Saturday's NBA slate offers plenty of opportunities for DraftKings players willing to balance star power with smart value. This DraftKings NBA DFS breakdown covers key matchups, injury news, expected chalk, elite spend-up options, mid-range targets and salary-saving value plays to help you construct winning lineups. Whether you're building for cash games or chasing upside, this guide highlights the best paths to maximizing scoring on tonight's slate.
Slate Overview
ATL at IND: Hawks 5-5 in last 10 games; Pacers 9-16 at home
NOP at PHI: Pelicans 5-18 on road; 76ers on two-game win streak
CHI at MIA: Bulls on three-game slide; Heat 15-8 at home
MIN at MEM: Timberwolves on three-game win streak; Grizzlies on five-game slide
DAL at HOU: Mavericks on three-game slide; Rockets 7-3 in last 10 games
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.
ATL - Jalen Johnson (calf), Zaccharie Risacher (knee), Vit Krejci (ankle): Questionable; Onyeka Okongwu (mouth), Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles): OUT
PHI - Andre Drummond (illness): Questionable; Paul George (suspension): OUT
CHI - Coby White (calf) Nikola Vucevic (rest): Doubtful; Josh Giddey (hamstring), Jalen Smith (calf), Tre Jones (hamstring): OUT
MIA - Tyler Herro (ribs), Davion Mitchell (shoulder), Norman Powell (personal): OUT
MEM - Jaren Jackson (quadriceps): Doubtful; Santi Aldama (knee), Ja Morant (elbow): OUT
Elite Players
Guards
Tyrese Maxey, 76ers 
($9,600) vs. Pelicans
Maxey racked up 60.0 DK points in the last game and is averaging 24.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.3 steals across 10 outings. He is likely to keep rolling against the Pelicans, who give up the league's seventh-most three-pointers and seventh-most free throws to opposing point guards.
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves 
($9,300) at Grizzlies
Edwards has reached 45 DK points in five of his last six appearances, averaging 31.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals, while knocking down 4.3 three-pointers per game over that span. He has a great chance to prosper against the Grizzlies, who are giving up the league's fifth-most three-pointers and sixth-most turnovers per game.
Forwards/Centers
Kevin Durant, Rockets 
($9,000) vs. Mavericks
Durant is in a groove, averaging 27.8 points on 49.2 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists over the last 10 games, including a high of 61.0 DK points. He has a good opportunity to continue to fill it up against the Mavericks, who give up the league's 10th-most points per game. He also delivered 56.8 DK points in their previous meeting
Pascal Siakam, Pacers 
($8,900) vs. Hawks
Siakam is averaging 24.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists and is likely to thrive against the Hawks, who are dealing with injury trouble in the frontcourt. The Hawks also give up the league's sixth-most points and second-most rebounds per game to opposing power forwards.
Alperen Sengun, Rockets ($9,100) vs. Mavericks
Sengun was limited to just nine points in the last game but still added 13 rebounds, four assists and three blocks to finish with 36.3 DK points. However, he is averaging 19.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks over the last 10 games, including four with at least 50 DK points. He is up for a favorable matchup against the Mavericks, who give up the league's most points in the paint per game.
Expected Chalk
Joel Embiid, 76ers ($9,600) vs. Pelicans
Embiid has reached the 30-point mark in five of his last six appearances and is averaging 33.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists over that span. He has a great chance to keep up the production against the Pelicans, who are giving up the league's fourth-most points and fourth-most rebounds per game to opposing centers. The Pelicans also give up the league's sixth-most points in the paint per game.
Mid-Range Money
CJ McCollum, Hawks 
($6,500) at Pacers
McCollum is finding his rhythm with his new squad, averaging 19.0 points on 50.6 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals over the last five games. He should do well against the Pacers, who give up the league's sixth-most points per game and the fourth-highest field-goal percentage to opposing point guards.
Naz Reid, Timberwolves ($6,200) at Grizzlies
Reid surpassed 30 DK points in five of the last six games, including two with at least 45, as he is averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks over that span. He is up for an ideal chance to stand out against the Grizzlies, who are significantly shorthanded in the frontcourt.
Value Picks
Reed Sheppard, Rockets ($4,800) vs. Mavericks
Sheppard has topped 20 DK points in five of the last six games, with a high of 35.5, while averaging 13.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals over that span. He should find room to pad his stats on the defensive end against the Mavs, who give up the league's eighth-most turnovers per game.
Herbert Jones, Pelicans 
($4,300) at 76ers
Jones is heading into his fifth outing since returning from a two-week absence. He topped 25 DK points in each of the last two outings and will need to bring his best effort to help his squad hold up against the 76ers. He also has a solid chance to pad his stats at the foul line, as the Sixers give up the league's ninth-most free throws per game to opposing shooting guards.
Kel'el Ware, Heat 
($4,900) vs. Bulls
Ware is in line for his third game back from a four-game absence and, after delivering 25.5 DK points in the last game, should be on track to put up a notable performance against a Bulls squad that is set to be shorthanded in the frontcourt. The Bulls also give up the league's fifth-most points in the paint.
