We have nine games on tonight’s DFS NBA slate and we have a very high-scoring 231 predicted sports books total for Charlotte-Sacramento this evening. Some of the more impactful players who’ll be sidelined tonight include Khris Middleton, D’Angelo Russell, Lauri Markkanen and Jakob Poeltl. Let’s get to tonight’s Starting-5!

PG: LaMelo Ball: We need some exposure to Charlotte-Sacramento and Ball will have the most time of possession for the Hornets tonight. He banged his Hip but he shouldn’t be out of action this evening as he’s currently probable. Ball has scored over 52 DraftKings points in two of his last three games. The Kings defense isn’t great and with a very high sports-book total, we should see a lot of back and forth in this game. Both of these teams rank in the top 10 in pace. The Kings have been a bottom three team at defending point guards and Ball has taken at least 14 shots in all but one game this season. He’s shot 50 percent from the floor or better scoring 27-plus actual points in two of his last three contests. Ball is a four-category producer who has grabbed six steals total in his last two outings and he grabs and dishes at least six boards and dimes per game.

SG: Cade Cunningham: Cunningham has now played 29 or more minutes in his last two games and even though the Pistons played last night, there aren’t any reports of load management or a minutes restriction heading into tonight’s matchup against the Nets. The pace favors the Pistons and Killian Hayes may not play. It’s not as much the matchup itself that’s appealing about Cunningham, but the price point is just too good to pass up. He’s sub-5K on both FanDuel and DraftKings. He’s definitely going through an adjustment period finding his shot as he continues to struggle shooting the ball. Cunningham has taken 14 or more shots in his last two games. At least the shots are there for him! Cunningham posted a double-double last night and has grabbed 6.3 rebounds per game through three games played for him. Cunningham is also coming off of a four-assist game and he should be able to produce a few dimes tonight if Hayes is sidelined. 

SF: Buddy Hield: Back to the Kings-Hornets game we go as Hield is in a terrific match up against a weak midcourt and he’s been shooting over 40 percent from downtown. His shooting overall has been a bit up and down over the last few games, but he’ll once again take double-digit shots in this pace-up spot and unless it’s a blowout, which it shouldn’t be, he should play or come close to hitting the 30-minute mark tonight. Hield has grabbed steals and at least five rebounds in each of his last five games. If he can shoot over 40 percent from the floor tonight, we’ll get a good return because between the matchup itself and the high game total we should see a lot of points. We’re rarely seeing game totals eclipse 230 lately. The Hornets are third worst at defending mid-courts in the league.

PF: Wendell Carter Jr: Both Carter and Mo Bamba are in play tonight because with Jakob Poeltl out, the Spurs frontcourt is very much exposed and both Carter and Bamba have been able to take advantage of weaker frontcourts. Carter has been having more success scoring lately and he’s grabbed 13 or more boards in both of his last two contests. He’s taken double-digit field goals and dished three or more dimes in three of his last five contests. Carter has been scoring around 13 points per game. Carter doesn’t take a ton of three-pointers, but he’s shooting almost 39 percent from downtown. Overall, he shoots over 51 percent from the floor. After posting four double-doubles in his last five games, let’s test use him against one of the weakest frontcourts in the league in San Antonio. Remember, both of the Magic big men are in play tonight and Carter is the cheaper option of the two on Yahoo! and DraftKings.

C: Jarrett Allen: There is a buffet full of good center matchups on the slate this evening, but Allen has been scorching when it comes to production over his last couple of games and Toronto will have trouble containing both Allen and Evan Mobley from having their way in the lane. Allen has scored 24 points and grabbed 16 and 17 rebounds in his last two contests. Allen has taken 28 shots total in his last two matchups. Allen averages 1.09 fantasy points per minute with Lauri Markkanen off the floor and he’s played 35-plus in his last two games. Allen also not only blocks a shot per game, but he’s blocked four shots total in his last two games. Allen has swiped a ball in each of his last five games. The Cavs have been a surprising five and four team to start the year and their bigger lineup they’ve been rolling out has engineered that success and even with Markkanen out, they will continue feeding the bigs.