Eleven games makes for a real NBA DFS slate, and on DraftKings and FanDuel that means more pivots and less pressure to eat every piece of chalk. Utah at Memphis has the top total on the board at 242.5 and the fastest projected pace. The injury story is in Portland, where Deni Avdija is questionable with a sore ankle in the late window, and Tyrese Haliburton is back in our minutes for Indiana.
All Games
| Game | Tip (ET) | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Away Total | Home Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL at ORL | 7:00 PM | ORL -2.5 | ATL +110 / ORL -130 | 233.5 | ATL 115.5 | ORL 118.0 |
| MIL at WSH | 7:00 PM | WSH -4.5 | MIL +145 / WSH -175 | 238.5 | MIL 117.0 | WSH 121.5 |
| CHA at BKN | 7:30 PM | CHA -1.5 | CHA -118 / BKN -102 | 219.5 | CHA 110.5 | BKN 109.0 |
| CHI at TOR | 7:30 PM | TOR -10.5 | CHI +340 / TOR -440 | 237.5 | CHI 113.5 | TOR 124.0 |
| MIN at MIA | 7:30 PM | MIA -1.5 | MIN +102 / MIA -122 | 240.5 | MIN 119.5 | MIA 121.0 |
| IND at NO | 8:00 PM | IND -3.5 | IND -155 / NO +130 | 239.5 | IND 121.5 | NO 118.0 |
| UTAH at MEM | 8:00 PM | MEM -1.5 | UTAH +105 / MEM -125 | 242.5 | UTAH 120.5 | MEM 122.0 |
| DAL at HOU | 8:30 PM | HOU -9.5 | DAL +340 / HOU -440 | 230.5 | DAL 110.5 | HOU 120.0 |
| GS at LAL | 10:00 PM | LAL -6.5 | GS +190 / LAL -230 | 233.5 | GS 113.5 | LAL 120.0 |
| PHX at POR | 10:00 PM | POR -2.5 | PHX +120 / POR -142 | 231.5 | PHX 114.5 | POR 117.0 |
| SAC at LAC | 10:30 PM | LAC -4.5 | SAC +154 / LAC -185 | 227.5 | SAC 111.5 | LAC 116.0 |
Green is the best scoring spot on the slate, yellow is the middle and red is the weakest. A green spread means a close game.
Four games sit at 238.5 or higher and three of them have spreads of 3.5 or less, so the early and middle windows are where the points are.
Injury Report
| Impact | Player | Status | Role in doubt | Who benefits (with to without) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Deni Avdija (POR F) | Questionable, right ankle | 33.5 MIN, 29.5% USG, 24.3/6.8/6.6 | Vit Krejci (G, $3,200): MIN 12.5 to 21.9, USG 16.8% to 14.2%; Caleb Love (G): MIN 19.7 to 25.1, USG 22.5% to 25.6%; Robert Williams III (C): MIN 17.0 to 19.5, USG 12.7% to 17.0% |
| 8 | Stephen Curry (GS G) | Probable, ankle | 31.2 MIN, 32.6% USG, 26.5/3.5/4.7 | Gui Santos (F, $4,900): MIN 14.0 to 27.7, USG 15.2% to 20.8% |
| 8 | Brandon Ingram (LAC F) | Out, Achilles | 33.5 MIN, 26.9% USG, 20.9/5.4/3.6 | Derrick Jones Jr. (F, $4,800): 26.9 MIN, 15.3% USG last season |
| 8 | Kon Knueppel (CHA G) | Out, hamstring | 31.5 MIN, 22.4% USG, 18.3/5.3/3.3 | Sion James (G, $3,300): 22.3 MIN, 11.1% USG last season |
| 7 | Brandin Podziemski (GS G) | Out, back | 28.7 MIN, 20.2% USG, 14.0/5.2/3.6 | De'Anthony Melton (G, $5,200): 23.1 MIN, 25.3% USG last season |
| 7 | Anthony Black (ORL G) | Out, ankle | 29.6 MIN, 21.7% USG, 14.2/3.8/3.5 | Jamal Cain (F, $3,100): MIN 11.5 to 18.5, USG 16.0% to 16.1%; Tristan da Silva (F, $4,300): MIN 22.4 to 29.0, USG 15.8% to 17.2%; Jevon Carter (G, $3,000): MIN 15.2 to 21.6, USG 15.7% to 16.3% |
| 7 | Santi Aldama (DAL F) | Out, knee | 27.8 MIN, 20.1% USG, 14.0/6.7/2.9 | Cooper Flagg (F, $9,200): 33.6 MIN, 27.0% USG last season |
| 6 | T.J. McConnell (IND G) | Out, right hamstring | 17.2 MIN, 23.8% USG, 9.4/2.2/5.1 | Quenton Jackson (G, $3,000): MIN 16.4 to 21.9, USG 18.9% to 24.3% |
Questionable: check before lock
- Deni Avdija is questionable for the 10 PM ET game. If he plays, he's a fine GPP play at $8,200 and the Portland punts lose some juice. If he sits, Vit Krejci at $3,200 becomes a late swap target, since his minutes jumped from 12.5 to 21.9 without Avdija last season.
