{"id":627128,"date":"2026-02-27T00:28:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/627128\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T00:28:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:28:22","slug":"draftkings-nba-dfs-picks-today-feb-26-expert-strategy-for-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/627128\/","title":{"rendered":"DraftKings NBA DFS Picks Today (Feb 26): Expert Strategy for Thursday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thursday’s main DraftKings slate features nine games, and injuries across the league have created plenty of opportunities to find value. In this article, I’ll break down today’s top DFS picks, including superstars, emerging young talent and role players poised to step up, to help you build winning lineups.<\/p>\n

Try our\u00a0DraftKings NBA Lineup Optimizer<\/a>\u00a0to discover more expert recommendations, customize the player pool, set exposure percentage and mass-enter DFS lineups.<\/p>\n

DraftKings Main Slate NBA Games Today<\/p>\n

CHA at IND: Hornets 16-15 on road; Pacers on four-game slide, 10-20 at home<\/p>\n

MIA at PHI: Heat 14-17 on road; 76ers 15-15 at home<\/p>\n

WAS at ATL: Wizards 5-22 on road; Hawks 12-16 at home<\/p>\n

SAS at BKN: Spurs on 10-game winning streak, 20-10 on road; Nets on five-game slide, 8-20 at home<\/p>\n

HOU at ORL: Rockets 16-14 on road; Magic 17-9 at home<\/p>\n

POR at CHI: Trail Blazers 12-16 on road; Bulls on 10-game slide, 15-16 at home<\/p>\n

SAC at DAL: Kings 4-27 on road; Mavericks 14-16 at home<\/p>\n

NOP at UTA: Pelicans 6-21 on road; Jazz on three-game slide, 11-18 at home<\/p>\n

LAL at PHX: Lakers 18-11 on road; Suns 19-12 at home<\/p>\n

For the latest spreads and over\/unders, visit RotoWire’s\u00a0NBA Odds<\/a>\u00a0page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and\u00a0sportsbook bonus codes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NBA Injury Report Today\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire’s\u00a0NBA Injury News<\/a>\u00a0page and our comprehensive\u00a0NBA Injury Report<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

CHA – Liam McNeeley<\/a> (ankle): OUT<\/p>\n

IND – Obi Toppin<\/a> (foot), Andrew Nembhard<\/a> (back): Questionable; Pascal Siakam<\/a> (wrist): Doubtful; Ivica Zubac<\/a> (ankle), Aaron Nesmith<\/a> (ankle): OUT<\/p>\n

MIA – Norman Powell<\/a> (groin), Davion Mitchell<\/a> (illness): Questionable; Nikola Jovic<\/a> (back): OUT<\/p>\n

PHI – Joel Embiid<\/a> (knee\/shin): Probable; MarJon Beauchamp<\/a> (illness): Questionable; Paul George<\/a> (suspension), Johni Broome<\/a> (knee): OUT<\/p>\n

WAS – Trae Young<\/a> (knee\/quadriceps), Alex Sarr<\/a> (hamstring), Kyshawn George<\/a> (knee), Anthony Davis<\/a> (finger\/groin), D’Angelo Russell<\/a> (not with team): OUT<\/p>\n

ATL – Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a> (foot), Zaccharie Risacher<\/a> (hip): Questionable; Jalen Johnson<\/a> (hip): OUT<\/p>\n

SAS – Stephon Castle<\/a> (hip), Keldon Johnson<\/a> (shoulder): Questionable; Mason Plumlee<\/a> (reconditioning): OUT<\/p>\n

BKN – None<\/p>\n

HOU – Jae’Sean Tate<\/a> (knee): OUT<\/p>\n

ORL – Jalen Suggs<\/a> (back): Questionable; Franz Wagner<\/a> (ankle): OUT<\/p>\n

POR – Donovan Clingan<\/a> (Achilles), Robert Williams<\/a> (foot), Yang Hansen<\/a> (back): Questionable; Deni Avdija<\/a> (back), Shaedon Sharpe<\/a> (calf): OUT<\/p>\n

CHI – Jalen Smith<\/a> (calf), Jaden Ivey<\/a> (knee), Patrick Williams<\/a> (quadriceps), Anfernee Simons<\/a> (wrist): OUT<\/p>\n

SAC – Malik Monk<\/a> (ankle): Questionable; Russell Westbrook<\/a> (thigh), Keegan Murray<\/a> (ankle), Dylan Cardwell<\/a> (ankle): OUT<\/p>\n

DAL – Khris Middleton<\/a> (shoulder): Probable; Daniel Gafford<\/a> (ankle): Doubtful; Cooper Flagg<\/a> (foot), P.J. Washington<\/a> (ankle): OUT<\/p>\n

NOP – Trey Murphy<\/a> (shoulder), Yves Missi<\/a> (calf): OUT<\/p>\n

UTA – Lauri Markkanen<\/a> (ankle), Keyonte George<\/a> (ankle): OUT<\/p>\n

LAL – Jaxson Hayes<\/a> (ankle): Probable; Rui Hachimura<\/a> (illness): Questionable<\/p>\n

PHX – Devin Booker<\/a> (hip), Dillon Brooks<\/a> (hand), Jordan Goodwin<\/a> (calf), Haywood Highsmith<\/a> (knee), Cole Anthony<\/a> (not with team): OUT<\/p>\n

