Luka Doncic sat out Sunday in Detroit with a tight back, and he's on the official active list tonight for the best game on Monday's NBA DFS slate, Lakers at Hawks. That game has the top total on DraftKings and FanDuel, and most of the field is building around cheap Hornets instead of paying $12,000 for him. Charlotte is the other story: Kon Knueppel joined Brandon Miller and Dennis Schroder on the sideline, so Grayson Allen and Naz Reid will anchor most cash lineups on a seven game card.
Updated 5:20 PM CT: Scottie Barnes and Austin Reaves are out. With Reaves out, Collin Sexton ($4,100) should play about 24 minutes and turns into the most popular cash punt on the slate, and Jake LaRavia should play about 29. In Toronto, Jamal Shead should play about 35 minutes and Ja'Kobe Walter about 33, so both are live in cash now. Immanuel Quickley is listed questionable and is not in Toronto's expected starting five. Jock Landale is active for Atlanta.
At a Glance
- Cash core: Grayson Allen, Naz Reid, RJ Barrett, Alperen Sengun
- Best GPP pivot: Luka Doncic ($12,000), rested and in the top total
- Best cheap play: Christian Anderson ($3,300), Charlotte's backcourt is down to the bone
- Check before lock: Immanuel Quickley (questionable, hamstring) is not in Toronto's expected starting five, and Jamal Shead goes from 21 to 31 minutes if he sits
- Late swap: Spurs at Suns, tips 9:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE at CHA | 7:00 PM | CLE -8.5 | CLE -337 / CHA +270 | 215.5 | CLE 112.0 | CHA 103.5 |
| LAL at ATL | 7:00 PM | ATL -1.5 | LAL +101 / ATL -120 | 236.5 | LAL 117.5 | ATL 119.0 |
| WSH at DET | 7:00 PM | DET -10.5 | WSH +394 / DET -518 | 219.5 | WSH 104.5 | DET 115.0 |
| MEM at TOR | 7:30 PM | TOR -2.5 | MEM +120 / TOR -142 | 228.5 | MEM 113.0 | TOR 115.5 |
| IND at DAL | 8:00 PM | DAL -4.5 | IND +143 / DAL -170 | 226.5 | IND 111.0 | DAL 115.5 |
| DEN at HOU | 8:30 PM | HOU -4.5 | DEN +146 / HOU -173 | 223.5 | DEN 109.5 | HOU 114.0 |
| SA at PHX | 9:00 PM | SA -8.5 | SA -372 / PHX +296 | 226.5 | SA 117.5 | PHX 109.0 |
| Impact | Player | Status | Role | Who benefits (minutes with to without) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Anthony Davis (WSH F) | Questionable, ankle | 33.1 MIN, 23.4/9.3/2.0 | Kyshawn George ($6,400); AJ Dybantsa ($6,600) |
| 9 | Scottie Barnes (TOR F) | Out, adductor | 33.9 MIN, 19.0/7.4/6.1 | Ja'Kobe Walter ($5,300) 22.0 to 30.0; Jamal Shead ($5,500) 23.1 to 27.0 |
| 9 | Austin Reaves (LAL G) | Out, illness | 35.0 MIN, 23.3/4.4/5.4 | Jake LaRavia ($4,800) 22.0 to 28.3; Bronny James ($3,000) 6.5 to 9.7 |
| 8 | Brandon Miller (CHA F) | Out, groin | 30.5 MIN, 20.2/4.9/3.2 | Sion James ($4,500) 21.3 to 28.2; Ryan Kalkbrenner ($4,400) 19.6 to 26.4 |
| 8 | Kon Knueppel (CHA G) | Out, hamstring | 31.2 MIN, 18.1/5.2/3.3 | Sion James ($4,500) 22.3 to 24.7 |
| 7 | Immanuel Quickley (TOR G) | Questionable, hamstring | 31.9 MIN, 16.5/4.0/5.9 | Jamal Shead ($5,500) 21.3 to 30.8; Ja'Kobe Walter ($5,300) 20.5 to 29.2 |
| 7 | Jarrett Allen (CLE C) | Questionable, knee | 27.5 MIN, 14.6/8.1/1.6 | Riley Minix ($3,100) 4.0 to 10.8; Tristan Enaruna ($3,200) 8.1 to 11.8 |
| 7 | Devin Vassell (SA G) | Out, groin | 31.5 MIN, 13.5/4.3/2.6 | Keldon Johnson ($4,400) 21.6 to 26.0; Julian Champagnie ($4,500) 27.5 to 31.2 |
