Sunday's NBA DFS main slate on DraftKings is only four games, so ownership is going to pile onto a few value plays, and Paul Reed sits at the top of that list with Jalen Duren out. FanDuel's main slate runs longer and adds the Lakers, Pacers and Kings games. The best environment is Pistons at 76ers, Joel Embiid is out for Philadelphia, and LeBron James is a game-time call on the second night of a back-to-back.
All Games
| Game | Tip (ET) | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Away Total | Home Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAC at OKC | 7:00 PM | OKC -15.5 | LAC +800 / OKC -1350 | 224.5 | LAC 104.5 | OKC 120.0 |
| ORL at NY | 7:00 PM | NY -7.5 | ORL +230 / NY -285 | 224.5 | ORL 108.5 | NY 116.0 |
| TOR at MIN | 7:00 PM | MIN -1.5 | TOR -105 / MIN -115 | 228.5 | TOR 113.5 | MIN 115.0 |
| DET at PHI | 7:30 PM | DET -1.5 | DET -112 / PHI -108 | 227.5 | DET 114.5 | PHI 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.
Two coin-flip games with the two biggest totals, and then a 15.5-point spread in Oklahoma City that I want nothing to do with.
Injury Report
| Impact | Player | Status | Role in doubt | Who benefits (with to without) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Joel Embiid (PHI C) | Out | 32.0 MIN, 33.7% USG, 26.1/7.8/4.3 | Adem Bona (C, $3,100): MIN 12.2 to 20.4, USG 10.0% to 12.0%; Justin Edwards (F, $3,500): MIN 9.5 to 18.8, USG 14.7% to 16.7%; VJ Edgecombe (G, $6,100): MIN 35.5 to 35.0, USG 17.1% to 23.1% |
| 9 | Paolo Banchero (ORL F) | Out, ankle | 35.0 MIN, 28.3% USG, 22.6/8.3/5.3 | Franz Wagner (F, $7,600): MIN 28.7 to 33.9, USG 26.5% to 26.6%; Desmond Bane (G, $6,500): MIN 33.6 to 35.5, USG 23.2% to 25.4%; Goga Bitadze (C, $4,200): MIN 14.7 to 16.9, USG 13.2% to 13.6% |
| 8 | LeBron James (PHI F) | Day-To-Day, back | 33.8 MIN, 27.8% USG, 21.1/6.3/7.2 | Justin Edwards (F, $3,500): 14.9 MIN, 16.2% USG on the season |
| 8 | Jalen Duren (DET C) | Out, hamstring | 28.3 MIN, 22.6% USG, 17.8/10.1/2.0 | Paul Reed (C, $4,200): MIN 11.0 to 27.0, USG 21.6% to 20.5%; Javonte Green (F, $3,300): MIN 16.0 to 23.3, USG 14.5% to 16.2%; Tolu Smith (C, $3,000): MIN 3.9 to 13.3, USG 25.8% to 13.9% |
| 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): 27.0 MIN, 15.2% USG on the season; Isaiah Jackson (C, $4,700): 16.4 MIN, 16.6% USG on the season |
| 6 | Anthony Black (ORL G) | Questionable, ankle | 29.6 MIN, 21.7% USG, 14.2/3.8/3.5 | Tristan da Silva (F, $4,800): MIN 22.4 to 29.0, USG 15.8% to 17.1%; Jamal Cain (F, $3,200): MIN 11.5 to 17.8, USG 16.0% to 16.0%; Jevon Carter (G, $3,700): MIN 15.2 to 21.1, USG 15.7% to 16.0% |
| 6 | Ausar Thompson (DET G) | Questionable, ankle | 26.7 MIN, 16.5% USG, 9.6/6.1/3.2 | Daniss Jenkins (G, $4,300): MIN 19.6 to 28.3, USG 21.5% to 22.0%; Javonte Green (F, $3,300): MIN 16.0 to 25.6, USG 14.4% to 17.1%; Cade Cunningham (G, $9,500): MIN 35.3 to 32.8, USG 31.0% to 29.6% |
| 6 | Max Strus (LAC G) | Out, foot | 25.7 MIN, 16.6% USG, 10.2/5.1/2.1 | Darius Garland (G, $7,700): 29.6 MIN, 29.9% USG on the season; Kris Dunn (G, $4,400): 27.4 MIN, 12.4% USG on the season |
Questionable: check before lock
- LeBron James missed Saturday's game with a back injury, and Philadelphia is on the second night of a back-to-back. If he plays at $7,100, he's the best value on the slate and I'm playing him everywhere. If he sits, I lean harder on Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey and don't chase the bench.
- Ausar Thompson missed Sunday morning's shootaround with the ankle. If he sits, Daniss Jenkins at $4,300 jumps from about 20 minutes to closer to 28 without him, and he becomes my favorite late swap.
- Anthony Black is listed questionable again. If he sits, Tristan da Silva picks up the extra minutes. If he plays, da Silva is a thinner GPP dart.
