Anthony Edwards had knee surgery on Thursday and isn't expected back until late December, so Minnesota walks into New Orleans for the only fast game on Friday's NBA DFS board with its guard minutes up for grabs. That game carries the top total on DraftKings and FanDuel, and Rudy Gobert and Bones Hyland are the cheap ways in. Charlotte is short Kon Knueppel and Dennis Schroder too, which makes Grayson Allen the most popular cash play on the slate.
At a Glance
- Cash core: Grayson Allen, LeBron James, Kyshawn George, Rudy Gobert
- Best GPP pivot: Joel Embiid ($8,700), the low-owned way into the closest game
- Best cheap play: Bones Hyland ($3,700), his bench minutes grow with Edwards out
- Check before lock: Jalen Johnson (questionable), Corey Kispert takes his minutes if he sits
- Late swap: Minnesota at New Orleans and three more games, tip 8:00 PM ET
Slate Overview
Switch tabs for tonight's injuries and how last night's picks did.
| Game | Tip (ET) | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Away Total | Home Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOS at CHA | 7:00 PM | BOS -9.5 | BOS -375 / CHA +298 | 207.5 | BOS 108.5 | CHA 99.0 |
| WSH at ATL | 7:00 PM | ATL -7.5 | WSH +241 / ATL -297 | 228.5 | WSH 110.5 | ATL 118.0 |
| PHI at CLE | 7:30 PM | PHI -2.5 | PHI -148 / CLE +125 | 229.5 | PHI 116.0 | CLE 113.5 |
| MIN at NO | 8:00 PM | MIN -3.5 | MIN -166 / NO +140 | 230.5 | MIN 117.0 | NO 113.5 |
| OKC at MEM | 8:00 PM | OKC -4.5 | OKC -170 / MEM +142 | 223.5 | OKC 114.0 | MEM 109.5 |
| TOR at MIL | 8:00 PM | TOR -4.5 | TOR -192 / MIL +160 | 229.5 | TOR 117.0 | MIL 112.5 |
| UTAH at DAL | 8:00 PM | DAL -6.5 | UTAH +217 / DAL -264 | 224.5 | UTAH 109.0 | DAL 115.5 |
| Impact | Player | Status | Role | Who benefits (minutes with to without) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Jalen Johnson (ATL F) | Questionable | 35.0 MIN, 22.0/10.0/7.7 | Corey Kispert ($3,200) 15.3 to 22.4 |
| 8 | Anthony Davis (WSH F) | Questionable, right ankle | 33.1 MIN, 23.4/9.3/2.0 | AJ Dybantsa ($6,200); Kyshawn George ($5,800) |
| 8 | Scottie Barnes (TOR F) | Questionable, groin | 33.9 MIN, 19.0/7.4/6.1 | RJ Barrett ($7,300); Collin Murray-Boyles ($4,800) |
| 8 | Kon Knueppel (CHA G) | Out, hamstring | 31.2 MIN, 18.1/5.2/3.3 | Brandon Miller ($8,100) 30.2 to 34.2; Sion James ($4,200) 22.3 to 25.1 |
| 7 | Jarrett Allen (CLE C) | Questionable, knee | 27.5 MIN, 14.6/8.1/1.6 | Riley Minix ($3,000) 4.0 to 11.0; Tristan Enaruna ($3,100) 8.1 to 12.8 |
| 6 | Peyton Watson (CLE G) | Questionable, hamstring | 28.3 MIN, 10.8/4.0/3.0 | James Harden ($7,300); Donovan Mitchell ($8,300) |
| 6 | Moussa Diabate (CHA F) | Out, quadriceps | 26.3 MIN, 7.9/8.8/1.9 | Ryan Kalkbrenner ($3,900) 20.3 to 25.6 |
| 6 | Jaylon Tyson (CLE G) | Out, ankle | 23.9 MIN, 11.1/4.6/2.1 | Mario Hezonja ($4,100) 17.6 to 23.3; Sam Merrill ($4,200) 24.2 to 27.2 |
| 6 | Scotty Pippen Jr. (MEM G) | Out, back | 19.5 MIN, 9.7/2.3/3.9 | Jahmai Mashack ($3,000) 22.4 to 27.9; Javon Small ($3,800) 22.8 to 26.0 |
| 6 | Isaiah Stewart (MEM C) | Out, knee | 18.3 MIN, 11.9/3.4/0.6 | Zach Edey ($5,400); Quinten Post ($3,300) |
| Call | Player | Salary | Minutes | DK Pts | Pts per $1K | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash core | Anthony Davis | $8,400 | 30 | 50.50 | 6.0x | Solid |
