This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
BOS (-3.5) at IND, O/U:
CHA at PHI (-5.5), O/U:
ORL at WAS (-8), O/U:
MIA at ATL (-4.5), O/U:
DAL (-2) at NYK, O/U:
HOU at SAS (-6), O/U:
CLE at UTA (-6.5), O/U:
BKN at CHI (-1), O/U:
LAL (-2.5) at SAC, O/U:
The Hornets-76ers matchup should be high-scoring and competitive contest, and each team features good selections through all price tiers.
In the top price range, Joel Embiid and LaMelo Ball highlight the board for their respective teams They will both be looking to capitalize on advantageous matchups, which should lead to big nights for both superstars.
Miles Bridges, Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward are reliable midpriced picks on the Hornets' side. P.J. Washington and Cody Martin are good looks in the value range, as they will pick up some extra playing time without Kelly Oubre in the lineup.
Tobias Harris stands out as a strong pick from the Sixers in the midtier price range. Furkan Korkmaz and Matisse Thybulle are low-priced options that will get a boost as a result of injuries in the lineup.
Injuries to Monitor
Payton Pritchard (COVID-19), Marcus Smart (thigh): Questionable
Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson would be up for extra minutes without Pritchard and/or Smart.
Malcolm Brogdon (achilles), Chris Duarte (personal), Caris LeVert (not injury related): Questionable
T.J. McConnell (wrist): OUT
Keifer Sykes and Duane Washington will continue to carry major responsibility if Brogdon and LeVert remain out. Justin Holiday and Lance Stephenson are also in line for more action.
Kelly Oubre (COVID-19): OUT
P.J. Washington and Cody Martin will get a boost.
Seth Curry (ankle): Questionable
Shake Milton (back): OUT
Furkan Korkmaz and Danny Green should see more playing time.
Mo Bamba (toe), Wendell Carter (hamstring): Questionable
Chuma Okeke and Robin Lopez will see increased responsibility without Bamba and/or Carter.
Bradley Beal (COVID-19): OUT
Corey Kispert is expected to start in place of Beal.
Dewayne Dedmon (knee): Questionable
Jimmy Butler (ankle), Bam Adebayo (thumb): OUT
Omer Yurtseven will continue to see major minutes in the Heat's frontcourt. Caleb Martin and Max Strus are expected to start at the wing positions.
Cam Reddish (ankle), Clint Capela (ankle): Questionable
Kevin Huerter will continue to see extra action if Reddish is out, while Onyeka Okongwu would have to step in for Capela.
Kristaps Porzingis (COVID-19): OUT
Maxi Kleber will continue to fill in for Porzingis.
Nerlens Noel (COVID-19), Kemba Walker (knee): Questionable
Derrick Rose (ankle): OUT
Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley will pick up more minutes as the Knicks remain without Rose and potentially without Walker. Mitchell Robinson would see a boost without Noel in the lineup.
Armoni Brooks (COVID-19), Alperen Sengun (ankle): Questionable
Garrison Mathews would continue to see extra minutes without Brooks. Kenyon Martin will get a boost if Sengun remains out.
Keldon Johnson (COVID-19), Devin Vassell (COVID-19), Tre Jones (COVID-19), Derrick White (COVID-19), Doug McDermott (COVID-19): OUT
Keita Bates-Diop, Josh Primo and Lonnie Walker will continue to pick up additional playing time.
Isaac Okoro (elbow): OUT
Lamar Stevens will pick up the start.
Joe Ingles (not injury related): Questionable
Rudy Gay (COVID-19), Rudy Gobert (COVID-19): OUT
Jordan Clarkson will pick up extra minutes off the bench. Hassan Whiteside is expected to fill in for Gobert.
James Harden (knee), Kyrie Irving (ankle), Nicolas Claxton (hamstring): Questionable
LaMarcus Aldridge (foot): OUT
Patty Mills, Bruce Brown, DeAndre' Bembry and James Johnson would have to step up for big minutes if Harden, Irving and Claxton are out in addition to Aldridge.
Alex Caruso (foot): Questionable
Javonte Green (groin): OUT
Coby White will continue to see a larger role if Caruso remains out. Derrick Jones will continue to pick up extra floor time without Green in the lineup.
Anthony Davis (knee): OUT
Stanley Johnson will pick up another start, while LeBron James and Russell Westbrook will have to step up to help carry the offense.
Richaun Holmes (not injury related), Damian Jones (COVID-19): OUT
Alex Len will get big minutes with both Holmes and Jones out.
Elite Players
Guards
Dejounte Murray ($9,700)
Murray topped 50 DK points in three of the last four games. He should have an opportunity for another big night, as the Spurs play host to the Rockets, who are giving up a league-high 116.4 points per game.
Donovan Mitchell ($9,400)
Mitchell continues to lead the way for the Jazz and will need to come up ever bigger to help make up for the absence of Rudy Gobert. Mitchell has topped 44 DK points in five of his last six outings and will have an advantage going up against the Cavs' shorthanded backcourt.
Forwards/Centers
Jayson Tatum ($9,500)
The Celtics take on the Pacers in Indiana, which should be a competitive contest, where Tatum needs to step up to help lead his team. He is capable of putting up massive numbers, as exemplified in a recent contest in which he generated 65.0 DK points.
Kevin Durant ($11,000)
Durant leads the Nets, averaging 29.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. He has topped 49 DK points in each of the last five outings and will have an advantage against the undersized Bulls.
Nikola Vucevic ($9,100)
The Bulls play host to the Nets, who are shorthanded in the frontcourt, which will provide a good opportunity for Vucevic to dominate the paint. Vucevic is averaging 17.1 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals over the last 10 games.
Expected Chalk
Joel Embiid ($11,200)
The 76ers play host to the Hornets, who are giving up 115.9 points and 48.2 rebounds per game, which are both second most in the league. Embiid has topped 50 DK points in eight of the last 10 games, including the last two in a row, and he will have plenty of opportunity to stuff the stat sheet against the Hornets and their smaller frontcourt.
Value Picks
Dennis Schroder ($4,800)
Schroder is averaging 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists, over the last five games. He will pick up a boost in value if Marcus Smart is out.
Lonnie Walker ($4,600)
Walker has topped 20 DK points in the last three games, and he will continue to see added minutes for the shorthanded Spurs.
Cody Martin ($4,000)
Martin will be up for a boost with Kelly Oubre sidelined. Martin has topped 20 DK points in the last two games.
Keita Bates-Diop ($3,900)
Bates-Diop is up for another start for the shorthanded Spurs. He will have plenty of opportunity to rack up numbers across the board in what should be a high-scoring contest, against the Rockets.
Mitchell Robinson ($4,900)
Robinson is averaging 9.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, over his last 10 games. He could be up for some added minutes if Nerlens Noel remains out, but he is already averaging 25 minutes per game this season.
