Saturday's NBA DFS main slate on DraftKings is only five games, so ownership will pile onto the same few value plays, and on FanDuel the main slate runs bigger. Washington at Chicago has the best scoring environment by a wide margin. The injury story is Dallas: Cooper Flagg and Santi Aldama are both out, and that opens a lot of minutes against the Spurs.
All Games
| Game | Tip (ET) | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Away Total | Home Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BKN at CLE | 7:30 PM | CLE -11.5 | BKN +380 / CLE -500 | 228.5 | BKN 108.5 | CLE 120.0 |
| MIL at PHI | 7:30 PM | PHI -12.5 | MIL +455 / PHI -625 | 234.5 | MIL 111.0 | PHI 123.5 |
| SA at DAL | 8:00 PM | SA -14.5 | SA -900 / DAL +600 | 229.5 | SA 122.0 | DAL 107.5 |
| WSH at CHI | 8:00 PM | CHI -2.5 | WSH +110 / CHI -130 | 244.5 | WSH 121.0 | CHI 123.5 |
| HOU at ATL | 8:30 PM | HOU -1.5 | HOU -112 / ATL -108 | 227.5 | HOU 114.5 | ATL 113.0 |
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.
Three of these five games have a spread of 11.5 or more, so the one game with a big total and a close line jumps off the board.
Injury Report
| Impact | Player | Status | Role in doubt | Who benefits (with to without) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | LeBron James (PHI F) | Out, back | 33.8 MIN, 27.8% USG, 21/6/7 | Justin Edwards (F, $3,000): 15.1 MIN, 16.2% USG; Jabari Walker (F, $3,000): 11.0 MIN, 15.0% USG |
| 9 | Cooper Flagg (DAL F) | Out, shoulder | 33.3 MIN, 27.1% USG, 21/7/5 | Naji Marshall (F, $4,800): MIN 29.3 to 30.9, USG 20.3% to 24.2%; Moussa Cisse (C, $3,500): MIN 13.5 to 15.0, USG 14.4% to 15.0% |
| 7 | Santi Aldama (DAL F) | Out, knee | 27.8 MIN, 20.1% USG, 14/7/3 | PJ Washington (F, $5,300): 31.0 MIN, 20.2% USG |
| 7 | Nic Claxton (CHI C) | Out, hamstring | 27.8 MIN, 17.8% USG, 12/7/4 | No clear split yet |
| 7 | Tobias Harris (SA F) | Out, calf | 29.0 MIN, 19.8% USG, 14/6/2 | Victor Wembanyama (F, $10,700): 30.4 MIN, 31.5% USG; Julian Champagnie (F, $4,600): 28.3 MIN, 14.8% USG |
| 6 | Reed Sheppard (HOU G) | Questionable, knee | 26.5 MIN, 22.1% USG, 13/3/4 | Amen Thompson (G, $7,400): 37.8 MIN, 20.2% USG |
| 6 | Steven Adams (HOU C) | Out, ankle | 22.4 MIN, 12.0% USG, 6/8/2 | Clint Capela (C, $3,400): MIN 9.7 to 13.1, USG 14.1% to 13.8%; Reed Sheppard (G, $4,800): MIN 24.8 to 27.4, USG 20.3% to 23.0%; Jae'Sean Tate (F, $3,000): MIN 7.1 to 9.3, USG 13.7% to 14.1% |
Questionable: check before lock
- Kyrie Irving is listed questionable for Dallas. If he plays, he's the best guard value in that game. If he sits, even more of the offense goes to Marshall.
- Dean Wade is questionable with a left ankle sprain and is expected to start for Philadelphia at $3,200. If he plays, he's real salary relief. If he sits, the forward minutes go to Justin Edwards at $3,000.
- Max Christie and Zaccharie Risacher are both questionable for Dallas. If either one sits, the other gets more minutes on a team that is already short.
Full report, updated all day: NBA injury report for DFS
Games to Target
Washington at Chicago: 244.5 total, CHI -2.5
Team totals: WSH 121.0, CHI 123.5. Pace: WSH 5th, CHI 1st, last season, an up-in-pace game.
Injury report: Nic Claxton (Out, hamstring), Jamir Watkins (Out, knee), Tristan Vukcevic (Out, hip).
Expected starters: WSH: Trae Young, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr. CHI: Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Jalen Smith.
The angle: This is the GPP game: the biggest total on the slate and a close spread, and the field is spending less here than in Dallas or Philadelphia.
- Trae Young has been a machine to start the year, with 22 points and 12 assists in 37 minutes against Toronto and 20 and 13 in 38 minutes against Milwaukee. Both teams are on the second night of a back-to-back, and a close game keeps him on the floor late. I love him here.
- Anthony Davis put up 34 points and 12 boards against Milwaukee, then gave us 9 and 9 in 32 minutes against Toronto. He swings that much from night to night. At $8,700 he's not as popular as his ceiling says he should be, and Chicago's frontcourt is thin without Claxton. I like him a lot in GPPs.