Elite NBA DFS PlayersGuards<\/p>\n

Tyrese Maxey<\/a>, 76ers \"PHI\"\/ ($10,000) vs. Heat<\/p>\n

Maxey has chipped in 40.5 or more DK points in five straight outings, including back-to-back appearances with at least 60.3. Over his last five games, the star point guard has averaged 31.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 35.2 minutes per tilt. In a loss to Miami on Nov. 23, he accumulated 44.8 DK points.\u00a0<\/p>\n

LaMelo Ball<\/a>, Hornets \"CHA\"\/ ($8,900) at Pacers\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ball has logged at least 31.5 DK points in 10 of his last 11 outings, during which he has averaged 20.6 points, 6.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 29.3 minutes per tilt. In two appearances against the Pacers so far this season, he has had 42.3 and 56.8 DK points.<\/p>\n

Forwards\/Centers<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama<\/a>, Spurs \"SAS\"\/ ($10,900) at Nets<\/p>\n

Wembanyama struggled on the offensive end in Wednesday’s win over Toronto, though he still finished with 37.5 DK points and now enters a favorable matchup against Brooklyn. The 22-year-old has notched 47.5 or more DK points in eight of his 10 February appearances, during which he has averaged 23.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.9 combined steals-plus-blocks and 3.4 assists in 29.7 minutes per game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alperen Sengun<\/a>, Rockets \"HOU\"\/ ($9,400) at Magic\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sengun is fresh off dropping a triple-double in a blowout win over the Kings during the first leg of Houston’s back-to-back set, and he has registered 36.0-plus DK points in six of his last seven outings. During that period, the star big man has averaged 18.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 3.4 combined steals-plus-blocks per contest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Zion Williamson<\/a>, Pelicans \"NOP\"\/ ($8,000) at Jazz\u00a0<\/p>\n

Williamson has closed with 32.5 or more DK points in all eight of his February appearances and will have a prime opportunity to impress against a lackluster Utah defense Thursday. On the month, the star forward has averaged 23.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 32.1 minutes per game.<\/p>\n

Expected NBA DFS Chalk\u00a0<\/p>\n

Luka Doncic<\/a>, Lakers \"LAL\"\/ ($11,400) at Suns<\/p>\n

Doncic has appeared in six outings this month, though he exited one early due to injury. He has yet to post fewer than 38.8 DK points through five completed games in February and has produced at least 59.3 in three of them. The superstar has averaged 33.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists across two outings against Phoenix so far this season.<\/p>\n

Mid-Range NBA DFS Picks<\/p>\n

Ace Bailey<\/a>, Jazz \"UTA\"\/ ($6,000) vs. Pelicans<\/p>\n

Lauri Markkanen<\/a> (ankle\/hip) and Keyonte George<\/a> (ankle) will join Jaren Jackson<\/a> (knee) and Jusuf Nurkic<\/a> (nose) on the sidelines, leaving additional shots and minutes available for Bailey against a bottom-tier New Orleans defense. The rookie first-rounder has recorded 25.5-plus DK points in four of his last five outings, during which he has averaged 13.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 32.6 minutes per contest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>, Hawks \"ATL\"\/ ($5,800) vs. Wizards\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kuminga made his Hawks debut in Tuesday’s win over Washington following an extended absence due to a left knee bone bruise. The 23-year-old forward impressed in the victory, closing with 27 points (9-12 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 6-7 FT), seven rebounds, four assists and two steals over 24 minutes. With Jalen Johnson<\/a> (hip) unavailable, Kuminga could also see an increased role Thursday.<\/p>\n

NBA DFS Value Picks<\/p>\n

Scoot Henderson<\/a>, Trail Blazers \"POR\"\/ ($5,500) at Bulls<\/p>\n

Henderson has tallied at least 22.3 DK points in six of his seven February appearances and is no longer on a minutes restriction. On the month, the 22-year-old guard has averaged 13.9 points, 5.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds across 22.9 minutes per game. He has played 29-plus minutes in back-to-back outings and will likely approach starter-level minutes Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marvin Bagley<\/a>, Mavericks \"DAL\"\/ ($4,900) vs. Kings\u00a0<\/p>\n

Daniel Gafford<\/a> (ankle) is unlikely to play Thursday, so Bagley is in line to get the starting nod in a favorable matchup versus a Sacramento squad that is on the second leg of a back-to-back set. The big man has generated 29.3-plus DK points in three straight games, averaging 16.3 points and 9.7 rebounds across 23.0 minutes per contest during that span. In a Feb. 1 win over the Kings when he was still on the Wizards, Bagley dropped 30.0 DK points in 19 minutes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kobe Brown<\/a>, Pacers \"IND\"\/ ($4,600) vs. Hornets<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old forward has posted 23.3 or more DK points in four consecutive contests and should continue to see significant playing time with Pascal Siakam<\/a> (wrist) doubtful to play. Over that stretch, Brown has averaged 12.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29.0 minutes per tilt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including \u2013 but not limited to \u2013 games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it’s possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Thursday’s main DraftKings slate features nine games, and injuries across the league have created plenty of opportunities to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":563906,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[7,80042,6,12],"class_list":{"0":"post-627128","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba-draft","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-minor-league-stats","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-nba-draft"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116139769882727886","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=627128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/563906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=627128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=627128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=627128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}