This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
IND vs. WAS (-4.5), O/U: 246.5
ORL vs. DET (-2.5), O/U: 213.5
GS vs. NO (-2.5), O/U: 237.5
POR vs. ATL (-1.5), O/U: 235.5
NY vs. MEM (-3.5), O/U: 218.5
PHI (-6.5) vs. CHI, O/U: 215.5
DEN (-2.5) vs. LAL, O/U: 218.5
SA vs. UTA (-5.5), O/U: 223.5
The IND-WAS matchup will be a popular target and rightfully so, as it features a whopping 246.5 total. Russell Westbrook is the premier spend-up option on most slates and that's especially true tonight, but there are appealing options on the Pacers side as well. Malcolm Brogdon is listed as questionable and his potential absence would provide a nice bump for the likes of Caris LeVert and Domantas Sabonis, who returned Saturday after a six-game absence and broke the slate with 75.75 DK points.
The GS-NO matchup is another good target as it's projected to be fast-paced and competitive with injury concerns and elite options on both sides. Stephen Curry and Lonzo Ball specifically stand out while Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Draymond Green all have considerable upside in such a good spot. Keep an eye on the status of Andrew Wiggins and Steven Adams. Both are listed as questionable and their potential absence would open up value in the likes of Jordan Poole and Willy Hernangomez.
Injuries to Monitor
LeBron James (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
James left Sunday's game due to a sore ankle and is listed as questionable. If he sits, Kyle Kuzma would see an expanded role.
Nikola Vucevic (adductor): QUESTIONABLE
Vucevic was a late scratch Saturday but has a chance to return tonight. If he can't go, Thaddeus Young would get another start alongside Daniel Theis.
Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Brogdon missed Saturday's game due to a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable. Doug McDermott got the start in his absence while Edmond Sumner moved over to guard.
Dejounte Murray (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Murray missed Sunday's game due to knee soreness and is listed as questionable. Tre Jones got the start at point guard in his place.
Mike Conley (hamstring): OUT
Conley will miss a fourth consecutive game with a sore hamstring. Joe Ingles and Royce O'Neale have been starting in the backcourt.
Andrew Wiggins (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Wiggins played 34 minutes Saturday but is listed as questionable due to knee soreness. Jordan Poole would likely get the start at shooting guard if Wiggins were to sit.
Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, Cory Joseph, Wayne Ellington (rest): OUT
The Pistons will rest their veterans again. Killian Hayes, Josh Jackson, Sekou Doumbouya and Isaiah Stewart are likely to start while Frank Jackson should see extended run off the bench.
Dennis Schroder (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Schroder will miss multiple games after being placed in the league's health and safety protocols. Alex Caruso should get the start at point guard in his place.
Kelly Oubre (wrist): OUT
Oubre will miss a third consecutive game after being diagnosed with a torn ligament in his wrist. Kent Bazemore has been starting at small forward in his absence.
Will Barton (hamstring): OUT
Barton will miss a sixth consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. PJ Dozier has been starting in his place at shooting guard.
Nerlens Noel (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Noel sprained in his ankle in Sunday's game and his status for tonight remains uncertain. If he were to sit, Taj Gibson would likely get the start at center.
Steven Adams (toe): QUESTIONABLE
Adams has missed back-to-back games due to a sprained toe and is listed as questionable. Willy Hernangomez has been starting at center.
Chuma Okeke (ankle) and James Ennis (calf): OUT
Okeke will miss a third consecutive game and Ennis will sit out for the seventh time in nine. Dwayne Bacon and Moritz Wagner have been starting in their absence.
Elite Players
Guard:
Russell Westbrook ($11,000)
Despite missing out on a triple-double by one assist Saturday, Westbrook put up 74 DK points as he's now topped 60 in four of his last seven games. I say it almost every slate, but his salary should be at least $12,000. Tonight's matchup against the Pacers has a massive 246.5 total and there will be plenty of cheap value to make room for him.
Center:
Nikola Jokic ($10,900)
Jokic has scored 60-plus DK points in two of his last three games as he continues to carry the short-handed Nuggets. Tonight's matchup against the Lakers might not seem ideal, however I'd rather roster Jokic in a game that's projected to be competitive as he's basically matchup-proof, and blowouts have a better chance of stopping him than a tough defensive assignment does.
PF/C:
Anthony Davis ($9,700)
If LeBron James gets ruled out, Davis would be my preferred spend-up option at power forward. He's seen 33 or more minutes in consecutive games and would get a nice usage bump against the Nuggets in a game that the Lakers will be desperate to win after losing their third in a row yesterday.
Domantas Sabonis ($9,800)
Sabonis returned from a six-game absence Saturday and had a triple-double by halftime on his way to a whopping 75.75 DK points. The Pacers matchup against the Wizards is the best spot on the slate.
Zion Williamson ($10,000)
Williamson is coming off 60.75 DK points last time out but it was just his third game of 50-plus fantasy points in the last 10. There are better options tonight from a point-per-dollar perspective but he has considerable upside in a favorable matchup against the Warriors and he isn't going to be popular, so that makes him viable for tournaments if you run multiple entries.
Julius Randle ($10,200)
The same is true for Randle. He's been more consistent however, as he's topped 50 DK points in seven of his last 10 games. He'd also get a slight bump if Nerlens Noel (ankle) were to sit. He's offers good leverage for tournaments as there will be more popular forwards and centers in his salary range.
Expected Chalk
Alex Caruso ($3,000)
Caruso is expected to get another start at point guard in place of Schroder. He's coming off 19.5 DK points in 26 minutes Sunday and his salary is the stone minimum. It won't take much to make value but there doesn't seem to be much of a ceiling with LeBron and AD sapping so much usage. If James sits however, Caruso becomes a near lock. He'll be popular regardless as rostering him will make it easy to spend up in other spots.
Taj Gibson ($3,100), if he starts in place of Nerlens Noel
Noel left Sunday's game due to a sprained ankle and is listed as questionable. If he sits, Gibson would presumably start at center. In his last start on April 14th, he played 35 minutes and put up 27.5 DK points. That type of projected run would lead to him being one of the most popular plays on the slate should he get the start.
Value Picks
DeMar DeRozan ($8,300)
DeRozan has put up 50-plus DK points in three of his last four games. He's seen 40-plus minutes in two of his last three. He was rested Sunday and will be ready for what should be a competitive matchup against the short-handed Jazz.
Lonzo Ball ($7,800)
Ball has topped 65 DK points in two of his last three games. His salary has reached its highest point in 10 games but he's seeing big minutes again and the Pelicans are in a nice spot against the Warriors.
Draymond Green ($7,000)
Draymond's recent numbers don't stand out as the Warriors have been involved in quite a few blowouts of late, but he has triple-double upside in what should be a fast-paced and competitive matchup against the Pelicans.
Kyle Kuzma ($5,200), if LeBron James is out
Kuzma would likely get the start at small forward if LeBron rests for the second half of a back-to-back. He scored 36.25 DK points in 36 minutes Sunday and gets a slight bump from the absence of Dennis Schroder as well.
Jordan Poole ($4,500), if Andrew Wiggins is out
Wiggins is listed as questionable and Poole is coming off 34.25 DK points in 25 minutes last time out. The Warriors are in a nice spot against the Pelicans.
Dwight Howard ($4,300), if Joel Embiid is out
Howard has put up 35-plus DK points in consecutive games, and it's possible Embiid rests as the Sixers are playing the second half of a back-to-back.
