This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
DET at ORL (-2), O/U: 212.5
BOS at ATL (-2.5), O/U: 217.5
LAL at CHA (-7), O/U:
DEN (-6) at NOP, O/U: 215
POR (-2.5) at HOU, O/U: 233
LAC at MIA (-6.5), O/U:
IND at OKC (-1), O/U: 216.5
UTA at MEM (-3), O/U: 224
CHI (-2) at SAS, O/U: 228.5
MIN (-9.5) at PHX, O/U: 231.5
NYK at MIL (-9), O/U: 216
Celtics-Hawks should be competitive and high-scoring. And with both teams at full health, there are plenty of reliable picks through all salary tiers.
Trae Young is the only player above $7,000 for Atlanta, but he is well worth it having exceeded 40 DK points in seven straight games. Clint Capela and John Collins also offer the potential to put up big numbers, but come in with very modest salaries. Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari are all valued in the lower range and have the opportunity to turn in solid returns.
Jayson Tatum is $1,200 higher than Jaylen Brown, but both make strong picks as they lead the Celtics at both ends. Dennis Schroder and Marcus Smart represent excellent medium-salaried picks while Grant Williams and Josh Richardson make for decent values.
Injuries to Monitor
DET: Jerami Grant (COVID-19), Kelly Olynyk (COVID-19): Questionable
Grant and Olynyk could be back in action after extended absences, which would take away touches from Hamidou Diallo and Saddiq Bey.
LAL: LeBron James (knee): Questionable
Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker and Carmelo Anthony should get a boost if James remains out.
CHA: Kelly Oubre (ankle): Questionable
Gordon Hayward (COVID-19), Jalen McDaniels (ankle): OUT
Cody Martin is expected to start while P.J. Washington will have to step up off the bench.
NOP: Josh Hart (ankle), Brandon Ingram (ankle): Questionable
Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Garrett Temple are up for a boost if Hart and/or Ingram are sidelined.
POR: Robert Covington (knee): Questionable
Damian Lillard (abdomen), Nassir Little (shoulder), Larry Nance (knee), Cody Zeller (knee): OUT
Anfernee Simons will continue to start in place of Lillard while Ben McLemore and Tony Snell will be in line to see more responsibility.
LAC: Marcus Morris (personal): OUT
Terance Mann will start with Morris out.
MIA: Jimmy Butler (toe): Questionable
Kyle Lowry (personal): OUT
Gabe Vincent will start for Lowry. Tyler Herro, Max Strus and Caleb Martin are projected for a boost should Butler not be able to go.
IND: Domantas Sabonis (ankle): Questionable
Malcolm Brogdon (achilles), Myles Turner (foot): OUT
Torrey Craig will continue to start in place of Turner while Goga Bitadze will pick up the start if Sabonis is out. Chris Duarte is up for more backcourt responsibility.
OKC: Derrick Favors (back): OUT
Darius Bazley and Mike Muscala could see added playing time.
UTA: Donovan Mitchell (concussion): Questionable
Rudy Gobert (calf): OUT
Hassan Whiteside will start in place of Gobert while Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic will have to step up on offense if Mitchell is out.
MEM: Kyle Anderson (COVID-19), Dillon Brooks (ankle), Tyus Jones (COVID-19): OUT
Ziaire Williams will receive another start while De'Anthony Melton and John Konchar should see a boost off the bench.
CHI: Lonzo Ball (knee), Alex Caruso (wrist), Derrick Jones (finger), OUT
Ayo Dosunmu will continue to fill in for Ball while Coby White and Troy Brown will have to step up.
SAS: Keita Bates-Diop (COVID-19): OUT
Devin Vassell and Lonnie Walker are slated to add some minutes.
MIN: Patrick Beverley (ankle), D'Angelo Russell (leg): Questionable
Malik Beasley and Jaylen Nowell will have to step up if Beverley and/or Russell are sidelined.
PHX: Deandre Ayton (ankle), Jae Crowder (wrist), JaVale McGee (knee), Cameron Payne (wrist): OUT
Bismack Biyombo and Cameron Johnson will continue to start while Landry Shamet is up for more from the bench.
NYK: Nerlens Noel (knee): Questionable
Derrick Rose (ankle): OUT
Taj Gibson and Obi Toppin could get a boost if Noel is out. Immanuel Quickley and Alec Burks will continue to see extended playing time in the absence of Rose.
MIL: Grayson Allen (hip), Wesley Matthews (knee): Questionable
Pat Connaughton is in line for more playing time if Allen and/or Matthews are out.
Elite Players
Guards
LaMelo Ball ($8,400)
Ball is coming off a huge effort with 69.0 DK points and is averaging 19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 8.4 assists over the last 10 games. Ball boasts an advantage at home versus the Lakers, who are on the second night of a back-to-back.
Jaylen Brown ($8,900)
Brown just dropped 30 points and has topped 40 DK six times across the last 10 contests, including a peak of 60.3. He should do well against the Hawks' smaller backcourt.
Forwards/Centers
Jayson Tatum ($10,100)
Tatum has combined for 87 points over two outings and averages 27.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists from the last 10. He should dominate against Atlanta's subpar defense.
DeMar DeRozan ($8,500)
DeRozan continues to put up massive numbers averaging 25.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists over the last 10 games while going over 40 DK six times over that span. The Bulls are playing in San Antonio against his former team, which could provide him extra motivation to post big numbers.
Jusuf Nurkic ($8,000)
Nurkic is averaging 17.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals across the last 10 and has exceeded 40 DK six times during that stretch. He'll also be in line to dominate the Rockets' smaller frontcourt.
Expected Chalk
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800)
Giannis will be looking to step up and help ensure the Bucks bounce back from a loss in Cleveland in their last outing. They return home to host the Knicks for their fourth matchup of the season with a 2-1 lead in the series against the Knicks with Giannis averaging 20.0 points and 10.7 rebounds. He's also topped 50 DK in seven of his last 10 appearances.
Value Picks
Cory Joseph ($4,600)
Joseph has started the last four games averaging 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists, including one performance of 40 DK.
Malik Monk ($4,500)
Monk continues to play a key role and has produced at least 25 DK points over two contests. The Lakers are on the second of a back-to-back with Monk managing 26.5 DK last night.
Terance Mann ($4,000)
Mann will start again and offers the opportunity to keep up his strong play with over 20 DK points six times from the last 10 games.
Torrey Craig ($4,700)
Craig will continue to start in place of the injured Myles Turner. He's exceeded 20 DK points in each of the last five and is averaging 9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists across six consecutive starts.
Mason Plumlee ($4,100)
Plumlee topped 24 DK in each of the last three outings and will be at home against a Lakers side that played yesterday.