Full report, updated all day: NBA injury report for DFS
Games to Target
Detroit at Philadelphia: 227.5 total, DET -1.5
Team totals: DET 114.5, PHI 113.0. Pace: DET 19th, PHI 6th, a neutral game.
Injury report: Joel Embiid (Out), LeBron James (Day-to-day, back), Jalen Duren (Out, hamstring), Ausar Thompson (Questionable, ankle), Dominick Barlow (Out, back).
Expected starters: DET: Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, John Collins, Paul Reed. PHI: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Adem Bona.
The angle: This is the cash game, with a 1.5-point spread and two frontcourts full of holes.
- Paul Reed is the chalk of the night at $4,200, and he earned it. The split data has him going from 11 minutes to 27 minutes when Duren sits, and he put up 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes against Miami on Thursday. Foul trouble is the risk, because he picks them up fast. I'm playing him anyway.
- Cade Cunningham went for 22 points and eight assists against Boston and 16 points, eight assists and three blocks against Miami. He should play about 35 minutes against a Philadelphia team without its center. I love him here.
- John Collins hit five threes for 23 points in 29 minutes on Thursday. He's starting next to Reed at $4,800 and is just as popular, and like Reed he carries real foul trouble risk. He's a fine cash play.
- Jaylen Brown has played 35, 38 and 35 minutes in Philadelphia's three games and scored 19, 21 and 27. With Embiid out, a third of Philadelphia's possessions need a new home, and usage should funnel through Brown and Maxey. I love him at $7,900.
- Tyrese Maxey has played 40, 42 and 36 minutes this season and hasn't scored fewer than 26. The back-to-back is the only worry, and it's a small one. He's solid in every format.
- Adem Bona is expected to start at center at $3,100, and the split data has him jumping to about 20 minutes without Embiid. He has played 10, 14 and 10 minutes so far with two total points, so he's a punt. I'd keep him to GPPs.
Matchups to target: Paul Reed, Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey
Matchups to avoid: Adem Bona
Toronto at Minnesota: 228.5 total, MIN -1.5
Team totals: TOR 113.5, MIN 115.0. Pace: TOR 15th, MIN 14th, a neutral game.
Injury report: Donte DiVincenzo (Out, Achilles).
Expected starters: TOR: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl. MIN: LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert.
The angle: This is the GPP game. It has the biggest total on the board and the least owned stars on the slate.
- Anthony Edwards scored 45 with 10 rebounds and nine threes against Miami, then followed it with 15 points and four steals against Orlando. Almost nobody is playing him at $9,600, even though a close game should keep his minutes safe. Man, that leverage. I love him in GPPs.
- Scottie Barnes posted 28 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes against Washington. The field loves him, and so do I. He works in both formats.
- Kawhi Leonard went for 23 points and four steals in 24 minutes against Chicago and 16 and nine against Washington. He should play close to 30 minutes, and the minutes are the worry at $8,000. He's a GPP play for me.
- LaMelo Ball hit five threes for 21 points against Miami in 29 minutes, then played only 23 against Orlando. He carries real foul trouble risk, and he's low-owned at $8,200. I'd play him in GPPs.
- Ayo Dosunmu comes off the bench and still played 27 and 29 minutes, with a 14/7/9 line against Orlando. At $5,000 the field has found him. I like this spot a good bit.
- Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 13 in 22 minutes and 10 in 20 minutes off the bench, and his minutes have held steady per the NBA rotations and minutes tracker. He's a cheap punt at $3,500. He's solid.
Matchups to target: Anthony Edwards, Scottie Barnes, Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr.
Matchups to avoid: None
Orlando at New York: 224.5 total, NY -7.5
Team totals: ORL 108.5, NY 116.0. Pace: ORL 9th, NY 28th, a neutral game.
Injury report: Paolo Banchero (Out, ankle), Anthony Black (Questionable, ankle), Jose Alvarado (Questionable, ankle).
Expected starters: ORL: Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva, Wendell Carter Jr. NY: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns.
The angle: Banchero's injury opens real usage in Orlando, so this is the second cash game, with some blowout risk at 7.5 points.
- Franz Wagner had 22/6/5 against Atlanta and 18/6/5 against Minnesota. Without Banchero, his minutes have climbed from about 29 to about 34 in the split data. I like him at $7,600.
- Jalen Suggs has played 32 and 34 minutes and stuffs the box score, with a 14/6/6 line on Thursday. At $5,800 he is one of the most popular players on the slate, and I'm fine with that in cash. Foul trouble is the small risk.
- Desmond Bane scored five points against Minnesota after an 18-point game against Atlanta. His usage goes from about 23% to about 25% without Banchero, but New York ranks 28th in pace, so this should be a halfcourt grind per our NBA pace stats. I'd call him fine.
- Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 and 10 in 37 minutes against Boston and 19 and 12 against Philadelphia. Orlando draws a lot of free throws, and that is a foul trouble risk for him at $8,300. He's a GPP play.
- Tristan da Silva moves into the starting five at $4,800. He scored 14 with four threes against Atlanta, then five points against Minnesota, in 28 and 29 minutes. If Black sits too, he is a good GPP value.