| 7 | Moussa Diabate (CHA F) | Out, quadriceps (doubtful) | 26.3 MIN, 7.9/8.8/1.9 | Ryan Kalkbrenner ($4,400) 20.3 to 25.0; Liam McNeeley ($3,200) 10.9 to 14.3 |
| 7 | Tobias Harris (SA F) | Out, calf | 29.0 MIN, 14.1/5.5/2.3 | Julian Champagnie ($4,500) |
| Call | Player | Salary | Minutes | DK Pts | Pts per $1K | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash core | Ayo Dosunmu | $6,600 | 30 | 36.00 | 5.5x | Solid |
| Cash core | Michael Porter Jr. | $7,200 | 29 | 32.75 | 4.6x | Solid |
| Cash core | Brook Lopez | $4,600 | 26 | 30.75 | 6.7x | Hit |
| Cash core | Danny Wolf | $3,000 | 36 | 18.75 | 6.3x | Hit |
| GPP pivot | Jeremiah Fears | $6,400 | 29 | 44.50 | 7.0x | Hit |
| GPP pivot | Darius Garland | $8,500 | 32 | 43.00 | 5.1x | Solid |
| GPP pivot | Domantas Sabonis | $9,700 | 0 | 0 | Did not play | |
| Value play | Nolan Traore | $4,900 | 21 | 18.75 | 3.8x | Miss |
| Avoid | Day'Ron Sharpe | $5,100 | 20 | 27.50 | 5.4x | Wrong call |
| Avoid | De'Andre Hunter | $5,800 | 31 | 19.75 | 3.4x | 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.
Lakers at Hawks is green in every column, and Detroit's 10.5 point spread over Washington is the one real blowout warning on the board.
All four cash core players finished at or above the slate average last night, and Jeremiah Fears was the best call at 44.5 DraftKings points in 29 minutes. Nolan Traore was the miss at 3.8x in 21 minutes, and Domantas Sabonis never played, so that pivot was dead before tip. Season record: Cash core: 38 of 67 at or above the slate average, 5.4x per $1K against a 5.0x slate average. GPP pivots: 23 of 42 at or above the slate average and 9 at 6x or better, 5.1x per $1K against a 5.0x slate average. Avoids: 13 of 30 right, 5.3x per $1K against a 5.0x 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
Lakers at Hawks: 236.5 total, ATL -1.5
GPP game. Atlanta ranks 3rd in pace and the Lakers 17th, and this is the fastest projected game of the night on our NBA pace stats board, yet the field is spending its money in Charlotte. Out: Grimes, Reaves.
- Luka Doncic ($12,000): He sat Sunday with a tight back, and the official list now has him active. Before that he scored 53, 40, 42, 45 and 37 in five straight games, each in 35 to 38 minutes. The Lakers are on the second night of a back-to-back, but he got the first night off. Top total, and a guy who just scored 53. I love him for tournaments.
- Jalen Johnson ($9,700): He put up 30/7/6 in 36 minutes against Brooklyn on Saturday. A coin flip spread keeps him on the floor in the fourth quarter, though the 13/7/4 night in 28 minutes against New Orleans shows the floor. I like him a good bit at mid ownership.
- Walker Kessler ($7,700): He has 16, 12, 8, 15 and 15 rebounds in his last five games, playing 29 to 37 minutes. More possessions mean more missed shots to clean up. Foul trouble is the risk, since he sits in the high tier tonight. He's solid, and his assist prop is below.
- Dyson Daniels ($6,500): He fills the box score without scoring much: he went 9/10/7 with six steals Saturday and 13/9/12 the night before, and a game with this many possessions suits that kind of line. I like this spot a good bit.
