This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have seven games on the docket for Tuesday night, and the action is set to begin at 7:00 PM Eastern time with Detroit at Cleveland and Orlando at Washington. We'll have some star power on display to close out the slate, with the Trail Blazers scheduled to face off against the Clippers.
Here's another quick reminder that FanDuel has gone back to their old format, counting all nine of your player's scores within your lineup. With each selection counting towards your score, it'll be vital to make each and every choice count.
Without further ado, let's take a closer look at this slate.
Slate Overview
Here are a few matchups to either target or avoid on this slate, based on FanDuel Sportsbook's projected scoring total. It can be beneficial to add players to your lineup who are expected to play in favorable scoring environments, especially if you're having a difficult time choosing between two players.
Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Pelicans (Projected Total: 233.0)
It's unsurprising to find the Mavericks on the list of games expected to rack up points Tuesday night, considering they have one of the best players in the league in Luka Doncic, and they're averaging 117.8 PPG on the season. New Orleans is right up there with them, putting up 114.5 PPG on a nightly basis. Jrue Holiday typically leads the scoring attack for the Pelicans along with Brandon Ingram (25.5 PPG).
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (Projected Total: 209.5)
While the Lakers possess one of the best defenses in the league (103.3 defensive rating), their offense has not been nearly as effective, averaging 112.2 points per contest (12th). As for the Nuggets, they put up 106.7 points per game (24th), and they also run a tight ship on defense. As a result, this is expected to be one of the lowest-scoring contests of the evening.
Positional Breakdown
We have seven games to work with Tuesday night, and there's plenty of firepower on the slate. Five players are valued at $10K or above, including Luka Doncic, James Harden, LeBron James, Anthony Davis (shoulder) and Kawhi Leonard.
PG: Doncic headlines the point guard position, followed by Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook as elite plays. There's also plenty of mid-tier talent, including Derrick Rose and Lonzo Ball.
SG: Harden is the top option at shooting guard, although Bradley Beal and Jimmy Butler are also two enticing options for under $10K. J.J. Redick and Josh Hart could be considered value plays within this group.
SF: James, Brandon Ingram and Paul George draw the most attention at small forward. Pascal Siakam is also available for $9,200 if you're trying to avoid forking over $11,400 for LeBron. Carmelo Anthony and Will Barton are also solid players in the mid-tier range.
PF: Davis and Leonard are both up for grabs at $10K or above, though Kevin Love and Kristaps Porzingis could be scooped up for just over $8K. Paul Millsap should be looked at as a value play, sitting at $5,800. He's averaging 26.37 FanDuel points per contest this year.
C: Center is the only position without a player priced above $10K, though Andre Drummond and Nikola Jokic are two All-Stars on the board. There is also plenty of mid-tier talent to be had, starting with Tristan Thompson (34.68 FPPG) and Thomas Bryant (31.14 FDPG).
Injury Situations to Monitor
Cedi Osman, CLE
Osman is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Pistons with back soreness. Kevin Porter and Larry Nance could see extended minutes as a result.
Kyle Lowry, TOR
Lowry is unlikely to play in Tuesday's game against the Heat as he continues to rehab from a fractured left thumb. Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell are expected to start at the two guard spots, assuming Lowry is ruled out.
Danuel House, HOU
House missed Saturday's matchup against the Hawks due to illness, and his status remains up in the air for Tuesday's clash. The team will have a better idea on his availability following the morning shootaround.
LaMarcus Aldridge, SAN
Aldridge is being considered a game-time decision for Tuesday's matchup due to a right thigh injury. Jakob Poeltl could be in line to draw another at center if Aldridge can't go.
Kyle Kuzma, LAL
Kuzma is probable for Tuesday's contest against Denver due to a mild ankle sprain.
Anthony Davis, LAL
Davis is once again on the injury report due to a nagging shoulder issue, though he's listed as probable. He's registered a double-double in three of his last four matchups, averaging 28.3 points and 11 rebounds over that stretch.
Jerami Grant, DEN
Grant has been battling an illness but is expected to take the court Tuesday against the Lakers.
JaMychal Green, LAC
Green will be a game-time decision due to a bruised tailbone. Maurice Harkless could see extended minutes if Green can't go.
Gary Trent, POR
Trent has been nursing a hamstring injury but has been handed a probable tag for Tuesday's matchup. He's missed the last three games while on the mend.
Elite
As previously mentioned, there are five players on this slate valued at $10K or above: Doncic, Harden, James, Davis and Leonard.
Harden may be your best bet when it comes to elite plays, as he's essentially guaranteed to put up over 50 FD points, as he should with his hefty price tag. He's coming off a massive showing against the Hawks, finishing with 82.6 FD points.
It's also hard to ignore Doncic's impressive play, averaging 60.5 FanDuel points over his last six games. He'll draw an enticing matchup Tuesday against the Pelicans in a game that's expected to involve plenty of scoring.
Expected Chalk
With the number of All-Stars on display Tuesday night, there won't be an abundance of chalk, though Doncic and Harden will unsurprisingly draw high ownership. Damian Lillard could also be a popular selection at point guard for players who want to avoid paying top dollar for Doncic. Fred VanVleet is yet another chalky pick for this slate, with Kyle Lowry (thumb) unlikely to return against the Heat. VanVleet has taken advantage of his opportunities, putting up 52 and 46.5 FD points over his last two matchups.
Last but not least, center is the only position where the top option is available for under $10K. This will likely drive the ownership up on both Drummond and Jokic.
Key Values
Kendrick Nunn, MIA @ TOR ($4,800):
Nunn has been an impressive cog in Miami's offense this season, averaging 26.1 FanDuel points per game. He's also racked up 20-plus FD points in eight of his last 10 matchups, so while he's valued at $4,800 for the night, he's likely to have low ownership and could pair nicely with an elite point guard such as Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard or Russell Westbrook. It's also worth mentioning that Toronto is allowing 47.9 FD points per game to opposing point guards this season due to Kyle Lowry's long absence, making this a favorable matchup for the rookie guard.
Kent Bazemore, POR @ LAC ($3,600):
Bazemore will be considered a true value play here, as he's available for under $4K on the night but has shown that he's capable of putting up serviceable DFS numbers. He's one game removed from a 30 FD-point performance Wednesday against the Thunder, racking up 10 rebounds, four assists and three points over 20 minutes. It's good to see that he's able to get the job done even on nights where he isn't in a scoring groove, as you can see from his last big showing. Bazemore is averaging 18.6 FanDuel points per game this season and will face off against a Los Angeles squad allowing 108.3 points per contest.
