Building winning DraftKings NBA DFS lineups starts with understanding the slate, and this one offers plenty of upside across the board. With multiple high-total matchups, star power in primetime games and several injury situations that could unlock serious value, Sunday's DraftKings NBA slate is packed with opportunity. In this article, we'll break down the full slate with key matchups, injuries to monitor, elite player targets, expected chalk, mid-range values and bargain plays to help you maximize your DraftKings DFS strategy. Whether you're hunting ceiling performances or safe floors, this breakdown has everything you need to get your lineup ready.
This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
BKN at DET: The Pistons have won four straight in this series.
CHI at MIA: The Heat have won both games over the Bulls this season.
SAC at WAS: These teams have traded off wins and losses in five straight matchups.
UTA at TOR: The Raptors have won both games against the Jazz this year.
LAL at NYK: The Lakers have won three straight games over the Knicks.
LAC at PHX: The Suns have won seven of their last eight games against the Clippers.
CLE at POR: The Cavs have won seven of their last nine meetings with the Blazers.
OKC at DEN: The Thunder have won five of their last seven matchups with the Nuggets.
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.
BKN - Noah Clowney (back)
DET - Caris LeVert (illness)
CHI - Nikola Vucevic (B2B), Josh Giddey (hamstring), Coby White (calf), Jalen Smith (calf), Tre Jones (hamstring)
MIA - Tyler Herro (ribs), Norman Powell (personal), Davion Mitchell (shoulder)
SAC - Russell Westbrook (foot), Keegan Murray (ankle)
WAS - Trae Young, Alex Sarr (calf)
UTA - Keyonte George (ankle), Jusuf Nurkic (illness)
TOR - Jakob Poeltl (back)
LAL - Austin Reaves (calf)
NYK - Miles McBride (ankle)
PHX - Devin Booker (ankle), Jalen Green (hamstring)
LAC - NONE
Elite Players
Guards
Luka Doncic, Lakers ($12,200) at Knicks
Doncic is the most expensive player by a mile, but he's earned it. The Slovenian leads all players with 62 DraftKings points per game, but he's been even better than that recently. Doncic has scored at least 64 DK points in four of his last five fixtures while scoring at least 77 fantasy points in three of those. Only a handful of players have reached 77 DK points all season, let alone three times in one week. Playing in Madison Square Garden only adds to the showman's intrigue, averaging over 75 DK points per game in his last four matchups with the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson, Knicks ($8,300) vs. Lakers
Luka's not the only star who will show up in this game, with Brunson likely blowing up for the Knicks. The All-Star is already averaging 42 DK points per game, which alone is a solid total from an $8,300. He also comes into this matchup scoring 38 DK points in three of his last four fixtures, doing a bit more in the absence of McBride. He'll also want to show up in a highlight game against the Lakers, especially since LA owns a 23rd OPRK against opposing guards. They're also 25th in total defense, with JB dropping 56 fantasy points in their most recent matchup.
Forwards/Centers
Scottie Barnes, Raptors ($9,200) vs. Jazz
Barnes is well on his way to an All-Star appearance, and he might become a perennial All-Star if he continues to perform like this. The former Rookie of the Year has scored at least 39 DK points in nine straight games while posting a 44-point average for the season. Our favorite part of using him is this matchup against Utah, because the Jazz rank dead last in defensive efficiency. That was on full display when Scottie scored 48 DraftKings points per game in their two matchups last season.
Lauri Markkanen, Jazz ($8,300) at Raptors
Markkanen can be a difficult player to trust in season-long leagues with Utah resting him regularly, but he always seems to show up when he's in the lineup. That's expected to happen here since he's off the injury report, averaging 43 DraftKings points per game. That's nearly the same average as Barnes', but Markkanen is $1,000 cheaper due to the missed games. He's also scored at least 41 DK points in 13 of his last 16 outings, while flirting with a 50-point average in that span.
Expected Chalk
Alex Sarr, Wizards ($8,100) vs. Kings
Choosing chalk is always a difficult aspect of DFS, but Sarr has become very popular in DFS circles. It's easy to understand why when examining his 37-point average, but every variable is in his favor here. The most impactful one is his recent form, with Sarr scoring at least 34 fantasy points in six straight games. That's backed by a 49-point average across his last three fixtures. What's really going to skyrocket his ownership is the matchup because the Kings own a 30th OPRK against opposing centers. Seeing that green "30th" always bumps ownership, and DFS managers know Sarr has taken the next step in his game.
Mid-Range Money
Jaime Jaquez, Heat ($6,100) vs. Bulls
Miami has been looking for a primary ball-handler in the absence of Mitchell and Herro, with Jaquez taking over that role. It's not something we expected to see at the beginning of the season, but it's led to Jaime scoring at least 37 DraftKings points in three of his last four fixtures. That's a ridiculous run from a $6K player, but it couldn't look better in a matchup like this. Jaquez had 43 DK points against Chicago on Saturday, with the Bulls ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency and 26th in points allowed.
Deandre Ayton, Lakers ($5,600) at Knicks
This is a risky recomendation but Ayton showcased why he can be such a good value in his most recent outing. The former top pick had a season-high 58 DraftKings points in his most recent game. We've seen gems like that from this big man in the past, and it should continue if he plays 30 minutes and takes double-digit shots. The matchup with NY doesn't scare us either, with Ayton amassing 31 points and 14 rebounds in their most recent matchup. We might be seeing Ayton's time in LA come to an end, or we might see the start of a special run, but we'll bet on the ladder at just $5,600.
Value Picks
Khris Middleton, Wizards ($5,300) vs. Kings
It's hard to believe Middleton is back in this article, but the former All-Star has been turning things around over recent weeks. The veteran forward has scored at least 25 DK points in five of his last six outings. That's already an absurd stretch for a $5,300 player, and it's below Middleton's average from just a few years ago. A resurgence is always possible with a player of this potential, and it's more likely to continue against a team like the Kings. Sacramento sits 27th in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency.
Kevin Huerter, Bulls ($4,600) at Heat
Chicago was missing most of its rotation on Saturday, and they might be in a similar situation here. All of those injuries have led Huerter to take on a massive workload, as he scored 70 fantasy points across 55 minutes in his two most recent outings. His 23-point average across 24 minutes shows he's a decent per-minute producer, and all he needs is 25-30 minutes to be a good value at this $4,600 price tag. A matchup with Miami is marvelous too, with the Heat playing at the fastest pace in the NBA while ranked 24th in points allowed.
