This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have yet another great slate of NBA basketball ahead of us, with six games spread all throughout the day. It could include some of the most lopsided matchups we've had so far though, so let's go ahead and get into it!
If you have any comments or questions, write me here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel
Slate Overview
BKN/MIL: While this spread and total haven't been released yet, Milwaukee could be a 20-point favorite and the total should be somewhere around 230.
DAL/SAC: Dallas enters this matchup as a 5.5-point favorite, with a game total of 237.
PHX/LAC: Los Angeles is a 9.5-point favorite in this game, with a total of 230.5.
ORL/IND: Orlando has been one of the hottest teams thus far but Indiana enters this matchup as a 1.5-point favorite. The total is sitting at 223.5
BOS/MIA: This game also has a 223.5-point total, with Boston entering this matchup as a 3.5-point favorite.
HOU/POR: This will probably be the highest-scoring game of the night, posting an absurd 244.5-point total. Houston is a 4.5-point favorite as well.
Positional Breakdown
PG: Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook are the two highest-priced players here in the mid $9,000s. De'Aaron Fox is at $7,500 while Ricky Rubio and Malcolm Brogdon barely crack $6K. If you want some value plays, Kemba Walker, Aaron Holiday, Tyler Johnson and Patrick Beverley are all below $5,000.
SG: Good luck picking between James Harden and Luka Doncic. They're within $100 of one another around $11K and both are excellent choices against bad defenses. Paul George and Jimmy Butler are also great choices just below $8,000. Khris Middleton, Devin Booker and CJ McCollum follow up those guys around $7K. Some cheaper players worth considering are Victor Oladipo, Buddy Hield and Garrett Temple.
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo is the highest-priced player on the slate at $11,600. Kawhi Leonard is at $8,600 in a superb matchup. T.J. Warren, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward are all barely cracking $6,000. Value plays include Evan Fournier, Danuel House and Harrison Barnes.
PF: Kristaps Porzingis has been one of the best players in the Orlando restart, sitting up top here at $9,700. Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo both sit right around $8K while Robert Covington is next at $6,800. Daniel Theis is too cheap at $5,200. Zach Collins and Richaun Holmes are viable cheaper options below $5,000.
C: This is the weakest position of the day, with Jusuf Nurkic up top at $8,000. Nikola Vucevic and Deandre Ayton are in the $7,000-range. Myles Turner and Brook Lopez are good choices around $6K. In terms of value, P.J. Tucker is too good to be at $4,000.
Injuries to Monitor
Brooklyn Nets (BKN)
They'll continue to be without Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jamal Crawford, Michael Beasley and Taurean Prince. Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris and Caris LeVert will also miss this game because of minor ailments. Who knows who will play for this team in an impossible matchup.
Eric Bledsoe/Pat Connaughton (MIL)
Bledsoe was actually just removed from the injury report but it still appears likely that he won't play here or will be kept a minutes limit. The same goes for Connaughton.
Marvin Bagley III (SAC)
Bagley injured his foot before the restart and looks unlikely to play.
Kelly Oubre (PHX)
Oubre injured his knee right before the season came to a halt and it's unclear if he'll be ready to play in these games. He's already been ruled out here.
Montrezl Harrell/Lou Williams (LAC)
Harrell is attending his grandmother's funeral while Williams continues to quarantine after his visit to Atlanta. Both guys are close in on a return but neither is expected to suit up here.
Domantas Sabonis/Jeremy Lamb (IND)
Sabonis and Lamb are both out for the entirety of the restart.
Eric Gordon (HOU)
Gordon will be out at least two weeks due to an ankle issue
Elite Players
It feels like I write about these three guys in every article I do, with James Harden, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo up top around $11,000. What's scary is that they all have great matchups. It would be hard to imagine none of them finishing below 50 fantasy points, making all of them viable options. I'd even try to get two of them into your lineup if possible.
Expected Chalk
Damian Lillard, POR ($9,300)
Lillard is going to be one of the chalkiest guys out there and rightfully so. In his first two Orlando games, he's averaging 50 fantasy points per game. In his last game against Houston, Lillard dropped a 60-spot. That gem might be easy to duplicate here when you look at the Rockets right now, playing at the fastest pace in the NBA while allowing 132.5 points per game since the restart.
T.J. Warren, IND ($6,400)
Everyone is going to be using Warren today. In his first two Orlando outings, he's averaging a ridiculous 71 FanDuel points per game. He's been the best player in this restart and people definitely know just how well he's playing. That's going to make him very widely used, especially with the slow reaction to his price tag by FanDuel.
Key Values
Paul George, LAC ($7,600)
This price makes no sense. The superstar is averaging 37 fantasy points per game for the season and is usually closer to $9,000. He's actually scored at least 42 fantasy points in each of his first two Orlando games, despite weird circumstances. He did one of those in a blowout and one game against the Lakers in limited minutes. It wouldn't be surprising to see him continue his hot shooting and drop 50-plus here against a 25th-ranked Suns defense.
Zach Collins, POR ($4,600)
Collins just returned from a shoulder injury but it appears he's fully back now. In his first two games, Collins is averaging 32 minutes played. That means the production will come around sooner rather than later, and what better place to get started than against a team that's allowing over 130 points per game right now. Not to mention, the Rockets' small-ball is a perfect recipe for Collins to play some center and pick up some extra minutes.
P.J. Tucker, HOU ($4,000)
Tucker is by no means an exciting fantasy option, but he's way too good to be priced this cheaply. We're talking about a hound who regularly plays 40 minutes, averaging over 26 FanDuel points per game across his last three outings. That's big news in such a tasty, high-scoring game and Tucker should provide volume through sheer hustle statistics. If he hits a handful of threes, we could be looking at an unheralded 10X value.
Someone on the Nets is going to be a value with literally everyone out. Don't forget about guys like Tyler Johnson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Rodions Kurucs and Garrett Temple.
