This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
Orlando at Boston (-11)
Indiana at Cleveland (-4)
Miami (-2.5) at Sacramento
Phoenix (-2) at Charlotte
Dallas (-7) at Oklahoma City
Minnesota at Los Angeles Lakers (-7.5)
We've started to see some bigger Sunday slates of late and that will only continue as football winds down. Unfortunately, it's another one dominated by the health and safety protocols and another important day to watch the news right up to lock time. Aside from the values that will emerge due to absences, both the Lakers-Timberwolves and Suns-Hornets should have high totals and will be ones to potentially target as stacking options for GPPs.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Mo Bamba, ORL (conditioning): Questionable
Bamba is working his way back from health and safety protocols, but needs to make sure his conditioning is to form prior to his return. Monitor news regarding a minutes limit throughout the day if he's available.
Jayson Tatum, BOS (COVID-19 protocols): Questionable
Tatum could be cleared from the protocols, but may require another absence to get his wind back. Even if he plays, expect there to be a minutes limit.
Robert Williams, BOS (toe): Questionable
Williams hasn't been forced to miss any game action due to the injury. Enes Freedom is also out, so expect Grant Williams and Bruno Fernando to see expanded roles if Williams can't go and particularly if Tatum's also out.
Dylan Windler, CLE (knee): Questionable
Windler has maintained a minimal role for much of the season, but should see somewhat of an expanded role - if he suits up - in the absence of Darius Garland, Cedi Osman and Ricky Rubio.
Dewayne Dedmon, MIA (knee): Questionable
Dedmon is likely to remain out after being tagged with a 1-to-2 week timetable due to an MCL sprain suffered on Dec. 24. The most aggressive part of the timeline would have Dedmon back today, though it doesn't appear likely.
Terence Davis, SAC (ankle): Questionable
Davis had been forced out of Friday's matchup and could be in for his second consecutive absence. Buddy Hield saw a slight uptick in minutes in his absence, but produced little with the opportunity.
Miles Bridges, CHA (COVID-19 protocols): Questionable
P.J. Washington, CHA (COVID-19 protocols): Questionable
Bridges and Washington are both in the same situation having passed protocols, but potentially needing additional time to get their conditioning back. The big-man situation is particularly worth monitoring, as the Hornets are squaring off against a shorthanded Suns frontcourt.
Frank Ntilikina, DAL (thigh): Questionable
Trey Burke, DAL (COVID-19 protocols)
With Luka Doncic back in the fold, Ntilikina is likely to receive limited minutes even if able to play. The same can be said of Trey Burke.
Kristaps Porzingis, DAL (rest): Doubtful
Porzingis' potential absence makes it more likely Maxi Kleber could log significant court time in his first game back from COVID. However, Dorian Finney-Smith is likely the safer bet to see a bigger role. Complicating the situation further is the return of Luka Doncic, who will take up a lot of the vacated usage.
Tre Mann, OKC (COVID-19 protocols)
Mann has not been cleared from the protocols, though is eligible to return. Monitor the news as his status will potentially impact the roles of Aaron Wiggins, Ty Jerome and Theo Maledon.
Luguentz Dort, OKC (knee): Questionable
Dort popped up on the injury report Saturday night. If he's unable to suit up, Aleksej Pokusevski could be in for an expanded role.
D'Angelo Russell, MIN (COVID-19 protocols)
Anthony Edwards, MIN (conditioning): Questionable
Taurean Prince, MIN (conditioning): Questionable
Jarred Vanderbilt, MIN (conditioning): Questionable
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN (COVID-19 protocols)
A majority of key players in Minnesota's rotation are questionable, so this will be a situation to monitor throughout the day. Check in on updated projections for the impact as players are ruled in or out.
LeBron James, LAL (abdomen): Probable
James has been probable with the abdominal injury for several games and has regularly played through a probable tag. Expect him to be in the lineup.
