This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have a very modest four-game slate Sunday night, one of the smaller ones in quite a while. The fact there are only eight teams in action really helps streamline our decision-making process while multiple big-name injuries should once again open up several appealing value options. The good news is that at least two of the four games have elevated offensive expectations, and the Bucks-Hawks tilt could also carry a fairly robust total if Clint Capela is able to suit up for Atlanta.
Slate Overview
Here's a closer look at the two games with projected totals on FanDuel Sportsbook for Sunday night's slate:
Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards (Projected total: 229.0 points)
Even with Collin Sexton out for Cleveland due to a concussion, the defense and pace of the Wizards is such that this game still carries a co-high projected total for the night. Washington has allowed 117.8 points per game, including 118.9 per home contest. The Wizards are also averaging an NBA-high 107.7 possessions per game, which could help a Cavaliers team that's struggled to score points on the road. Washington is also averaging 117.2 points per home contest and should have its stellar backcourt available, so the total here could certainly be met.
Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors (Projected total: 229.0 points)
The Kings are essentially the Western Conference version of the Wizards from a defensive perspective. And given their matchup against an ultra-fast-paced team that also gives up points in the Warriors, this number isn't surprising. Sacramento is allowing an NBA-high 119.0 points per game, while Golden State is surrendering four more points per game on the road (115.0) than at home (111.0). Then, the Kings are scoring 115.7 points per home contest and the first two between these teams have ended with totals of 243 and 260 points. So despite Fox's absence, the environment could certainly still be ripe for plenty of points.
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.
De'Aaron Fox, SAC (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Fox's absence should lead to starts for extra opportunities for Delon Wright and Tyrese Haliburton as well as elevated usage for the remainder of Sacramento's starting five.
Trae Young, ATL (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Young's ongoing absence Sunday should lead to another start for Brandon Goodwin as well as elevated usage for the rest of Atlanta's first unit.
Clint Capela, ATL (back)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Capela is able to take the floor, he'll benefit from even more usage than usual with Trae Young sidelined. Onyeka Okongwu will likely draw another start if Capela sits.
Richaun Holmes, SAC (hamstring)/ Status: PROBABLE
Holmes' expected return Sunday will send Hassan Whiteside back to the bench, while the big man could potentially enjoy an even bigger role than usual with De'Aaron Fox out.
Wendell Carter, ORL (ankle)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Carter is able to return to action Sunday, Mo Bamba should head back to the bench.
Collin Sexton, CLE (concussion)/ Status: OUT
In Sexton's absence Sunday, Matthew Dellavedova and Cedi Osman should see plenty of opportunities at shooting guard.
Domantas Sabonis, IND (back)/ Status: GTD
If Sabonis is out again Sunday, Oshae Brissett - who's scored 52.9 and 30.2 FD points in his last two games - should remain in the starting five. The remainder of the first unit, especially Malcolm Brogdon, should also continue logging elevated usage.
Other notable injuries:
Myles Turner, IND (toe)/ Status: OUT
Rui Hachimura, WAS (kneecap)/ Status: OUT
Kent Bazemore, GSW (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: GTD
Cam Reddish, ATL (Achilles)/ Status: OUT
De'Andre Hunter, ATL (knee)/ Status: OUT
Terrence Ross, ORL (back)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Taurean Prince, CLE (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Michael Carter-Williams, ORL (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Otto Porter, ORL (foot)/ Status: OUT
Elite Players
We have two players with five-figure salaries on Sunday's slate: Russell Westbrook ($11,100) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900).
Westbrook is part of one of the games with the highest total of the night and is averaging a stellar 58.9 FD points per contest over the last seven games. He also enjoys a solid positional matchup against Cleveland. Antetokounmpo will face a short-handed Hawks squad that will definitely be without Young and could also be missing Capela, so there may be some blowout risk attached. Giannis does have a 53.8 FD-point effort against Atlanta this season.
Healthy players with salaries in the high four-figures capable of also delivering elite scores include Stephen Curry ($9,800), Bradley Beal ($9,200) and Malcolm Brogdon ($8,200). Curry bounced back from a rare shooting clunker by posting 32 points against the Nuggets on Friday and has already compiled 50.8 FD points in one previous game versus the Kings. Additionally, he won't have De'Aaron Fox to concern himself with Sunday. Beal, like Westbrook, will be in a highly conducive game environment and good positional matchup while Brogdon has put up 57.5 and 43.6 FD points in his last two games and could once again be playing without Domantas Sabonis.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the players just mentioned in the prior section, other likely chalk plays include:
Caris LeVert, IND ($8,100)
LeVert should be in plenty of rosters whether or not Sabonis plays as he's posted 56 and 45.9 FD points in his last two games.
Darius Garland, CLE ($7,300)
Garland could see a significant usage boost in Sexton's absence and has scored over 35 FD points in seven consecutive contests.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL ($7,300)
Bogdanovic should remain popular due to Young's ongoing absence and a possible for Capela.
Tyrese Haliburton, SAC ($5,800)
Haliburton could see a significant boost with Fox out.
Harrison Barnes, SAC ($6,400)
Another expected beneficiary of Fox's absence, Barnes also comes in having scored over 30 FD points in three straight.
Oshae Brissett, IND ($5,300)
Brissett will be very popular if Sabonis is out again.
Key Values
Andrew Wiggins, GS vs. SAC ($6,800)
Wiggins just racked up 38.4 FD points over 33 minutes versus the Nuggets on Friday and also eclipsed over 30 FD points on two other occasions within the last five contests. The 2014 first-overall pick also managed 41 FD points the last time against the Kings, who are allowing a Western Conference-high 27.1 percent offensive efficiency to shooting guards. Sacramento is also allowing the fifth-most FD points per game to two-guards (43.9), including 47.8 over the last 10 contests. Finally, consider the Kings are surrendering the second-highest three-point shooting percentage (38.9) for the season, while Wiggins is draining a career-high 38.1 percent of his attempts from distance.
Kevin Huerter, ATL vs. MIL ($5,700)
The pricing algorithm continues to be exceedingly generous to us as DFS players when it comes to Huerter, who's averaging 29.6 FD points in his current 12-game starting stretch and has eclipsed 30 FD points in three of his last five alone. The third-year sharpshooter just put up 31.2 FD points against the Bucks on Apr. 15, a matchup where he impressively drained seven of 11 attempts. The Bucks come in surrendering the eighth-most FD points per game to small forwards over the last 10 (47.7) and Huerter is averaging 28.3 FD points per 36 minutes with Trae Young off the floor. That figure bumps up to 30.2 when Clint Capela - who's questionable for Sunday - giving Huerter a solid chance of delivering more than 5x his current salary for the 20th occasion this season.
T.J. McConnell, IND at ORL ($5,300)
McConnell turned in another spectacular effort off the bench Saturday by posting 46.1 FD points over 29 minutes against the Pistons. The veteran point guard has also eclipsed 30 FD points on two other occasions in his last six games and has now delivered over 5x his current salary in 25 of 55 games this campaign. The Magic have given up the seventh-highest offensive efficiency to second-unit players (44.5 percent) and the fifth highest to point guards (28.3 percent). Orlando is also yielding a robust 56.9 FD points per game to PGs over the last 10 contests and the second-most total assists per game (26.3) of any team on its home floor. The latter number is particularly relevant when considering McConnell, who dished out 13 dimes Saturday and has at least seven in four of the last five contests.
Other value plays to consider: Tyrese Haliburton, SAC at GS ($5,800); Oshae Brissett, IND at ORL ($5,300); Bobby Portis, MIL vs. ATL ($5,300); Maurice Harkless, SAC at GS ($4,000)
