This is one of the toughest slates to navigate all year. We just had the trade deadline yesterday, and we’re not exactly sure who will take the floor tonight. In any case, we only have six games, so it shouldn’t be too big of an issue. We are just one week away from the All-Star break as well, and this is an excellent time for these teams to make a push before their week off.

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

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• ATL at PHI (ATL -3.5) O/U: 241
• WAS at BOS (BOS -16.5) O/U: 238
• HOU at TOR (TOR -2) O/U: 232
• CHA at MIL (MIL -14.5) O/U: 232
• DEN at SAC (DEN -0.5) O/U: 233
• NOP at LAL (LAL -1) O/U: 235

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• Clint Capela (adductor) OUT
• Joel Embiid (knee) OUT
• De’Anthony Melton (back) OUT
• Fred VanVleet (adductor) OUT
• Damian Lillard (ankle) Questionable
• Khris Middleton (ankle) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (calf) Questionable
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (hammy)
• Jonas Valanciunas (calf) Questionable
• Anthony Davis (B2B) Questionable
• LeBron James (B2B) Questionable
• Jayson Tatum (illness) Questionable
• Dejounte Murray (back) Questionable
• D’Angelo Russell (knee) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (foot) Questionable

Core Plays

Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $9,700 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
Using players against Washington has been a treasure chest all season, and we obviously want to utilize a superstar against them. Tatum is just that, averaging 48 DraftKings points per game. He’s also scored at least 30 DK points in all but one game this year, scoring at least 46 fantasy points in back-to-back games against the Wizards. That’s no surprise since they surrender the most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Tyrese Maxey (PG/SG – PHI): $9,200 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
This Philly team might fall apart without Embiid, but Maxey will do everything possible to keep their heads above water. The point guard has a 37 percent usage rate when Embiid is off the floor, averaging over 50 DraftKings points per game in this expanded role. He’s locked into 40 minutes and 20 shots, which makes him an easy target against a 29th-ranked Atlanta defense. In their last matchup, Tyrese tallied 35 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, and four steals en route to 67 DraftKings points!

Jalen Green (PG/SG – HOU): $7,300 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
It took Green some time to find his form in this league, but he’s crushing it right now. The former Top 3 pick has taken over this offense in the absence of Fred VanVleet, scoring at least 38 DraftKings points in six of his last eight outings. He’s also got a 42-point average in this newfound role, which shouldn’t be hard to reach against Toronto. The Raptors rank 23rd in defensive efficiency ratings.

Cash Game Considerations

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,800 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
We had Giannis in this section yesterday, and we’re going back to him for all the same reasons. The former MVP has scored at least 48 DraftKings points in all but two games over the last two months, flirting with a 65-point average in that span. He’s second to Luka Doncic in fantasy points during that sensational stretch, and we can’t fade him against a Charlotte team with the worst defensive rating in the league.

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,900 FanDuel
With Joel Embiid going down, Jokic is about to snatch his third MVP in the last four years. That’s a remarkable feat, with Joker averaging at least 60 DraftKings points in all four years. He’s also done that while establishing a 50-point floor, making him the easiest cash-game option on such a short slate. We also don’t mind that he faces a 22nd-ranked Sacramento defense, surrendering 84 fantasy points to Jokic earlier in the year.

Tobias Harris (SF/PF – PHI): $7,800 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
All the things we said in Maxey’s write-up go here. Like Tyrese, Tobias sees a massive bump in usage whenever Embiid is out of the lineup. We’ve seen Harris score at least 39 DraftKings points in three of four games since the MVP went down, but that’s no surprise since Harris has been averaging over 40 fantasy points per game without Embiid over the last three years. Atlanta is a fantastic matchup, too, allowing the most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

GPP Targets

Amen Thompson (PG/SG – HOU): $5,300 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
With VanVleet sidelined, Houston will start the rookie as we advance. That’s all we’ve wanted to see, with Thompson scoring 44 DraftKings points across 34 minutes in his first start earlier in the week. We also saw Amen amass 39 DK points across 24 minutes three games ago, and it’s clear this kid can stuff the stat sheet whenever he’s given a full workload. Not to mention, Toronto has one of the worst defenses in the NBA since trading away Pascal Siakam.

Michael Porter Jr. (SF – DEN): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Porter is a volatile player, but that’s why he’s always in the GPP section. The sharpshooter can go off any given night, showcasing a 60-point upside earlier in the year. He’s also got his season average north of 30 fantasy points per game and should have success against Sacramento. He’s got at least 30 DK points in all three matchups with the Kings since the start of last year, generating a 38-point average against them.

Paul Reed (PF/C – PHI): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Reed has been rough filling in for Embiid, but this guy has more upside than he’s shown. The big man averages 1.2 DK points per minute throughout his career and could be a $7K player in a 30-minute role. It’s risky to recommend him with the way he’s been playing, but a matchup against a 29th-ranked Atlanta defense could be the thing to get him going.

Value Plays

Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Bro-Lo just had a baby but needs to get back on the floor to help this Bucks team. Before missing some time, Lopez had at least 30 DraftKings points in 10 of his previous 12 games, providing a 36-point average in that span. That’s one of the best stretches we’ve seen from him, and he should keep it going since Charlotte surrenders the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers. Not to mention, Middleton and Lillard are nicked up, which is awesome since Lopez has at least 34 fantasy points in four of their last five matchups with the Hornets.

Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
We’ve always loved Big O as a prospect and adore him in DFS whenever Clint Capela is sidelined. That’s what’s happening right now, guaranteeing Okonwgu 35 minutes as the starting center. This guy averages nearly 40 fantasy points per game when he sees a full workload and needs to be closer to $8K on both sites in this expanded role. Philly sounds like a terrifying matchup on the surface, but it’s not that bad with Embiid out of the picture.

Jabari Smith Jr. (PF/C – HOU): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
It’s strange to see Smith’s price drop so much. This talented youngster has flashed moments of brilliance at times, averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game. Playing without FVV really bumped his usage in the Rockets most recent outing, scoring 31 DK points across 40 minutes. If this guy plays 40 minutes, JSJ should never be this cheap, especially against a terrible Toronto defense.

Advantageous Pricing

• Amen Thompson (PG/SG – HOU): $5,300 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Kelly Olynyk (PF/C – TOR): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Malik Monk (SG – SAC): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Keegan Murray (PF – SAC): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,200 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
• Larry Nance (PF/C – NOP): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
• Taurean Prince (SF/PF – LAL): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel

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