Tonight's five-game DraftKings NBA DFS slate is bursting with high-value targets, primarily due to an extensive NBA injury report that features stars like Jaylen Brown (illness), Luka Doncic (personal), and Stephen Curry (quadriceps) sidelined.
To maximize your NBA lineups, this guide focuses on finding players whose NBA player stats and usage will skyrocket. Elite guards like Tyrese Maxey and a returning Austin Reaves (with Doncic out) are top priorities. Furthermore, value NBA sleepers like Marvin Bagley (stepping in for Alex Sarr) and Sandro Mamukelashvili (replacing the resting Jakob Poeltl) are crucial for building high-ceiling rosters tonight.
Slate Overview
BOS at WAS: Celtics 5-5 on road; Wizards 2-6 at home
GS at PHI: Warriors 4-8 on road; 76ers 6-6 at home
LAL at TOR: Lakers 8-2 on road; Raptors 8-2 at home
UTA at BRO: Jazz 1-7 on road; Nets 1-9 at home
MIN at NOR: Timberwolves on three-game winning streak, 6-5 on road; Pelicans on four-game slide, 2-10 at home
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.
BOS - Jaylen Brown (illness): OUT
WAS - Alex Sarr (thigh), Tre Johnson (hip), Bilal Coulibaly (oblique), Corey Kispert (thumb): OUT
GS - Jonathan Kuminga (ankle), Quinten Post (ankle), Al Horford (sciatica): Questionable; Jimmy Butler (knee), Stephen Curry (quadriceps): OUT
PHI - Joel Embiid (knee): Questionable; Paul George (rest), Kelly Oubre (knee), Trendon Watford (adductor): OUT
LAL - Luka Doncic (personal), Marcus Smart (back): OUT
TOR - RJ Barrett (knee), Jakob Poeltl (rest), Ochai Agbaji (personal): OUT
UTA - Jusuf Nurkic (ribs): Questionable; Kevin Love (rest), Georges Niang (foot): OUT
BRO - Terance Mann (ribs): Probable; Michael Porter (rest), Drake Powell (knee), Cam Thomas (hamstring): OUT
MIN - None
NOR - Jordan Poole (quadriceps), Herbert Jones (calf), Yves Missi (foot/ankle), Zion Williamson (adductor): OUT
Elite Players
Guards
Tyrese Maxey, 76ers 
($10,400) vs. Warriors
Maxey has been outstanding this season, posting at least 44.3 DK points in all but one of his 20 regular-season games. The star point guard should remain the focal point of the Sixers' offense even if Joel Embiid (knee) is cleared to play, as he could face a minutes restriction. Maxey has tallied at least 48.3 DK points in three consecutive contests, averaging 33.7 points, 7.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in 41.0 minutes per contest over that stretch.
Austin Reaves, Lakers 
($8,300) at Raptors
The 27-year-old guard is coming off somewhat of a down night in Monday's loss to the Suns, during which he scored fewer than 20 points for the first time since Nov. 12. However, Luka Doncic (personal) won't be joining the team in Toronto. In Reaves' previous three appearances with Doncic sidelined this season, he averaged 40.0 points, 10.0 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals across 39.3 minutes per contest. While LeBron James will likely take on some of the scoring and playmaking load this time around, Reaves should still have a prime opportunity to shine.
Forwards/Centers
Scottie Barnes, Raptors 
($9,000) vs. Lakers
Barnes has stuffed the stat sheet on a near-nightly basis this season and will have another chance to do so against Los Angeles with RJ Barrett (knee) remaining on the shelf. In Toronto's last five games without Barrett, Barnes has averaged 23.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals in 36.8 minutes per contest. Additionally, the star forward hasn't generated fewer than 35.8 DK points since Oct. 27.
Lauri Markkanen, Jazz 
($8,200) at Nets
Markkanen hasn't been shy about pulling the trigger this season and is on pace to average a career-high 20.0 field-goal attempts per contest. The star forward will likely put up plenty of shots against a lackluster Nets defense on the second night of their back-to-back set. Over his last five games, Markkanen has averaged 22.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 35.0 minutes per tilt.
Derik Queen, Pelicans 
($6,600) vs. Timberwolves
Queen has been a mainstay in New Orleans' starting lineup of late and has posted 28.5-plus DK points in 10 of his last 12 appearances (10 starts). During that span, the rookie first-rounder has averaged 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.7 combined steals-plus-blocks in 27.9 minutes per game. With Zion Williamson (adductor) and Yves Missi (foot/ankle) still out, Queen will have another opportunity to put up strong numbers after tallying 41.0 DK points during Tuesday's overtime loss to Minnesota.
Expected Chalk
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves 
($9,600) at Pelicans
Edwards has been on fire recently, scoring at least 31 points in six consecutive games, including 44 during Tuesday's overtime win over the Pelicans. He'll look to keep that streak rolling against a New Orleans squad that is missing multiple key contributors. Over that six-game span, the superstar has averaged a whopping 38.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 48.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Mid-Range Money
Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans ($5,900) vs. Timberwolves
Fears has been a consistent source of offense for the Pelicans this season and has scored in double figures in 19 straight games. The rookie first-rounder has finished with at least 30.0 DK points in each of his last three outings, during which he has averaged 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.3 minutes per contest.
Marvin Bagley, Wizards 
($5,000) vs. Celtics
With Alex Sarr (thigh) remaining on the shelf for a third straight game, Bagley is expected to get the starting nod once again. The 26-year-old big man has tallied at least 33.3 DK points in all three of his starts this season, during which he has averaged 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 60.6 percent from the floor across 28.7 minutes per game.
Value Picks
Kyle Filipowski, Jazz ($4,800) at Nets
Filipowski has scored in double figures in three of his last four outings, finishing with at least 20.3 DK points in all four of those games. The second-year center has been a consistent source of rebounds over that stretch, during which he has averaged 10.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 24.3 minutes per game off the bench. Additionally, he could see increased playing time Thursday if Jusuf Nurkic (ribs) joins Kevin Love (rest) and Walker Kessler (shoulder) on the sidelines.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Raptors ($4,500) vs. Lakers
The 26-year-old center has tallied 17.3 or more DK points in three straight outings off the bench and should see increased burn Thursday with Jakob Poeltl resting. During that three-game stretch, Mamukelashvili has averaged 9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 combined steals-plus-blocks in 21.7 minutes per contest.
Sam Hauser, Celtics 
($3,900) at Wizards
While Hauser has largely failed to take advantage of Jayson Tatum's (Achilles) absence this season, he'll likely take on an increased role Thursday with Jaylen Brown (illness) joining Tatum on the sidelines. Hauser has recorded at least 15.5 DK points in four of his last five outings (one start), averaging 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 44.4 percent from downtown in 25.6 minutes per game during that span.