- Jake LaRavia ($4,800): Austin Reaves is out with an illness, and LaRavia has averaged about 28 minutes without Reaves against 22 with him. He's expected to start and should play about 29 tonight. He carries one of the higher foul trouble risks on the slate, so the minutes aren't locked. I like him as a cheap tournament play now.
- Collin Sexton ($4,100): Reaves's absence frees up guard minutes, and Sexton should play about 24 at a near minimum price. Most cash players will have him, and at about 24 minutes for $4,100 I'd play him there too.
Matchups to target: Luka Doncic, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels
Matchups to avoid: None
Grizzlies at Raptors: 228.5 total, TOR -2.5
Cash game. Memphis ranks 5th in pace and Toronto 8th, the spread is tight, and Kawhi Leonard's absence keeps Toronto's shots in a few hands. Out: Leonard, Barnes, Pippen, Stewart. Questionable: Quickley.
- RJ Barrett ($7,600): He has played 37, 33 and 37 minutes in his last three games, per our NBA rotations and minutes tracker, and scored 27, 22 and 26. With Leonard out he's the steady wing scorer every night. He'll be popular, and that's fine. I love him in cash.
- Cameron Boozer ($8,100): He has cooled off, with 8/12/4 and 10/6/4 in his last two games after an 18/12/12 night in late October. Memphis plays fast and he should still play about 31 minutes. At low ownership, I'll take some tournament shots.
- Zach Edey ($5,300): Isaiah Stewart is out, which frees up backup center minutes. Edey played 20, 25 and 19 minutes in his last three, with 14 points Friday and 11/13 the game before. The minutes cap is the worry. He's a fine cheap tournament center.
- Ja'Kobe Walter ($5,300): Scottie Barnes is out, and Walter has averaged about 30 minutes without Barnes against 22 with him. He's in Toronto's expected starting five and Quickley isn't, so more guard minutes could land on him. He's in the high foul trouble tier, which is the risk. At this price, I like him in tournaments.
Matchups to target: RJ Barrett, Ja'Kobe Walter, Cameron Boozer
Matchups to avoid: None
Cavaliers at Hornets: 215.5 total, CLE -8.5
Cash game. Charlotte ranks 29th in pace and Cleveland 10th, and Charlotte made the list because the Hornets play without three of their top scorers. Out: Miller, Knueppel, Schroder, Diabate, Tyson, Merrill. Questionable: Jarrett Allen.
- Grayson Allen ($5,200): He scored 22 with five threes in 27 minutes against Brooklyn, and he should play about 34 tonight with Miller, Knueppel and Schroder all out. Friday's scoreless night in 22 minutes against Boston shows how cold a shooter can get. I'm paying for the minutes, and he's my first name in cash.
- Naz Reid ($6,900): He had 28/9 in 36 minutes against Brooklyn, and the frontcourt shots have nowhere else to go. Foul trouble is the risk: he's in the high tier, and Cleveland gets to the line more than most teams. I like him a lot in cash anyway.
- Christian Anderson ($3,300): He played 25 minutes Friday after single-digit nights in the two games before that, and the backcourt is even thinner now. He should play about 18 minutes, which is plenty at $3,300. Friday's 4/3/5 line says the floor is low. He's a fine cash punt.
- Donovan Mitchell ($8,400): He dropped 37 with five threes on the Knicks Saturday after 23 and 27 in the two games before. Cleveland is short Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill too, so the shots stay with him. The 8.5 point spread is the counterweight if this gets out of hand. He's a strong GPP pivot off the Charlotte chalk.
- Ryan Kalkbrenner ($4,400): Moussa Diabate is now doubtful, and we treat that as out. Kalkbrenner played 21, 19 and 16 minutes in his last three, but he has averaged about 25 minutes without Diabate. The box score has been thin, so the minutes are the whole case. He's a fine cheap center in tournaments.
