Saturday’s five-game NBA DFS main slate offers a blend of high- and low-scoring environments, with several games carrying significant blowout risk that could impact rotations and minutes.
The matchup between the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies leads the slate with a 238.5-point total, while the Houston Rockets-New York Knicks features the lowest total at 217.5 points.
Blowout concerns are also in play, as three games feature spreads of more than 10 points:
- Sacramento Kings versus San Antonio Spurs (-18.5)
- Detroit Pistons (-10.5) versus Chicago Bulls
- Memphis Grizzlies versus Miami Heat (-10.5)
With a wide range of projected totals, several injury situations and multiple teams on zero days of rest, identifying the right game environments and finding lineup leverages will be key. Below are the top targets and value plays to consider for Saturday’s slate.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
Cade Cunningham (PG – DET)
- DraftKings: $10,400
- FanDuel: $11,000
Cade Cunningham‘s price tag continues to climb, and for good reason. He’s coming off a dominant performance against the New York Knicks on Thursday, finishing with 42 points, eight rebounds, 13 assists, two blocks and one steal while carrying the offensive load. Cunningham continues to operate as the engine of the Detroit Pistons offense, providing elite production through both scoring and playmaking.
Cunningham gets an even more favorable matchup against the Chicago Bulls, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing point guards and own the worst defensive rating in the league over their last seven games. Cunningham is well-positioned to deliver another ceiling performance and justify his rising salary.
Tyrese Maxey (PG – PHI)
- DraftKings: $9,700
- FanDuel: $10,500
Tyrese Maxey is projected to lead the slate in fantasy scoring this evening, according to the FantasyPros lineup optimizer, and the case for him at the top is easy to make. The Philadelphia 76ers will once again be without Joel Embiid (shin), opening the door for a significant increase in Maxey’s offensive workload.
With Embiid off the floor, Maxey operates as the clear focal point of the offense, handling more shot creation and playmaking responsibilities while seeing a notable spike in usage.
Maxey has taken full advantage of that expanded role, averaging 30 points, two rebounds, three assists and one steal over the last three games without Embiid, ranking third among the league leaders in scoring during that stretch. He draws a favorable matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, who rank 22nd in defensive rating over their last four games.
In a game environment where Philadelphia will rely heavily on its backcourt for offense, Maxey is well-positioned to deliver another high-scoring performance and anchor DFS lineups.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
Jalen Duren (C – DET)
- DraftKings: $7,700
- FanDuel: $7,500
Jalen Duren will return after serving a two-game suspension for his involvement in a recent scuffle against the Charlotte Hornets. He steps back into the lineup in a favorable spot and should be in position to resume his usual role in the frontcourt.
Duren draws a prime matchup against the Chicago Bulls, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers over their last seven games while posting the worst defensive rating in the league during that span.
With his strong rebounding presence and efficiency around the rim, Duren has a great opportunity to capitalize on the matchup and provide strong value in his return.
Jabari Smith Jr. (PF, C – HOU)
- DraftKings: $6,600
- FanDuel: $6,400
Jabari Smith Jr. has quietly been one of the most consistent contributors in the Houston Rockets’ starting lineup, providing steady production on a nightly basis despite sharing the floor with multiple high-usage teammates. Over his last five games, he’s averaging 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and one block while logging 36.2 minutes per contest, giving him a reliable fantasy floor through his scoring and rebounding.
Smith draws a challenging matchup against the New York Knicks, but his consistent role and heavy minutes keep him firmly in play. With opposing defenses often keying in on Alperen Sengun in the frontcourt, Smith should continue to find opportunities as a secondary option. His steady workload and ability to contribute across multiple categories make him a dependable option even in a tougher matchup.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
Victor Wembanyama (PF, C – SAS)
- DraftKings: $10,700
- FanDuel: $11,500
There’s no question Victor Wembanyama is the top player on the slate. His upside is elite, and he draws a favorable matchup against the Sacramento Kings, who are clearly tanking and rank second-worst in defensive rating over their last seven games. The main concern is the blowout risk, as the San Antonio Spurs enter as 18.5-point favorites, which could limit Wembanyama to around 20 minutes.
Even with a reduced role, Wembanyama remains worth targeting. He has shown the ability to produce massive numbers in limited minutes, such as in his first game back from the All-Star break when he posted 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, five blocks and one steal in just 24 minutes.
While the matchup may make it tougher to hit huge totals, Wembanyama still has the potential to return over five times his value at his current price even if he sits out the fourth quarter.
Kevin Durant (SF, PF – HOU)
- DraftKings: $8,700
- FanDuel: $8,700
Kevin Durant faces a tough matchup against the New York Knicks, who rank eighth in defensive rating over their last seven games, but he remains one of the few truly matchup-proof players in the league thanks to his length and elite scoring ability.
Durant showed no signs of rust in his first game back after the All-Star break, finishing with 35 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal in an outstanding all-around performance.
Durant has now scored at least 20 points in five straight games and should continue to see a heavy workload in what projects to be one of the more competitive contests on the slate, with the spread sitting at just 3.5 points. With a close game expected, Durant is likely to log plenty of minutes, putting him in a strong position to deliver another ceiling-level fantasy performance.
NBA DFS Value Plays
Davion Mitchell (PG – MIA)
- DraftKings: $4,700
- FanDuel: $4,800
With Tyler Herro (ribs) returning for Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Davion Mitchell remained in the starting lineup and logged 26 minutes, finishing with seven points, five rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and one steal in an impressive all-around performance. His ability to contribute across multiple categories makes him an intriguing value option, especially when he’s seeing steady run with the first unit.
The Miami Heat are playing on zero days of rest, which creates the possibility that Herro and other key players are held out. If that happens, Mitchell would be in line for additional minutes and expanded opportunities. He’ll also be playing in the highest-total game on the slate, giving him a favorable environment to produce and a solid chance to return value if his role holds or increases.
Dominick Barlow (PF, C – PHI)
- DraftKings: $4,200
- FanDuel: $4,500
With Joel Embiid (shin) sidelined for the last three games, Dominick Barlow has carved out a meaningful role in the Philadelphia 76ers’ rotation, ranking fifth on the team in minutes with an average of 26.5 per game during that stretch. The increased playing time has given Barlow more opportunities to contribute across the board, putting him firmly on the radar as a potential value option on this slate.
Although Barlow was limited to just one point in his most recent outing against the Atlanta Hawks, he showed more upside in the previous game against the New York Knicks, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals. He has also flashed significant ceiling potential, highlighted by a 26-point, 16-rebound performance against the Los Angeles Clippers on February 2nd. With Embiid still out, Barlow should continue to see ample opportunities and has a strong chance to return value.