| Cash core | Paul George | $7,200 | 35 | 43.75 | 6.1x | Hit |
| Cash core | Karl-Anthony Towns | $8,300 | 25 | 37.50 | 4.5x | Miss |
| Cash core | Meleek Thomas | $3,800 | 18 | 12.75 | 3.4x | Miss |
| GPP pivot | Nikola Jokic | $12,300 | 30 | 70.50 | 5.7x | Solid |
| GPP pivot | Zion Williamson | $7,600 | 38 | 38.00 | 5.0x | Solid |
| Value play | Baylor Scheierman | $3,800 | 29 | 27.25 | 7.2x | Hit |
| Avoid | Onyeka Okongwu | $6,400 | 31 | 47.00 | 7.3x | Wrong call |
| Avoid | Myles Turner | $5,000 | 36 | 41.75 | 8.4x | Wrong call |
| Avoid | Jaxson Hayes | $5,400 | 21 | 12.25 | 2.3x | Right call |
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 games sit at 229.5 or higher, and Boston at Charlotte sits 22 points below all of them.
Wednesday's playbook was a split. Baylor Scheierman paid off at 7.2x in 29 minutes and Paul George cleared 6x, but Meleek Thomas played only 18 minutes and I faded Okongwu and Turner right before they posted 7.3x and 8.4x. Season record: Cash core: 31 of 55 at or above the slate average, 5.4x per $1K against a 5.1x slate average. GPP pivots: 20 of 36 at or above the slate average and 7 at 6x or better, 5.1x per $1K against a 5.0x slate average. Avoids: 11 of 26 right, 5.4x per $1K against a 5.1x slate average. The slate average counts every player who played 20+ minutes. A GPP pivot is a Hit at 6x per $1K or better and Solid at or above the slate average. Full results are on the NBA DFS results page.
Full injury report, updated all day: NBA injury report for DFS
Games to Target
Minnesota at New Orleans: 230.5 total, MIN -3.5
Cash game. New Orleans ranks 4th in pace and Minnesota 10th, and this is the only game on the slate our NBA pace stats put well above league average. Out: Edwards, DiVincenzo, Shannon, Missi. Questionable: None.
- LaMelo Ball ($8,200): He scored 34 with six threes against Milwaukee on Monday and 20 with four threes against Houston on Wednesday, in 33 and 31 minutes. With Edwards gone the shots have to go somewhere, and he should play about 31 minutes in the fastest game of the night. He picks up fouls, and New Orleans takes 30.5 free throws a game, so foul trouble is a real risk. I like him a good bit, more in tournaments than cash.
- Rudy Gobert ($5,500): He averages 11.9 rebounds in 30.5 minutes and played 33, 31 and 30 in his last three. You don't have to think hard about a $5,500 center with steady minutes in the top total. The scoring floor is thin, so he lives on boards and blocks. He's in my core.
- Bones Hyland ($3,700): He averages 12.4 minutes on the season but has played 16, 14, 14, 20 and 16 in his last five, and he goes from 14.0 to 20.1 minutes when Edwards sits, which you can follow on the NBA rotations and minutes tracker. He dropped 19 in 16 minutes with four threes on Wednesday. Bench minutes can swing. At this price, I'll take that risk.
- Zion Williamson ($7,600): He averages 21.5 points in 33.0 minutes and went 23/4/2 in 38 minutes on Wednesday. Missi is out, and Zion's minutes go from 29.5 to 32.5 without him. He'll be one of the least popular players on the slate. I love him as the low-owned piece of this game.