Matchups to target: Grayson Allen, Naz Reid, Donovan Mitchell
Matchups to avoid: None
Game to fade: Wizards at Pistons. Detroit is a 10.5 point favorite on the second night of a back-to-back, with one of the lowest totals on the board. Cade Cunningham played 27 and 28 minutes in two of his last five games, and this spread brings that risk back.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker Kessler (LAL vs ATL) | Over 1.5 Assists | +127 | 2.2 | 48.4% | 41.3% | +7.0% |
| Jeremiah Fears (NO vs GS) | Over 3.5 Assists | +113 | 4.7 | 50.8% | 44.0% | +6.9% |
| Dillon Brooks (PHX vs SA) | Over 1.5 Threes | +114 | 2.4 | 50.4% | 43.7% | +6.6% |
| Victor Wembanyama (SA vs PHX) | Under 11.5 Rebounds | -115 | 10.1 | 55.8% | 50.1% | +5.7% |
| Royce O'Neale (CHA vs CLE) | Under 2.5 Threes | -140 | 1.7 | 60.5% | 54.6% | +5.9% |
| Player | Prop | Odds | Actual | Result | CLV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Fears | Over 3.5 Assists | +112 | 5 | Win | -0.2 |
| Keaton Wagler | Under 3.5 Rebounds | -102 | 2 | Win | -2.8 |
| Austin Reaves | Under 5.5 Assists | -144 | 4 | Win | -11.9 |
| Cooper Flagg | Under 1.5 Threes | -147 | 3 | Loss | +1.8 |
| Darius Acuff Jr. | Over 2.5 Rebounds | -162 | 5 | Win | +9.0 |
Four of last night's five props won, and the one loss was Cooper Flagg's threes under, which he cleared by making three.
- Walker Kessler Over 1.5 Assists: He has two or more assists in three of his last five games and should play about 30 minutes in the fastest game of the night, so I like the plus price.
- Jeremiah Fears Over 3.5 Assists: He cashed this same over last night with five, and Trey Murphy III is out tonight, a spot where Fears has averaged about 31 minutes instead of 25, so I'm back on it.
- Dillon Brooks Over 1.5 Threes: He should play about 29 minutes and the sim's 2.4 clears the line, though his spot in the high foul trouble tier is the one clear way this misses.
- Victor Wembanyama Under 11.5 Rebounds: San Antonio is an 8.5 point favorite and about 29 minutes caps his boards, so I like the under even though he's a top tournament center in the DraftKings tab.
- Royce O'Neale Under 2.5 Threes: He made two or fewer threes in five of his last six games, and the sim has him at 1.7 even with the extra minutes in Charlotte's thin rotation.
Season record on these props: 45-45, +0.1 units at one unit each. Closing line value: +2.0 points of win probability on average, and the closing price moved our way on 54 of 85 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 | Luka Doncic | LAL at ATL | $12,000 | 38 | Popular | Cash |
| PG | 2 | Cade Cunningham | DET vs WSH | $9,500 | 34 | Popular | Cash |
| PG | 3 | Devin Booker | PHX vs SA | $8,200 | 34 | Mid | GPP |
| SG | 1 | RJ Barrett | TOR vs MEM | $7,600 | 37 | Chalk | Cash |
| SG | 2 | Donovan Mitchell | CLE at CHA | $8,400 | 32 | Low | GPP |
| SG | 3 | Stephon Castle | SA at PHX | $6,500 | 30 | Popular | Cash |
| SF | 1 | Cooper Flagg | DAL vs IND | $9,900 | 34 | Mid | GPP |
| SF | 2 | Kevin Durant | HOU vs DEN | $7,500 | 33 | Mid | GPP |
| SF | 3 | Ausar Thompson | DET vs WSH | $6,300 | 27 | Mid | GPP |
| PF | 1 | Jalen Johnson | ATL vs LAL | $9,700 | 33 | Mid | GPP |
| PF | 2 | Alperen Sengun | HOU vs DEN | $9,000 | 34 | Chalk | Cash |
| PF | 3 | Anthony Davis | WSH at DET | $8,600 | 32 | Mid | GPP |
| C | 1 | Victor Wembanyama | SA at PHX | $11,300 | 31 | Mid | GPP |
| C | 2 | Nikola Jokic | DEN at HOU | $11,800 | 34 | Low | GPP |
| C | 3 | Walker Kessler | LAL at ATL | $7,700 | 32 | Mid | GPP |
| Pos | Rank | Player | Matchup | Salary | Min | Field | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Luka Doncic | LAL at ATL | $12,400 | 38 | Chalk | Cash |