- Stephen Curry is listed probable with an ankle injury, and our numbers have him at about 32 minutes for $7,500. If he plays, he's a strong cash option. If he sits, Gui Santos at $4,900 gets a bigger role, since his minutes went from 14.0 to 27.7 without Curry last season.
- Collin Sexton is questionable for the Lakers. If he sits, more of the ball goes to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, which only helps the Luka build.
Full report, updated all day: NBA injury report for DFS
Games to Target
Utah at Memphis: 242.5 total, MEM -1.5
Team totals: UTAH 120.5, MEM 122.0. Pace: UTAH 2nd, MEM 4th, last season, an up-in-pace game.
Injury report: Jusuf Nurkic (Out, foot), Isaiah Stewart (Day-To-Day, ankle).
Expected starters: UTAH: Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jaxson Hayes. MEM: Ty Jerome, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey.
The angle: This is the top total and the fastest projected game on the slate. It's the cash game, and the Utah side is where the field is going.
- Lauri Markkanen put up 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in 34.4 minutes a night last season, and our numbers have him at about 35 again in the fastest game on the board. At $7,200 he'll be popular. I love him here anyway.
- Keyonte George averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists last season and should play about 36 minutes. Darryn Peterson now has about 27 minutes in our numbers, so George won't have the ball every trip. I still like this spot a good bit.
- At $6,400, Jaren Jackson Jr. comes with about 31 minutes and a 19.4/5.7 line with 1.4 blocks from last season. Foul trouble is the risk here: he's second on the slate in foul risk. He's still solid at the price.
- Ty Jerome is the Memphis guard people will find. He averaged 19.7 points and 5.7 assists in only 22.7 minutes over 15 games last season, and our minutes have him near 23 tonight at $6,100. That per-minute scoring plays in a game this fast. I like him in GPPs.
- Zach Edey jumped to about 25 minutes in our numbers, right where he was last season, when he put up 13.6 and 11.1 over 11 games. He does carry real foul trouble risk. At $6,500 and low owned, he's a fine GPP center.
- Jaxson Hayes is the cheap piece at $4,300. He played 18.3 minutes a night for the Lakers last season, and with Nurkic out he should see about 24 here. I like him for salary relief.
Matchups to target: Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ty Jerome
Matchups to avoid: None
Indiana at New Orleans: 239.5 total, IND -3.5
Team totals: IND 121.5, NO 118.0. Pace: IND 9th, NO 11th, last season, a neutral game.
Injury report: T.J. McConnell (Out, hamstring), Aaron Nesmith (Out, hamstring).
Expected starters: IND: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Kelly Oubre Jr., Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac. NO: Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Zion Williamson, Yves Missi.
The angle: The third-highest total on the slate, with Indiana tied for the third-best team total at 121.5. Siakam makes this a cash game, and the Pelicans side is the leverage.