- Jaden McDaniels ($6,500): He's played 37, 29 and 39 minutes in his last three, so the role is fine. Fouls are the worry: he carries the highest foul trouble risk on the slate, and New Orleans gets to the line as much as anyone. He'll also be one of the most popular forwards. I'd pass at that price and that ownership.
Matchups to target: Ball, Gobert, Hyland, Williamson
Matchups to avoid: McDaniels
Washington at Atlanta: 228.5 total, ATL -7.5
Cash game. Atlanta ranks 3rd in pace and Washington 17th, and the Hawks' 118.0 team total is the highest on the board. Out: Landale, Newell, Champagnie, Watkins, Vukcevic. Questionable: Johnson, Davis.
- Kyshawn George ($5,800): He put up 25/4/7 in 35 minutes against this same Atlanta team on Wednesday, and he's played 35, 37 and 32 minutes in his last three with Champagnie and Watkins out. He hit three or more threes in each of those three games. He does pick up fouls, which is the one worry. I love him at this price.
- Trae Young ($8,100): He averages 9.5 assists in 35.9 minutes and had 18 and 6 against Atlanta on Wednesday. A fast game is good news for a guy who lives on assists. He's solid, though $8,100 is a full price.
- Onyeka Okongwu ($6,700): I faded him on Wednesday and he went for 14 and 16 against Washington in 31 minutes. Landale is out again, and Okongwu's minutes go from 28.4 to 32.9 without him. He fouls a lot too, so he needs a clean whistle. I like this spot a good bit.
- Dyson Daniels ($6,600): He grabbed 16 rebounds with 8 assists against Washington on Wednesday, in 34 minutes. He hasn't made a three in his last five games, so it's all boards, assists and steals. He's a fine cash play. Expect a lot of company.
- Kingston Flemings ($4,700): He started on Wednesday and scored 14 in 23 minutes, and he scored 23 against Miami off the bench. He should play about 26 minutes tonight. His minutes have moved between 16 and 28 in his last five. He's a decent value if you need a guard under $5,000.
Matchups to target: George, Okongwu, Young, Flemings
Matchups to avoid: None
Philadelphia at Cleveland: 229.5 total, PHI -2.5
GPP game. Cleveland ranks 7th in pace and Philadelphia 15th, and the 2.5-point spread is the closest on the slate, but the field is loading LeBron James and leaving the other stars alone. Out: Tyson, Barlow, Bona, Hukporti. Questionable: Allen, Watson, Proctor.
- LeBron James ($7,500): He averages 7.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 33.0 minutes and has played 33, 31 and 34 in his last three. He went 13/10/8 against Detroit on Wednesday. A close game keeps him on the floor in the fourth quarter. He's chalk for a reason, and I'm eating it in cash.
- Joel Embiid ($8,700): He posted 26 and 15 in 33 minutes against Detroit on Wednesday. He did play only 25 minutes on Monday, so the minutes can dip. He'll be one of the least popular stars on the slate. I love him in tournaments.
- Tyrese Maxey ($8,900): He averages 28.0 points in 37.1 minutes and scored 38 against Charlotte on Halloween. That's a lot of minutes in a game this close. He'll be one of the least owned players over $8,000. I like him as a second Sixers piece in GPPs.
- Donovan Mitchell ($8,300): He scored 27 with five threes against Oklahoma City on Wednesday in 33 minutes. Watson is questionable and Tyson is out, so the wing minutes are thin behind him. He's solid in any format.
- Evan Mobley ($8,000): He averages 18.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 32.9 minutes. If Allen sits he does more of the work inside, but his minutes stay about the same. At $8,000 I'd rather pay up for Embiid. He's fine, not a priority.
Matchups to target: Embiid, Maxey, James
Matchups to avoid: None
Game to fade: Boston at Charlotte. Boston ranks 30th in pace and Charlotte 29th, and the 207.5 total is the lowest on the slate by a wide margin. Grayson Allen is the one exception, and he's there for his price and the open minutes, not the game.
