NBA DFS Cheat Sheet Today: Picks & Predictions for NBA Thursday 2/27

Thursday’s NBA slate features five games packed with some of the best teams in the league, including two former league MVPs going head-to-head and plenty of options for NBA DFS on PrizePicks.

We’ll break down the top NBA DFS picks for Thursday’s NBA action below in the NBA DFS Cheat Sheet — we’ll give you the top NBA PrizePicks picks today to add to your Lineups and the pace up spots to target.

The top NBA matchups today include the Nuggets taking on the Bucks at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, and the Timberwolves visiting the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV. Whether you’re looking to back superstars like Anthony Edwards or Luka Doncic, or looking for sleepers tonight, PrizePicks makes it easy to get in on the action.

PrizePicks is the best way to get into the real money action during the NBA season. Just pick more or less on player stat projections, lock in your Lineup, and win up to 1000x on 6-Pick Lineups!

Let's get into the NBA DFS slate for Thursday, February 27, below.  

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PrizePicks NBA DFS Cheat Sheet: Feb. 27 

Find everything you need to know for the seven-game NBA Thursday slate for NBA DFS on PrizePicks below in the NBA DFS Cheat Sheet. 

• NBA Offense vs Defense Mismatches 
• NBA Pace Report
• NBA PrizePicks Picks Today for NBA DFS
• NBA DFS Injury Report

NBA Offense vs. Defense Mismatches for Thursday

Here are the top offense vs defense mismatches across NBA Thursday games. 

Mavericks vs. Hornets – 8:30 p.m. ET

• The Mavericks rank 18th in offensive rating (112.7) over their last 10 games, and eighth (114.8) on the season.
• The Hornets rank 26th in defensive rating (119.1) over their last 10 games, and 21st (114.2) on the season. 
• The Hornets rank 28th in points per game (105.4) on the season, whereas the Mavericks rank 11th in points per game (115.1) on the season. 
• The Mavericks are fifth in free throws attempted (23.1) on the season.
• Kyrie Irving scored 33 points in his last matchup against the Hornets on Jan. 20. 

Warriors vs. Magic – 7 p.m. ET 

• The Warriors rank sixth in offensive rating (118.8) over their last 10 games, and 16th (112.9) on the season.
• The Magic rank fifth in defensive rating (109.3) over their last 10 games, and second (108.7) on the season. 
• The Warriors rank seventh in points per game (119.9) in their last 10 games.
• Stephen Curry is averaging 28.2 points per game in the month of February. 
• The Warriors are fourth in 3-pointers made per game (15.3) on the season. 

NBA Pace Report for NBA Thursday 

Here are the spots to target for quick-paced play with additional possessions in the NBA Thursday games for NBA DFS on PrizePicks.

Pelicans vs. Suns — 9 p.m. ET

The Suns rank 20th in pace (98.98) this season, and rank in pace over their last 10 games. The Suns are in the biggest pace up spot of the night against the Pelicans. The Pelicans have played at the third fastest pace (102.38) in their last 10 games, up from play the 10th fastest pace (100.21) on the season.

Warriors vs. Magic – 7 p.m. ET

The Magic rank 29th in pace (96.69) this season, and rank 15th in pace (100.16) over their last 10 games. They get pace up spot against the Warriors tonight. The Warriors play at the 17th fastest pace (99.68) in the league this season, and 13th fastest (100.70) in their last 10 games.

Mavericks vs. Hornets – 8:30 p.m. ET 

The Hornets rank 23rd in pace (98.30) this season, and 26th in pace (97.70) over their last 10 games. They’ll get a slight pace up spot against the Mavericks, who play at the 16th fastest pace (99.85) in the league this season, and 22nd fastest (98.97) in their last 10 games. 

Timberwolves vs. Lakers – 10:30 ET 

The Timberwolves are 25th in pace (98.04) this season, and rank 17th in pace (99.91) over their last 10 games. The Timberwolves are in a neutral pace spot against the Lakers tonight. The Lakers play at the 22nd fastest pace (98.73) in the league this season, and 10th fastest (101.05) in their last 10 games.

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NBA PrizePicks Picks Today for NBA DFS 

Here are three of the top NBA DFS picks for today, Thursday, Feb. 27, for PrizePicks. 

Lakers SF LeBron James – Points

• LeBron James has scored 25 or more points in eight out of his last 10 games played.
• In the four games played since the All-Star break, James is averaging 29.5 points per game
• For the month of February, he’s averaging 29.0 points per game.
• James has attempted 20 or more shots in four out of his last nine games, and is shooting 55 percent from the field. 
• He’s shooting 46 percent from 3-point range in the month of February, knocking down 3.2 made 3-pointers on 7.0 attempts.

Hornets PG LaMelo Ball  – 36.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts

• In his last game against the Mavericks on Jan. 20, LaMelo Ball put up a statline of 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. 
• On the negative side, Ball has struggled as of late and has been dealing with an ankle injury. He’s averaging 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists for the month of February.
• Ball has also shot a combined 4-of-23 in the last two games, averaging only 25.5 minutes per game, as the Hornets were blown out in both games.
• As seen by his 33 minutes agains the Lakers last Wednesday, Ball is not on a minutes limit after his ankle injury.
• In two out of his last five games played, Ball has gone more than the 35.5 mark in points, rebounds, and assists. 
• He’s averaging 26.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on the season. 

Pelicans PF Zion Williamson  – 24.5 Points

• Zion Williamson is averaging 23.8 points in his last five games.
• In February, Williamson is averaging 25.1 points, which is above his PrizePicks projection today.  
• He’s attempted 15 or more shots in eight out of his last 10 games.
• Williamson is shooting at a high efficiency of 60.5% from the field in February.
• He’s going up against a Suns team that ranks 19th in points allowed in the paint at 49.4 per game.  
• He’s scored 25 or more points in four out of his last seven games. 

NBA DFS Injury Report

Below, find the key NBA DFS injury news for the NBA Thursday games. 

Warriors vs. Magic 

• Magic PG Cole Anthony (knee) is questionable to play.
• Magic SG Jalen Suggs (quad) will continue to miss game action, as he hasn’t played in a game since Jan. 25. 
• Warriors F Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) will continue to sit out. He has missed 24 straight games and has not played since Jan.4. 

Hornets vs. Mavericks

• Hornets PG LaMelo Ball (ankle) will play tonight. Seth Curry (back) is also expected to play.
• The Mavs are still without centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively, both ruled out. Dwight Powell is day-to-day with his hip injury
• Mavs SF Caleb Martin (hip) is out tonight.  

Timberwolves vs. Lakers

• Timberwolves PF Julius Randle (groin) will continue to be out. 
• Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert (back) will be out for tonight’s game. Gobert hasn’t played in a game since Feb. 12 against the Bucks.
• Naz Reid will remain in the starting lineup for the Timberwolves.
• Timberwolves SG Donte Divincenzo (toe) is questionable after he practiced on Wednesday.

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Lock In Your NBA DFS Lineups on PrizePicks

With five games on the slate for NBA Thursday, there are endless NBA DFS picks to consider tonight to win real money. PrizePicks is the best way to get in on the action and cash in with your NBA knowledge.

There are many player stat projections to pick from on PrizePicks  — from points, rebounds, assists, threes, and combos — so you can build your Lineup however you’d like.

Just pick more or less on at least two player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks, and check out the Playbook daily for more NBA picks throughout the NBA season.