- Jalen Smith keeps the starting center job with Claxton out. He had 14 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes against Milwaukee and 15 and 8 in just 19 minutes against Toronto. His minutes went from 19 to 24 (you can follow that on the NBA rotations and minutes tracker), and $5,200 is cheap for a starting big in the fastest game of the night. He's solid in cash.
- Norman Powell took 20 shots and scored 25 points in 33 minutes against Milwaukee. That's real volume for $6,100. He won't be very popular next to the Washington guys. I like this spot a good bit.
- Caleb Wilson is the quiet one: 21 points in 33 minutes, then 16 in 32. At $7,100 he gets about 30 minutes, and few people will play him. He's a good GPP pivot off Davis if you want Chicago exposure.
- Josh Giddey has scored 6 and 2 points in his first two games, in 25 and 24 minutes. Chicago has the top pace rating in our NBA pace stats, but pace does not fix a minutes problem at $8,400. I'd pass.
Matchups to target: Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Jalen Smith, Norman Powell
Matchups to avoid: Josh Giddey
Milwaukee at Philadelphia: 234.5 total, PHI -12.5
Team totals: MIL 111.0, PHI 123.5. Pace: MIL 19th, PHI 7th, last season, a neutral game.
Injury report: LeBron James (Out, back), Dominick Barlow (Out, back), Dean Wade (Questionable, ankle).
Expected starters: MIL: Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner. PHI: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade, Joel Embiid.
The angle: This is the cash game. Philadelphia is rested while Milwaukee plays the second night of a back-to-back, and LeBron's usage has to go somewhere.
- Joel Embiid had 24 points in 34 minutes against Cleveland and a 13/11/6 line with three blocks against New York. With LeBron out, more of the halfcourt offense runs through him. The 12.5 point spread is the one worry, because a blowout can cut his fourth quarter. I'm playing him anyway.
- Tyrese Maxey has played 42 and 40 minutes, with 32 and 28 points. He should play about 38 minutes again, and he's the one guard on the slate whose minutes I don't have to think about. He's a strong cash play at $8,200.
- Jaylen Brown went 21/8/4 in 38 minutes and 19/8/6 in 35. LeBron's absence leaves more shots for him, and he's less popular than Embiid and Maxey. He's my pivot in this game.
- VJ Edgecombe had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in 33 minutes against Cleveland. The steals and boards give him a floor at $5,600. He's solid.
- Tyler Herro scored 34 on 24 shots against Chicago and 24 with 9 assists against Washington, both in 32 minutes. Milwaukee will be chasing all night, which helps his volume. The blowout risk is the problem. I like him in GPPs only.
- Kyle Kuzma had 14 and 9 against Chicago but only 5 points against Washington. At $4,400 on a back-to-back as a big underdog, I'd pass.
Matchups to target: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Tyler Herro
Matchups to avoid: Kyle Kuzma
San Antonio at Dallas: 229.5 total, SA -14.5
Team totals: SA 122.0, DAL 107.5. Pace: SA 16th, DAL 10th, last season, a neutral game.
Injury report: Cooper Flagg (Out, shoulder), Santi Aldama (Out, knee), Tobias Harris (Out, calf), Kyrie Irving (Questionable), Max Christie (Questionable, shin), Zaccharie Risacher (Questionable, hip).
Expected starters: SA: De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Victor Wembanyama. DAL: Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Naji Marshall, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford.
The angle: This is the injury game. The Dallas value is the chalk of the slate, and Wembanyama is the GPP play the field is skipping.
- Naji Marshall came off the bench for 15 points and 6 assists in 33 minutes against Indiana. Now he moves into the starting lineup with Flagg out, and his usage went from 20.3% to 24.2% in games without Flagg. He should play about 38 minutes at $4,800. That's the best value on the slate. Lock him into cash.
- PJ Washington had 20 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks in 33 minutes against Indiana. With Aldama out too, he should play about 36 minutes at $5,300. He's chalk, and that's fine. I love him in cash.
- Victor Wembanyama had 25 and 13 against Houston and 12 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks against Oklahoma City. Harris is out, so even more of the offense goes to him. The 14.5 point spread is the risk, because he could sit early. Hardly anyone will play him at $10,700, and that makes him my favorite GPP play on the slate.
- Kyrie Irving scored 24 with five threes in only 25 minutes against Indiana. He's listed questionable, so check the lineup before lock. If he plays, he's fine at $6,800, but those 24 and 25 minute games are a warning.
- Max Christie played 38 minutes against Indiana and scored 16. He's questionable too, but at $4,500 he's a cheap GPP play if he's in.
- Stephon Castle scored 24 with five threes against Oklahoma City, but he carries real foul trouble risk tonight and San Antonio may not need him late. At $7,300 I'd pass.
Matchups to target: Naji Marshall, PJ Washington, Victor Wembanyama
Matchups to avoid: Stephon Castle
Game to fade: Brooklyn at Cleveland. Brooklyn has the second lowest team total on the slate at 108.5, and Cleveland is an 11.5 point favorite. Julius Randle and Day'Ron Sharpe both carry real foul trouble risk, so I'm not paying up for Brooklyn in a game that could be over by the third quarter.