| PG | 2 | Cade Cunningham | DET vs WSH | $10,000 | 34 | Popular | Cash |
| PG | 3 | Stephen Curry | GS vs NO | $8,800 | 29 | Chalk | GPP |
| SG | 1 | RJ Barrett | TOR vs MEM | $7,300 | 37 | Chalk | Cash |
| SG | 2 | Donovan Mitchell | CLE at CHA | $8,200 | 32 | Mid | GPP |
| SG | 3 | Dylan Harper | SA at PHX | $6,400 | 35 | Popular | GPP |
| SF | 1 | Cooper Flagg | DAL vs IND | $10,100 | 34 | Popular | GPP |
| SF | 2 | Yaxel Lendeborg | GS vs NO | $7,900 | 30 | Mid | GPP |
| SF | 3 | Kevin Durant | HOU vs DEN | $7,200 | 33 | Mid | GPP |
| PF | 1 | Jalen Johnson | ATL vs LAL | $9,300 | 33 | Popular | Cash |
| PF | 2 | Anthony Davis | WSH at DET | $9,200 | 32 | Low | GPP |
| PF | 3 | Naz Reid | CHA vs CLE | $7,000 | 35 | Popular | Cash |
| C | 1 | Victor Wembanyama | SA at PHX | $12,500 | 31 | Chalk | GPP |
| C | 2 | Nikola Jokic | DEN at HOU | $12,000 | 34 | Low | GPP |
| C | 3 | Alperen Sengun | HOU vs DEN | $9,400 | 34 | Chalk | Cash |
Min is projected minutes. Field is how popular the player should be: Chalk, Popular, Mid or Low.
With Reaves out, Luka is popular on DraftKings and chalk on FanDuel. FanDuel's slate also takes in Pelicans at Warriors, which is why Stephen Curry and Yaxel Lendeborg show up there and nowhere on the DraftKings side.
Every projection lives on today's NBA DFS projections, and you can build around these in the free NBA lineup optimizer.
Before Lock
- Scottie Barnes (adductor): He's out. Ja'Kobe Walter ($5,300) goes from 22 to 30 minutes, and Jamal Shead ($5,500) from 23 to 27.
- Immanuel Quickley (hamstring): He's questionable and not in Toronto's expected starting five. If he sits, Jamal Shead ($5,500) goes from 21 to 31 minutes, and Walter from 21 to 29.
- Austin Reaves (illness): He's out. Jake LaRavia ($4,800) goes from 22 to 28 minutes, and Collin Sexton ($4,100) should play about 24.
- Late swap: Spurs at Suns tips last at 9:00 PM ET, and Devin Vassell is out for San Antonio. Keldon Johnson ($4,400) goes from about 22 to 26 minutes without him, and Julian Champagnie ($4,500) from 28 to 31. Phoenix's Jordan Goodwin is still questionable.
Final Thoughts
Grayson Allen and Naz Reid anchor cash because Charlotte has nobody else to hand the minutes to, and I'll live with Reid's foul risk because fading him costs more than it saves. RJ Barrett's minutes have been steady in a close game, and Alperen Sengun's 32 to 39 minutes over his last four games give the core a sturdy big, though he carries foul risk too. Vassell's absence makes Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson popular cash plays as well, and either one works if you need a fifth piece.
In tournaments, Luka Doncic in the top total is my main pivot, and Jalen Johnson or Donovan Mitchell gets you off the Charlotte chalk. Christian Anderson at $3,300 is how I pay for it.
More slates in the NBA DFS articles archive.
NBA DFS FAQ
How do injuries change NBA DFS picks?
Injuries move minutes, and minutes drive most of a DFS score. Tonight Charlotte is without Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Dennis Schroder, so Grayson Allen should play about 34 minutes after 19 to 27 in his last three games. The edge is biggest when news breaks late, before salaries and the field catch up.
How does a back-to-back affect NBA DFS players?
The second game of a back-to-back can bring rest days and shorter minutes, especially in a lopsided game. Detroit, Dallas and the Lakers are all on the second night tonight. Luka Doncic is the exception, because he sat Sunday and comes in fresher than his team.
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.