Tonight's slate is dominated by a crippling NBA injury report, creating immense value across multiple NBA depth charts. Key absences—including Trae Young, Paolo Banchero, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Vucevic—have directly elevated several NBA sleepers and elite producers.
Our guide provides the essential fantasy basketball cheat sheet needed to maximize your DraftKings DFS lineup, focusing on players like Tyrese Maxey, whose NBA player stats soar without his star teammates. We also highlight mid-range picks such as Andre Drummond and Ayo Dosunmu, who are locked into NBA starting lineups and face favorable matchups that position them for high NBA projection scores tonight.
Slate Overview
CLE at ATL: Cavs 4-4 on road; Hawks 3-4 at home
ORL at DET: Magic 4-5 on road; Pistons 7-1 at home.
WAS at IND: Wizards 1-9 on road; Pacers on three-game slide
PHI at BKN: Sixers on two-game slide; Nets 0-8 at home
MIL at NYK: Bucks on six-game slide; Knicks 8-1 at home
CHI at CHA: Bulls 3-6 on road; Hornets on seven-game slide
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.
CLE - Dean Wade (knee): Questionable
ATL - Kristaps Porzingis (illness): Questionable; Trae Young (knee): OUT
ORL - Paolo Banchero (groin): OUT
DET - Jaden Ivey (undisclosed): Questionable
WAS - Kyshawn George (illness): Questionable; Tre Johnson (hip): OUT
IND - Andrew Nembhard (quadriceps): Questionable; Aaron Nesmith (knee): OUT
PHI - Paul George (): Questionable; VJ Edgecombe (calf), Joel Embiid (knee), Kelly Oubre (knee), Trendon Watford (thigh): OUT
BKN - Michael Porter (back): OUT
MIL - Giannis Antetokounmpo (thigh): Questionable
NYK - OG Anunoby (hamstring): OUT
CHI - Coby White (calf): Probable; Kevin Huerter (pelvis), Nikola Vucevic (knee), Patrick Williams (wrist): Questionable; Isaac Okoro (back): Doubtful
Elite Players
Guards
Jalen Brunson, Knicks 
($8,800) vs. Bucks
Brunson is averaging 30.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists through four games since returning from a two-game absence. He has a good opportunity to pad his stats against the Bucks, who are giving up the league's fifth-most free throws per game to opposing point guards. Brunson also finished with 49.0 DK points in his previous encounter with the Bucks this season.
Josh Giddey, Bulls 
($9,700) at Hornets
Giddey continues to stuff the stat sheet, averaging 19.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 1.0 steals, reaching a high of 72.3 DK points through six games since returning from a two-game absence. He faces a favorable matchup against the Hornets, who are giving up the league's fifth-most points and second-most three-pointers per game to opposing point guards.
Forwards/Centers
Miles Bridges, Hornets 
($8,200) vs. Bulls
Despite dealing with fluctuations in the lineup due to injuries, Bridges has stayed steady and is averaging 21.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists over the last 10 games, including five with more than 40 DK points and a high of 58.0. He is likely to shine against the Bulls, who are giving up the league's second-most points and seventh-most rebounds per game to opposing power forwards.
Pascal Siakam, Pacers 
($8,700) vs. Wizards
Siakam topped 40 DK points in five straight outings before coming up with just 21.5 in the most recent game. However, he is averaging 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals over the six-game stretch and has a great chance to pick it up again versus the Wizards, who are giving up the league's sixth-most points and second-most rebounds per game to opposing power forwards.
Jalen Duren, Pistons 
($7,800) vs. Magic
Duren is averaging 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists over the last five games, as he continues to dominate the painted area. He is up for an advantageous matchup against the Magic, who are shorthanded in the frontcourt, and who are giving up the league's eighth-most points in the paint.
Expected Chalk
Tyrese Maxey, 76ers 
($9,900) at Nets
Maxey is averaging 30.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.9 steals over the last 10 games, including five games with over 50 DK points and a high of 86.3. He has a great chance to continue to shine with a matchup against the Nets, who are giving up the league's seventh-most three-pointers to opposing point guards, and the league's third-highest field-goal percentage per game.
Mid-Range Money
Ayo Dosunmu, Bulls ($5,300) at Hornets
Dosunmu is likely up for a fourth consecutive start for his shorthanded squad after averaging 19.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists over the last three games. He is likely to stand out against the Hornets, who are giving up the league's highest shooting percentage to opposing small forwards.
Andre Drummond, 76ers ($6,700) at Nets
Drummond has done a great job stepping up for the injury-riddled 76ers, as he is averaging 10.9 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over eight straight starts, including three games with at least 40 DK points and a high of 50.5. He is likely to keep rolling against the Nets, who are giving up the league's fifth-most points per game to opposing centers.
Value Picks
Lonzo Ball, Cavaliers 
($4,500) at Hawks
Ball racked up 33.3 DK points in the last game and is averaging 6.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals over his last five appearances. He should do well against the Hawks, who remain shorthanded in the backcourt, and who are giving up the league's fifth-highest shooting percentage to opposing point guards.
Miles McBride, Knicks ($4,800) vs. Bucks
McBride is up for a fifth start in six appearances while the Knicks remain shorthanded. He is averaging 14.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists over his last five outings (four starts), including two games with at least 32.0 DK points.
Jarace Walker, Pacers ($4,300) vs. Wizards
As the Pacers continue to deal with injury trouble, Walker is looking at a second consecutive start. He is averaging 11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals over the last five games, and he is averaging 11.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 0.9 steals across 10 starts this season. He has a great chance to prosper against the Wizards, who are giving up the league's most points and most rebounds per game.