- Pascal Siakam averaged 24.0/6.6/3.8 in 33.2 minutes last season and should play about 34 here. He's one of the most popular plays on the slate at $7,400, and I get why. He's a cash play for me.
- Tyrese Haliburton is back in our minutes at about 29. He hasn't played since June 2025, and in that last season he averaged 18.3 points and 9.1 assists in 33.6 minutes, playoffs included. The minutes are the worry in his first game back, so watch how they settle on the NBA rotations and minutes tracker. At $8,400 and barely owned, he's a GPP swing.
- Ivica Zubac should play about 32 minutes after a 14.1 and 10.6 line in 30.2 minutes last season. Few people are on him at $7,200. I like this spot a good bit for GPPs.
- Trey Murphy III averaged 21.5 points with 3.2 threes in 35.5 minutes last season, and our numbers have him near 33 tonight. At $7,200 almost nobody is playing him. I love him as leverage.
- Zion Williamson put up 21.0 and 5.7 in 29.7 minutes last season and should play about 28 here. He's barely owned at $6,700. I like him in GPPs.
- Jalen Slawson and Quenton Jackson were the cheap Pacers this morning, but both now have about five minutes in our numbers. I do not like either of them at $3,000.
Matchups to target: Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson
Matchups to avoid: Jalen Slawson, Quenton Jackson
Minnesota at Miami: 240.5 total, MIA -1.5
Team totals: MIN 119.5, MIA 121.0. Pace: MIN 10th, MIA 1st, last season, an up-in-pace game.
Injury report: Donte DiVincenzo (Out, Achilles).
Expected starters: MIN: LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert. MIA: Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo.
The angle: Miami has the fastest pace rating in the league and this game is a pick'em, yet it's one of the least owned games on the slate. This is the GPP game.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo is $10,000 and the field is light on him. He averaged 27.6/9.8/5.4 in just 28.9 minutes over 36 games last season, and our numbers have him near 31 tonight. Man, that per-minute production in a pace-up spot. I love him in GPPs.
- Anthony Edwards averaged 28.8 points with 3.4 threes in 35.0 minutes last season and should play about 37 here. At $8,800 he's low owned for a player who can win a slate by himself. I like him a lot.
- Bam Adebayo went for 20.1 and 10.0 in 32.4 minutes last season, and almost nobody is on him at $8,500. The price is the worry. He's a leverage play for GPPs only.
- LaMelo Ball dropped to about 28 minutes in our numbers, the same as he played in Charlotte last season, when he averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists. He also carries real foul trouble risk. At $7,900 I'm moving him to GPPs only.
- Rudy Gobert now has about 30 minutes, close to the 31.3 he played last season with a 10.9 and 11.5 line. At $6,200 he's a cheap way into the game. He's solid.
- Jaden McDaniels has the highest foul risk on the slate and about 32 minutes. At $6,100 that's too much risk for what he gives you. I'd pass.
Matchups to target: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo
Matchups to avoid: Jaden McDaniels
Game to fade: Charlotte at Brooklyn. It's the lowest total on the slate at 219.5 and the only game that rates as slow on our NBA pace stats, with both teams in the bottom five in pace rating. It's also the most owned game on the slate, mostly through the cheap Charlotte guards, so fading it is the easiest way to be different in GPPs.
