This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
FanDuel is excluding the early Pistons-Rockets matchup from their main slate, leaving us a six-game offering that tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
SLATE OVERVIEW
BOS (-4.5) vs. NYK O/U: 210.5
BKN (-1.5) vs. ORL O/U:214.5
GSW (-7.5) @.TOR O/U: 210.5
LAC (-4.5) @ OKC O/U: 207.5
UTA (-11) vs. WAS O/U: 221.5
MIL (-1) vs. CLE O/U: 214.5
INJURIES
NYK Derrick Rose (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
NYK RJ Barrett (COVID-19 Prorocols) - OUT
NYK Immanuel Quickley (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Although Alec Burks ($5,500) will still be in line for a full load, it appears that Evan Fournier ($4,500) could post a value-beating number, and Kemba Walker ($4,100) is another interesting spot in a revenge game scenario in Boston.
BOS Al Horford (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
BOS Dennis Schroder (illness) - QUESTIONABLE
Robert Williams ($5,600) will get extended run in Horford's absence, and Marcus Smart ($5,700) will be the best pivot for Schroder if he misses time.
ORL Cole Anthony (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
ORL Wendell Carter (leg) - DOUBTFUL
ORL Mo Bamba (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ORL Terrence Ross (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ORL R.J. Hampton ( COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ORL Moritz Wagner ( COBVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Some of the worthwhile pivots are dependent on Anthony's status, but we can say with relative certainty that the Magic will use Franz Wagner ($6,000), Gary Harris ($4,700) and Chuma Okeke ($4,200) extensively. In an Anthony absence, Mychal Mulder ($4,000) will come into play. Robin Lopez should also log significant minutes in the paint.
BKN Kevin Durant (ankle) - OUT
BKN James Harden (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
BKN Patty Mills (rest) - OUT
BKN LaMarcus Aldridge (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
BKN Nicolas Claxton (wrist) - QUESTIONABLE
BKN Bruce Brown (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
BKN James Johnson (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
BKN DeAndre' Bembry (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
If you know anyone who plays for the Nets, keep your distance this weekend. Your best route is to take a look at the starting lineup ahead of time, but you can safely roster Blake Griffin ($6,300), Kessler Edwards ($5,900) and Cam Thomas ($5,400) with a late-swap possibility for David Duke ($5,400) if he starts. If Claxton doesn't play, Day'Ron Sharpe ($4,100) becomes the only remaining center outside of Griffin.
GSW Stephen Curry (rest) - OUT
GSW Draymond Green (hip) - OUT
GSW Andrew Wiggins (knee) - OUT
GSW Jordan Poole (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
GSW Otto Porter (foot) - OUT
GSW Andre Iguodala (knee) - OUT
Well, this one will be interesting. Either the Warriors are extremely confident in their bench, or they are fine with punting this game. The starting lineup should consist of Damion Lee ($3,900), Gary Payton ($4,200), Juan Toscano-Anderson ($3,700), Nemanja Bjelica ($4,000) and Kevon Looney ($4,600). I like Lee and Bjelica the best in this wacky scenario.
TOR OG Anunoby (hip) - QUESTIONABLE
TOR Precious Achiuwa (COVID-19 Protocols)- QUESTIONABLE
TOR Khem Birch (knee) - DOUBTFUL
We may see Anunoby and Achiuwa on the floor today, although the team may rest them against a depleted Warriors squad. I wouldn't be surprised to see more Raptors take a seat today, although they could really use a win. I'm not too keen on pivots from the usual elites here, although some value could open up as their starting lineups lock.
LAC Paul George (elbow) - QUESTIONABLE
We may see George today, but Terance Mann ($5,500) and Luke Kennard ($5,400) will be his pivots if he's a scratch.
OKC Luguentz Dort (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
Dort practiced on Friday, so there's a decent chance he'll play.
UTA Donovan Mitchell (illness) - QUESTIONABLE
Mitchell's stomach bug may be a passing thing, but if he ends up sidelined, throw some exposure over to Jordan Clarkson ($5,100) and Joe Ingles ($4,200).
CLE Evan Mobley (hip) - QUESTIONABLE
CLE Isaac Okoro (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
If Mobley misses, Lauri Markkanen ($4,900) will take on an enhanced role, and we'll see more time for Dean Wade ($4,200) and Cedi Osman ($5,000) as well.
MIL Giannis Antetokounmpo (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
MIL Bobby Portis (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
MIL Khris Middleton (knee) - OUT
I'm still a fan of filling up my lineups with Jrue Holiday in this scenario, but it's an even better spot for him if Middleton doesn't play. Expect Pat Connaughton ($6,000) and DeMarcus Cousins ($3,800) to shore things up in the interior.
Almost everything you need for this slate has already been covered in the injury section. Due to the size of the slate, we will do an elite section and combine the usual expected chalk and value plays into one section.
ELITE PLAYERS
We'll extend our elite section down into the 8k range for today's slate.
For the first time in a while, we don't have a single player above 10k on the slate, Jayson Tatum ($9,700) is tonight's headliner, but I don't know that it is the first spend-up option for us. He needs almost 50 FP to pay off, and while the odds are decent that he'll hit that number, the return of Jaylen Brown ($7,200) and his attractive post-injury salary is a better way to get production from the Celtics. We've already mentioned Jrue Holiday ($9,300) and his obvious value, but due to this elevated price point, he's only a chalk play if Middleton sits due to this lofty price point. We will have to wait to confirm Toronto's lineup, but Fred VanVleet ($8,700) would have enormous value against the depleted Warriors if he doesn't rest, and the same holds for the tandem of Pascal Siakam ($7,800) and Scottie Barnes ($8,400).
It's hard to get away from Julius Randle ($8,800) with Al Horford out for the Celtics, but Rudy Gobert ($9,200) should be equally effective as an elite big man against the Wizards.
Also consider: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC ($8,800) vs. LAC, Bradley Beal, WAS ($8,100) @ UTA, Jarrett Allen, CLE ($8,200) @ MIL
EXPECTED CHALK AND VALUE PLAYS
The injury section will contain the bulk of the value plays, but I will list my top three pivots for that group - Franz Wagner, Kessler Edwards and Nemanja Bjelica.
Darius Garland, CLE ($7,500) @ MIL
Garland emerges as one of the most reliable options for Saturday's slate. He's putting up 30-plus FP with some regularity and has popped above 40 FP in the right scenario. We need his shot volume to be high for him to match value, so he'll need to do a little better than his 12 attempts when Cleveland last played the Bucks.
Marcus Morris, LAC ($6,000) @ OKC
Morris is doing much of the heavy lifting lately, while George has been absent. Over the past four games, he's averaged 17.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and that average would have been much higher were it not for his hiccup against the Magic, where he only scored two points.
Miles McBride, NYK ($5,200) @ BOS
We didn't mention McBride along with the rest of the Knicks above because he's earned his own mention. The rookie posted career-highs in the last game, and he should see even more time with Immanuel Quickley out. His standout play may keep him out of the G League for a little while longer.
Jonathan Kuminga, GSW ($3,500) @ TOR
The team called Kuminga up from the G League last week, and this could be the right scenario for Kuminga to shine if he gets the opportunity. The Warriors' top draft pick, is getting much-needed reps in the G League. There's merit to considering him as an extreme punt play today.
Also consider: Kyle Kuzma, WAS ($5,600) @ UTA
