This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
We have a compact five-game slate to kick off 2022, and it's one that's encouragingly projected to have some elevated scoring, as evidenced in the next section. There's only one truly lopsided contest projected and a relatively light injury report as far as current standards are concerned, setting up a reasonably favorable DFS environment overall.
Slate Overview
Chicago Bulls (-2.5) at Washington Wizards (O/U: 217.5 points)
San Antonio Spurs (-7) at Detroit Pistons (O/U: 223.0 points)
Los Angeles Clippers at Brooklyn Nets (-12.5) (O/U: 217.0 points)
Denver Nuggets (-6) at Houston Rockets (O/U: 222.5 points)
Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz (-5.5) (O/U: 221.0 points)
With COVID-19 absences having a presence but arguably not an outsized influence on Saturday's ledger, we're set for what should be a competitive night of hardwood action overall.
One of the biggest names that is sidelined Saturday, Paul George, is a big factor in the Clippers being double-digit underdogs. Otherwise, the Lonzo Ball and Spencer Dinwiddie absences for the Bulls and Wizards more or less cancel each other out, while the Spurs are still a solid favorite over a Cade Cunningham-less Pistons squad even though San Antonio will be missing Dejounte Murray.
The marquee matchup of the night is arguably the final one, as the Warriors and Jazz clash in Utah. The expected absence of Draymond Green for Golden State is certainly playing a part in making the Dubs a clear road underdog to a healthy Jazz team, but even with him, the Warriors would still likely be getting at least a couple of points from Utah.
Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written, check back throughout the course of the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding the status of all players on that night's slate, including those carrying injury designations that aren't listed in this section.
Dejounte Murray, SAN (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
In Murray's expected absence, Lonnie Walker and Tre Jones should see plenty of minutes at point guard, while Derrick White and the remaining members of the starting five could see significant bumps in usage.
Draymond Green, GSW (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
In Green's expected absence, Juan Toscano-Anderson could once again step in at power forward.
Lonzo Ball, CHI (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
In Ball's expected absence, Coby White should get another start at point guard.
Spencer Dinwiddie, WAS (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Dinwiddie's absence could lead to a second straight start for Brad Wanamaker.
Other notable injuries:
Paul George, LAC (elbow): OUT
Cade Cunningham, DET (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Jerami Grant, DET (thumb): OUT
Mike Conley, UTA (rest): PROBABLE
Kelly Olynyk, DET (knee): OUT
Aaron Gordon, DEN (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Ivica Zubac, LAC (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Montrezl Harrell, WAS (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Elite Players
We have six players with five-figure salaries slated to be active on Saturday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($12,600), Stephen Curry ($11,800), James Harden ($11,500), Kevin Durant ($11,400), Bradley Beal ($10,300) and Zach LaVine ($10,200).
Jokic has been over 60 DK points in three straight games and eight of his last 10 overall. He also accumulated 54 DK points over 36 minutes against the Rockets in his one prior meeting with them this season.
Curry saw a downturn to 33 DK points in his last game against the Nuggets after eclipsing 55 in the two contests prior, but he boasts a 34.6 percent usage rate and average of 53.2 DK points per 36 minutes without Draymond Green on the floor.
Harden has scored over 70 DK points in three straight, a glimpse of vintage upside from the prolific scorer and distributor. It's important to note the most recent 70-plus tally was accomplished with Kevin Durant back on the floor as well.
Durant scored 48 DK points over 38 minutes in his first game back from COVID-19 protocols Thursday, putting to rest any questions about his conditioning after a two-week layoff.
Similarly, Beal jumped right back into top form in his Thursday return after a 12-day sabbatical, posting 55 DK points in 34 minutes against the Cavaliers. He also boasts a 32.2 percent usage rate without Spencer Dinwiddie on the floor this season.
LaVine has a 32.3 percent usage rate without Lonzo Ball available and is averaging 43.3 DK points per road game.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the players just mentioned in the prior section, other likely chalk plays include:
Donovan Mitchell, UTA ($9,800)
Mitchell just scored 57.5 DK points against the T-Wolves and has been over 44 DK points in five of his last six games overall.
DeMar DeRozan, CHI ($9,700)
DeRozan sports a team-high 35.4 percent usage rate without Ball on the floor and just hit a game-winning three-point shot Friday afternoon to cap off his sixth game of more than 40 DK points in the last 10.
Rudy Gobert, UTA ($9,300)
Gobert churned out yet another 40-plus DK-point tally (42.5) on Friday and is averaging 42.3 DK points per contest for the season.
Nikola Vucevic, CHI ($9,300)
Vucevic has scored 42.5 to 65.8 DK points in his last four games, averages 49.2 DK points per 36 minutes with Ball off the floor and has a favorable matchup against the Wizards down low, all of which should keep him popular.
Derrick White, SAS ($7,000)
White is averaging 38.7 DK points per 36 minutes with Dejounte Murray off the floor and sports a very reasonable salary for a player who could be the primary ball-handler.
Key Values
Will Barton, DEN at HOU ($6,200)
Barton has delivered over 30 DK points in three straight games and is averaging 30.9 per contest for the season, giving him a very secure floor overall. The veteran wing also compiled 36.8 DK points over 36.5 minutes against the Rockets in his one prior meeting with them this season, and he sports a 28.0 percent usage rate with an average of 38.2 DK points per 36 minutes with both Monte Morris and Jeff Green off the floor, as is expected to be the case Saturday. What's more, the Rockets come in allowing 47.3 DK points per game to two-guards in the last seven, and the third-highest three-point percentage (42.6) to all positions over the last three games overall.
Marcus Morris, LAC at BKN ($5,800)
Morris is taking on plenty of extra responsibility with Paul George sidelined, and even with Reggie Jackson returning from COVID protocols Friday against the Raptors, he still posted 36 DK points across 38 minutes. It was the fifth straight tally of more than 35 DK points for Morris, who sports a 28.2 percent usage rate and averages 38.4 DK points per 36 without George, Nicolas Batum and Ivica Zubac on the floor. Morris also lit up the Nets for 40.8 DK points in 27 minutes three games ago, and although Kevin Durant's presence in the rematch could certainly serve as more of a deterrent, Morris should still see enough minutes and opportunity to deliver on what is still a very reasonable salary.
Doug McDermott, SAS at DET ($3,700)
There are also a couple of appealing value options at guard listed directly below if you have a bit more salary to work with, but McDermott makes for a very interesting cost-effective tournament play. The veteran faces a Pistons squad that's allowing the fifth-highest offensive efficiency (23.7 percent) to small forwards, along with the second-most DK points per contest to the position on the season (45.5). McDermott scored 22.8 DK points in just 19 minutes against Detroit in his one prior meeting with them this season as well, and he's averaging 33.5 DK points per 36 minutes with Dejounte Murray off the floor. Finally, consider the Pistons are giving up the third-highest three-point shooting percentage (36.9), while McDermott is shooting 41.1 percent from distance, including 47.6 percent over the last four.
ALSO CONSIDER: Coby White, CHI at WAS ($4,900); Jalen Green, HOU vs. DEN ($4,800)