Player Props
These are tonight's top player props from our Monte Carlo prop simulation, priced against the DraftKings line. Switch tabs to see how last night's picks did.
| Player | Prop | Odds | Our Number | Model | Market | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Spencer (MEM vs OKC) | Over 1.5 Threes | +158 | 1.8 | 40.2% | 36.4% | +3.8% |
| Jaylen Brown (PHI vs CLE) | Over 1.5 Threes | +117 | 2.0 | 47.7% | 43.2% | +4.5% |
| Darius Acuff Jr. (SAC vs SA) | Over 3.5 Rebounds | +109 | 4.1 | 49.2% | 44.8% | +4.4% |
| Jamal Shead (TOR vs MIL) | Under 5.5 Assists | -115 | 4.8 | 54.7% | 50.1% | +4.6% |
| Jayson Tatum (BOS vs CHA) | Under 6.5 Assists | -110 | 5.4 | 55.6% | 49.1% | +6.5% |
| Player | Prop | Odds | Actual | Result | CLV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Black | Under 4.5 Assists | -149 | 6 | Loss | 0.0 |
Thursday's only prop lost: Anthony Black handed out 6 assists against a 4.5 line.
- Cam Spencer Over 1.5 Threes: Pippen is out, Spencer's minutes go from 20.9 to 23.6 without him, and he has made two threes in three of his last five games, so I like the plus price.
- Jaylen Brown Over 1.5 Threes: He should play about 34 minutes in the closest game on the slate and has made two or more threes in three of his last five, which is enough for me at plus money.
- Darius Acuff Jr. Over 3.5 Rebounds: Keegan Murray and Maxime Raynaud are both out for Sacramento, and he should play about 35 minutes, so the boards should be there.
- Jamal Shead Under 5.5 Assists: This one runs against his form, since he has six or more assists in each of his last five games, and the sim likes it only because he should play about 22 minutes, so I'm lukewarm.
- Jayson Tatum Under 6.5 Assists: He has gone over this number in four of his last five, but Boston at Charlotte is the slowest game on the board by a lot, and fewer trips cut his chances.
Season record on these props: 37-38, -0.3 units at one unit each. Closing line value: +2.2 points of win probability on average, and the closing price moved our way on 43 of 70 picks.
Our Number is the simulation's average for that stat. Model and Market are the chance the bet wins, with the market's vig removed. CLV is how many points of win probability the DraftKings closing line moved toward our side after we posted the pick.
Not financial advice. These are model leans, not guarantees. Only bet what you can afford to lose. 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Top Plays by Position
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Min | Field | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC at MEM | $10,200 | 34 | Mid | GPP |
| PG | 2 | Scottie Barnes | TOR at MIL | $8,800 | 33 | Popular | Cash |
| PG | 3 | LaMelo Ball | MIN at NO | $8,200 | 31 | Popular | Cash |
| SG | 1 | Donovan Mitchell | CLE vs PHI | $8,300 | 33 | Mid | GPP |
| SG | 2 | Jaylen Brown | PHI at CLE | $7,900 | 34 | Mid | GPP |
| SG | 3 | RJ Barrett | TOR at MIL | $7,300 | 32 | Popular | Cash |
| SF | 1 | Jayson Tatum | BOS at CHA | $10,000 | 34 | Mid | GPP |
| SF | 2 | Cooper Flagg | DAL vs UTAH | $9,900 | 33 | Mid | GPP |
| SF | 3 | Brandon Miller | CHA vs BOS | $8,100 | 37 | Low | GPP |
| PF | 1 | Jalen Johnson | ATL vs WSH | $9,700 | 33 | Mid | GPP |
| PF | 2 | Anthony Davis | WSH at ATL | $8,600 | 33 | Popular | Cash |
| PF | 3 | LeBron James | PHI at CLE | $7,500 | 31 | Popular | Cash |
| C | 1 | Joel Embiid | PHI at CLE | $8,700 | 32 | Mid | GPP |
| C | 2 | Onyeka Okongwu | ATL vs WSH | $6,700 | 31 | Mid | GPP |
| C | 3 | Isaiah Hartenstein | OKC at MEM | $6,200 | 27 | Mid | GPP |
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Min | Field | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC at MEM | $10,300 | 34 | Popular | Cash |
| PG | 2 | Tyrese Maxey | PHI at CLE | $9,200 | 35 | Mid | GPP |
