Well, cue up Roundball Rock.
The NBA is back in action tonight with a two-game slate. The Thunder will get their rings in Oklahoma City, while the Lakers will welcome the Warriors to Los Angeles.
Too busy eating Halloween candy to do some research? No worries. I got you. Here’s everything you need to know to build out a couple of lineups this evening on DraftKings.
Set your DraftKings NBA DFS lineups here: NBA $750K Opening Tip Off [$200K to 1st]
Key Injury News
PROBABLE: Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga
OUT: LeBron James, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe
Click here for the slate’s full and updated injury report
Matchup Analysis
Best Defensive Rating (2024-25 Season)
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. HOU (106.6)
- Houston Rockets at OKC (110.3)
- Golden State Warriors at LAL (111.0)
Fastest Pace (2024-25 Season)
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. HOU (100.9)
- Golden State Warriors at LAL (99.4)
- Houston Rockets at OKC (99.0)
Highest Game Total
- Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder (227.5)
- Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers (226.5)
Top DFS Pick
PG Shai Gligeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets, $10,300
There’s no shortage of star power on this opening night of the NBA season, but this slate might be more defined by who isn’t available. The Thunder will be playing without Jalen Williams (wrist), while the Lakers will be without LeBron James (back). You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that those absences are going to create massive workloads for both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic ($11,000); however, I’m having a hard time figuring out why the reigning MVP is priced $700 lower than his fellow All-Star. Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in points per game in 2024-25 (32.7), maximizing an eye-popping 34.8% usage rate. Without Williams on the court? SGA bumped that usage up to an ungodly 39.6% figure and that translated into 1.74 FPTS per minute logged. In an amped arena on ring night, I’m starting my lineups with Gilgeous-Alexander.
Top Value Pick
PG/SG Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder, $4,900
The Rockets’ rotation was so deep last season that the team barely needed the services of Reed Sheppard — the third-overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Sheppard showcased his potential at Kentucky and in spurts in the G League, yet it never really manifested into a real role with Houston. That will not be the case in 2025-26. Thanks primarily to a season-ending injury to Fred VanVleet (knee), Sheppard projects as the sixth man microwave scorer for the Rockets, and maybe even someone who could start alongside Amen Thompson ($7,900) if Ime Udoka wants to eventually go smaller. Sheppard certainly looked like he belonged in the preseason, even registering 29 points and six assists in last Thursday’s exhibition tilt with the Hawks. I’d look for Sheppard to see 20-25 minutes this evening and for the sophomore to have the green light beyond the arc. This is an asset with some serious ceiling at a price tag below $5,000.
