This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
This NBA slate offers a strong mix of high-end stars, mid-range stability, and value created by injuries and shifting rotations. Using the latest NBA injury report, projected NBA starting lineups, and recent NBA player stats, this DFS breakdown highlights optimal plays across salary tiers. Matchup data, pace trends, and evolving NBA depth charts all factor into tonight's strategy, helping identify reliable chalk and lower-rostered upside options. Whether you're building around elite producers or searching for salary relief, these insights—powered by updated NBA projections—are designed to support sharper roster construction as lineups lock and late news breaks.
Slate Overview
PHX at NOP: Suns on two-game win streak; Pelicans on two-game slide
DEN at ORL: Nuggets 8-2 in last 10 games; Magic 10-5 at home
NYK at ATL: Knicks 8-2 in last 10 games; Hawks on five-game slide
MIL at CHI: Bucks 3-7 in last 10 games; Bulls on five-game win streak
CLE at HOU: Cavs 6-7 on road; Rockets 8-2 at home
IND at MIA: Pacers on seven-game slide, 1-13 on road; Heat 2-8 in last 10 games, 10-5 at home
BKN at MIN: Nets on two-game win streak, 5-8 on road; Timberwolves 7-3 in last 10 games, 12-5 at home
UTA at SAS: Jazz 3-9 on road; Spurs on eight-game win streak, 11-2 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.
PHX - Grayson Allen (knee): Questionable; Jalen Green (hamstring): OUT
NOP - Herbert Jones (ankle): Questionable
DEN - Cameron Johnson (knee): Questionable
ORL - Goga Bitadze (knee): Questionable; Jalen Suggs (hip): Doubtful; Franz Wagner (ankle): OUT
NYK - Miles McBride (ankle): Questionable; Josh Hart (ankle): OUT
ATL - Kristaps Porzingis (illness): OUT
MIL - Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), Gary Trent (calf): Questionable
CHI - Josh Giddey (ankle): Questionable
HOU - Alperen Sengun (calf): Questionable
IND - Aaron Nesmith (knee), Ben Sheppard (calf): Doubtful
MIA - Bam Adebayo (back), Tyler Herro (toe): Questionable
UTA - Ace Bailey (hip): Questionable
SAS: De'Aaron Fox (thigh): OUT
Elite Players
Guards
Jalen Brunson, Knicks 
($9,300) at Hawks
Brunson hit the 30-point mark in six of his last eight games, with a high of 47, while averaging 33.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 0.8 steals over that span. He has a great chance to stay hot against the Hawks, who give up the league's sixth-highest shooting percentage to opposing point guards.
Devin Booker, Suns 
($8,600) at Pelicans
Booker is averaging 27.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals over four games since returning from a week-long absence. He tied his season high for a second time with 38 points in the game before last, and he had 11 assists in the most recent outing, marking the fourth time this season he logged double digits in the distributor column. He should continue to shine against the Pelicans, who give up the league's most points per game to opposing shooting guards.
Forwards/Centers
Kevin Durant, Rockets 
($8,700) vs. Cavaliers
Durant continues to fill the stat sheet, averaging 25.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 blocks over the last 10 games, including four with at least 50 DK points. He is likely to thrive against the Cavaliers thanks to a great size advantage at the wing, while they also give up the league's fifth-highest three-point shooting percentage.
Julius Randle, Timberwolves 
($8,600) vs. Nets
Randle turned in 57.8 DK points with 32 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block in the last game and is averaging 23.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals over 10 outings. He has a good chance to fill it up against the Nets, who give up the league's fifth-highest field goal percentage and second-most rebounds per game to opposing power forwards.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks ($8,800) at Hawks
Towns has been up and down lately, with 34.5 DK points in the last game, 60.3 in the game prior, and 15.0 in the game before that. Nonetheless, he is averaging 21.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.9 steals on the season and ranks third in the league in double-doubles. He should do well against the Hawks, who are giving up the league's seventh-most points in the paint and seventh-most rebounds per game.
Expected Chalk
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
($12,500) at Magic
Jokic blew the lid off the competition with 106.5 DK points in his last time out and is averaging 31.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks over the last 10 games. There is no reason to expect him to slow down against the Magic, after he produced 61.8 DK points a couple of weeks ago in their previous encounter. Additionally, the Magic give up the league's ninth-most points in the paint and the sixth-most free throws per game to opposing centers.
Mid-Range Money
Norman Powell, Heat 
($6,800) vs. Pacers
Powell is averaging 22.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals over the last 10 games, including seven with more than 35 DK points. He faces a favorable matchup against the Pacers, who are giving up the league's fourth-most points and seventh-highest field-goal percentage to opposing shooting guards.
Kyle Kuzma, Bucks 
($5,300) at Bulls
Kuzma is averaging 17.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists over five consecutive starts, including a high of 39.5 DK points in that span. He should continue to prosper with a matchup against the Bulls, who are giving up the league's fourth-most points and fourth-most rebounds to opposing small forwards.
Value Picks
Davion Mitchell, Heat ($4,800) vs. Pacers
After scoring in double digits in five straight appearances, Mitchell delivered just six points in the last game. Nonetheless, he is averaging 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.2 steals on the season and has a good chance to push those numbers against the Pacers, who are giving up the league's eighth-most points per game and seventh-highest field-goal percentage.
Harrison Barnes, Spurs 
($4,300) vs. Jazz
After failing to score in double digits for three straight games, Barnes bounced back by scoring at least 14 points in each of the last three games, averaging 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists over that span. He has a strong opportunity to put up numbers across the board against the Jazz, who give up the league's most points, most assists and seventh-most steals per game to opposing power forwards.
Luke Kornet, Spurs ($4,400) vs. Jazz
Kornet continues to see big minutes, averaging 25.6 over his last 10 games with 7.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 blocks over that span. He should prosper in a favorable matchup against the Jazz, who are giving up the league's 10th-most points in the paint, along with the fourth-most blocks and fourth-highest field-goal percentage to opposing centers.