Top Plays by Position
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Luka Doncic | LAL vs GS | $11,000 | GPP |
| PG | 2 | Darius Garland | LAC vs SAC | $7,000 | Cash |
| PG | 3 | Josh Giddey | CHI at TOR | $8,600 | GPP |
| PG | 4 | Stephen Curry | GS at LAL | $7,500 | Cash |
| SG | 1 | Anthony Edwards | MIN at MIA | $8,800 | GPP |
| SG | 2 | RJ Barrett | TOR vs CHI | $6,100 | Cash |
| SG | 3 | Jalen Green | PHX at POR | $6,300 | Cash |
| SG | 4 | Tyler Herro | MIL at WSH | $7,000 | GPP |
| SF | 1 | Kawhi Leonard | TOR vs CHI | $7,400 | Cash |
| SF | 2 | Brandon Miller | CHA at BKN | $7,500 | Cash |
| SF | 3 | Deni Avdija | POR vs PHX | $8,200 | GPP |
| SF | 4 | Lauri Markkanen | UTAH at MEM | $7,200 | Cash |
| PF | 1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIA vs MIN | $10,000 | GPP |
| PF | 2 | Jalen Johnson | ATL at ORL | $9,000 | Cash |
| PF | 3 | Anthony Davis | WSH vs MIL | $7,600 | Cash |
| PF | 4 | Paolo Banchero | ORL vs ATL | $8,700 | Cash |
| C | 1 | Domantas Sabonis | SAC at LAC | $7,700 | Cash |
| C | 2 | Bam Adebayo | MIA vs MIN | $8,500 | GPP |
| C | 3 | Ivica Zubac | IND at NO | $7,200 | GPP |
| C | 4 | Donovan Clingan | POR vs PHX | $7,300 | GPP |
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Luka Doncic | LAL vs GS | $11,700 | GPP |
| PG | 2 | Darius Garland | LAC vs SAC | $7,400 | Cash |
| PG | 3 | Josh Giddey | CHI at TOR | $8,100 | GPP |
| PG | 4 | Devin Booker | PHX at POR | $8,000 | GPP |
| SG | 1 | Anthony Edwards | MIN at MIA | $8,500 | Cash |
| SG | 2 | Austin Reaves | LAL vs GS | $7,700 | Cash |
| SG | 3 | Ty Jerome | MEM vs UTAH | $6,800 | GPP |
| SG | 4 | RJ Barrett | TOR vs CHI | $6,600 | GPP |
| SF | 1 | Cooper Flagg | DAL at HOU | $9,600 | GPP |
| SF | 2 | Kawhi Leonard | TOR vs CHI | $9,000 | GPP |
| SF | 3 | Brandon Miller | CHA at BKN | $7,600 | Cash |
| SF | 4 | Lauri Markkanen | UTAH at MEM | $7,700 | Cash |
| PF | 1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIA vs MIN | $11,200 | GPP |
| PF | 2 | Anthony Davis | WSH vs MIL | $10,000 | GPP |
| PF | 3 | Jalen Johnson | ATL at ORL | $9,700 | GPP |
| PF | 4 | Paolo Banchero | ORL vs ATL | $8,400 | Cash |
| C | 1 | Domantas Sabonis | SAC at LAC | $8,100 | Cash |
| C | 2 | Alperen Sengun | HOU vs DAL | $8,900 | GPP |
| C | 3 | Bam Adebayo | MIA vs MIN | $8,000 | GPP |
| C | 4 | Ivica Zubac | IND at NO | $6,100 | Cash |
Anthony Davis is the big split between the two sites: $7,600 on DraftKings and $10,000 on FanDuel, so he's a cash play on one and a tournament play on the other. Kawhi Leonard has the same gap, $7,400 against $9,000. Ivica Zubac goes the other way at $6,100 on FanDuel, where he's a cash center instead of a DraftKings pivot.
Every projection lives on today's NBA DFS projections, and you can build around these in the free NBA lineup optimizer.
Final Thoughts
My cash core is Anthony Davis, Darius Garland, Pascal Siakam and Lauri Markkanen. Davis is still the most popular big name on the slate at $7,600 with about 37 minutes, and I'm not fighting it in cash.
In GPPs, Minnesota at Miami is where I want to be. Giannis, Edwards and Bam are all low owned in a fast pick'em, and Trey Murphy III and Zion give you a second way off the chalk in New Orleans.
Before lock, check Avdija in Portland, Curry and Sexton in the late game in Los Angeles, and Haliburton's status in his first game back. The 10 PM ET games are your late swap window, so leave a little salary room there.
More slates in the NBA DFS articles archive.
Tools used for this slate
Every number in this playbook comes off the free BankrollSZN NBA tools: today's NBA DFS projections, the free NBA lineup optimizer, the NBA injury report for DFS, the NBA rotations and minutes tracker, and NBA pace stats.