- Josh Hart grabbed 12 rebounds with five assists and three steals in 36 minutes against Boston. That kind of floor at $6,200 fits cash. I like him here.
Matchups to target: Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Josh Hart
Matchups to avoid: None
Game to fade: LA Clippers at Oklahoma City. The Thunder are 15.5-point favorites in the slowest game on the slate, and the Clippers' team total is the lowest on the board at 104.5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is barely owned, but a blowout puts his fourth quarter on the bench, and I'd rather pay up for Cade or Edwards.
Top Plays by Position
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Cade Cunningham | DET at PHI | $9,500 | Cash |
| PG | 2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC vs LAC | $10,100 | GPP |
| PG | 3 | Tyrese Maxey | PHI vs DET | $8,500 | Cash |
| PG | 4 | Jalen Brunson | NY vs ORL | $8,100 | GPP |
| SG | 1 | Anthony Edwards | MIN vs TOR | $9,600 | GPP |
| SG | 2 | Desmond Bane | ORL at NY | $6,500 | Cash |
| SG | 3 | RJ Barrett | TOR at MIN | $6,600 | GPP |
| SG | 4 | Josh Hart | NY vs ORL | $6,200 | Cash |
| SF | 1 | Jaylen Brown | PHI vs DET | $7,900 | Cash |
| SF | 2 | Scottie Barnes | TOR at MIN | $7,800 | Cash |
| SF | 3 | Kawhi Leonard | TOR at MIN | $8,000 | GPP |
| SF | 4 | Franz Wagner | ORL at NY | $7,600 | Cash |
| PF | 1 | LeBron James | PHI vs DET | $7,100 | Cash |
| PF | 2 | Karl-Anthony Towns | NY vs ORL | $8,300 | GPP |
| PF | 3 | Chet Holmgren | OKC vs LAC | $6,300 | GPP |
| PF | 4 | OG Anunoby | NY vs ORL | $5,700 | GPP |
| C | 1 | Paul Reed | DET at PHI | $4,200 | Cash |
| C | 2 | Rudy Gobert | MIN vs TOR | $6,000 | GPP |
| C | 3 | Wendell Carter Jr. | ORL at NY | $5,900 | GPP |
| C | 4 | Isaiah Hartenstein | OKC vs LAC | $5,000 | GPP |
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Luka Doncic | LAL at UTAH | $11,400 | GPP |
| PG | 2 | Cade Cunningham | DET at PHI | $9,600 | Cash |
| PG | 3 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC vs LAC | $10,000 | GPP |
| PG | 4 | Tyrese Maxey | PHI vs DET | $8,900 | Cash |
| SG | 1 | Anthony Edwards | MIN vs TOR | $9,000 | GPP |
| SG | 2 | Austin Reaves | LAL at UTAH | $8,000 | GPP |
| SG | 3 | Desmond Bane | ORL at NY | $6,900 | GPP |
| SG | 4 | Jalen Williams | OKC vs LAC | $6,700 | GPP |
| SF | 1 | Jaylen Brown | PHI vs DET | $8,100 | Cash |
| SF | 2 | Kawhi Leonard | TOR at MIN | $8,800 | GPP |
| SF | 3 | Franz Wagner | ORL at NY | $7,800 | GPP |
| SF | 4 | Lauri Markkanen | UTAH vs LAL | $7,400 | GPP |
| PF | 1 | LeBron James | PHI vs DET | $8,200 | Cash |
| PF | 2 | Scottie Barnes | TOR at MIN | $8,700 | GPP |
| PF | 3 | Julius Randle | BKN vs IND | $7,700 | GPP |
| PF | 4 | Pascal Siakam | IND at BKN | $7,700 | Cash |
| C | 1 | Domantas Sabonis | SAC vs MEM | $9,200 | Cash |
| C | 2 | Walker Kessler | LAL at UTAH | $8,300 | Cash |
| C | 3 | Karl-Anthony Towns | NY vs ORL | $7,800 | Cash |
| C | 4 | Paul Reed | DET at PHI | $5,900 | Cash |
Paul Reed is the big gap between the two sites: $4,200 on DraftKings and $5,900 on FanDuel, so he's a much easier fit on DraftKings. Anthony Edwards is $600 cheaper on FanDuel, and the bigger FanDuel slate gives you a deeper center pool, with Sabonis and Kessler on top.
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 Paul Reed, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown and John Collins. All four come from Detroit at Philadelphia. That's a lot of one game, but it's the cash game for a reason. LeBron joins them if he's active. Scottie Barnes and Jalen Suggs are the next two I'd add.
In GPPs, Anthony Edwards is the pivot. He costs about what Cade does, plays in one of the two closest games on the slate, and almost nobody has him.
Before lock, check LeBron's back and Ausar Thompson's ankle, plus Anthony Black's ankle for the da Silva call. LeBron and Thompson both play in the 7:30 PM ET game, the last tip on the slate, so you have room to late swap into Daniss Jenkins if Thompson sits.
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.