Slate Overview
IND at CHR: Pacers on 13-game slide, 1-16 on road; Hornets 7-11 at home
MIA at CHI: Heat 7-11 on road; Bulls on three-game slide, 10-9 at home
CLE at MIN: Cavaliers 8-8 on road; Timberwolves on three-game winning streak, 13-6 at home
DAL at UTA: Mavericks 4-12 on road; Jazz on five-game slide, 8-11 at home
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Injuries to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
IND - Andrew Nembhard (back): Questionable; Bennedict Mathurin (thumb), Isaiah Jackson (concussion): OUT
CHR - LaMelo Ball (ankle), Brandon Miller (knee), Tidjane Salaun (ankle): Probable; Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow): OUT
MIA - Jaime Jaquez (ankle): Probable
CHI - Kevin Huerter (back): Questionable; Jalen Smith (concussion), Zach Collins (toe), Josh Giddey (hamstring): OUT
CLE - Jaylon Tyson (illness): Probable; Darius Garland (hand), Larry Nance (calf): Questionable; Dean Wade (knee): OUT
MIN - Anthony Edwards (foot): Questionable; Terrence Shannon (foot): OUT
DAL - Brandon Williams (heel): Probable; P.J. Washington (ankle): Doubtful
UTA - Ace Bailey (hip), Jusuf Nurkic (toe): Questionable
Elite Players
Guards
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves 
($9,500) vs. Cavaliers
Edwards was a late addition to the injury report Thursday due to right foot injury management. He was also listed as questionable ahead of Tuesday's win over the Heat, though he was ultimately cleared to play. Still, his status will be worth monitoring before tipoff. Edwards has finished with 40.5 or more DK points in nine of his last 10 outings, during which he has reached the 30-point threshold five times. The superstar guard has averaged 30.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 three-pointers, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks across 35.4 minutes per contest over that 10-game span.
Keyonte George, Jazz 
($8,400) vs. Mavericks
George has taken a huge step forward in his third year and will look to remain productive against Dallas after dropping 51.8 DK points in a loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. The 22-year-old point guard has tallied at least 35.5 DK points in 11 of his last 12 outings, including 53.8 in a win over Dallas on Dec. 15. He has averaged 28.3 points, 7.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals across 37.1 minutes per tilt over that 12-game stretch.
Forwards/Centers
Pascal Siakam, Pacers 
($8,400) at Hornets
Siakam has been one of the very few bright spots for this struggling Pacers squad, and he has logged at least 35.5 DK points in six straight outings. During that span, he has averaged 26.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 34.3 minutes per game. In a win over Charlotte on Nov. 19, he posted 41.5 DK points.
Nikola Vucevic, Bulls 
($8,200) vs. Heat
Vucevic is coming off a 20-point, 16-rebound double-double in Wednesday's win over Detroit and has racked up three double-doubles over his last four outings. The veteran big man has averaged 20.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 34.3 minutes per contest during that span.
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks 
($7,500) at Jazz
Flagg has been on a tear of late, chipping in at least 32.3 DK points in 13 straight outings. During that stretch, he has averaged 22.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 36.6 minutes per game. The first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft had his best performance of the season against Utah on Dec. 15, when he recorded 42 points and 64.3 DK points in a losing effort.
Expected Chalk
Lauri Markkanen, Jazz ($8,500) vs. Mavericks
Markkanen has been a consistent source of production of late, generating 38.0-plus DK points in each of his last nine appearances. Over that stretch, the star forward has averaged 28.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals in 37.7 minutes per tilt. He had one of his best performances of the campaign in a win over Dallas on Dec. 15, during which he racked up 72.0 DK points.
Mid-Range Money
Kon Knueppel, Hornets 
($6,400) vs. Pacers
Knueppel is coming off a lackluster shooting performance during Wednesday's loss to Toronto but will have an opportunity to bounce back against Indiana. The rookie first-rounder has supplied 25.8-plus DK points in five straight games, finishing with 35.5 or more in three of them. Over his last five appearances, the sharpshooter has averaged 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.4 three-pointers while shooting 43.6 percent from beyond the arc in 32.0 minutes per game.
Matas Buzelis, Bulls ($6,000) vs. Heat
With Josh Giddey (hamstring) sidelined, Buzelis has put up increased shot attempts and has finished with 31.0-plus DK points in five straight games. During that span, the second-year forward has averaged 20.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 blocks in 31.0 minutes per tilt.
Value Picks
Naji Marshall, Mavericks ($5,200) at Jazz
P.J. Washington (ankle) is unlikely to play Thursday, which should allow Marshall to enter the starting five for a second straight game. Over 14 starts this season, the 27-year-old forward has averaged 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals across 33.1 minutes per game. Additionally, he has finished with at least 19.5 DK points in three of his last four outings (one start).
Sam Merrill, Cavaliers 
($5,000) at Timberwolves
Merrill has been hot from beyond the arc recently, shooting 48.2 percent from three-point range across his last seven appearances. The 29-year-old guard has averaged 14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.9 steals in 26.7 minutes per game over that stretch, logging 19.8-plus DK points in six of those outings. While he could revert to a bench role with Donovan Mitchell back from a one-game absence due to rest purposes, Merrill has still recorded 19.5 or more DK points in four of his seven appearances off the bench this season.
Collin Sexton, Hornets ($4,400) vs. Pacers
Sexton is fresh off a 22-point performance during Wednesday's loss to the Raptors and will look to remain productive in a favorable matchup against Indiana. The 27-year-old guard has recorded 23.0 or more DK points in five of his last six games (one start), during which he has averaged 15.5 points, 4.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals across 23.3 minutes per contest.
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