Other Notable Injuries
Cole Anthony, ORL (ankle): Out
Chuma Okeke, ORL (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Hassani Gravett, ORL (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Robin Lopez, ORL (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Enes Freedom, BOS (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Malcolm Brogdon, IND (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Chris Duarte, IND (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Jeremy Lamb, IND (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Kelan Martin, IND (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Darius Garland, CLE (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Rajon Rondo, CLE (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Cedi Osman, CLE (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Gabe Vincent, MIA (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Duncan Robinson, MIA (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Max Strus, MIA (COVID-19 protocols): Out
P.J. Tucker, MIA (CVID-19 protocols): Out
Markieff Morris, MIA (neck): Out
KZ Okpala, MIA (wrist): Out
Zylan Cheatham, MIA (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Richaun Holmes, SAC (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Jae Crowder, PHO (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Deandre Ayton, PHO (COVID-19 protocols): Out
JaVale McGee, PHO (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Brandon Knight, DAL (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Willie Cauley-Stein, DAL (personal): Out
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Darius Bazley, OKC (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (COVID-19 protocols): Out
Elite Players
LeBron James ($12,000) has posted over 70 DK points in three consecutive appearances and over 60 in five straight. Given both his recent form and the number of elite players who will have questionable workloads on this slate – Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum most notably – he's likely to be chalk in cash games and rightfully so.
Jimmy Butler ($10,000) appears to be the other building block. The Heat are without Duncan Robinson, Max Strus and some other key contributors, which should open up a lot of usage for Butler to step into. He comes at a significant salary, but should post raw points on a slate where that will be needed even if he doesn't hit value.
Domantas Sabonis ($9,800) is a final elite name to consider as he's been in excellent form since returning from the protocols. In addition, the Pacers are without a number of key contributors, - namely Malcolm Brogdon, but also Chris Duarte and Jeremy Lamb. And despite Sabonis's strong form, his salary has curiously dipped out of five-figure range and could present value when compared to Butler.
Expected Chalk
In addition to James in particular, other potentially chalky options include:
Caris LeVert ($9,200) is the most direct beneficiary of the already discussed absence of Malcolm Brogdon. He has dished at least six assists in each of his last four games and scored exactly 27 points in each of his most recent three. However, DraftKings has aggressively jumped his salary and that's made him slightly less appealing.
Tyler Herro ($7,500) played 38 minutes Friday without Max Strus and Duncan Robinson. His value has ticked up slightly, but likely not enough to scare away attention.
Omer Yurtseven ($6,500) has been a massive producer in the absence of Dewayne Dedmon and Bam Adebayo. If Dedmon is out, that should continue and also likely make Yurtseven a popular option. It's worth noting his salary has been steadily on the rise, making him a less obvious value play than on recent slates.
Cameron Johnson ($5,400) has received big minutes with Jae Crowder in protocols. His value hasn't risen to match the level of his recent production, making him both a popular and bargain play.
Key Values
Torrey Craig ($4,200) has been an indirect beneficiary of Indiana's COVID-19 troubles. With Chris Duarte along with Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb, Craig logged 32 minutes in the Pacers' last outing – his highest mark since Oct. 29.
Malik Monk ($4,900) has stepped into a starting role in LA for the last three contests and earned 30 minutes on each occasion. His salary has only risen $800 during that span, so he remains a value.
Keep an eye on the Kings starting lineup. Richaun Holmes is out, which should benefit both Marvin Bagley ($4,600) and Alex Len ($3,200). Chimezie Metu is the added variable in the mix, as he's shifted out of the starting lineup in favor of Bagley for the last few games, though it's unclear if that's a permanent arrangement and how the absence of Holmes may affect that decision.
Jalen Smith's ($5,000) value is slowly increasing, but he's produced at least 28.25 DK points in three appearances since Deandre Ayton has been sidelined. With Javale McGee also out, Smith's role should be secure.
If P.J. Washington doesn't return, consider Mason Plumlee ($5,500). The Suns are shorthanded at the position and have allowed some big performances in the absence of Ayton and McGee.