Top Plays by Position
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Tyrese Maxey | PHI vs MIL | $8,200 | Cash |
| PG | 2 | Trae Young | WSH at CHI | $7,900 | Cash |
| PG | 3 | Amen Thompson | HOU at ATL | $7,400 | GPP |
| PG | 4 | Josh Giddey | CHI vs WSH | $8,400 | GPP |
| SG | 1 | Donovan Mitchell | CLE vs BKN | $8,300 | GPP |
| SG | 2 | Stephon Castle | SA at DAL | $7,300 | GPP |
| SG | 3 | Tyler Herro | MIL at PHI | $7,000 | GPP |
| SG | 4 | Norman Powell | CHI vs WSH | $6,100 | GPP |
| SF | 1 | Jaylen Brown | PHI vs MIL | $7,700 | GPP |
| SF | 2 | Kevin Durant | HOU at ATL | $7,500 | Cash |
| SF | 3 | Michael Porter Jr. | BKN at CLE | $7,000 | GPP |
| SF | 4 | Naji Marshall | DAL vs SA | $4,800 | Cash |
| PF | 1 | Anthony Davis | WSH at CHI | $8,700 | Cash |
| PF | 2 | Jalen Johnson | ATL vs HOU | $9,100 | GPP |
| PF | 3 | Alperen Sengun | HOU at ATL | $8,500 | GPP |
| PF | 4 | Julius Randle | BKN at CLE | $7,100 | Cash |
| C | 1 | Victor Wembanyama | SA at DAL | $10,700 | GPP |
| C | 2 | Joel Embiid | PHI vs MIL | $8,000 | Cash |
| C | 3 | Jarrett Allen | CLE vs BKN | $6,000 | GPP |
| C | 4 | Jalen Smith | CHI vs WSH | $5,200 | Cash |
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Tyrese Maxey | PHI vs MIL | $8,900 | GPP |
| PG | 2 | Trae Young | WSH at CHI | $8,000 | Cash |
| PG | 3 | Jamal Murray | DEN vs NO | $7,900 | Cash |
| PG | 4 | Amen Thompson | HOU at ATL | $7,700 | Cash |
| SG | 1 | Donovan Mitchell | CLE vs BKN | $8,500 | GPP |
| SG | 2 | Tyler Herro | MIL at PHI | $7,500 | GPP |
| SG | 3 | Jalen Green | PHX vs GS | $6,100 | GPP |
| SG | 4 | Dyson Daniels | ATL vs HOU | $6,500 | GPP |
| SF | 1 | Kevin Durant | HOU at ATL | $8,100 | GPP |
| SF | 2 | Jaylen Brown | PHI vs MIL | $8,000 | GPP |
| SF | 3 | Brandon Miller | CHA vs MIA | $7,300 | GPP |
| SF | 4 | Michael Porter | BKN at CLE | $7,800 | GPP |
| PF | 1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIA at CHA | $11,300 | GPP |
| PF | 2 | Anthony Davis | WSH at CHI | $10,400 | GPP |
| PF | 3 | Jalen Johnson | ATL vs HOU | $9,500 | GPP |
| PF | 4 | Evan Mobley | CLE vs BKN | $7,600 | GPP |
| C | 1 | Nikola Jokic | DEN vs NO | $11,900 | Cash |
| C | 2 | Victor Wembanyama | SA at DAL | $11,600 | Cash |
| C | 3 | Joel Embiid | PHI vs MIL | $8,300 | Cash |
| C | 4 | Alperen Sengun | HOU at ATL | $8,400 | Cash |
The FanDuel main slate adds Denver, Miami, Charlotte, Golden State and Phoenix, so Jokic and Giannis are in play there and the chalk is spread thinner. Anthony Davis is a much better price on DraftKings at $8,700 than at $10,400 on FanDuel, and he grades as a cash play only on DraftKings. Wembanyama goes from a GPP play on DraftKings to a cash play on FanDuel.
Every projection lives on today's NBA DFS projections, and you can build around these in the free NBA lineup optimizer.
Final Thoughts
For cash, start with Naji Marshall and PJ Washington. The Dallas injuries make them the two best values on the slate. Add Joel Embiid for the LeBron usage and Trae Young for the best game environment, then fill in around that core.
In GPPs, Victor Wembanyama is the pivot. Everyone will spend at center on Embiid, and Wemby at $10,700 is the highest ceiling on the slate. Pair him with a Washington at Chicago build of Davis and Powell and you'll be off the popular builds.
Before lock, check Kyrie Irving, Dean Wade, Max Christie and Zaccharie Risacher. Seven of the ten teams are on a back-to-back, so watch for late rest news. Houston at Atlanta tips last at 8:30 PM ET, and Marcus Smart and Reed Sheppard are both questionable, so keep a late swap spot open 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.