Tonight's massive 11-game slate is dramatically shaped by an extensive NBA injury report, creating opportunities in DraftKings DFS. The Lakers, Cavaliers, and Bucks are severely short-handed, with stars like Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Darius Garland, and Joel Embiid all ruled out. This scenario elevates the NBA projection for elite chalk like Nikola Jokic ($12,900) and Jaylen Brown ($9,500). Crucially, the absences also generate tremendous value—look to Josh Hart (Knicks) and the budget-friendly Jamal Shead (Raptors) as key pieces to unlock high-upside NBA lineups tonight. Make sure to check out our NBA DFS optimizer to help utilize some of our expert suggestions and insights.
Slate Overview
LAL at BOS: Lakers 8-2 in last 10 games; Celtics 8-2 in last 10 games and on three-game win streak
MIA at ORL: Heat 4-6 on road; Magic 8-4 at home
DEN at ATL: Nuggets 9-2 on road; Hawks on two-game slide
SAS at CLE: Spurs 7-3 in last 10 games; Cavs 8-5 at home
POR at DET: Trail Blazers 3-7 in last 10 games; Pistons 8-2 at home
UTA at NYK: Jazz 2-7 on road; Knicks 11-1 at home
CHA at TOR: Hornets 1-10 on road; Raptors 8-3 at home
IND at CHI: Pacers 0-10 on road; Bulls on five-game slide
PHX at HOU: Suns 6-4 in last 10 games; Rockets 8-2 in last 10 games
PHI at MIL: 76ers 5-3 on road; Bucks 2-8 in last 10 games
LAC at MEM: Clippers 3-9 on road; Grizzlies 5-5 in last 10 games
For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
Injuries to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
LAL - Luka Doncic (personal), LeBron James (back), Marcus Smart (back): OUT
MIA - Tyler Herro (toe): Doubtful
DEN - Spencer Jones (knee): Questionable; Christian Braun (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring): OUT
ATL - Jalen Johnson (calf), Kristaps Porzingis (illness): Questionable; Trae Young (knee): OUT
SAS - Stephon Castle (), Victor Wembanyama (): OUT
CLE - Evan Mobley (illness): Questionable; Jarrett Allen (finger), Darius Garland (toe): OUT
POR - Donovan Clingan (lower leg), Kris Murray (hip), Robert Williams (knee): Questionable; Jrue Holiday (calf), Scoot Henderson (hamstring): OUT
DET - Duncan Robinson (ankle): Questionable;
UTA - Jusuf Nurkic (ribs): Questionable
NYK - OG Anunoby (hamstring): Questionable
CHA - Ryan Kalkbrenner (ankle): Questionable; Tre Mann (ankle): Doubtful; Collin Sexton (thigh): OUT
TOR - Ochai Agbaji (personal), RJ Barrett (knee): OUT
IND - Aaron Nesmith (knee), Ben Sheppard (calf): OUT
CHI - Ayo Dosunmu (thumb), Coby White (calf): Questionable; Isaac Okoro (back): Doubtful; Kevin Huerter (hamstring): OUT
PHX - Devin Booker (groin), Jalen Green (hamstring): OUT
HOU - Alperen Sengun (illness): Questionable; Tari Eason (oblique): OUT
PHI - Joel Embiid (knee), Kelly Oubre (knee), Trendon Watford (thigh): OUT
MIL - Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf): OUT
LAC - Derrick Jones (knee), Bogdan Bogdanovic (hip): OUT
MEM - Ty Jerome (calf), Ja Morant (calf): OUT
Elite Players
Guards
Jalen Brunson, Knicks 
($8,800) vs. Jazz
Brunson poured in 26 points on 9-for-16 shooting in the last game and has gone over 40 DK points in six of his last 10 appearances. He has a great chance to come up with another big game against the Jazz, who are giving up the league's eighth-most points and third-most three-pointers per game to opposing point guards.
Josh Hart, Knicks ($7,800) vs. Jazz
Hart continues to stuff the stat sheet, averaging 17.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.2 steals across six consecutive starts, including a high of 54.3 DK points within that span. He is up for another start in the absence of OG Anunoby, and he should prosper against the Jazz, who are giving up the league's second-most points per game, along with the seventh-highest shooting percentage, fifth-most three-pointers, and third-most rebounds per game.
Forwards/Centers
Jaylen Brown, Celtics 
($9,500) vs. Lakers
Brown missed the last game but racked up over 50 DK points in six of his last eight appearances, including a high of 71.5, while averaging 32.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and a 1.9 steals over that span. He has a great opportunity to keep up the production against the Lakers, who are without Luka Doncic, and LeBron James, and who are giving up the league's fourth-most points per game to opposing small forwards.
Pascal Siakam, Pacers 
($8,500) vs. Bulls
Siakam is averaging 23.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals over the last 10 games, going over 40 DK points seven times in that stretch. He faces an ideal chance to thrive against the Bulls, who give up the league's fourth-most points, third-most free throws, and eighth-most rebounds to opposing power forwards.
Nikola Vucevic, Bulls 
($7,700) vs. Pacers
Vucevic is averaging 16.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over his last 10 games, including racking up a high of 48.5 DK points. He is up for a great chance to shine in an advantageous matchup against the Pacers, who are giving up the league's sixth-most points and most free throws per game to opposing centers, along with the league's sixth-most points in the paint.
Expected Chalk
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
($12,900) at Hawks
Jokic has topped 80 DK points twice within the last 10 games, while averaging 28.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, 11.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. He should be able to take control of the painted area against the Hawks, who are giving up the league's 10th-most points in the paint, fifth-most offensive rebounds, and seventh most total rebounds per game. Additionally, they give up the league's seventh-highest field-goal percentage to opposing centers.
Mid-Range Money
Kon Knueppel, Hornets 
($6,500) at Raptors
Knueppel continues to shine among this year's rookies, averaging 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting an impressive 94.7 percent from the foul line over that span. He has a good opportunity to keep up the strong play against the Raptors, who are shorthanded in the backcourt, and who give up the league's second-most free throws to opposing shooting guards.
Ausar Thompson, Pistons 
($5,500) vs. Trail Blazers
Thompson is averaging 8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks over eight games since returning from a four-game absence. He is likely to continue to fill the stat sheet against the Trail Blazers, who are giving up the league's third-most turnovers, seventh-most free throws, and eighth-highest field-goal percentage.
Value Picks
Jamal Shead, Raptors 
($3,500) vs. Hornets
Shead has been a steady contributor off the bench all season, averaging 5.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He is enjoying a boost in playing time due to the absence of RJ Barrett, and he is should continue to make the most of it with a matchup against the Hornets, who are shorthanded in the backcourt, and who give up the league's seventh-most points and highest -field-goal percentage to opposing point guards.
Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors ($3,300) vs. Hornets
Murray-Boyles topped 20 DK points in two of the last three games, while averaging 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals over that span. He has a great chance to keep it up against the Hornets, who are giving up the league's sixth-highest field-goal percentage to opposing power forwards, and the league's fifth-most points in the paint.
Steven Adams, Rockets 
($4,000) vs. Suns
Adams is averaging 6.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.8 blocks over his last 10 appearances, including a high of 36.4 DK points in the game before last. He should pad his stats against the Suns, who give up the league's fourth-highest field-goal percentage to opposing centers.
