Josh Engleman here to break down everything you need to know about tonight’s NBA DFS slate, including a nugget on Tyrese Maxey heading into this evening. Let’s dive right into my NBA DFS advice for today, Tuesday, March 12.
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NBA DFS Advice Today: Tyrese Maxey Is Money?
PHI (+6.0) @ NYK (209.0) | NBA DFS Advice Today
Tyrese Maxey returns after missing a few games with a concussion, but he steps into a matchup that doesn’t look great. Philadelphia plays at the 27th fastest pace, and the Knicks are dead last in pace. Tyrese Maxey is $8800, point guard/shooting guard eligible, and does look like the best player from Philly, but he also looks like the only play from Philadelphia.
The Knicks may be getting OG Anunoby back; he’s $6400, small forward/power forward eligible, questionable for the first time in a while. I don’t really see him as a viable option for today. If I’m going to anybody from the Knicks, that would be either $6900 shooting guard/small forward Dante DiVincenzo or $9300 point guard Jalen Brunson; they look like good, not great plays.
I would also be willing to still take a shot on Josh Hart, although it’s possible his minutes creep back down below 40 now that Anunoby is back.
WAS (-2.0) @ MEM (219.0) | NBA DFS Advice Today
For Washington, the big news that we will be waiting on is the status of Richaun Holmes, who is questionable; he missed their most recent game but played huge minutes in the previous affair. If he’s able to reach that sort of minute ceiling again, he would look like an excellent play; otherwise, I see the Wizards as mostly filler.
Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, and Tyus Jones stand out to me as the three best possible options from the Wizards, but I would consider none of them a priority. If Holmes happens to be out, we will likely create at least a little bit of value filling in those center minutes.
Memphis’s injury report looks like a crime scene, and it’s hard to dig into the Grizzlies without knowing officially who is available. They have multiple guys already listed out, with another large chunk listed as questionable. As it stands, Luke Kennard and Santi Aldama seem like the best two options, as long as they can play, but we’re going to need a lot more news on the Grizzlies before we can be confident in the value plays we’re trying to get to.
IND (+7.0) @ OKC (241.0) | NBA DFS Advice Today
It is a very difficult matchup for the Pacers. The Oklahoma City Thunder are sixth in defensive rating, and that is going to make things be a bit of a struggle. Pricing is also relatively stable. The Pacers are only missing Bennedict Mathurin and Doug McDermott in this spot. I have my eye on Myles Turner, $6300 center, 1.24 DraftKings points per minute over the past 30 days; a good not great play.
Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton are both totally reasonable options as well if this game stays competitive.
Oklahoma City gets the benefit of a matchup against the number one team in pace and the 25th ranked defense. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is $10,500, point guard eligible, stands out as an excellent pay-up option.
I have him projected for 1.6 DraftKings points per minute, but I wouldn’t stop there with the Thunder. Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, who is questionable, and Chet Holmgren also stand out as quality plays in this matchup. I am very happy to get to any single Oklahoma City Thunder starter.
HOU (-4.0) @ SAS (222.5)
This will be Houston’s first foray into the next few weeks without Alperen Sengun, who injured himself in their most recent game. This makes a few guys for Houston stand out as there are major rate changes to some of their main players. I think Dillon Brooks at $4300, shooting guard/small forward eligible, looks like one of the better value options on today’s slate because of the usage bump that he sees. Fred VanVleet also sees a rate jump in both usage and assist, and he looks like the second-best option from Houston.
I would also be very happy about getting to Jabari Smith and Jalen Green. Green is someone who sees massive increases in usage when Sengun is no longer on the floor, assuming Jeff Green starts at center. He’s a fine option, but not a priority due to his permanent rates.
San Antonio enters this game on a back-to-back, so we’re not entirely sure if anyone will be on the injury report for today, but if they are at the same full strength they had yesterday, then I see only two options from the Spurs as realistic plays: Victor Wembanyama at $10,600, center only, and Devin Vassell at $7500, point guard/shooting guard eligible. Other than those two guys, I don’t see a ton of value in San Antonio.
BOS (-6.5) @ UTA (233.0)
The Boston Celtics are 6.5-point favorites in Utah, taking on the Jazz. This game has a 233 point total. We do not know the status of anything for Boston today; they are on a back-to-back. They were without Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis yesterday. My expectation is at least Al Horford will be sitting out today, as Horford does not generally play back-to-back, but we will need to see the injury report to know.
If we’re looking to get to Boston, who’s playing an incredible spot, the Utah Jazz are 27th in defensive rating and third in pace and will be without their best player. Once again, my first eye is on Jayson Tatum; he’s $9700 and forward/power forward eligible. He’ll look even better if we happen to have anyone else out.
Utah is a bit of a weird situation since they do have a few guys out for today, and they’re in a horrific spot against a quality defense and slow pace team. I don’t like one individual play from Utah, but I do see six individual guys that look like quality roster options, in no particular order: Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, Keyonte George, John Collins, and Brice Sensabaugh should all be rostered in some degree, or at least be in the discussion for guys you would like to roster.
MIN (+6.0) @ LAC (215.0)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are six-point underdogs in Los Angeles, taking on the Clippers. This game has a 215 point total. The status of Minnesota is very much up for discussion, with Kyle Anderson, Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Monte Morris all questionable. Depending on who is in or out will completely change the outlook for Minnesota. If everybody is in, my only focus will be on Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards, but this is very subject to change and could create significant value depending on how the news breaks.
The Clippers are in a similar boat to Minnesota, with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard both listed as questionable. However, if they are at full strength, they do look better than Minnesota. Kawhi Leonard would be the priority coming from the Clippers; he is $8700 and small forward/power forward eligible, but I would be happy to work in Paul George, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac, if the lineup sees fit.
MIL (-2.5) @ SAC (237.0)
My eye is on Giannis Antetokounmpo, although he does not look like the best pay-up option on today’s slate, but he is $11,500 and power forward/center eligible in a really nice matchup against a Kings team that doesn’t really have anybody even remotely close to available to stop him. Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez both look fine. It also looks like Khris Middleton may be back today after having missed the past few weeks with a sprained ankle.
For Sacramento, Domantas Sabonis looks fantastic at $10,400. He is center only, 1.59 DraftKings points per minute over the past 30 days. He may just be my preferred pay-up option, although having only center eligibility does calm that a bit in comparison to someone like SGA. De’Aaron Fox still stands out, even at $9100. He has finally found his shot, 1.3 DraftKings points per minute over the past 30 days. I would also have no issue working Keegan Murray into some lineups in a large field GPP.
Nonetheless, hopefully you found our NBA DFS Advice Today column helpful, including our nugget on Luka Doncic.
