That All-Star break was fantastic! The Slam Dunk contest was terrible, but everything else went really well. It also allowed us to recharge our batteries, which can be huge with only 20-25 games remaining. It has me motivated to have a big ending to the season, so, let’s start on this Thursday card!

We have just seven games in the first slate back! That’s the perfect amount for DFS, though, and it’s exciting that we don’t have to look at a 12-game player pool. We also have a ton of injury news ahead of time, which makes things much easier on us! Let’s go ahead and get started with the schedule and odds.

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

• CLE at DET (CLE -8.5) O/U: 209.5
• BOS at BKN (BOS -5.5) O/U: 213.5
• ATL at CHI (CHI -4.5) O/U: 234.5
• MEM at MIN (MEM -2.5) O/U: 239
• PHX at OKC (PHX -10) O/U: 215
• GSW at POR (GSW -6.5) O/U: 224
• DEN at SAC (DEN -4.5) O/U: 231.5

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Kevin Durant (Knee) OUT
• Kyrie Irving (Personal) OUT
• Chris Paul (hand) OUT
• Ben Simmons (personal) OUT
• Damian Lillard (abductor) OUT
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) Questionable
• Robert Williams III (calf) Questionable
• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• John Collins (foot) Doubtful
• Marcus Smart (ankle) Questionable
• Luguentz Dort (shoulder) Doubtful
• Draymond Greem (back) OUT
• Jamal Murray (knee) OUT
• Michael Porter Jr (back) OUT
• Dillon Brooks (ankle) OUT
• Caris LeVert (back) OUT
• Darius Garland (back) OUT

Core Plays

DeMar DeRozan (SF/PF – CHI): $10,700 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
DeRozan has been playing the best basketball of his career this season. He’s got at least 28 raw points in 10 straight games, scoring at least 47 DraftKings points in 17 consecutive games. That makes him worth it at any salary, especially with DD averaging 48 DK points per game in his two meetings with the Hawks. That’s far from surprising, with Atlanta ranked 27th in defensive efficiency ratings.

De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
The Tyrese Haliburton trade has done wonders for Fox. The Sacramento speedster has at least 33 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games, scoring at least 46 fantasy points in four of his previous six outings. The simple fact is, his ball-handling, shot attempts, and usage are on the rise without Haliburton. We also don’t mind that Denver owns a 22nd OPRK against opposing point guards.

Seth Curry (PG/SG – BKN): $6,000 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
With Harden in Philly and Kyrie and KD on the sidelines, Curry is the focal point of the offense right now. Not only is he their primary ball-handler, but he’s also their primary scorer. That’s led to a 32-point average in his first three games with the Nets, an astounding total from a $6K player. He’s crushed Boston this year, too, averaging over 35 DK points per game in their three meetings.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,500 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
The Joker is a lock in this section on every slate. He’s leading the NBA with over 60 DraftKings points per game and has scored 41 or more fantasy points in all but one outing. That makes him tough to avoid here, with Sacramento ranked 29th in both defensive efficiency and points allowed.

Devin Booker (SG – PHX): $8,800 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
Booker has been a usage hog recently, and it’s scary to think how much he’ll be asked to do in the absence of Chris Paul. He’s already taking 24 shots a game over the last three weeks and has a usage rate north of 30 percent with CP3 on the sidelines. He’s killed OKC this season, too, averaging over 58 fantasy points per game in their two matchups.

Rajon Rondo (PG – CLE): $3,900 DraftKings, $3,900 FanDuel
Darius Garland was one of my top options before he was ruled out, but with Caris LeVert out as well, Rondo could be looking at a 25-minute start. If that’s the case, Rajon should never be this cheap. He’s scored over 40 fantasy points twice in the last five games and always has the potential for double-digit assists in this expanded role. That should be easy to duplicate, with Detroit ranked 25th in defensive efficiency.

GPP Targets

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
This pricing is crazy. Cap has earned it with his terrible play, but we’re really encouraged with his workload. He’s played at least 31 minutes in two of the three games, which directly correlates with Collins injury. With JC out again, that means Capela should play another 30 minutes, making him tough to fade with his 32-point average across 28 minutes a night for the season.

Andre Drummond (C – BKN): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
It’s tough to tell if Drum will get a 30-minute role with the Nets, but we love that he’s starting. We already mentioned all of the players out for Brooklyn, leading to Drum scoring at least 33 DK points in two of his first three games with the Nets. He’s done that damage in limited minutes, but he could be asked to play more here to oppose Robert Williams and Al Horford.

Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
Speaking of Big Al, this guy has been underrated all season. He had a month-long lull in December but has been amazing aside from that. In fact, Horford is averaging 29 DK points per game for the season, scoring at least 31 DraftKings points in four of his last six games. It’s not like Brooklyn has anyone scary in their frontcourt to defend him either.

Value Plays

Bruce Brown (SG/SF – BKN): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
This FanDuel price is a bit rich for my blood, but the DraftKings price is silly. BB is playing 33 minutes a night across his last four fixtures, averaging 29 DK points per game in that span. Good luck finding that from another sub-$5K player, especially since Brooklyn is missing so many vital pieces. He played 32 minutes in their most recent meeting with Boston, and that should happen again here with so many talented wings on the Celtics roster needing to be covered.

Elfrid Payton (PG/SG – PHX): $3,400 DraftKings, $3,500 FanDuel
With CP3 out for the next six weeks, it looks like Elf could get 20-25 minutes for the Suns. We know this guy can stuff the stat sheet when given the opportunity, flirting with triple-double averages in his time with the Knicks, Magic, and Pelicans. If he plays 20 minutes, Elf should get 25 DK points easily, which is all you need from such a cheap player. If you hear that Aaron Holiday ends up starting, don’t forget about him south of $4,000!

Patrick Beverley (PG/SG – MIN): $5,000 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
Pat-Bev has been in this price range all season, and it makes no sense why. He’s scored at least 23 DraftKings points in 22 straight games, averaging 29 DK points per game in that span. That’s ridiculous from such an affordable player, and you better believe he’ll play massive minutes here to oppose Ja Morant. He’s averaging 28 DK points per game in their three meetings this season.

Advantageous Pricing

• Bruce Brown (SG/SF – BKN): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG/SF – ATL): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
• Josh Giddey (SG – OKC): $8,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Tre Mann (PG/SG – OKC): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• Isaiah Roby (PF/C – OKC): $3,700 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Steven Adams (C – MEM): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
• Brandon Clarke (PF/C – MEM): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
• Donte DiVincenzo (SG/SF – SAC): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Maurice Harkless (SF/PF – SAC): $3,500 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel

Get a $5 bonus when you make your first deposit at FanDuel

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts