This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
ATL vs. PHI (-8), O/U: 220
ORL vs. CLE (-2.5), O/U: 211.5
CHA vs. BOS (-7.5), O/U: 220.5
CHI vs. NY (-5.5), O/U: 208.5
LAL (-3) vs. WAS, O/U: 224
SA vs. MIA (-5), O/U: 209
NO vs. DEN (-4), O/U: 228.5
POR vs. MEM (-2), O/U: 235
LAC vs. PHX (-3.5), O/U: 222.5
UTA (-8.5) vs. SAC, O/U: 225.5
The POR-MEM matchup stands out tonight, as it features the closest spread and highest total on the slate. Jusuf Nurkic ($6,800) was chalky yesterday, and his salary hasn't moved, while Damian Lillard ($9,300) is back in play at his depressed salary. On the Memphis side, Ja Morant ($8,200) is playing his best basketball of the season, finally flashing some consistent upside, while Jonas Valanciunas ($7,900) can spike a ceiling in any matchup.
The UTA-SAC matchup will be another popular target and rightfully so. The Jazz will be without Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell, while the Kings are still missing De'Aaron Fox. I'd expect the point guards on both teams to be popular, and there could be some cheap value on the Kings' side if Harrison Barnes (adductor) gets ruled out.
Injuries to Monitor
De'Aaron Fox (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Fox will miss at least another week after being placed in the league's health and safety protocols. Tyrese Haliburton will continue to start at point guard in his place.
Jayson Tatum (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Tatum missed yesterday's game due to a sore ankle, and his status for tonight is uncertain. Semi Ojeleye got the start at power forward and played only eight minutes, while Payton Pritchard saw 33 off the bench.
Trae Young (ankle): OUT
Young will miss a fourth consecutive game tonight due to a sprained ankle but has a chance to return on Friday. Brandon Goodwin (ankle) got the start at point guard last time out, but he's listed as questionable for tonight. Lou Williams could be in line for an expanded role.
Kawhi Leonard (foot): DOUBTFUL
Leonard will likely miss a fifth consecutive game tonight as he continues to deal with a sore foot. Luke Kennard and Terance Mann have seen extra run in his absence.
Collin Sexton (concussion): OUT
Sexton will be sidelined for a third consecutive game as he recovers from a concussion. Cedi Osman has been starting in his absence.
Mike Conley (hamstring): OUT
Conley will be rested tonight due to a sore hamstring. With Donovan Mitchell (ankle) still out as well, Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles will likely start in the backcourt.
Harrison Barnes (adductor): QUESTIONABLE
Barnes left Monday's game with adductor tightness and is listed as questionable for tonight. It's unclear who might start if he were to miss, but Buddy Hield and Terence Davis would likely see increased minutes.
Kemba Walker (side): OUT
Walker will miss a second consecutive game tonight due to a strained left side. Marcus Smart and Evan Fournier started in the backcourt while Payton Pritchard saw 33 minutes off the bench.
Derrick White (ankle): OUT
White sprained his ankle on Monday and will miss at least tonight's game. Lonnie Walker will likely start at shooting guard in his place.
Kevin Huerter (shoulder): DOUBTFUL
Huerter is likely to miss tonight's game after injuring his shoulder on Monday. Lou Williams and Kris Dunn would be in line for expanded roles.
Kendrick Nunn (neck) and Tyler Herro (foot): QUESTIONABLE
Nunn and Herro both missed Monday's game and are listed as questionable for tonight. Goran Dragic got the start at point guard in their absence.
Will Barton (hamstring): OUT
Barton will miss a third consecutive game tonight due to a hamstring injury. PJ Dozier has been starting at shooting guard in his place.
Robert Williams (knee): QUESTIONABLE
A sore knee has kept Williams sidelined for the past seven games, and he's listed as questionable for tonight. Tristan Thompson has been starting at center in his absence.
Elite Players
Guard:
Russell Westbrook ($11,100)
Westbrook put up 64.75 DK points last time out as he recorded his eighth triple-double in his last 10 games. He's still a bit of a bargain for the type of consistent production we've seen over the last couple of months, and yet he continues to be less popular than he should be on most slates.