| PG | 3 | LaMelo Ball | MIN at NO | $7,400 | 30 | Chalk | Cash |
| SG | 1 | Donovan Mitchell | CLE vs PHI | $7,900 | 33 | Mid | GPP |
| SG | 2 | RJ Barrett | TOR at MIL | $7,100 | 32 | Popular | GPP |
| SG | 3 | Dyson Daniels | ATL vs WSH | $6,800 | 30 | Popular | GPP |
| SF | 1 | Jayson Tatum | BOS at CHA | $9,900 | 34 | Mid | GPP |
| SF | 2 | Cooper Flagg | DAL vs UTAH | $9,800 | 33 | Chalk | GPP |
| SF | 3 | Brandon Miller | CHA vs BOS | $7,800 | 37 | Mid | GPP |
| PF | 1 | Jalen Johnson | ATL vs WSH | $9,300 | 33 | Popular | GPP |
| PF | 2 | Anthony Davis | WSH at ATL | $9,500 | 33 | Mid | GPP |
| PF | 3 | Scottie Barnes | TOR at MIL | $9,600 | 33 | Popular | GPP |
| C | 1 | Joel Embiid | PHI at CLE | $8,600 | 32 | Mid | GPP |
| C | 2 | Onyeka Okongwu | ATL vs WSH | $6,900 | 31 | Popular | Cash |
| C | 3 | Rudy Gobert | MIN at NO | $5,900 | 30 | Popular | Cash |
Min is projected minutes. Field is how popular the player should be: Chalk, Popular, Mid or Low.
The two sites split on the big names. FanDuel's $7,400 tag on LaMelo Ball makes him chalk there, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turns into a popular cash play on FanDuel while he stays a tournament play on DraftKings.
Every projection lives on today's NBA DFS projections, and you can build around these in the free NBA lineup optimizer.
Before Lock
- Jalen Johnson (questionable): If he plays, the Atlanta read stays the same and he's a strong tournament play at $9,700. If he sits, Corey Kispert ($3,200) goes from 15.3 to 22.4 minutes.
- Anthony Davis (right ankle): If he plays, Washington runs as written. If he sits, AJ Dybantsa ($6,200) and Kyshawn George ($5,800) take on more of the frontcourt work, and George gets even better.
- Jarrett Allen (knee): If he plays, Cleveland stays big. If he sits, Tristan Enaruna ($3,100) goes from 8.1 to 12.8 minutes and Mobley takes on more of the offense.
- Scottie Barnes (groin): If he plays, he's a popular cash option at $8,800. If he sits, RJ Barrett ($7,300) and Collin Murray-Boyles ($4,800) pick up the minutes.
- Late swap: Minnesota at New Orleans, Oklahoma City at Memphis, Toronto at Milwaukee and Utah at Dallas tip last at 8:00 PM ET, so hold some Wolves and Pelicans spots open if news hits late.
Final Thoughts
I built the cash core on minutes the field already trusts. Grayson Allen should play about 33 minutes with Knueppel and Schroder out, LeBron James and Rudy Gobert have played 30 or more in each of their last three, and Kyshawn George has been on the floor 32 or more in his last three. The risk I'm taking is Allen coming off the bench after a 19-minute game on Monday, and George's foul count.
In tournaments, Joel Embiid is the pivot off the LeBron chalk in the same game, and Zion Williamson gets you into the top total while the field looks elsewhere. Bones Hyland at $3,700 is the cheap piece that frees up the salary for both.
More slates in the NBA DFS articles archive.
NBA DFS FAQ
How does a back-to-back affect NBA DFS players?
A team on the second night of a back-to-back is more likely to rest a veteran or trim his minutes, and tired legs can drag the pace. That opens minutes for bench players, which is where cheap value comes from. Nobody on tonight's main slate is on a back-to-back, so minutes should look normal.
How do injuries change NBA DFS picks?
When a starter sits, his minutes and shots go to teammates who keep the same salary, and that's where the best value plays come from. Tonight, Edwards' absence pushes Bones Hyland from about 14 minutes to about 20, and Knueppel's absence is why Grayson Allen is the top cash play. Check the injury report right up to lock, because one late scratch can reshape a whole team's minutes.
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.