clarke - Out
Zach Edey - Out

PHX:
Jalen Green - Questionable
Dillon Brooks - Out

h/t Underdog

 

 

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads. Not every game is listed, but every game listed has the pace and defensive numbers listed.

 

 

NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks

Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.

High

Mid

Value

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Stacks

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