Paul George ($9,800)
George let many DFS players down on Monday when he scored just 17.75 DK points and played only 25 minutes due to a sprained ankle. The injury isn't expected to limit his availability for tonight, and recency bias will likely lead to him being less popular than otherwise as he'll continue to see all the usage he can handle in the absence of Kawhi Leonard.
Center:
Nikola Jokic ($11,000)
Jokic is coming off 53.75 DK points in 30 minutes on Monday as the Nuggets were involved in yet another blowout. Tonight's matchup against the Pelicans should be uptempo and competitive. If Jokic sees mid-30s minutes, he should have no problem putting up 60+ DK points. He and Westbrook are the top spend-up options on the slate, and based on the matchup, I slightly prefer Jokic.
Joel Embiid ($10,600)
Embiid has topped 60 DK points in three of his last six games and didn't play more than 33 minutes in any of them. He always has the upside to be the slate's highest scorer and makes for a great pivot off of Jokic, as I'd expect there to be a big discrepancy in popularity between the two.
Forward:
Jimmy Butler ($9,500)
Butler is coming off 54.5 DK points last time out as he took on a bigger role in the absence of Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn. Both Herro and Nunn are listed as questionable again tonight, and if they sit, Butler would be my preferred spend-up at forward. If one of them plays, it probably makes more sense to save some salary and target the likes of Jaylen Brown ($8,500) and DeMar DeRozan ($8,400)
Julius Randle ($10,300) and Zion Williamson ($10,200)
It's hard to pay five figures for Randle and Williamson when Westbrook and Jokic are on the slate, but both of them are in good spots tonight. They make sense from a leverage perspective and also because the power forward position looks weak tonight as things stand. I prefer Randle based on his considerably higher ceiling. He's put up 64+ DK points in three of his last six games.
Expected Chalk
Jordan Clarkson ($6,900)
Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell are out, meaning that Clarkson should get the start at point guard for an ideal matchup tonight against the Kings. He's definitely too cheap for his projected role in this spot, and 50+ DK points seems like a relatively frequent outcome. I'd expect him to be among the most popular players on the slate, especially as there isn't much for cheap value as news stands.
Lou Williams ($4,500), if Brandon Goodwin is out
With Trae Young ruled out, Kevin Huerter doubtful and Brandon Goodwin listed as questionable, the Hawks will be shorthanded at guard tonight. If Goodwin is ruled out and Williams gets the start, I'd expect him to be chalky for such an affordable salary.
Value Picks
Jaylen Brown ($8,500)
Brown put up a whopping 67.25 DK points yesterday as the Celtics were without Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum. Walker has already been ruled out, and if Tatum misses again, Brown would be especially appealing in a favorable matchup against the Hornets.
DeMar DeRozan ($8,400)
DeRozan has topped 50 DK points in consecutive games and could even see a slight bump in usage tonight with Derrick White ruled out.
Darius Garland ($7,700)
Garland will continue to get all the usage he wants as the Cavs will be without Collin Sexton again. He fell victim to a blowout on Monday, but the matchup against the Magic tonight should stay competitive.
Tyrese Haliburton ($7,100)
Haliburton has scored 40+ DK points in back-to-back starts at point guard in place of the quarantined De'Aaron Fox. What would usually be a tough matchup against the Jazz is made more favorable tonight with the injuries to Mitchell and Conley.
Jusuf Nurkic ($6,800)
Nurkic put up 33.5 DK points as he played only 20 minutes in last night's blowout win. Before that, he had topped 50 DK points in back-to-back games. He was chalky yesterday, and I'd expect him to be popular again tonight for the same salary in a nice spot against the Grizzlies.
Joe Ingles ($6,700)
Ingles is another player who will benefit from the absence of Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell as he's likely to see more shot attempts and a bump in assist rate. The Jazz are in a great spot tonight against the Kings, and I'd expect Ingles to be a relatively popular mid-range option.
